Beer Merchants Tap (Free House)
[More Visits]
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
04 Aug 2020 (Stephen Harris)
Moderately busy in the late afternoon. My hands have never been so clean as when I come here. Just one cask beer available, but it's a corker.
Siren Craft - Broken Dream Breakfast Stout | 6.50 | | I have so missed this kind of thing in cask. Perfection. |
Yonder - Rosehip Saison | 5.20 | | From key-keg. All of the Yonder Saisons are worthy of attention. This one is a little bit tart, floral and yeasty. |
Siren Craft - Lumina | 4.20 | Not Tried | Unfortunately, this has run out. |
08 Jul 2020 (Stephen Harris)
Afternoon visit. Fairly quiet. I need to sign in. Maximum two to a table. Quick reminder of what social distancing is. Scrub those hands, and I'm in business.
Oedipus - Swingers | 4.00 | | From keg. A fruit Gose. Kettle soured. Salty. Plenty of hops and lime. |
Arbor Ales - The Ego Has Landed | 4.80 | | I probably should have drunk this before rather than after the sour. But it's coming across as a very good APA. |
Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
20 Mar 2020 (Stephen Harris)
Mid-afternoon. Almost empty. I'm really here to buy carry-outs.
Arbor Ales - Mosaic | 4.00 | | Down to one cask beer here as things wind down ahead of lockdown. Luckily it's a good 'un. |
Wylam - Greenbutt Skunk | 8.40 | | From key-keg. Dank. |
13 Mar 2020 (Stephen Harris)
Busy, early Friday 13th session.
North - Triple Fruited Gose: Blueberry + Lingonberry | 4.50 | | From a keg. It's fruity. Tart. Pinch of salt. |
Siren Craft - Suspended in Ekuanot | 4.00 | | Golden with slight haze. Soft and mushy. Resinous and fruity hop flavours. |
Arbor Ales - Mosaic | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
26 Feb 2020 (Stephen Harris)
Wednesday evening and crowded. For the first time, I sat in the back room.
Wylam - Room 237 | 5.50 | | From a keg. Thick, murky gold. Juicy fruity. |
Cloudwater - Pale | 4.00 | | A very soft, murky concoction. Mango and oranges. |
Tiny Rebel - Pango | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
18 Feb 2020 (Stephen Harris)
North - Pale Hallertau Blanc + Mosaic | 4.10 | | Hazy gold. Fruity hops. Solid malt backbone. |
DEYA - Best Foot Forward | 3.80 | | An old-fashioned Bitter full of English hop varieties. A bit like the old Shepherd Neame beers I dimly remember from the 1970s, before they were blanded-down Brewed for this week's Cask Beer Festival in London. |
Wylam - Empathy for the Devil | 6.70 | | From key-keg. A thick, golden beer. Murky, with an oat smoothness. Highly hopped. |
27 Jan 2020 (Stephen Harris)
A trickle of late-afternoon customers.
Titanic - Plum Porter | 4.90 | | A corking pint. |
Arbor Ales - Why Kick a Moo Cow | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
05 Jan 2020 (Stephen Harris)
A relaxed Sunday evening atmosphere.
Siren Craft - Suspended in Mosaic | 4.00 | | This is exceptionally good. Mosaic heaven. |
Cloudwater - Austerity is Killing People That I Care About | 3.50 | | A dark cask Bitter with a light and hoppy flavour. |
23 Sep 2019 (Stephen Harris)
Quiet in mid afternoon. Some customers are clearly using the pub as an office.
Buxton - SPA | 4.10 | | Fruity Citra hops and a nice, firm bitterness. Dry. |
Unity - Tech Noir (Rainbow Project 2019) | 5.00 | | From keg dispense. My first of this year's Rainbow Project beers. It's a soured fruity Porter. I'm not completely convinced. |
28 Aug 2019 (Stephen Harris)
Rather quiet tonight. Just one cask beer available.
Siren Craft - Under Current | 4.50 | | Always a great beer. |
[More Visits]