PubsandBeer
The North Western (formerly The Head of Steam) (Wetherspoon)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Blackpool - BPA |  | 1 |
| Liverpool Organic - Iron Men | | 1 |
| Liverpool Organic - Styrian | | 1 |
| Phoenix - White Monk | | 1 |
| Temperance Union - Vfm Softy | | 1 |
| Banks's - Tetley's Christmas Cracker |  | 1 |
| Phoenix - Tennis Elbow | | 1 |
| Thwaites - Original Bitter |  | 1 |
| Banks's - Central Cervercera Session Room IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Tetley's Gold Cask | Not Tried | 0 |
| Belhaven - Caledonian Deuchars IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Black Sheep - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brecon - Red Beacons | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cotleigh - Uncle Sam Hop Burst | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cottage - Ernie Ales | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Abbot | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hook Norton - Old Hooky | Not Tried | 0 |
| Liverpool Organic - Jade | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Bass | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Pedigree | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Peerless - The North Western | Not Tried | 0 |
| Robinsons - Unicorn | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rooster's - Londinium (Taylors of Harrogate Traditional Coffee Porter) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rooster's - Wild Mule | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | Not Tried | 0 |
| Weetwood - Ambush | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
12 Nov 2015 (Alenomore)
19:00 visit.Final stop today and a Flaming Dragon ordered. Busy now. Another cavernous JD's, formerly the Head of Steam for many years, recently taken over and refitted to JD's usual high standards. Two levels, nooks and crannies everywhere. Must have been enlarged since HoS days I think, with an extra floor and a small patio added. Plenty of ales on too, service was acceptable. A nice end to only my third Merseyside visit.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperance Union - Vfm Softy | 1.00 | | Usual vfm curry/drink deal. |
01 Aug 2015 (HSB)
08:50 Too early for breakfast at the hotel as we caught the Saturday's only 07:53 Chester Runcorn. The newly opened 'Spoons was the obvious choice. An incredible interior. Numerous rooms and levels including a first floor patio. There is a magnificent tiled railway map over the bar. I never visited when it was the Head of Steam so I don't know what changes Wetherspoon's have made. About a dozen other customers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Hook Norton - Old Hooky | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Weetwood - Ambush | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Rooster's - Wild Mule | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Rooster's - Londinium (Taylors of Harrogate Traditional Coffee Porter) | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Brecon - Red Beacons | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Cotleigh - Uncle Sam Hop Burst | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Central Cervercera Session Room IPA | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Peerless - The North Western | 4.00 | Not Tried |
20 Dec 2013 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Fewer in that I had expected bearing in mind the streets outside were bustling. 8 handpumps but only 2 in use both selling uninspiring beers of undeclared provenance. When one thinks what can be done with Euston Tap, York Tap, Sheffield Tap this place is wholly underexploited as a beer venue.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banks's - Tetley's Christmas Cracker | 4.30 | | Full bodied and quite heavily bittered |
| Banks's - Tetley's Gold Cask | 4.10 | Not Tried |
11 Nov 2012 (Alenomore)
12:30 visit. Day two of my Merseyside jolly. Having seen the parade and witnessed the good turnout for the Rememberance Parade, at St Georges Hall, directly opposite this bar, I called in here after the final march past and had a couple of ales. Plenty of proud ex servicemen in too. And I dont know who runs this outfit these days, but lots of vacant pumps here and a shadow of it's former self this once upon a time, very busy chain.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool Organic - Iron Men | 4.00 | | Top class. |
| Liverpool Organic - Styrian | 4.20 | | Quite a nice ale. These types from Organic have a very distinct taste. |
| Marston's - Pedigree | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Liverpool Organic - Jade | 4.40 | Not Tried |
04 Jul 2008 (Ian)
This pub has gone downhill beer wise. Someone told me that it wasn't as good, but even still I was stunned to walk in and see 12 handpumps, but only one in use. Not even pumpclips turned round. Down to just one cask beer. Amazing.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix - Tennis Elbow | 4.50 | | Pale gold, thin off white head. Slightly sweaty sox, but a rather good citrusy hoppy beer. Some good hop aroma, nice bite on finish. Typical pale gold Phoenix beer, and I like it. Good biting hop. |
20 Jan 2006 (Ian)
Located in the neo gothic magnificence that is the Great North Western Hotel and with access from Lime Street railway station, this pub has several bars. The main one has a long bar with numerous handpulls and normally stocks a good range of UK micros, some continental beers and UK ciders. Worth popping in for the building itself
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix - White Monk | 4.50 | | Blond beer with good white head. Lovely US hops and citrus aroma. Pale, light and highly drinkable with some sweet sherbert in the mouth followed by long hoppy citrus finish |
| Thwaites - Original Bitter | 3.60 | | Copper colour, thin bubly beige head. This has a faint almond/marzipan flavour with yeast aroma. Fine in mouth. Finish has more marzipan/nut/yeast flavours. Odd but drinkable |
| Belhaven - Caledonian Deuchars IPA | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Robinsons - Unicorn | 4.20 | Not Tried |
03 Mar 2005 (Ian)
12 handpumps on dispensing british micros. 2 bar pub next to Lime Street Station. High Victorian ceilings and windows in Great North Western Hotel. Comfy white sofas in one bar. Main bar has a good range of ciders and lagers
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackpool - BPA | 4.20 | | Mid brown hoppy malty flavour leads to dry hop finish. Great balance on fruity malt and dry hoppiness |
| Cottage - Ernie Ales | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Robinsons - Unicorn | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Black Sheep - Best Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried |
About The North Western (formerly The Head of Steam)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 5 |
| 2 |
| 1 |
 | - |
The pub is found in Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 1RJ.
Easy to find - it has a huge doorway directly inside Lime Street railway station concourse plus doors on Lime Street, directly opposite St Georges Hall, and in Nelson Street, directly next door to the Empire Theatre. How to get there ... Bus: Any that pass by Lime Street; Rail: Lime Street railway station. Would seem to be the only Head of Steam Group pub not sold to Camerons in a deal in December 2013, word it is was already under new ownership outside the group and allied to another house in Liverpool. Period without real has ended. 8 handpumps in the main Grand Hall bar but only several in regular use. To deter railway customers the toilets are accessed via a punched in key code which bar staff will advise upon request (if you are drinking!). Reported sold to Wetherspoon in Spring 2015 and a name change is proposed to The North Western. Expected to re-open 7th July 2015. Now open.
We have visited this pub 7 times, seen 28 different beers and tried 8 of them.
Postcode: L1 1RJ