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The Archibald Simpson (Wetherspoon)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| York (now brewed by and at Black Sheep) - Centurion's Ghost Ale |  | 1 |
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Mary's Ruby Mild | | 1 |
| AllGates - Dry Bones (was called Brigantia) | | 1 |
| Three B's - Oatmeal Stout | | 1 |
| Phoenix - Black Shadow Mild | | 1 |
| Deeside - Nechtan | | 1 |
| BrewDog - Trashy Blonde | | 1 |
| Shepherd Neame - Fremlins Bitter |  | 2 |
| Okell's - Aile | | 1 |
| Otter - Otter Mild | | 1 |
| Cairngorm - Stag | | 1 |
| Titanic - White Star (superseded by 4.5% version - see separate entry) |  | 1 |
| Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Val-Dieu Abbaye Blonde | | 1 |
| Weltons - Hawthorn | | 1 |
| Cairngorm - Sheepshagger's Gold | | 1 |
| Saltaire - Bulldog | | 1 |
| Herold - Black Chalice | | 1 |
| Butcombe - Blonde |  | 1 |
| Leeds - Midnight Bell | | 1 |
| Oakham - Bishops Farewell | | 1 |
| Deeside - Brude | | 1 |
| Deeside - Lulach | | 1 |
| Caledonian - Mild Mayhem | | 1 |
| Marston's - Zululand Zulu Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Isle of Skye - Red Cuillin | Not Tried | 0 |
| Batemans - Waynfleet Hedgerows | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cairngorm - Wildcat | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wadworth - Farmers Glory | Not Tried | 0 |
| Woodforde's - Sundew | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Suffolk Springer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Gentle Jane | Not Tried | 0 |
| Shepherd Neame - Goose Island Honkers Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hawkshead - Lakeland Lager | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Dragons Tale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Night Rider | Not Tried | 0 |
| Belhaven - Caledonian Deuchars IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Abbot | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wooden Hand - Cornish Buccaneer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thwaites - Summat Special | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rooster's - Patriot | Not Tried | 0 |
| Isle of Skye - Black Cuillin | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
21 May 2010 (Ray)
Busy. Excellent, quick service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| York (now brewed by and at Black Sheep) - Centurion's Ghost Ale | 5.40 | | Full bodied mild. Fruity rich taste with some hops. Ideal with steak and kidney pudding. Well done Wetherspoon's for making this available in May. |
| Cairngorm - Stag | 4.10 | | Enjoyed this traditional Scottish malty ale. Good rich malt with light hop balance. |
| Leeds - Midnight Bell | 4.80 | | Marginally better than the Ale Mary which I thought I was drinking at first. Less chocolate, more body but not a lot else. |
| Deeside - Brude | 3.50 | | Over lively with an unpleasant sweet, herby finish. Can't identify the taste but seen before with Nechtan. |
15 May 2010 (Ray)
Very busy. Seemed to be short of staff - manager busy collecting glasses!
Although tonight's ales all scored low they were well cellared. The score was one customer's view of ex-brewery quality.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairngorm - Sheepshagger's Gold | 4.50 | | Initial hoppy burst became overly sweet. |
| Deeside - Lulach | 4.00 | | Insipid straw coloured ale. No real aromas, body or flavour. Disappointing. |
| Caledonian - Mild Mayhem | 3.50 | | Initially promising chocolate/coffee aromas and lactic taste promised a good porter rather than a mild. Harshly assertive mid-mouth (not roast flavours) with lingering unpleasant finish. |
12 May 2010 (Ray)
Very busy particularly when the football came on. All handpumps in use with a good range of ales.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nethergate (was Nethergate Growler for a while then name reverted) - Mary's Ruby Mild | 4.50 | | Complex but easy drinking ruby red mild. Chocolate aromas and plenty of fruit in the smooth slightly hoppy taste. Long drying finish. |
| Titanic - White Star (superseded by 4.5% version - see separate entry) | 4.80 | | Competent, hoppy premium bitter. |
| Belhaven - Caledonian Deuchars IPA | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Isle of Skye - Black Cuillin | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best (was 3.7%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Isle of Skye - Red Cuillin | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Cairngorm - Wildcat | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Woodforde's - Sundew | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Caledonian - Mild Mayhem | 3.50 | Not Tried |
04 May 2010 (McGargle)
Very busy - many diners.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deeside - Nechtan | 4.10 | | 4.3/4 stars! Excellent combination of citrussy hops and pale malt - perfectly served. |
| Shepherd Neame - Fremlins Bitter | 3.50 | | Much improved from previous night. Sulphury hints replaced by yeasty and floral notes. Absolute contrast in styles to Nechtan but still enjoyable. |
| Belhaven - Caledonian Deuchars IPA | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Abbot | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Wooden Hand - Cornish Buccaneer | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Thwaites - Summat Special | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Three B's - Oatmeal Stout | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Rooster's - Patriot | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Dragons Tale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
03 May 2010 (McGargle)
Good crowd for a Bank Holiday.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three B's - Oatmeal Stout | 3.80 | | Well crafted: good smokey, roasted flavours with chocolate and coffee. Excellent mouthfeel and body for its ABV. |
| Shepherd Neame - Fremlins Bitter | 3.50 | | Could have been vented for a day longer. Good southern boys bitter with sulphurous hints and some traditional hop bite. |
| Batemans - Waynfleet Hedgerows | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Dragons Tale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kelham Island (probably brewed by Thornbridge now) - Night Rider | 5.20 | Not Tried |
29 Apr 2010 (McGargle)
Busy. One bar staff refused to take CAMRA vouchers. Manager much more reasonable.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weltons - Hawthorn | 4.20 | | Initially pleasant hoppy burst subsided to something less appealing - maybe air freshener. Not a cellaring problem but the way it was brewed. |
| Butcombe - Blonde | 5.00 | | On a straw coloured canvas the brewer applied hints of hops with no body and no real flavour. Undemanding and now brewed to 4.3%. Absolutely no resemblance to Budweiser Budvar. |
24 Apr 2010 (McGargle)
Very busy. Many Fesrival ales available.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix - Black Shadow Mild | 4.00 | | |
| Otter - Otter Mild | 3.80 | | |
| Shepherd Neame - Goose Island Honkers Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Hawkshead - Lakeland Lager | 5.00 | Not Tried |
15 Apr 2010 (McGargle)
Surprisingly quiet for curry night and ale festival.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AllGates - Dry Bones (was called Brigantia) | 4.00 | | Light and very hoppy this was a great thirst quencher. Initial (metallic) bite from, maybe, Saaz hops leads to a lightly fruity flavour and long finish. Aromas of soft fruit and honey. |
| Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Val-Dieu Abbaye Blonde | 5.50 | | Lifeless and thin on first taste it improved immeasurably with food and wasn't swamped by beef madras. Another surprise. |
| Saltaire - Bulldog | 4.80 | | Dark brown with long lasting head and served in good condition this beer was a surprise with chocolate flavours dominating. No hints of a sweetness; not a brown ale more a light chocolate stout. |
| Wadworth - Farmers Glory | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Suffolk Springer | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Gentle Jane | 4.80 | Not Tried |
10 Apr 2010 (McGargle)
Busy but plenty of staff so quick service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrewDog - Trashy Blonde | 4.10 | | Bursting with Amarillo hops balanced by a firmly malty body. Too easy to drink and served in good condition! |
| Herold - Black Chalice | 4.80 | | Black and smoky. Not much else. |
| Marston's - Zululand Zulu Blonde | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Batemans - Waynfleet Hedgerows | 3.70 | Not Tried |
29 Jan 2010 (Ray)
Heaving. Quick, pleasant service.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okell's - Aile | 4.80 | | Less complex than on 24th. Probably a little tired but still the best of the evening. |
| Oakham - Bishops Farewell | 4.60 | | Straw coloured, one dimensional beer. Hints light fruit flavours but not much else. Too light bodied for strength. Disappointing. |
About The Archibald Simpson
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 56 |
| 92 |
| 108 |
| 55 |
The pub is found in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, AB11 5BQ.
Typical Spoon's bank conversion in Castle Street, with typical Spoon's mix of customers but also a manager who knows about real ale and keeps a good variety of beers in good condition. Aberdeen CAMRA Town Pub of the Year 2009.
We have visited this pub 209 times, seen 414 different beers and tried 262 of them.
Postcode: AB11 5BQ