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Spooner's Bar (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Hop Bomb |  | 1 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Chiswick |  | 1 |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Clogwyn Gold |  | 2 |
| Banks's - Bitter | | 3 |
| Monty's - Mojo | | 1 |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - White Fire | | 1 |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | | 7 |
| Wye Valley - Bitter | | 1 |
| Holden's - Golden Glow | | 1 |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Mellow Yellow | | 2 |
| Salopian - Oracle | | 1 |
| Wye Valley - HPA (Hereford Pale Ale) | | 2 |
| Wye Valley - Butty Bach |  | 1 |
| Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood) - Oxford Gold | | 1 |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | | 2 |
| Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Tizzie Wizzie | | 1 |
| Marston's - Single Hop: Galaxy | | 1 |
| Ludlow - Ludlow Best | | 1 |
| Salopian - Shropshire Gold | | 1 |
| Six Bells - Supper | | 1 |
| Cannon Royall (located in White Rabbit) - King's Shilling | | 1 |
| Big Bog - Spring Bog |  | 1 |
| Coors - Worthington Cask | | 1 |
| Mayfields - Tournament Tipple | | 1 |
| Big Bog - WPA | | 1 |
| Banks's - Mild | | 1 |
| Grafton - Jazz |  | 1 |
| Olde Swan - Light Mild (aka Original) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Single Hop: Hallertau Mittelfruh | Not Tried | 0 |
| Six Bells - Big Nev's | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brains - Hancock's HB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wood's - Craven Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wye Valley - St George's Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - EPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Enville - Light Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ringwood - Boondoggle | Not Tried | 0 |
| Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Cumberland Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Cannon Royall (located in White Rabbit) - Arrowhead Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wye Valley - Cwrw Dewi Sant | Not Tried | 0 |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wood's - Parish Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Burton Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ringwood - Boondoggle (now is 4.2% version) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ringwood - Razorback | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wood's - Quaff | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Pedigree | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Gold Blade | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
21 Apr 2012 (Ray)
Week 16-22 April. Beers of the week: Kernel Pale Ale (Simcoe, Centennial) & de Ranke XX Bitter - bottles.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | as usual. |
| Banks's - Bitter | 3.80 | | Solid traditional bitter. |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Mellow Yellow | 4.10 | | Mellow and yellow (well light gold). |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Clogwyn Gold | 3.60 | | |
| Big Bog - WPA | 4.20 | | Thin mid-brown ale. Unbalanced with some cardboard hints. |
| Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Cumberland Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Cannon Royall (located in White Rabbit) - King's Shilling | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - EPA | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Ringwood - Boondoggle | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Big Bog - Spring Bog | 4.00 | Not Tried | Can't be good if I drink Banks's instead. |
15 Apr 2012 (Ray)
Week 9-15 April. Busy with Easter visitors. Beer of the week: Tesco American Double IPA (bottle).
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Good but a little tart. |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - White Fire | 4.60 | | This develped a depth of flavour as it aged in the cask which turned it from a nondescript golden ale to one with good chewy toffee flavours and solid malt. |
| Wye Valley - HPA (Hereford Pale Ale) | 4.00 | | Typically HPA - light in colour, thin in body and flavour. |
| Marston's - Burton Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Pedigree | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Gold Blade | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Mellow Yellow | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Single Hop: Hallertau Mittelfruh | 4.00 | Not Tried |
08 Apr 2012 (Ray)
Week 2-8 April. Beer of the week (and one of the best of the year) Sadlers Hop Bomb.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Hop Bomb | 5.00 | | Explosive American IPA in style. Almost enough body and flavour for DIPA. Deep Golden in glass, booming tropical fruit aroma carries through to intensely hoppy flavours with Citra shining through. Excellent balancing malt sweetness and moreish bitter finish. |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Back on form. |
| Grafton - Jazz | 4.50 | | Pours a light greeny yellow with immediate hit of lime cordial which carries through to an intense fruity taste followed by a phenolic hit at the finish. |
| Marston's - Burton Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Brains - Hancock's HB | 3.60 | Not Tried | Contract brew for brand owner Coors. |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Chiswick | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Wye Valley - St George's Bitter | 4.30 | Not Tried | Badged here as 'Supreme'. |
| Banks's - Mild | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - EPA | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Wood's - Quaff | 3.70 | Not Tried |
01 Apr 2012 (Ray)
Week 26 Mar - 1 April. Busy with a more intensive railway timetable in place. Too much emphasis on Marston's beer this week.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Chiswick | 3.50 | | Fresh, yeasty and tasted solidly of beer and breweries. |
| Holden's - Golden Glow | 4.40 | | |
| Salopian - Oracle | 4.00 | | Well balanced light hoppy ale. |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Gone is the citrus fruitiness replaced by a dry bitterness. |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Clogwyn Gold | 3.60 | | Golden ale with a light but full bodied mouth feel. Slightly honeyed but good bitter finish. |
| Marston's - Burton Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Wye Valley - HPA (Hereford Pale Ale) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Mild | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Wood's - Quaff | 3.70 | Not Tried |
25 Mar 2012 (Ray)
Week 19-25. Marston's week. Beer of the week: Caldera Brewing IPA (can).
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wye Valley - HPA (Hereford Pale Ale) | 4.00 | | Needs more..... everything. |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | | More hoppy, yeast/malt less pronounced. |
| Big Bog - Spring Bog | 4.00 | | Good condition but thin and uninspiring. No character except a little phenol on the finish. |
| Coors - Worthington Cask | 3.60 | | Served in good condition but.......thin malty body and little hops; finish, gone. Victory for brand over beer. Why bother? |
| Marston's - Burton Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Cumberland Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Ringwood - Boondoggle (now is 4.2% version) | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Big Bog - WPA | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Ringwood - Razorback | 3.80 | Not Tried |
16 Mar 2012 (Ray)
Week 12-18.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banks's - Bitter | 3.80 | | Solid, traditional bitter. |
| Marston's - Single Hop: Galaxy | 4.00 | | Malts and hops in conflict. No real winner. Wonder if 'Single Hop' refers to the number used in the brew. Maybe 2* really. |
| Six Bells - Supper | 3.60 | | Again maybe 2*. Another mid-brown ale with a slightly unpleasant dry catch mid-mouth. Malt and hops maybe 'in perfect balance' with neither really visible. |
| Mayfields - Tournament Tipple | 4.00 | | Mid-brown beer described elsewhere as tasting of wood chips I saw this as nearer the end product....cardboard. |
| Wye Valley - Butty Bach | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried |
11 Mar 2012 (Ray)
Week 05 to 11.03.Beer of the week: Buxton Moor Top in bottle.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monty's - Mojo | 3.80 | | |
| Wye Valley - Butty Bach | 4.50 | | Brown, sweet, malty, not troubled by hops. |
| Banks's - Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Tizzie Wizzie | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Enville - Light Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Single Hop: Galaxy | 4.00 | Not Tried |
02 Mar 2012 (Ray)
Week 27.02-04.03.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | |
| Wye Valley - Bitter | 3.70 | | Well made, no nonsense, traditional bitter. |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Mellow Yellow | 4.10 | | Golden ale. Some hops, slightly honeyed, drying bitter finish. |
| Wood's - Parish Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Mild | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood) - Oxford Gold | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Monty's - Mojo | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Tizzie Wizzie | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried |
26 Feb 2012 (Ray)
Week 20-26 Feb. Beer of the week: Kernel IPA Citra (bottle).
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Hoppy, fruity ale but, as usual, an aroma of armpits. |
| Salopian - Shropshire Gold | 3.80 | | Surprised to find the flavours quite muted. No real hop lead and almost honeyed in the mouth. |
| Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood) - Oxford Gold | 4.00 | | Reasonable golden ale. Bit unbalanced, bitteer without being at all hoppy. |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | | All about the malt and yeast these days. |
| Ludlow - Ludlow Best | 3.70 | | Traditional British bitter. Bit thin. |
| Banks's - Mild | 3.50 | | Harshly metallic finish. |
| Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Cumberland Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Cannon Royall (located in White Rabbit) - Arrowhead Bitter | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Cannon Royall (located in White Rabbit) - King's Shilling | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Wye Valley - Cwrw Dewi Sant | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Wye Valley - HPA (Hereford Pale Ale) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Single Hop: Galaxy | 4.00 | Not Tried |
19 Feb 2012 (Ray)
Week 13-19 February.
Half term holidays and Spooner's is busy with families. Good atmosphere.
Beer of the Week? Joint winners: Bottle of BrewDog Punk IPA original 6% and Sadler's JPA.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Good juicy fruit, some bite from the hops. Dry bitter finish. |
| Banks's - Bitter | 3.80 | | No nonsense, traditional Black Country session bitter. Bitter drying finish leaves you wanting one more. I surprised myself with this and fully enjoyed it. |
| Cannon Royall (located in White Rabbit) - King's Shilling | 3.80 | | Mid-brown, slightly astringent bitter. |
| Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Tizzie Wizzie | 3.90 | | Easy drinking predominantly malty ale with some hop bite in the finish. |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Olde Swan - Light Mild (aka Original) | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Six Bells - Big Nev's | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Ludlow - Ludlow Best | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Mellow Yellow | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Wood's - Craven Ale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Enville - Light Pale Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried |
About the Spooner's Bar
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 1 |
| 30 |
| 66 |
| 63 |
| 15 |
The pub is found in Porthmadog, Gwynedd, LL49 9NF.
Bar and cafe attached to the Ffestiniog narrow gauge railway station, this is the ideal place to watch steam trains whilst enjoying a pint or two. Always 6 ales including a dark beer with local and more distant micros featuring strongly. Regular outlet for Purple Moose. Friendly, knowledgeable staff and a 5% CAMRA discount make this a must visit pub.
We have visited this pub 45 times, seen 143 different beers and tried 85 of them.
Postcode: LL49 9NF