Busy - mostly people enjoying a beer and a natter.
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Cairngorm - Wildcat
5.10
Strong bitter. Dark amber with beige head. Slightly sweet and spicy. Good bitter finish.
Burnside - Black Katz
3.60
A rather thin stout. Deep red almost black. Roasty aromas with a flash of chocolate on the taste then a dominating, overly aggressive bitterness (not entirely from the hops) carried to a long astringent finish.
Belhaven - Caledonian Deuchars IPA
3.80
Not Tried
Timothy Taylor - Landlord
4.30
Not Tried
Houston - Peter's Well
4.20
Not Tried
Inveralmond - Dunottar
4.20
Not Tried
07 May 2011 (McGargle)
Busy.
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Timothy Taylor - Landlord
4.30
Swannay (formerly Highland) - Scapa Special
4.20
Deeside - No. 3
4.00
Another thin and anonymous golden. Some citrus hints which died quickly in the glass.
Belhaven - Caledonian Deuchars IPA
3.80
Not Tried
Greene King - Abbot
5.00
Not Tried
Surprised to see this turning up.
Inveralmond - Dunottar
4.20
Not Tried
22 Apr 2011 (McGargle)
Really busy but good, quick service.
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Swannay (formerly Highland) - Orkney Best
3.60
Initial floral hints soon gave way to a slightly soapy and astringent taste.
Cairngorm - Black Gold
4.40
First impressions on the nose and mouth were of unreconstructed chocolate but these soon subsided to reveal the sourness of a beer on the turn.
Kelburn - Goldihops
3.80
Not Tried
14 Apr 2011 (McGargle)
Convivial. Lots of visitors enjoying Stonehaven.
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Fyne - Jarl
3.80
Enjoyable session beer. Not quite as forward as two days ago. Mellowed a little and lost a bit.
Houston - Killellan
3.70
Not Tried
Burnside - 3-Bullz
3.80
Not Tried
12 Apr 2011 (McGargle)
Good mid-week crowd.
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Fyne - Jarl
3.80
Extraordinary! Very pale with tight white head. Bursting with citrus aromas which explode in the mouth - mostly grapefruit but orange and peach also present. Good malt body and long bittering finish. Served in excellent condition.
Timothy Taylor - Landlord
4.30
Interesting to see how beer evolves. Gone are the biscuit hints replaced by more floral flavours. Slightly more assertive mouth feel.
10 Apr 2011 (Ray)
Beautiful evening to enjoy a beer on the harbour side.
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Timothy Taylor - Landlord
4.30
At its best this is an excellent traditional bitter. Good malt body hints of biscuit and enough bitterness to make it moreish.
Houston - Killellan
3.70
Not Tried
Inveralmond - Dunottar
4.20
Not Tried
Strathaven - Lines Out
4.00
Not Tried
BrewDog - Riptide Stout
4.10
Not Tried
At 4.1% this cannot be Riptide an 8% Imperial Stout.
18 Mar 2011 (McGargle)
Busy. Lets hope the 'muzak' is a temporary aberration. It added nothing but distraction to atmosphere.
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Timothy Taylor - Landlord
4.30
Fresh and slightly biscuity. Good balance of malt and hops with some bitterness on the finish.
25 Feb 2011 (McGargle)
Busy. Mostly drinkers.
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Deeside - Broichan
5.20
Pleasant, slightly sweet malty ale with hints of coffee, enough hopiness to keep it iteresting. A good winter warmer.
Now brewed to 4.5%.
Arran (formerly Isle of Arran) - Blonde
5.00
Not Tried
Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark Munro
4.00
Not Tried
11 Feb 2011 (Ray)
Yet another bad beer here. For a current 'POTY' the owners really need to look at quality control. Young staff are willing but can't judge a beer. Maybe also 6 beers on is 2 too many at this time of year.
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Cairngorm - Trade Winds
4.30
On (or just past) the turn.
Belhaven - Caledonian Deuchars IPA
3.80
Not Tried
Timothy Taylor - Landlord
4.30
Not Tried
Inveralmond - Dunottar
4.20
Not Tried
Arran (formerly Isle of Arran) - Clyde Puffer
4.50
Not Tried
Cairngorm - Bard's Ale
4.40
Not Tried
05 Feb 2011 (Ray)
Absolutely jammed with people watching the rugby.
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Inveralmond - Thrappledouser
4.30
Williams Brothers - Red
4.50
More Sarson's than Williams'. Told bar staff who said it had 'been on sale for some time'. Still on sale a good while later. Not impressed for a current POTY.
The pub is found in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, AB39 2JY.
Free house enjoying a fantastic harbour side location in Stonehaven's conservation area in Shorehead. 5 or 6 real ales, with an emphasis on Scottish micros. Excellent selection of bottled beers especially from Belgium plus interesting kegs which may be from Westmalle, Kwak or De Koninck. 2009 CAMRA Scottish Pub of the Year.
We have visited this pub 306 times, seen 415 different beers and tried 230 of them.