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Spooner's Bar (Free House)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Wood's - Quaff |  | 1 |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | | 5 |
| Salopian - Oracle | | 1 |
| Olde Swan - Light Mild (aka Original) | | 2 |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | | 2 |
| Monty's - Mojo |  | 2 |
| Three Tuns - 1642 Bitter | | 2 |
| Salopian - Shropshire Gold | | 3 |
| Ludlow - Gold | | 1 |
| Anglo-Dutch - Midsummer Ale | | 1 |
| Wye Valley - HPA (Hereford Pale Ale) | | 3 |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose |  | 1 |
| Six Bells - Big Nev's | | 1 |
| Big Bog - WPA | | 1 |
| Wye Valley - Butty Bach | | 1 |
| Monty's - Match | | 1 |
| Marston's - Burton Bitter | | 1 |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Celebration Ale |  | 1 |
| Teme Valley - T'Other | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Mellow Yellow | Not Tried | 0 |
| Teme Valley - 1842 | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Mansfield Cask Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | Not Tried | 0 |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's Waggledance | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thwaites - Nutty Black | Not Tried | 0 |
| Enville - White | Not Tried | 0 |
| Coors - Stones Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wood's - Parish Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Purple Moose - Cadwalader Jones | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Hop Back - Slovenian Rhapsody | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Welsh Pride | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wychwood - Hot Choclate | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Thin Ice | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
04 Feb 2012 (Ray)
Week 30.01 to 05.02.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salopian - Oracle | 4.00 | | Citrusy aromas carry to the complex flavour. Some sweet hints, peppery pine and biscuit with dry slightly yeasty fruity finish. Love it. |
| Six Bells - Big Nev's | 3.80 | | Unexciting golden ale. Good malts but lacking body and limited hopping. |
| Monty's - Match | 3.40 | | inoffensive golden session ale. Some spicy hints balanced by a light malt. No real finish. |
| Marston's - Burton Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | £2 a pint. |
| Wye Valley - Butty Bach | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| 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 | |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried |
29 Jan 2012 (Ray)
Week 23-29 January. BBC2 showing the Welsh Highland Railway programme.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | New cask and selling really quickly. |
| Salopian - Shropshire Gold | 3.80 | | Mid golden ale with fruiy hop nose. Very bitter and hoppy in the mouth with an excellent citrussy finish. |
| Monty's - Mojo | 3.80 | | Light amber with tight white head. Inviting burst of hops on the nose follows through to a good fruiy taste. Semi-sweet finish. |
| Marston's - Burton Bitter | 3.80 | | Easy drinking with that slight Burton sulphurous twang. |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose | 4.60 | | Apparently a porter but more like a strong chocolate mild. Limited aroma, some dark fruit for interest, unusual finish. Drinkable but forgettable. |
| Three Tuns - 1642 Bitter | 3.80 | | Good middle of the road malty bitter. |
| Wood's - Parish Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Salopian - Oracle | 4.00 | Not Tried | Missed this. On for 5 hours and gone. |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried |
22 Jan 2012 (Ray)
Week 16-22 January.
I am staying close-by and expect to be in Spooner's (too) regularly. Rather than report each visit they'll be consolidated and logged weekly.
As ever the staff and customers are friendly, welcomimg and enthusiastic about their beer.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Two casks of this juicy, hoppy beer demolished in three days and this is the off season. |
| Ludlow - Gold | 4.20 | | Satisfying golden ale brewed, unusually now, with only English hops. Good balance and a moreish drying finish. |
| Wye Valley - Butty Bach | 4.50 | | This was OK but overly sweet. Almost tasted as a honey beer. |
| Wye Valley - HPA (Hereford Pale Ale) | 4.00 | | Always found this a bit thin. No exception tonight. More a lager than a Pale Ale. |
| Marston's - Burton Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Wood's - Parish Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Mild | 3.50 | Not Tried | Reduced to £2 a pint. |
| 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 | This is a rebadge of Mansfield Cask. |
12 Oct 2011 (Ray)
Garretts, Fairlies and beer. What a combination.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Pale straw IPA. Fresh citrus aromas with sharp citrus (Grapefruit) flavours. Long dry finish. Could almost be Hophead. |
| Big Bog - WPA | 4.20 | | Welsh Pale Ale from the brewery behind the Snowdonia Inn, Waunfawr. Sadly, an undistinguished mid-brown bitter. |
| Marston's - Wychwood Hobgoblin IPA (was Ruby Beer, was Hobgoblin) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Greene King - Ruddles Best | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Mansfield Cask Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | Badged as Spooner's Ale. Brewed by Marston's |
| Enville - White | 4.20 | Not Tried |
17 Jul 2011 (Ray)
On a wet and windy evening there was a strong local trade. Friendly as ever and a discount for CAMRA members with a card.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olde Swan - Light Mild (aka Original) | 3.50 | | Enjoyable light mild. |
| Wye Valley - HPA (Hereford Pale Ale) | 4.00 | | Still think this could do with a bit more body. Selling quickly though. |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 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 | |
| Anglo-Dutch - Midsummer Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried |
16 Jul 2011 (Ray)
Plenty of new ales to try tonight.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olde Swan - Light Mild (aka Original) | 3.50 | | Excellent light mild. Good mouthfeel, some floral hops and well judged fruitiness was very moreish. |
| Anglo-Dutch - Midsummer Ale | 4.00 | | Continental wheat beer in style (should it have been?). Slightly hazy, with big spicy aroma. Hints of orange, lime and coriander and a slightly sweet finish. |
| Banks's - Mansfield Cask Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Mild | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | Not Tried |
15 Jul 2011 (Ray)
Strong local trade.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Tuns - 1642 Bitter | 3.80 | | Dark golden ale with complex nutty spicy taste. Smooth malt and a lingering bitter finish. |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | New cask. Fresh, hoppy with a hint of honey. |
| Wye Valley - HPA (Hereford Pale Ale) | 4.00 | | Very light in colour. Bitter but not very hoppy, bit thin in the mouth. Very much liked by the locals who cleared the cask in under 24hrs. |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | | A little less hoppy than I remember and a touch sweeter. More crystal malt?? |
| Banks's - Mansfield Cask Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | Badged as Spooner's Ale. Brewed by Narstion's |
| Banks's - Mild | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's Waggledance | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Mellow Yellow | 4.10 | Not Tried |
13 Jul 2011 (Ray)
Great to be back. Warm summer's evening with a good beer watching the tranis - perfect.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Pale straw, hoppy ale. After initial sweetness some vanilla and grapefruit. Well balanced with smooth finish. |
| Salopian - Shropshire Gold | 3.80 | | Light golden fruity ale but, perhaps, a little tired. |
| Teme Valley - T'Other | 3.50 | 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 | |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Mellow Yellow | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Teme Valley - 1842 | 1.00 | Not Tried |
07 May 2011 (ChrisE)
A few pints after a most enjoyable ride on the Welsh Highland Railway from Caernarfon to Porthamdog, and a visit to the Purple Moose Brewery. The pub was reasonably busy but we had no problem in finding somewhere to sit, and enjoy our drinks and meal.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood's - Quaff | 3.70 | | |
| Banks's - Mild | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Welsh Pride | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Wychwood - Hot Choclate | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - Thin Ice | 4.50 | Not Tried |
12 Aug 2010 (Ray)
Sadly, coming to the end of a 6 day visit. Spooner's is a great bar which shows that, with good staff and attention to quality, real ale can be a great success and draw in customers who might go else where or stay at home.
Even in the winter sales are buoyant and during the holiday season they turn over 30-40 firkins a week. Drinkers here tend to be discerning judging by how long single casks of M&B BrewXI, Marston's and Stones sat on the bar. Highly recommended.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | | Hoppy and refreshing. My ale of the week. |
| Salopian - Shropshire Gold | 3.80 | | Light copper fruity ale. |
| Monty's - Mojo | 3.80 | | Dark golden session bitter. Pleasant but not distinguished. |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Celebration Ale | 4.20 | | Anonymous brown ale. No hops, no malt, just unpleasant. Most went back. |
| Thwaites - Nutty Black | 3.30 | Not Tried | |
| Coors - Stones Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Cadwalader Jones | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Hop Back - Slovenian Rhapsody | 4.00 | Not Tried |
About the Spooner's Bar
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 1 |
| 30 |
| 64 |
| 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 44 times, seen 142 different beers and tried 84 of them.
Postcode: LL49 9NF