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The Bridge End Inn (McGivern)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Rat - White RatExceptional1
Salopian - OracleExcellent1
McGivern Ales - Bridge BitterExcellent2
McGivern Ales - Bridge PaleExcellent3
Rat - Light MildExcellent1
Offbeat - Off Kilter PorterExcellent1
Salopian - Hop TwisterExcellent1
Merlin - Sir GalahadExcellent1
Silver Brewhouse (formerly Raw) - Anubis PorterGood1
Purple Moose - Glaslyn AleGood1
Offbeat - Out of Step IPAGood1
Northern (see also Blakemere) - Soul RiderGood1
Lancaster - Triple HopGood1
Wood's - Special BitterGood1
Rudgate - Ruby MildGood1
Offbeat - Bohemian AntipodeanGood1
Hilden - Headless DogGood1
Scarborough - ChinookGood1
Batemans - XXXB (now superseded by 4.8% version)Good1
Collingham - Artisan's ChoiceGood1
Burton Bridge - XL MildGood1
Frome (formerly Milk Street) - Funky Monkey (organic)Good1
Dunham Massey - Big Tree BitterGood2
Blakemere (see also Northern) - NavajoGood1
McGivern Ales - Pyramid PorterGood2
Waen - LandmarkAcceptable1
Lancaster - Vanilla Chocolate EclairUndrinkable1
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESBNot Tried0
Weetwood - Eastgate AleNot Tried0
Wye Valley - Butty BachNot Tried0
Picture 1. The Bridge End Inn, Ruabon, Denbighshire
Picture 2. The Bridge End Inn, Ruabon, Denbighshire

Visits Details

27 May 2013 (Bear & Ragged Staff)
Comfortable and restful.
BeerABVScoreNotes
McGivern Ales - Bridge Pale3.90ExcellentGreat pale ale with wonderfully soft flavours.
Frome (formerly Milk Street) - Funky Monkey (organic)4.00GoodVery nice amber bitter.
Silver Brewhouse (formerly Raw) - Anubis Porter5.20GoodA very decent porter style beer.
19 May 2013 (Bear & Ragged Staff)
Wonderful, peaceful, early summer's afternoon. Sat outside in the shade.
BeerABVScoreNotes
McGivern Ales - Bridge Pale3.90ExcellentBack to its best. Now an award winning ale and thoroughly deserved.
Rudgate - Ruby Mild4.40GoodDecent mild, good vanilla and toffee flavours. Smooth, sweetish and mild!
Scarborough - Chinook4.10GoodClassic pale ale, certainly light and refreshing, perhaps a bit light on flavour.
15 May 2013 (Bear & Ragged Staff)
Very busy early evening in the main bar. Quiet and relaxing in the side room.
BeerABVScoreNotes
McGivern Ales - Bridge Pale3.90ExcellentNot quite as malty or citrussy as previously but still excellent.
Rat - Light Mild3.40ExcellentBordering on exceptional. Difficult to see why this beer type struggles when this sort of beer is available. Smooth, vanilla and nuts, leaving a lasting nutty finish. Good body, good balance and all at 3.4%.
Dunham Massey - Big Tree Bitter3.90GoodA lovely golden, earthy beer.
27 Apr 2013 (Nick Willis)
Friendly landlord, starting to fill up at lunchtime. Nice pork pie and black pudding.
BeerABVScoreNotes
McGivern Ales - Bridge Bitter4.10ExcellentCracking bitter, pump clip says 4.1%
McGivern Ales - Pyramid Porter4.40Good
Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - ESB5.50Not Tried
Weetwood - Eastgate Ale4.20Not Tried
Wye Valley - Butty Bach4.50Not Tried
Salopian - Oracle4.00Not Tried
14 Apr 2013 (Bear & Ragged Staff)
Quiet Sunday afternoon / early evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hilden - Headless Dog4.20GoodA sweetish pale ale.
Collingham - Artisan's Choice4.40GoodArtisan's on the pump clip but I presume the same beer. Very tasty malty pale / bitter.
McGivern Ales - Pyramid Porter4.40GoodA good standard porter with good porter flavours, not too heavy.
31 Mar 2013 (Bear & Ragged Staff)
Almost warm enough to sit in the beer garden.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Salopian - Oracle4.00ExcellentThere is little to say about this beer that hasn't already been said, one of the best.
Offbeat - Off Kilter Porter4.30ExcellentWonderfully well crafted porter, nice balance in the flavours - a joy to drink.
Burton Bridge - XL Mild4.00GoodNot a mild person but this was a solid, traditional mild. Superb condition and well presented with a good head.
Northern (see also Blakemere) - Soul Rider4.00GoodAn OK pale that made a good start but became a little one dimensional.
25 Mar 2013 (Bear & Ragged Staff)
Busy early evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dunham Massey - Big Tree Bitter3.90GoodClassic, traditional bitter.
Purple Moose - Glaslyn Ale4.20GoodComplex malty, nutty and fruity bitter
Lancaster - Triple Hop4.40GoodBeer of the night for me. Different hop and fruit flavours coming through with each mouthful.
Waen - Landmark5.50AcceptableA beer that compromises flavour for strength.
Lancaster - Vanilla Chocolate Eclair4.70UndrinkableUnder normal circumstances I would have taken this back to the bar for a second opinion. However, those around me drinking the same beer were singing its praises, so I struggled through. To me the aroma was pungent and acrid, the flavour was medicinal / antiseptic. Only my opinion, but I thought this was truly awful!
23 Mar 2013 (Bear & Ragged Staff)
Cold and miserable outside, warm and welcoming inside.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Salopian - Hop Twister4.50ExcellentFragrantly hopped citrus style bitter, some nice malts.
Merlin - Sir Galahad4.30ExcellentGood malty start and an intense biiter follow up. Good balance, clean and fresh, well presented.
Wood's - Special Bitter4.20GoodTraditional style bitter.
19 Mar 2013 (Bear & Ragged Staff)
Quiet early evening in front of a roaring fire and accompanied by some fine ales.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Rat - White Rat4.00ExceptionalA benchmark for all others.
Offbeat - Out of Step IPA5.80GoodI got an overwhelming aroma and taste of apple. Unusual in a beer but not unpleasant.
Offbeat - Bohemian Antipodean4.30GoodGood pale / bitter that seemed to evolve in the glass. Clean, fresh flavours and a lasting bitter aftertaste.
16 Mar 2013 (Bear & Ragged Staff)
Wales have just beaten England at rugby football. Bit of a mystery to me but great to see people in such good natured high spirits.
BeerABVScoreNotes
McGivern Ales - Bridge Bitter4.10ExcellentBeer of the evening for me. A good bitter with a semi dry finish.
Batemans - XXXB (now superseded by 4.8% version)4.50GoodNice malt and a little sweet, good kick of liquorice. Didn't quite live up to the hype for me.
Blakemere (see also Northern) - Navajo3.90GoodSome malt and a little dry but also a little light on taste.

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About The Bridge End Inn

The pub sign. The Bridge End Inn, Ruabon, Denbighshire

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional15
Excellent110
Good239
Acceptable36
Poor5

Website.

The pub is found in Ruabon, Denbighshire, LL14 6DA.

Traditional pub located close to Ruabon railway station in Bridge street. Home to the McGivern Brewery. CAMRA National Pub of the Year for 2011 which meant it entered CAMRA’s history books as the first ever Welsh pub to win its National Pub of the Year competition, but having only been re-opened by its current owners in March 2009, became one of the most remarkable success stories in the competition’s history. At November 2012 was selected to be in the last four contestants for the 2012 competition too.

We have visited this pub 130 times, seen 298 different beers and tried 293 of them.

Map location

Postcode: LL14 6DA