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Spooner's Bar (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)Excellent2
Distant Hills (was Howard Town) - Longdendale LightsExcellent1
Salopian - OracleExcellent2
Salopian - Shropshire GoldGood1
Thwaites - Nutty BlackGood1
Monty's - SunshineGood2
Purple Moose - Cadwalader JonesGood1
Salopian - Darwin's OriginGood1
Sharp's - Doom BarAcceptable1
Monty's - MojoAcceptable1
Magpie - BestAcceptable1
Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Celebration AlePoor1
Marston's - Burton BitterNot Tried0
Brains - Dark (aka Red Dragon Dark)Not Tried0
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Lakeland StunnerNot Tried0
Sharp's - Coaster (or Cornish Coaster)Not Tried0
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - TigerNot Tried0
Wood's - Parish BitterNot Tried0
Hop Back - Slovenian RhapsodyNot Tried0
Coors - Stones BitterNot Tried0
Picture 1. Spooner's Bar, Porthmadog, Gwynedd

Visits Details

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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)3.60ExcellentHoppy and refreshing. My ale of the week.
Salopian - Shropshire Gold3.80GoodLight copper fruity ale.
Monty's - Mojo3.80AcceptableDark golden session bitter. Pleasant but not distinguished.
Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Celebration Ale4.20PoorAnonymous brown ale. No hops, no malt, just unpleasant. Most went back.
Thwaites - Nutty Black3.30Not Tried
Coors - Stones Bitter3.70Not Tried
Purple Moose - Cadwalader Jones4.10Not Tried
Hop Back - Slovenian Rhapsody4.00Not Tried
11 Aug 2010 (Ray)
Friendly atmosphere. Many Ffestiniog staff enjoying a well earned pint at the end of their shift.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Salopian - Darwin's Origin4.30GoodCopper ale with a solid malty base. Crisp and tart in the mouth with a dry finish.
Wood's - Parish Bitter4.00Not Tried
Thwaites - Nutty Black3.30Not Tried
Monty's - Sunshine4.20Not Tried
Purple Moose - Cadwalader Jones4.10Not Tried
Hop Back - Slovenian Rhapsody4.00Not Tried
10 Aug 2010 (Ray)
BeerABVScoreNotes
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)3.60ExcellentNewly on. Bursting with fresh light hoppy flavours.
Salopian - Oracle4.00GoodSeemed a little sweeter today.
Monty's - Sunshine4.20GoodDeeper more pronounced flavours today. Still enjoyable.
Purple Moose - Cadwalader Jones4.10GoodNamed after a shipped which was built locally this is a crisp copper ale. Hints of lemon lead to a bitter finish.
Everards (see entries against Joule's & Robinsons whilst its new brewery was being built) - Tiger4.20Not Tried
Thwaites - Nutty Black3.30Not Tried
09 Aug 2010 (Ray)
Pleasant sunny evening so sat outside. Also available M&B Brew XI and Marston's Bitter.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Salopian - Oracle4.00ExcellentSmooth, full bodied hoppy ale.
Thwaites - Nutty Black3.30GoodDark, lightly roasty mild.
Monty's - Sunshine4.20GoodLight, floral hoppy ale.
Sharp's - Coaster (or Cornish Coaster)3.60Not Tried
Brains - Dark (aka Red Dragon Dark)3.50Not Tried
07 Aug 2010 (Ray)
Late evening visit after a long journey. Absolutely heaving so sat out on the platform to enjoy a quiet pint.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Distant Hills (was Howard Town) - Longdendale Lights3.90ExcellentPale golden lightly hopped ale. Refreshingly bitter with satisfying finish.
Sharp's - Doom Bar4.00AcceptableStandard mid-brown malty brew.
Magpie - Best4.20AcceptableCopper coloured, thin, not much character. Maybe 2.1/2*.
Marston's - Burton Bitter3.80Not Tried
Brains - Dark (aka Red Dragon Dark)3.50Not Tried
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Lakeland Stunner3.90Not Tried

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About the Spooner's Bar

The pub sign. Spooner's Bar, Porthmadog, Gwynedd

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional1
Excellent30
Good66
Acceptable63
Poor15

Website.

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.

Map location

Postcode: LL49 9NF