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
11 Aug 2010 (Ray)
Friendly atmosphere. Many Ffestiniog staff enjoying a well earned pint at the end of their shift.
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Salopian - Darwin's Origin
4.30
Copper ale with a solid malty base. Crisp and tart in the mouth with a dry finish.
Wood's - Parish Bitter
4.00
Not Tried
Thwaites - Nutty Black
3.30
Not Tried
Monty's - Sunshine
4.20
Not Tried
Purple Moose - Cadwalader Jones
4.10
Not Tried
Hop Back - Slovenian Rhapsody
4.00
Not Tried
10 Aug 2010 (Ray)
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)
3.60
Newly on. Bursting with fresh light hoppy flavours.
Salopian - Oracle
4.00
Seemed a little sweeter today.
Monty's - Sunshine
4.20
Deeper more pronounced flavours today. Still enjoyable.
Purple Moose - Cadwalader Jones
4.10
Named 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) - Tiger
4.20
Not Tried
Thwaites - Nutty Black
3.30
Not Tried
09 Aug 2010 (Ray)
Pleasant sunny evening so sat outside.
Also available M&B Brew XI and Marston's Bitter.
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Salopian - Oracle
4.00
Smooth, full bodied hoppy ale.
Thwaites - Nutty Black
3.30
Dark, lightly roasty mild.
Monty's - Sunshine
4.20
Light, floral hoppy ale.
Sharp's - Coaster (or Cornish Coaster)
3.60
Not Tried
Brains - Dark (aka Red Dragon Dark)
3.50
Not 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.
Beer
ABV
Score
Notes
Distant Hills (was Howard Town) - Longdendale Lights
3.90
Pale golden lightly hopped ale. Refreshingly bitter with satisfying finish.
Sharp's - Doom Bar
4.00
Standard mid-brown malty brew.
Magpie - Best
4.20
Copper coloured, thin, not much character. Maybe 2.1/2*.
Marston's - Burton Bitter
3.80
Not Tried
Brains - Dark (aka Red Dragon Dark)
3.50
Not Tried
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Lakeland Stunner
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.