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Spooner's Bar (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Banks's - Mild |  | 2 |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side Of The Moose | | 1 |
| St Austell - Tribute |  | 2 |
| Purple Moose - Ysgawen | | 1 |
| Salcombe (formerly Quercus Devon) - Seahorse | | 1 |
| Heavy Industry - Electric Mountain | | 2 |
| Big Hand - Palewulf | | 1 |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | | 6 |
| Salopian - Shropshire Gold | | 1 |
| Cwrw Cader - Cwrw Goch | | 1 |
| Banks's - Amber (rebrand of Bitter) | | 1 |
| Marston's - Burton Bitter | | 2 |
| Purple Moose - Cwrw Eryri (Snowdonia Ale) |  | 1 |
| Ringwood - Shipyard Brewing Co Independence Pale Ale | | 2 |
| Quantock - Ralehead | | 1 |
| Ascot - Bronco Buster | | 1 |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | | 5 |
| Deeply Vale - Ripper | | 1 |
| Cwrw Cader - Cader Aur | | 2 |
| Republic of Liverpool (cuckoo at Stamps) - 51st State | | 1 |
| Bragdy Lleu - Lleu | | 1 |
| 3D (a brand of Epic Beers) - Hop Gun | | 1 |
| Cwrw lâl (also see Community Brewing) - The Volunteer |  | 1 |
| Wye Valley - Deuce | | 1 |
| Rudgate - Brew No. 8 Cherry Pale | | 1 |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Beachcomber Blonde | | 1 |
| Marston's - Saddle Tank | | 1 |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Clogwyn Gold | | 1 |
| Marston's - 61 Deep | Not Tried | 0 |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Original (was Bitter) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wye Valley - HPA (Hereford Pale Ale) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Three Tuns - XXX | Not Tried | 0 |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Bombardier Amber | Not Tried | 0 |
| Heritage (formerly William Worthington Brewery) - Red Shield | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Three Tuns - Solstice | Not Tried | 0 |
| Theakston - Double Cross IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Three Tuns - Best | Not Tried | 0 |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Autumn | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ringwood - Razorback (renamed from Best Bitter late 2015) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Black Sheep - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood) - Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Big Bog - Swampy | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wood's - Shropshire Lad | Not Tried | 0 |
| Big Bog - Bog Standard | Not Tried | 0 |
| Bragdy Lleu - Bendigeidfran | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Revisionist Juniper Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Banks's entry now please) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Mansfield Cask Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood) - Oxford Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Greene King - IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Empire - Golden Warrior | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Wainwright | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - EPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ringwood - Razorback | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marston's - Pedigree | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ringwood - Boondoggle | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Wainwright | Not Tried | 0 |
| Jennings - Cumberland Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Sunbeam | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Sunbeam | Not Tried | 0 |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | Not Tried | 0 |
| Coors - Hancock's - HB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Banks's - Amber (was Amber Bitter) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wye Valley - Butty Bach | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
16 Jun 2021 (McGargle)
Summary of ales seen between 7th and 13th Sept. Chaotic service but staff masked and pleasant. Still overly dependent on Marston 'guests'. Not worth visiting for beer bvut the trains are still a great draw.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purple Moose - Cwrw Eryri (Snowdonia Ale) | 3.60 | | Malty and honeyed. |
| Ringwood - Boondoggle | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Amber (was Amber Bitter) | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Young's London Original (was Bitter) | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Bombardier Amber | 4.10 | Not Tried |
04 Sep 2020 (McGargle)
Summary of ales seen between 5th and 11th Sept.
Chaotic service but staff masked and pleasant.
Still overly dependent on Marston 'guests'.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banks's - Amber (rebrand of Bitter) | 3.80 | | No nonsense, traditional Black Country bitter. Enjoyed this. |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | | Bit honeyed and not really to my taste but what was the choice? And we could watch the locos coming and going. |
| Marston's - Saddle Tank | 3.80 | | Brown, boring, bland. Cold tea might have had more flavour. |
| Ringwood - Razorback | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - 61 Deep | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Wainwright | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Sunbeam | 4.20 | Not Tried |
06 Apr 2019 (Ray)
This will be a compendium from a week's visits. Let's hope that the Marston's menace has been banished.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banks's - Mild | 3.50 | | Seriously good. They can brew it when they want. |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | | Bordering 2*. Thin, astringent and untroubled by hops. |
| Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Banks's entry now please) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood) - Oxford Gold | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side Of The Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Wainwright | 4.10 | Not Tried |
26 Jun 2018 (Ray)
Composite listing from 22nd to 26th June. Very busy for the Hunslet 125 Event.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Hand - Palewulf | 4.20 | | Well crafted pale ale. |
| 3D (a brand of Epic Beers) - Hop Gun | 4.30 | | With a provenance that links directly to Pitchfork and hence to RCH don't expect a cutting edge beer. This is bandwagon stuff depending on clever marketing rather than skillfully blending ingedients. |
| Ascot - Bronco Buster | 4.80 | | Due to a low hop rate Ascot's take on an American Pale Ale doesn't quite come off. |
| Wye Valley - Deuce | 3.80 | | Untroubled by malt or hops this very pale 'beer' was devoid of any character. |
| Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood) - Bitter | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| Wood's - Shropshire Lad | 4.50 | 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 | |
| Cwrw Cader - Cader Aur | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Bragdy Lleu - Bendigeidfran | 5.00 | Not Tried | Unlikely to try a beer I couldn't pronounce. |
16 Apr 2018 (Ray)
Composite listing of beers seen between 16th and 23rd April. Shame the list is so conservative.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salcombe (formerly Quercus Devon) - Seahorse | 4.40 | | Easy drinking smooth amber ale. |
| St Austell - Tribute | 4.20 | | Competent old school bitter. |
| Quantock - Ralehead | 3.90 | | Described as lavishly hopped. Bit of poetic license here. |
| Deeply Vale - Ripper | 4.00 | | Golden ale with muted hopping. |
| Republic of Liverpool (cuckoo at Stamps) - 51st State | 4.60 | | Maybe 2*. Much ado about nothing. |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Clogwyn Gold | 3.60 | | Malty but dry. Difficult trick to pull off |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side Of The Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Three Tuns - XXX | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Three Tuns - Solstice | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Mild | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Three Tuns - Best | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Ringwood - Razorback (renamed from Best Bitter late 2015) | 3.80 | Not Tried |
13 May 2017 (Ray)
Having taken the Devil's Shilling from Marston's the beer range continues to disappoint. Even the 'guests' give the impreesion that they're what's been offered rather than chosen because they're any good.
This is a composite listing from 13-19 May.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cwrw Cader - Cwrw Goch | 4.50 | | Competent best bitter. |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | | As ever. |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Beachcomber Blonde | 4.20 | | Honeyed and cloying. |
| Banks's - Mansfield Cask Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Empire - Golden Warrior | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Mild | 3.50 | Not Tried | Stayed 'on' rather a long time. |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side Of The Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - EPA | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Ringwood - Boondoggle | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Sunbeam | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Coors - Hancock's - HB | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Cwrw Cader - Cader Aur | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - 61 Deep | 3.80 | Not Tried |
08 Oct 2015 (Ray)
Composite report from 8th October. First impressions are that the beer range is no more exciting and that the service has plunged downhill. Bar staff greeting is a standardised 'Who's next?'.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banks's - Mild | 3.50 | | |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Fresh cask, limited hopping. |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | | Continues to disappoint. I |
| Heavy Industry - Electric Mountain | 3.80 | | Another twiggy brownish beer. |
| Cwrw Cader - Cader Aur | 3.80 | | Competent golden ale. |
| Rudgate - Brew No. 8 Cherry Pale | 3.80 | | In the race to be different misjudged. |
19 Jun 2015 (Ray)
Composite record from 12th to 19th June. Beer range continues to disappoint with Salopian entirely missing during the week.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Is my taste astray for an old favourite? Seemed to be hop deficient. |
| Heavy Industry - Electric Mountain | 3.80 | | Good take on a standard bitter. |
| Ringwood - Shipyard Brewing Co Independence Pale Ale | 4.10 | | Nicely hoppy keg beer. Price held at £3.60 which seems almost a bargain compared to some of the drab cask offerings. |
| Cwrw Cader - Cader Aur | 3.80 | | Bit grainy, bit malty. Not too good. 2.1/2* really. |
| Bragdy Lleu - Lleu | 4.00 | | New brewery based in Penygroes, Gwynedd. Competent bitter. |
| Cwrw lâl (also see Community Brewing) - The Volunteer | 3.70 | | Thin. Brewed with lager hops. There is a bit of confusion about this brewery. It's full name is Cwrw Iâl Community Brewing Co. and it's associated with the Raven Inn (another community project) in Llanarmon-yn-Ial, Denbighshire. Read more at http://tinyurl.com/p82osqd . |
| 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 | |
| Black Sheep - Best Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | Complete with pump clip in Welsh. |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Beachcomber Blonde | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Big Bog - Swampy | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Big Bog - Bog Standard | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Revisionist Juniper Pale Ale | 4.40 | Not Tried | Provenance disguised. |
10 Oct 2013 (Ray)
Composite record from 10th to 13th October. Prices seemed to have moved quite sharply (up) since last visit. Disappointing to see so many Marston's beers which seem to sell so slowly compared to say Salopian or Sadlers.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purple Moose - Dark Side Of The Moose | 4.60 | | Surprised myself. An excellent strong and fruity mild. Went well with hot chestnuts. |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Another day in the cask and the Citra hops shone through. |
| Marston's - Burton Bitter | 3.80 | | |
| Salopian - Shropshire Gold | 3.80 | | Dark gold, fruity hoppy. |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Served appley and green. |
| Purple Moose - Ysgawen | 4.00 | | Young pretender to early Trade Winds. |
| Ringwood - Shipyard Brewing Co Independence Pale Ale | 4.10 | | Actually OK but marked down for being £3.60 a pint on keg. Tried this in cask at around £2.40. Someone (Mr. Marston??) is exploiting the craft keg bandwagon. |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| St Austell - Tribute | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Clogwyn Gold | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Autumn | 4.50 | Not Tried |
06 May 2013 (Ray)
Great bar on the Ffestiniog Railway platform in Porthmadog. Strong local following topped by enthusiastic visitors. This log notes beers seen between 3rd and 6th May.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Top quality modern pale ale. |
| Marston's - Burton Bitter | 3.80 | | True to type. Bitter, slightly sulphurous, moreish. |
| St Austell - Tribute | 4.20 | | Workmanlike bitter. |
| Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA | 3.80 | | Not quite ready but still sold out in a session. |
| Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri) | 3.60 | | I've a feeling that the yeast changed a couple of years ago and don't get on so well with beers now though others disagree. This I found to be thin and slightly astringent - not much from the hops. |
| Greene King - IPA | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - London Pride | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Pedigree | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Jennings - Cumberland Ale | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Sharp's - Doom Bar | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Salopian - Shropshire Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Wye Valley - Butty Bach | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Wye Valley - HPA (Hereford Pale Ale) | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Banks's - Mild | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Purple Moose - Dark Side Of The Moose | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Heritage (formerly William Worthington Brewery) - Red Shield | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Marston's - Spooner's Ale | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Theakston - Double Cross IPA | 4.20 | Not Tried |
About the Spooner's Bar
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 1 |
| 25 |
| 51 |
| 56 |
| 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 41 times, seen 128 different beers and tried 69 of them.
Postcode: LL49 9NF