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Spooner's Bar (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
3D (a brand of Epic Beers) - Hop GunAcceptable1
Ascot - Bronco BusterAcceptable1
Banks's - Amber (rebrand of Bitter)Good1
Banks's - MildExcellent2
Big Hand - PalewulfGood1
Bragdy Lleu - LleuAcceptable1
Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Beachcomber BlondePoor1
Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Clogwyn GoldPoor1
Cwrw Cader - Cader AurAcceptable2
Cwrw Cader - Cwrw GochGood1
Cwrw lâl (also see Community Brewing) - The VolunteerPoor1
Cwrw Llyn - Brenin EnlliGood2
Cwrw Llyn - Porth NeigwlGood1
Cwrw Llyn - Porth. IPAGood1
Cwrw Llyn - SeithenynGood1
Deeply Vale - RipperAcceptable1
Heavy Industry - Electric MountainGood2
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Cumberland AleExcellent1
Ludlow - BlondeAcceptable1
Marston's - Saddle TankPoor1
Monty's - MischiefGood1
Monty's - NavigationGood1
Purple Moose - Cwrw Eryri (Snowdonia Ale)Acceptable1
Purple Moose - Dark Side of the MooseAcceptable1
Purple Moose - Glaslyn AleGood1
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)Acceptable5
Quantock - RaleheadAcceptable1
Republic of Liverpool (cuckoo at Stamps) - 51st StateAcceptable1
Ringwood - Shipyard Brewing Co Independence Pale AleGood1
Rudgate - Brew No. 8 Cherry PalePoor1
Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPAGood2
Salcombe (formerly Quercus Devon) - SeahorseGood1
Salopian - Fat CatAcceptable1
Salopian - Shropshire GoldAcceptable1
St Austell - TributeAcceptable1
Three Tuns - CharterGood1
Three Tuns - SolsticeGood1
Wye Valley - DeucePoor1
Banks's - Amber (was Amber Bitter)Not Tried0
Banks's - Mansfield Cask AleNot Tried0
Banks's - SunbeamNot Tried0
Banks's - WainwrightNot Tried0
Banks's - Young's London Original (was Bitter) - previously brewed in Bedford and at WychwoodNot Tried0
Big Bog - Bog StandardNot Tried0
Big Bog - SwampyNot Tried0
Black Sheep - Best BitterNot Tried0
Bragdy Lleu - BendigeidfranNot Tried0
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood) - BitterNot Tried0
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood) - Oxford GoldNot Tried0
Coors - Hancock's - HBNot Tried0
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Bombardier AmberNot Tried0
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please)Not Tried0
Empire - Golden WarriorNot Tried0
Marston's - 61 DeepNot Tried0
Marston's - EPANot Tried0
Marston's - Revisionist Juniper Pale AleNot Tried0
Ringwood - BoondoggleNot Tried0
Ringwood - RazorbackNot Tried0
Ringwood - Razorback (renamed from Best Bitter late 2015)Not Tried0
Three Tuns - BestNot Tried0
Three Tuns - XXXNot Tried0
Wood's - Shropshire LadNot Tried0
Wychwood - Hobgoblin GoldNot Tried0
Wye Valley - HPA (Hereford Pale Ale)Not Tried0
Picture 1. Spooner's Bar, Porthmadog, Gwynedd

Visits Details

13 Oct 2023 (McGargle)
Commposite list of beers seen during the Bygones Weekend and the first appearance of James Spoooner. 5th to 13th October. Not a Carlsberg/Marston cask in sight!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Monty's - Mischief5.00GoodI enjoyed this powerful IPA. Again more Bitish than US in this cask.
Three Tuns - Solstice3.90Good
Cwrw Llyn - Porth Neigwl4.50GoodMore British than US IPA.
Three Tuns - Charter4.40GoodCelebrating 450 years of the town's Royal Charter.
Monty's - Navigation4.00GoodEasy drinking very pale ale. Helping to support the restoration of a section of the Shropshire Union canal.
Salopian - Shropshire Gold3.80AcceptableAmber coloured and unremarkable. Unusual to find two ordinary Shropshire beers. The other was Fat Cat.
Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose4.60AcceptableRather sharper than Iwas expecting.
Ludlow - Blonde4.00AcceptableYet another blonde.
Salopian - Fat Cat4.50AcceptableDisappointing. No real focus or balance.
Wye Valley - HPA (Hereford Pale Ale)4.00Not Tried
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)3.60Not Tried
Cwrw Llyn - Brenin Enlli4.00Not Tried
Cwrw Llyn - Seithenyn4.20Not Tried
08 Oct 2021 (McGargle)
Composite listing of all beers seen between 8th and 15th October.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Jennings (since closure now brewed at Marston's) - Cumberland Ale4.00ExcellentPerfect serve of a well crafted English bitter; hops and malt in balance. Might just have another.
Purple Moose - Glaslyn Ale4.20GoodWell served and slightly honied in the house style. Not really to my taste
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)3.60GoodBranded as Steam Ale.
Cwrw Llyn - Brenin Enlli4.00Good
Cwrw Llyn - Seithenyn4.20GoodMalt led Best Bitter.
Cwrw Llyn - Porth. IPA0.00GoodThis is Porth Neigwl, 4.5%. (Unable to edit beer details)
Cwrw Llyn - Brenin Enlli4.00AcceptableLight amber bitter.
Purple Moose - Glaslyn Ale4.20Not Tried
Ringwood - Razorback3.80Not Tried
Wychwood - Hobgoblin Gold4.50Not Tried
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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Purple Moose - Cwrw Eryri (Snowdonia Ale)3.60AcceptableMalty and honeyed.
Banks's - Young's London Original (was Bitter) - previously brewed in Bedford and at Wychwood3.70Not Tried
Ringwood - Boondoggle4.20Not Tried
Banks's - Amber (was Amber Bitter)3.80Not Tried
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Bombardier Amber4.10Not 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'.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Banks's - Amber (rebrand of Bitter)3.80GoodNo nonsense, traditional Black Country bitter. Enjoyed this.
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)3.60AcceptableBit honeyed and not really to my taste but what was the choice? And we could watch the locos coming and going.
Marston's - Saddle Tank3.80PoorBrown, boring, bland. Cold tea might have had more flavour.
Banks's - Sunbeam4.20Not Tried
Ringwood - Razorback3.80Not Tried
Banks's - Wainwright4.10Not Tried
Marston's - 61 Deep3.80Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Banks's - Mild3.50ExcellentSeriously good. They can brew it when they want.
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)3.60AcceptableBordering 2*. Thin, astringent and untroubled by hops.
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please)4.00Not Tried
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood) - Oxford Gold4.00Not Tried
Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose4.60Not Tried
Banks's - Wainwright4.10Not Tried
26 Jun 2018 (Ray)
Composite listing from 22nd to 26th June. Very busy for the Hunslet 125 Event.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Big Hand - Palewulf4.20GoodWell crafted pale ale.
3D (a brand of Epic Beers) - Hop Gun4.30AcceptableWith 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 Buster4.80AcceptableDue to a low hop rate Ascot's take on an American Pale Ale doesn't quite come off.
Wye Valley - Deuce3.80PoorUntroubled by malt or hops this very pale 'beer' was devoid of any character.
Brakspear (at Marston's Wychwood) - Bitter3.40Not Tried
Wood's - Shropshire Lad4.50Not Tried
Banks's - Mild3.50Not Tried
Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose4.60Not Tried
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)3.60Not Tried
Cwrw Cader - Cader Aur3.80Not Tried
Bragdy Lleu - Bendigeidfran5.00Not TriedUnlikely 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Salcombe (formerly Quercus Devon) - Seahorse4.40GoodEasy drinking smooth amber ale.
St Austell - Tribute4.20AcceptableCompetent old school bitter.
Quantock - Ralehead3.90AcceptableDescribed as lavishly hopped. Bit of poetic license here.
Deeply Vale - Ripper4.00AcceptableGolden ale with muted hopping.
Republic of Liverpool (cuckoo at Stamps) - 51st State4.60AcceptableMaybe 2*. Much ado about nothing.
Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Clogwyn Gold3.60PoorMalty but dry. Difficult trick to pull off
Banks's - Mild3.50Not Tried
Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose4.60Not Tried
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)3.60Not Tried
Three Tuns - XXX4.30Not Tried
Three Tuns - Solstice3.90Not Tried
Three Tuns - Best3.80Not Tried
Ringwood - Razorback (renamed from Best Bitter late 2015)3.80Not 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Cwrw Cader - Cwrw Goch4.50GoodCompetent best bitter.
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)3.60AcceptableAs ever.
Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Beachcomber Blonde4.20PoorHoneyed and cloying.
Banks's - Mansfield Cask Ale3.90Not Tried
Empire - Golden Warrior3.80Not Tried
Banks's - Mild3.50Not TriedStayed 'on' rather a long time.
Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose4.60Not Tried
Marston's - EPA3.60Not Tried
Ringwood - Boondoggle4.20Not Tried
Banks's - Sunbeam4.20Not Tried
Coors - Hancock's - HB3.60Not Tried
Cwrw Cader - Cader Aur3.80Not Tried
Marston's - 61 Deep3.80Not 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?'.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Banks's - Mild3.50Good
Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA3.80GoodFresh cask, limited hopping.
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)3.60AcceptableContinues to disappoint. I
Heavy Industry - Electric Mountain3.80AcceptableAnother twiggy brownish beer.
Cwrw Cader - Cader Aur3.80AcceptableCompetent golden ale.
Rudgate - Brew No. 8 Cherry Pale3.80PoorIn 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.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Sadler's (see also Windsor Castle entry) - JPA3.80GoodIs my taste astray for an old favourite? Seemed to be hop deficient.
Heavy Industry - Electric Mountain3.80GoodGood take on a standard bitter.
Ringwood - Shipyard Brewing Co Independence Pale Ale4.10GoodNicely hoppy keg beer. Price held at £3.60 which seems almost a bargain compared to some of the drab cask offerings.
Cwrw Cader - Cader Aur3.80AcceptableBit grainy, bit malty. Not too good. 2.1/2* really.
Bragdy Lleu - Lleu4.00AcceptableNew brewery based in Penygroes, Gwynedd. Competent bitter.
Cwrw lâl (also see Community Brewing) - The Volunteer3.70PoorThin. 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 - Mild3.50Not Tried
Purple Moose - Dark Side of the Moose4.60Not Tried
Purple Moose - Snowdonia Ale (Cwrw Eryri)3.60Not Tried
Black Sheep - Best Bitter3.80Not TriedComplete with pump clip in Welsh.
Conwy (Bragdy Conwy) - Beachcomber Blonde4.20Not Tried
Big Bog - Swampy4.70Not Tried
Big Bog - Bog Standard3.60Not Tried
Marston's - Revisionist Juniper Pale Ale4.40Not TriedProvenance disguised.

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About the Spooner's Bar

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

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional1
Excellent26
Good61
Acceptable61
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 43 times, seen 139 different beers and tried 81 of them.

Map location

Postcode: LL49 9NF