PubsandBeer

History: Home > Small Bar

Small Bar (Big Beer Co)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Dead End Brew Machine (brewed at Drygate) - Death IIIGood1
Kernel (The Kernel) - Table BeerExcellent1
Left Handed Giant - PaleExcellent1
Left Handed Giant - Sonny BoyExcellent1
Left Handed Giant - This is UsExcellent1
Left Handed Giant - Woodland CreaturesExcellent1
Red Cat - OthersideGood1
Boon - Oude KriekNot Tried0
Cloudwater - BitterNot Tried0
Dogfish Head - India Brown (keg)Not Tried0
Gloucester - Milk StoutNot Tried0
Good Chemistry - Extra SpecialNot Tried0
Harbour - Light AleNot Tried0
Hawkshead - RedNot Tried0
Kernel (The Kernel) - Pale Ale - Citra, Chinook, CentenialNot Tried0
Left Handed Giant - Pacific PaleNot Tried0
Left Handed Giant - PorterNot Tried0
Moor - Unfined ConfidenceNot Tried0
Pilot - Mochaccino Milk StoutNot Tried0
Redchurch - Bethnal Pale AleNot Tried0
Rodenbach - Grand CruNot Tried0
Summer Wine (SWB) - MotuekaNot Tried0
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - KiplingNot Tried0
Vibrant Forest - Radicale IPANot Tried0
Vocation - Chop & Change Chinook RedNot Tried0
Vocation - Pride & JoyNot Tried0
Wild Beer Co. - ShoodlepipNot Tried0
Wild Beer Co. - Somerset WildNot Tried0
Wild Beer Co. - Wild Goose ChaseNot Tried0
Picture 1. Small Bar, Bristol, Avon
Picture 2. Small Bar, Bristol, Avon
Picture 3. Small Bar, Bristol, Avon
Michael Croxford

Visits Details

05 Dec 2019 (Stephen Harris)
Late-afternoon. A lively atmosphere. I'm not sure if I ordered the only cask beer or whether others were available. It was not clear.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Left Handed Giant - This is Us4.00ExcellentA lovely, soft, fruity Pale Ale.
31 Oct 2018 (Stephen Harris)
Crowded in the early evening. Perhaps I wasn’t paying attention last time I came here, but all the long list of available beers appear on a blackboard, with cask, key-keg and keg dispense all clearly indicated – which is good to see.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Left Handed Giant - Woodland Creatures6.90ExcellentFrom key-keg. A very complex Milk Stout with many flavours jostling for attention including pistachio and honey. Served a bit too cold for my liking, but flavour really developed as it warmed up.
Red Cat - Otherside6.00GoodHazy gold. A dry IPA hopped with Nelson Sauvin.
Good Chemistry - Extra Special5.60Not Tried
23 Jul 2018 (Stephen Harris)
A pleasant, modern bar. Just a handful of customers in the early afternoon. It was not clear to me which, if any, of the beers were cask conditioned – so I’ll just list the ones I drank. I also had some very nice chicken wings for lunch.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Left Handed Giant - Sonny Boy6.90ExcellentPale gold in colour. A full-blooded IPA.
Dead End Brew Machine (brewed at Drygate) - Death III6.50GoodCloudy, golden murk from Glasgow.
17 Oct 2015 (Andrew)
The first pub in Tony and my tour of Bristol. We were offered tasters of any beer we wanted and as it wasn't too busy we easily got a seat. Nice pub this.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Kernel (The Kernel) - Table Beer3.10ExcellentReally nice and hoppy. Served in 2 third glasses only.
Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling5.20Not Tried
Redchurch - Bethnal Pale Ale5.50Not Tried
Moor - Unfined Confidence4.60Not Tried
Rodenbach - Grand Cru6.00Not Tried
Wild Beer Co. - Wild Goose Chase4.50Not Tried
Left Handed Giant - Porter5.00Not Tried
Pilot - Mochaccino Milk Stout5.50Not Tried
Wild Beer Co. - Somerset Wild5.00Not Tried
Wild Beer Co. - Shoodlepip6.50Not Tried
Boon - Oude Kriek6.50Not Tried
Summer Wine (SWB) - Motueka4.00Not Tried
Left Handed Giant - Pacific Pale4.10Not Tried
Vocation - Chop & Change Chinook Red4.50Not Tried
Kernel (The Kernel) - Pale Ale - Citra, Chinook, Centenial5.10Not Tried
Vocation - Pride & Joy5.30Not Tried
Cloudwater - Bitter4.30Not Tried
Dogfish Head - India Brown (keg)7.20Not Tried
Vibrant Forest - Radicale IPA8.30Not Tried
23 Apr 2015 (HSB)
14:45 Couple outside but we were the only drinkers inside. All a bit too trendy for me. I didn't like the pared down handpumps but the barmaid said they were easier to use than the conventional variety. A blackboard advertised a special drink combination for £3.50. A measure of Buffalo Trace bourbon followed by a pickle juice chaser. This proclaimed the blackboard equals the taste of umami. A similar taste is found in mushrooms. I know what route I would take to achieve it. One of the ciders on offer was from Tiny Rebel.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Left Handed Giant - Pale4.10ExcellentContract brewed by Cotswold Brewing
Harbour - Light Ale3.70Not Tried
Hawkshead - Red4.20Not Tried
Gloucester - Milk Stout5.50Not TriedI didn't try this but the member of our party who did was not impressed. Very, very sweet.

About the Small Bar

The pub sign. Small Bar, Bristol, Avon

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent5
Good2
Acceptable-
Poor-

Website.

The pub is found in Bristol, Avon, BS1 4DZ.

Craft beer bar that opened in 2013. The premises have been through many guises in the past including a Whiskey Emporium. The décor is rather stark with a touch of industrial chic. There are up to eight cask beers on handpump. The pumps themselves are unusual in that they are just the metal spines without a wood or ceramic handle. There is a micro brewery in the left hand room that does one-offs for the pub, and test brews, that if successful, are contracted out to other breweries for large scale production. All beers, whether cask or craft, are listed above the bar on chalk boards by beer style. Two downstairs rooms, an upper room and outside benches. Beer is only served in a third, a half or two thirds of a pint.

We have visited this pub 5 times, seen 29 different beers and tried 7 of them.

Map location

Postcode: BS1 4DZ