539. Thu 8/11/18: U Medvídků, Prague

Beer: Old Gott 5.2%

Back at the Little Bears; it’s a little busier than earlier in the week, but still room to sit in the brewery bar. The couple next to us are tackling a pork knuckle – a huge great thing. It’s a joint, it becomes clear, best shared. The fella takes the lead, and does a fine job carving. Looks delicious… I’m never going to try it while I’m with veggies… anyway, we’re here for the beer.

Where’s the old boy who used to do all the brewing this year? We’ve not been in here when they’ve had a brew on. That’s undoubtedly the incorrect term, but we’ve been in here before when it’s more like a sauna – the whole place infused with the smells of brewing the beer we’re drinking. It’s lovely. We’ve rather missed that.

Instead, hidden away in the brewery section (separated from the dining area by glass partition) a couple of ladies are filling bottles individually by hand. It is, presumably, the famous strong/seasonal X33 lager. It seems a charmingly archaic labour intensive operation… and we eventually buy a couple of bottles for Christmas presents. They’re .33ltr bottles, and cost about a tenner a pop. For all its (variable) charm, this is still a pretty cynical tourist trap.

Good beer mind… the Old Gott. Goodness knows what’s in the bottles.

345. Thu 15/3/18: Café Salon Bahia, Cádiz

Beer: Cruzcampo 5.0%
Another quietly innocuous bar away from the throng. The telly piques interest in this place though, as Viktoria Plzeň are beating Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League. They’re 2-0 up, 2-2 on agg… extra-time…

The bar is reasonably quiet, but has eight fruit machines – which gives the place the feel of a Czech Herna bar. It’s not as dingy as that, mind, although the array of tapas on display looks a little forlorn.

Sporting score an away goal on 105 minutes. Booo.

It’s not really our cue to leave, but we do anyway. It’s our last evening in Cádiz and, though we’re a little fatigued anyway, the little bars at the station end of the old town haven’t really been brilliant.

Cádiz, though, is an excellent, laid back little city – which we’ve thoroughly enjoyed.

471e. Thu 6/9/18: The George II. 70 Bute St, Luton

Beer: Morland Old Golden Hen 4.1%

Post Utter! panic drink at The George. Which is its usual untidy, rambunctious self and quite a contrast from the Crush Bar. The George is the first pub from the station on the way into town and always has an outlaw feel and is always grubby.

Still, the opportunity to chat through what was a very decent night of spoken word (yes, they can happen) was grabbed and enjoyed. The evening's success and good vibes were almost turned on their heads when I purposefully stride into the ladies lav, but there are no ladies around, so I get away with it and spend some quality time yabbering with SW, LN and PA. Lee's plotting and scheming his next coup and in generally good spirits.

A few other waifs and strays drift by on their way to The Wheelies and are pleased to see us. Almost too pleased; I'm knackered.

81. Tue 18/4/17: Restaurante Asador, Madrid

Beer: Mahou 5%

Last bar of the evening is a small standard tapas bar on the square; nothing much to say for or against it. There are some nice hanging plants over the window and bar. The gratis tapas are a very acceptable variety of green olive. The beer is served in chalices. The beer is Mahou.

I have vague recollection of Real Madrid v Bayern Munich on the telly – and our not really wanting to watch it; and our looking for the bar advertising their screening Leicester v Atletico (and our, oddly, giving a toss) and our not finding it, and going back to our flat instead. We’re tired.

386a. Wed 4/4/18: The Frog & Rhubarb, Slip End, Luton

Beer: Bath Ales Gem 4.1%

A slightly fraught bus journey up to Slip End from Luton town centre (left wallet in office, ran back to fetch it, retrieved wallet, consequently needed the loo, missed the bus, 30 min wait for next one). Spring brings clouds, sparrows and airplanes climbing in a westerly direction. Much like any other season.

I half expect DGK to be ensconced in the front bar area, though am greeted by TPK . He's had an even more useless journey up. I lend him £20. We're joined by DGK and SDK, have another pint of the same then repair to 7CC for a curry. Frog's not bad for a meet-up place; slightly more welcoming than The Rising Sun, with slightly better beer.

420. Mon 28/5/18: The White House, Luton

Beer: Jennings Snecklifter 5.1%

Sultry Bank Holiday weekend afternoon. Back from work (working on this) and the gym and looking to muster enthusiasm for a few beers, a curry and an early night. It’s too hot though; I’m too weighed down with gym baggage and camera.

The JDWWH is as it tends to be on days like these – the outside seating is packed and bawdy, it’s considerably quieter inside.

Inside there’s the usual family groups, groups of middle aged men, a few sad loners like me – the real topers down at the bottom bar. The beer is alright, the tables are sticky, I opt out of a second.

409. Sat 5/5/18: BeerHeadZ, Nottingham Station

Beer: North Riding Brewery Banoffee Porter 5.0%

Steph and I have reservations on a later train than the others – but we accompany them to the station, where we’d read on the way up (in the latest CAMRA Beer magazine) of this brand new micropub.

It’s good. I like the concept of micropubs – we’ve been to a few. This is certainly small enough to qualify… it seems rather achingly trendy too, which might put me off.

Anyway, the beer is good – the beer is strong – it’s been a lovely day and a long day, and we’re all quite p*ssed.