As much as I love drinking in London's pubs, and I guess the City is now going to see a bit more of me, I also love getting out of town and last week saw a visit to Grantham in Lincolnshire and the five pubs that appear in the 2010 Good Beer Guide.
The highlight of the day was finding beers from the local brewery, Newby Wyke, in most of the pubs. I have had beers from Newby Wyke at beer festivals before and although always enjoyable they have never proved to be memorable. Well, that all changed on Tuesday. I don't care what anyone says, there is a clear difference between a quick half in a beer festival and a pint or two in the pub. The beers I had last week have moved Newby Wyke right up there into my favourites and "must drink whenever seen". The beers were fresh, clean tasting, well hopped, flavoursome and right up my street. They have been around for a while now and I guess they are on most people's radar but if they are rarities to you, I suggest you try them when you see them. I don't think you will be disappointed.
One of their regular outlets is the Nobody Inn in Grantham. The strange thing about this pub is that the toilets are "secret". Push the door marked Ladies/Gents and you will find it locked. Push the adjacent bookcase and a hidden door to the loos is revealed. Another delightful curiosity that makes Britain's pubs so enduring.
3 comments:
Newby Wyke have seriously stepped their game up recently and now challange Oakham on the delightfully drinkable light hoppy ale front. The stuff they are churning out this year is (IMO) markedly better than a year or two ago, so I don't think it's just the difference between fest and pub that you've picked up on.
Did you get to the Beehive and the Blue Pig? I never get to spend to long in Grantham and still haven't made thr trip out to Newby Wyke; I think the Oakham collaboration/influence is really working well for them.
RS We went to the Blue Pig but not the Beehive. The only other customer was the village loud drunk - he probably speaks highly of us. There were ten of us and we probably disturbed his quiet afternoon. Excellent pint of NW in there - didn't keep full notes so cannot now identify the beer. Very welcoming. Steve
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