Wetherspoons

OK, I have to prove I don't only drink in the Dolphin when in Hastings, and it's true, I don't only drink at the Dolphin, and, being a good member of CAMRA, well, a member who takes advantage of 50p off a pint at 'spoons every now and then, I visited Hastings 'spoons today, and had a pint of Arundel Stronghold, a 'Premium Ale' at 4.7%, and, with the CAMRA discount, a whopping £1.49 a pint, nice one... and it was a pretty decent darkish strongish ale, what you'd expect really!

Update on the Dolphin, though, and I have to giggle now, private joke! The Lemon Head and Heel Stone have been replaced by RCH Pitchfork and Old Slug Porter respectively, RCH do brew some very good beers! Mark (landlord) does like the Porter, and it's pretty good, I even had a pint of it on Monday, but back to my favourite Hophead...

 

Cheers!

Update from yesterday & Dolphin, Hastings

A gorgeous day yesterday, a bit more overcast today, and to the Dolphin...

I was here Thursday evening for the quiz too, our team, At The Bar, came equal first, though there were only 5 other teams this week (compared to 13 in total last week), potentially easier to come last too! There was a lovely near-full moon to admire from the beach on the walk home too, very atmospheric. Anyway, A few changes ale-wise at the Dolphin...

Because of trouble with the Directors, and I still think the recipe of that has been altered, if not the flavour has been effected by being brewed in Bedford now, Mark has brought in Youngs Special, ironically, brewed in Bedford at Charles Wells too!  It may not become the regular replacement, but signs are of sales of Special being significantly more than the Directors, so wait and see...

Sussex Best and Hophead remain regulars, and the APA remains as the summer reguar too, plus 2 guest ales, ie the Stonehenge Heel Stone (4.3%) already mentioned in previous blogs, and Growler Lemon Head (4%). The Lemon Head is a ginger and lemon flavoured ale, no surprise there then, though the ginger is very subtle, the lemon is in your face.  It's very refreshing, if a tad different, good summer ale, especially if you like shandies. By the way, I was confused by Growler Brewery, but it appears Nethergate are now calling themselves Growler, unless they always did and I just wasn't aware?

Cheers!

August Bank Holiday 27-08-12

No wandering too far today, so just off to the old town in Hastings, and the Dolphin, which I reached before it opened, but, luckily, the stall selling 'fishermen's rolls' had just started producing, and I was first in line to enjoy one of their wonderful sandwiches/baps, with 2 filleted fish (usually a dab and a plaice, bap sized), cooked in olive oil and seasoned with pepper and lemon juice... Only £2.50, very good quality and excellent value!

Anyway, I only had a few minutes to wait after I had finished eating the sandwich, and entered the Dolphin, where 2 new guest ales were on sale, including Stonehenge Ales (Bunces Brewery) Heel Stone...

Thanks to a taster from Mark, I found the 4.3% Heel Stone to be a golden ale, fruity, with an easy bitterness to it, though not quite bitter enough for my taste, so, before my usual Hophead, I also had a taster of the RCH Pitchfork, also 4.3%, and then a pint, as it was pretty good.  It's a paler golden colour, and a very easy to drink bitter, which can also be found in bottles.

 

The name comes from the last battle to be fought on British soil during the English civil wars, in 1685, when James II was on the thrown (the Monmouth rebellion).

Anyway, the usual 3 ales were on sale, Hophead, Directors and Sussex Best, and the summer regular, Dark Star American Pale Ale too, making it 6 good or excellent ales at the bar, and, as usual, I drank a few pints of the Dark Star Hophead, this in the convivial company, earlier, of Mark the landlord.   Working behind the bar were, early on, Laura and Louise, and Fraser, Joe and Debs appeared too, as did Mo.  Later, after Mark had left, there were also Dave, Kevin and Al to chat with at the bar, a nice afternoon, indeed, with the family and friends...

 

Cheers!

Links for Stonehenge (link) and RCH (link).