Wednesday 16th January - White Rock Hotel + Tower again, Hastings

Another nice bright day, though a bit chilly, and a walk along the front, which enticed me into the White Rock Hotel, overlooking the sea, and delighted to see Kerry behind the bar again, who immediately suggested I drink the ale that I chose for myself anyway, excellent decisions.

 

There were 4 ales on, as usual, 1648 Signature (4.4%), Harveys Sussex Old Ale (4.3%), Dark Star Rock Star (6%), the result of cooperation with Magic Rock Brewery, an "American Brown Ale", and Franklins Pudding Stout.  I had a pint of the Pudding Stout, which Kerry said she had tried elsewhere and really liked, and it's a 4.2% very dark reddish brown ale, with a very strong chocolate aroma, less prominent in the taste, which has hints of spice, immediately a bit sweet, but with a bitter finish; liked it!

 

I then wandered up London Road to the Tower again, sadly, Louisa wasn't behind the bar this time, though she does employ lovely barstaff to fill in when she's not present, so no worries. There were 3 ales from Dark Star, the 6% Rock Star, 4.2% Winter Solstice, which I was going to drink, but didn't get round to (the music got a bit loud and she put snooker on the tv, pretty boring for me), and the 4.7% American Pale Ale (APA), which I did drink after trying a pint of the Nethergate "Growler Brewery" Hound Dog (4.2%).  This was a decent pale bitter, but not a patch on the APA though; Dark Star must have changed the recipe, I think, as it is tasting more bitter to me these days, crackin'!

 

 

I ended up walking back eastwards along the beach to the Hastings 'Old Town' and the Dolphin, which had the same 6 ales as I've already reported, the Hophead, Special, Sussex Best and Old Ale, Riptide and Loxley Ale, and the wonderful Louise and Debs behind the bar.  Also, I met The Quaffer, editor of Sussex Drinker, and had a good chat to him, and became a bit merrier than I usually get.

Cheers!
 

5th December and The Tower, London Road, Hastings

I get a bit confused if this is St Leonards up the hill here in London Road, or Bohemia?  Whichever, I visited the Tower and Louisa, and had a few ales. The photograph below is from a few months ago, but I forgot to take a photo this time, and it's quite nice and sunny in this picture, anyhow, I did take a photograph of the beer pumps and fire, further below:

Louisa is great company, keeps a friendly house, and serves up well-conditioned ales at some of the lowest prices in Hastings.  The 4 ales on offer today were Fullers London Pride (4.1%), I hadn't drunk a pint of Pride for a few months, so had to taste it, still a good ale, no doubt about that, despite my tastebuds now going for more pale and bitter ales, and at £2.40 a pint, had some mates of mine, I bragged to by text, very envious.  Similarly, I bragged about the excellent 5.9% Thornbridge Jaipur at £3.00 a pint to another set of friends; I'd forgotten how good Jaipur is, so I can only imagine what it would have been like to be drinking their Kipling!

 

Louisa also had two Dark Star ales on, the American Pale Ale (4.7%) at £2.40 a pint and Rock Star (6%), an "American Brown Ale" that was a collaboration with Magic Rock Brewery, at £2.90 a pint.  A Christmas visit could well be a priority for me, as for the week from 18.00 hrs on Christmas Eve, until 18.00 hrs on New Years Eve, she will be selling Sharps Doom Bar (4%) at £1.99 a pint!  As the pub is also open on Christmas Day from 11 to 3pm, I may just pop in on Christmas Day, just to wish everyone a merry Christmas, whatever, I will be there at some time during the festivities...

 

 

...and another real fire!

Cheers Louisa :-)