9th October - New Real Ale venues around Birmingham City Centre

"I'll save time" I thought on arrival at New Street Station and purchase a Centro Day ticket to enable me to join the rest on their trip to Tipton - should have (re-)read the e-mail as...

... on arrival at the Fox by Birmingham's Chinese Quarter GP informs me that they were staying around Birmingham (in line with the email) to sample beers in some pubs that have recently improved in the real ale stakes (but at least he was kind enough to buy the ticket off me.) In the Fox it was two halves of the guest beers (they also had St Austall Tribute which although an excellent beer isn't that uncommon.) This enabled a side by side comparison of Backyard Brewhouse's Hobs Hole at 4.2% against Churchyard Bob from Warwickshire which although stronger at 4.9% didn't taste like it.

Next onto the Victoria in John Bright Street. Although they had Hook Norton's Hooky Bitter, Ridley's Witch Finder and Purity's Mad Goose I spied and went for Butty Bach from Wye Valley.

Now for one of the most interesting pubs, Baccus Bar near New Street Station, the décor has to be seen to be belived (which is my way for saying I'm not sure how to describe it but think Castle in the Elizabethan style with a gothic twist and you won't be far wrong). One real ale available (although I nearly went for the Erdinger Wheat beer) so we opted for Timothy Taylor's Golden Best which is that rare offering these days of the Yorkshire Light Mild.

Further up the road to the Yard of Ale (one of the pubs that suffered in the 1974 pub bombings then known as the Tavern in the Town.) These days it’s a typical city centre pub that in keeping with other places in the area you have to descend a flight of stairs to get in. There were three real ales available with Jennings Little Gem being my choice (other options were Ringwood 49er , and Banks's Bitter.)

Onwards to the (in the style of Wetherspoon's) Crown near Aston University where the beer of choice was Morrisey Fox Spooky. The taste cause a lot of debate, just what was it it? Then JF hit the nail on the head describing it as American Cream Soda.

Round the corner to Jekyll and Hyde where Wye Valley HPA was on offer. The poster on the wall of a Haynes manual style drawing of an old VW Camper got me thinking back to a time when I was younger and wanted to be a draughtsman.

Into Edmunds in Edmund Street for a swift half of Wye Valley HPA and finally Church Street next for a pub previously known as the Cathedral Tavern , but now called Utopia where Enville's Honey Ale was selected and just before the homeward trek there was the posh appearing Pub du Vin also in Edmund Street. Purity Mad Goose was the choice (other options included Sharpes Doom Bar, Kinver Light Railway a pleasant touch (I suppose) was the freely available dry roast nuts nibbled whilst we gazed at the impressive drinks cabinet.

I'm too old for this many pubs!! but a great night all the same - nice one GP and more next time please!