Great British Boozers

Today’s UK Guardian contains an article entitled, ‘Great British Boozers’, a list of ten distinctive pubs scattered throughout England and Scotland. I’ve not been to any of them, but the list will go into the database for future trips.

One British institution that I greatly miss (and which can’t be transplanted) is the public house.  Some of my best time has been spent at neighborhood pubs – friendly places where you could have a beer or two (or a shot of something stronger) while gassing with friends and new acquaintances. 

The key here is ‘neighborhood’.  In Britain – a country of walkers – most people simply amble to a neighborhood pub.  No driving is necessary and most drink moderately.  One can always stagger home if matters get a bit out of hand. 

Pub food can be good or awful.  Staple fare was always the cheese and onion sandwich and assorted cold pasties at the bar itself.  Traditional sit down fare includes the usual cod and chips and hot meat pies of one sort or another – the type of food that could be eaten without teeth and which has no fiber at all.  In fairness to the British, however, both the teeth and the level of cuisine have improved markedly over the years.  Now you really have to look for a traditional chippy.

But the pub’s real attraction, though, was always the beer.  And Brits concoct some of the best, in my not so humble opinion. No gassy lagers, thank you very much. Traditional British brewing ranges from pale ale to something that could be used to stucco a building.

There are, of course, the international companies like Bass-Charrington (now owned by the Belgians and available worldwide) that provide a homogenized ale.  But what’s more delightful are the smaller breweries that make local or regional product.  Among the best are Wadworth 6X (available in the southwest), Sam Smith’s Nut Brown Ale (sometimes available in the U.S. and still a family business in Tadcaster, Yorkshire), and Theakston’s Old Peculiar (another North Yorkshire brew of considerable potency). In Durham most pubs feature several ‘real ales’ and Newcastle Brown is also a fixture.

One advantage of living in the Portland area is, of course, the local brewers. Since Dave Geary opened the first microbrewery in the 1980s, it’s been possible to enjoy locally-produced pale ale that ranks with the best.

But the pub itself is another matter, however. And there’s nothing quite like the smell of an old pub.

Tagged as: Beer, Boozer, Geary's Pale Ale, Guardian, Newcastle Brown, Old Peculiar, Pub, Public House, Sam Smith, Theakston, Wadworth 6X