If it's October and it's raining, then it must be time for the Wetherspoon's Autumn Beer Festival. Wetherspoons do tend to take a battering in the press due to their cheap prices, long opening hours and so called chav clientele . However, I believe that what Wetherspoons should be congratulated for, is their promotion of real ales and this year, American craft ales. So it was take a day off and head into Cardiff to try the ales out. The Central Bar was my pub of choice, mainly as it was close to Queen Street Railway Station and it was pouring with rain.
One think that does disappoint me is the amount of real ales that are actually on. Sure there may be six hand pumps readied with pump clips but all too often half of them have "Coming Soon" attached to them. The reason, after talking to a Wetherspoons manager is that we, the customers, just don't drink enough real ale. Real ale is a living product with a limited shelf life. Where as your usual keg bitters and lagers are essentially dead and last for ages.
Spend any time at a Wethersdpoons bar and you will soon see most people (men) will be drinking John Smiths or Carling. So the sad truth is that if you want more real ales on tap, we have to get more people drinking real ales. Simple really.
Having said all of that there were no such problems in the Central Bar,
One think that does disappoint me is the amount of real ales that are actually on. Sure there may be six hand pumps readied with pump clips but all too often half of them have "Coming Soon" attached to them. The reason, after talking to a Wetherspoons manager is that we, the customers, just don't drink enough real ale. Real ale is a living product with a limited shelf life. Where as your usual keg bitters and lagers are essentially dead and last for ages.
Spend any time at a Wethersdpoons bar and you will soon see most people (men) will be drinking John Smiths or Carling. So the sad truth is that if you want more real ales on tap, we have to get more people drinking real ales. Simple really.
Having said all of that there were no such problems in the Central Bar,
So on with the beers. You can get the festival ales in thirds of a pint and the the three thirds are the same price as one festival pint. In this case a very reasonable ££2.29 a pint. Not bad for a city centre.
World's Biggest Liar - Jennings - 4.3% ABV. Malty with a hint of burnt chocolate. Long lasting bitter finish B+
What The Fuggles - Wadworth - 5.0% ABV. Tastes stronger than its 5.0%. Quite hoppy but not that bitter B+
Supremely Self Concious Black Ale - Stone / Adnams - 5.0% ABV. Bit like a light porter with a touch of roast malt with citrus hops. Very drinkable with a tart finish B+
World's Biggest Liar - Jennings - 4.3% ABV. Malty with a hint of burnt chocolate. Long lasting bitter finish B+
What The Fuggles - Wadworth - 5.0% ABV. Tastes stronger than its 5.0%. Quite hoppy but not that bitter B+
Supremely Self Concious Black Ale - Stone / Adnams - 5.0% ABV. Bit like a light porter with a touch of roast malt with citrus hops. Very drinkable with a tart finish B+