Still Smitten

Back in the West again.

A few disappointing days of beer in Eastbourne made us almost desperate for something more exciting than Harvey's Best.

It being Friday we knew the Barley Mow would be busy so we popped out as soon as we hit town.  There was some work to do and the pub is our favourite place to do it.

It was already quite busy but there was a nice little table so all was well.  The last couple of trips to this pub had been everso slightly disappointing on the range of beer front.  This time, however, WOW!

Two Tiley's beers, Arbor C Bomb, something Good Chemistry ish, Notorious, and a new BBF "Red" beer on cask.  Where to start?

Notorious, for me the red one for him.  As good a pint of Notorious as I've had although I still think it's not quite as nice as previous incarnations of BBF 3.8% pale beers (Acer, I miss you).

Because we were working, the first pint disappeared in a flash and the boy went to fetch another.

This time I had the C Bomb and he had the Tiley's pale.  Oh my word, C Bomb is an awesome cask pint and this was incredibly fresh and vibrant.  So good, in fact that I had a second one.

As the pub filled up we were joined at the table by a couple who are clearly working their way around tap rooms and pubs who do good beer.  She clearly indulged him in this by enjoying the trips and drinking some beer (by the time they got to us, she was on G&T). 

We had several intermittant conversations about tap rooms and beer in general. It was easy and pleasant going, conversation wise.

We decided not to eat in the pub, so we had our traditional strong keg one for the road:  him Running with Spectres (a darker, much stronger version of Lost & Grounded's Running with Sceptres...not confusing at all, obviously).  It was an awesome porter/black IPA at a hefty 7% or so.  I had a Quantock IPA (5%, I think) which was much better than I expected.

All in all, the stand out beer, though was C Bomb...so yeah, still smitten with the pub and with Arbor beers...

I'm at home.