LHG

 On Wednesday we went for a bus/walk visit in the, aptly named, Magpie Bottom.  It's part of the city (sort of East Bristol towards the old suburbs) I don't really know at all.

It was a bit painful getting there because the roads were thoroughly rammed with traffic on all the main roads.  The bus was also very full at 2.30pm - I guess that shows that a lot of people move around the city at all times of day.

Still, after 25 minutes or so, we arrived at this quiet little green area and the sound of traffic receded almost immediately, to be replaced by birdsong.

We saw, well, magpies (obviously) but also wrens, robins and a greater spotted woodpecker and we heard blackbirds, chiffchaffs, tits and some sort of warbler, maybe.  It was quite the tonic.

The nice thing about the walk was that we could go the length of the greenspace, pop out at the other end and walk for less than 10 minutes through a quiet neighboourhood to Two Mile Hill which is a key bus route. We didn't have to wait very long until a suitable bus arrived to convey us back into town.

We decided to give the Old Castle Green another go.

We were greeted effusively and there were about 5 keg beers to choose from.  Most of them local.

We ordered a couple of pints and settled in.  It's a really good, inclusive, space and whilst not exactly understated, we didn't feel out of place at all.  Good trick to pull off.

We weren't inclined to try any of the other beers as they didn't appear to offer any contrast or progression from our first ones so we decided to head home.  It's a bit like the Old Market Assembly in terms of beer offering for us:  OK but we'd need a pressing reason to go there.

Yesterday I had to pick up an Amazon parcel so, naturally, we decided to pop into LHG's brewpub.  We rarely venture there on a Thursday and, sure enough, but 4.30pm when we approached it sounded pretty busy.

The usual groups of undecideds were lurking in the space between the door and the bar and, although the staff were effcient, quite a lot of customers weren't.  

On the bar was a choice of 4 different casks beers:  4% Bitter, LHG;  5% pale, LHG, 5.5% Porter LHG, Old Ale - Tileys.  I love this development - time was, there weren't casks at all and then it was Shroedingers cask now there are always casks.

Before too long we had two pints of a 5% pale cask beer in straight glasses and a pleasant seat.  Fresh as a daisy, clear as a Penzance beer and delicious. 

There was a small period of excess local noise when a couple of new mums loudly shared infant tips but that didn't last too long.  We were then joined by a couple of folk who were jolly but with better volume control.

Second pints were LHG Porter (Casks) for him and something pale and keggy for me.  I never remember their keg beer names since they're always new/different with only fairly subtle diffences between different brews.  That's not derogatory, exactly, since I will always choose one of the IPAs by strength but there's no point learning the name.  It was, however very nice indeed with a lovely bitterness and little obvious sweetness.  He adored the Porter and said "that's the sort of beer I would have really enjoyed 35 years ago, and still really enjoying it now" - that's high praise indeed.

Lasties were two shared drinks - 2/3rds of something pale and 6% as a collab between LHG and Verdant and something 1/3 and 8% LHG's own.  Both lovely, and shared nicely.

It was interesting watching the ebb and flow of people:  5.05pm huge groups in and then off to find a place to sit or stand.  Staff prioritise efficiency over engagement (fine by me) and the place swallows up more and more people.   Then you look up and realise that equilibrium has been attained.

Obviously there's nothing cosy about what amounts to a gigantic industrial building housing a brewery and a 100 or so seater venue but its very capacity is one of its virtues - it swallows up vast swathes of people and its atmosphere doesn't really change.  

For us it delivers a consistent offer, a range of beers and now, with the cask range, a great choice.  It's also nice and close to home - and that goes a long way too.

Nicely done.