Recent stand-out pints

One of my best experiences was drinking Yates’ Undercliff Experience (4.1%) in the Prince of Wales at Freshwater, on the Isle of Wight. This unpretentious back-street pub has clearly changed little over the years and comprises fundamentally a long bar where conversation is king among friendly locals who are, I can testify, particularly welcoming to strangers. The Yates was superb: a classic combination of Goldings and Fuggles hops, but with a twist – the former are the primary hops in the boil, whereas many brewers add them late on for aroma.

Wetherspoon’s, in Truro, in common, I believe, with many other branches, continue to lurch from the hugely disappointing to the frankly sensational in terms of beer quality. Two great examples of the latter recently. Lizard Ales’ An Gof (5.2%) has loads of great malty flavour, but with some good fruit too, similar in style to Ringwood’s classic Old Thumper. Then, last week, a sublime Orkney Red MacGregor (4%), a polished red ale but with great, not too sweet, depth of malt flavour, and some peppery hop on the finish.