If you are feeling very brave try Samichlaus - its quite strong and though its a bit pricey its not stupidly so
The 330 ml cans of the same beers are usually better value for money though. 2x4 cans of a number of craft beers can be bought for £10 in supermarkets.
Marginally. But it depends on the experience you're looking for. I'd be 440ml all day long myself, and you can get 4 for £5 in some places which is great value.
The thing with craft beer is, there's almost endless possibilities. If ones not quite right, try a similar style beer from a different brewery. Many of these will have been mentioned already, but I like the beers of some of these breweries: Magic Rock North Brewing Co Stancil Vocation Bevertown Brew York Rudgate Brewery Thornbridge Tiny Rebel Bradfield Brewery Northern Monk Wold Top Kirkstall Brewery The Ilkley Brewery Co
I don't drink any more but if you get a chance and haven't yet tried them, there are some great brewers in Bristol, my faves being: Fierce & Noble Lost & Grounded Wiper & True Bristol Beer Factory Wild Beer (from Somerset)
The bristol beer festivals (if they are still going) were fantastic. Moor, LHG, New Bristol Brewery, Good Chemistry... such a good place and so many more to list. Spent many an hour in the grain barge looking out on the still water.
As Voice of Reason pointed out earlier, 'Craft' beers are loosely defined, but they are not Real Ale, they are what is usually described as 'keg' or brewery conditioned... they are though a higher quality than most mass produced keg beers.
Had some marvellous roasts in Bristol down the years, but never had anything on the grain barge. Was a place on whiteladies road we only ate in once but then it closed down. Can't recall the name but the roasts were huge and really well cooked. The huge yorkie puds even had good flavour and seasoning. The place we tended to go to more in pre pandemic years was the Royal Navy Volunteers Tavern. Great beer choice, sometimes some live music and a very decent roast.
I went there for works do in December. Never been before and was impressed with the place, food and people. I've been on King St plenty of times drinking but never there previously. There is also a Volunteer Tavern on Old Market, which is worth a visit though maybe a little too hipster. Not sure about the Hop House, but some good pubs around Clifton. Your knowledge of Bristol is very good! I'd recommend a visit to Fierce & Noble micro brewery next time you're down this way if you haven't been before - a 10 minute walk from the centre back along the M32.
I love Bristol and about 5-6 years ago we were actively considering moving there. We used to visit 2 or 3 times a year for probably 15 years or more, but obviously with our circumstances now, haven't been for the best part of 3 years. So we've eaten and drank in a lot of places in that time and it's been really good to see it evolve how it has. King St is really good. Small bar is a really nice little space on there too and the tart up of the theatre was very impressive and quite pleasant for a quick breakfast. I think I've been in Fierce and Noble on one of the brewer festivals but can't be completely sure, I think it was a really small bar and quite dark? I think it was relatively near some place that looked like a working mens club but had an insane choice of beers and was really quite reasonable. Only been in once give it was out of the way, but was certainly impressed with the options. We were talking about visiting in the mid summer, hoping people would be on holidays, but given what happened with my missus in March, I'm not sure it's something we'll be able to do sadly. But you never know, if that C thing can bugger off for a bit, she might suggest it again. We'll have to see.
Yes Small Bar is a great place, and also King Street Brew House (when not too busy). Fierce & Noble does have a small bar and a small yard, it's in St Werburghs. Not sure about the WMC but the Duke of York is just round the corner and a fantastic pub. I really hope you manage to make it back soon, if anything just for a bar/foodie crawl and a walk on the harbour! Fingers crossed for you and your wife.
Is the brew house the one thats an underground cellar? If so, we finished in there after a brewery/riverboat guided tour. Less tour, more getting blotto! Good, but I'm not sure wed do it again given how quick everyone was expected to drink up. And me too. I'm not going to lie, I think we both have moments where we really miss getting about and being able to do things that others wouldn't think twice about, but as my missus said at the outset of the pandemic, even if we never manage to go anywhere ever again, we've been incredibly lucky that in our 40's we've been able to have been to so many places, had such good times together and enjoyed some really good food and drink. We can always reminisce, but yes, it would be lovely to be able to physically be back in places we love, even if it's still just in the UK. At least we've been able to have a few cottage breaks in the middle of nowhere, but it's not quite the same.
No, the cellar bar is called the Beer Emporium. The Brew House is on the corner up near the river. Beyond that is The Apple, which is a bar on a boat. It mainly does cider but you can get beer too - it has outdoor seating on land, you most likely visited there on your tour! That's such a shame. I don't know your circumstances obviously but as you know there are places you can go in Bristol that are open (the harbour, castle park etc) where you don't really have to go near other people. And there are lots of bars/breweries with outdoor seating, and many of them off the beaten track that are popular but not overcrowded i.e. not like sitting outside the Arnolfini, where every man, woman and their dog congregates for beers. If you need any tips let me know, but you obviously have a good understanding of places to visit etc.
Ah right, I know where you mean, I think the brew house was only just opening last time we visited. Not a fan of cider, but I know the boat you mean. Is/was the one next to it 3 brothers? Before that was sort of like a grill/barbecue restaurant. Quite liked it there. Tried the burger place once and wasn't enamoured sadly. Essentially my missus got covid really bad in March and was hospitalised for around 2 weeks (she's on immunosuppressants, so the risk may be a constant thing as the 8 weekly drugs wipe out large amounts of immunity). She's in fairly decent shape now, but it pretty much means we're in our own self induced state of lockdown other than a few local walks when people aren't around at all. Prior to her catching it, we were venturing into London a little more and had stopped for drinks in places that were really really quiet, but given the shock, I think it's unlikely we'll be getting close to normal for quite a while. Keep talking about Bristol though, it sparks really happy memories! ;-)
I'll certainly refer back to this thread in future. But it's the weekend now. So it's back to witches piss. In my bar, folk arriving soon and seeing how much of a dent we can make in these 2 barrells of fosters.... Have a good weekend all
