A very wet day in Chester

On Friday 24 January 2014 I met up with my best mate in Chester.  Meeting up in Chester (where my friend lived once upon a time for a couple of years) is something we both do every now and then, when our busy lives permit.  During this particular trip to Chester, we visited a few pubs of course as usual.  There were though a few beers that did not quite live up to expectations.

The first pub we visited was the Albion Inn on Albion Street.  In this pub I consumed a half pint of Manchester Pale Ale, which is brewed by JW Lees.  Manchester Pale Ale met most of my expectations of a pale ale.  Unfortunately I found myself searching for that WOW factor.  Score 8/10.

On entering the Bear and Billet pub near the river, I saw a very interesting slogan on a beam that was above the bar.  It read "alcohol, because no great story ever started by eating a salad."  During our visit to the Bear and Billet, I consumed a pint of Cheshire Cat which is brewed by Weetwood Ales.  Cheshire Cat is billed as a pale ale.  But it is not a very good one, with too much of a watery taste.  Score 6/10.

The Brewery Tap is a pub I have visited on a couple of previous occasions.  As an establishment it appears very impressive.  On one of my previous visits, the staff were courteous to allow me a taste of a very obscure ale.  I really should have done the same on this visit.  I purchased a pint of Growler Bitter, which is brewed by the Growler Brewery.  I consider Growler Bitter to be a ridiculous specimen of a beer!  It was a very watery taste that simply became more watery, and only the slightest ale flavour could be detected.  Score 2.5/10.

My final alcoholic beverage of the day was consumed in The Town Crier, just over the road from the railway station.  That final drink was Top Totty by the Stafford Brewery.  This ale was banned from sale in a House of Commons bar two years ago, due to it's picture of a half naked lady on it's pump plate!  Top Totty provided me with a kind of taste that just could not get going.  It was though much better than that watery rubbish I tried earlier!  Score 6.5/10.

Bullshit, Old Fart & Knob Head! Maybe Cat Piss will follow?

During my trip to Manchester Christmas Market on December 9 2013, I purchased three very curious Real Ale Bottles from a Stall.  It would appear that all the ales on sale from the stall were the product of Direct Beers.  The three ales I purchased were Bullshit, Knob Head and Old Fart.  I finally got round to drinking them over the last week.

With an alcohol content of 3.9%, Bullshit is quite a light ale with a slight hoppiness,  The title is very apt as Bullshit promises much, but does not quite deliver.  Score 7/10.

Old Fart Best Bitter gives off a sweet and almost vinegar-like aroma.  With an alcohol content of 4.8%, it is definitely the stronger of the three beers.  For me, this bitter leaves a comfortable and neutral aftertaste.  Although, the main reason why I believe Old Fart hits the heights, is the hoppiness that gives this beer a very balanced taste.  Score 9.5/10.

Knob Head is a pleasant enough pale ale that does not quite hit my high expectations.  Despite being refreshing in it's taste, it is brought down a bit by a heaviness that lurks in the aftertaste.  Score 8/10.

Direct Beers appear to specialise in selling their products online.  Maybe I should now consider ordering one of their other beers.  Due to my fondness of pale ales, it would be rude not to go for Cat Piss!