Friday, 5 August 2011

Craft


The new pub in Leather Lane, Clerkenwell that is. I went there last night with the lovely E and enjoyed it very much, though it was a little smaller than I expected, but nonetheless an excellent job in bringing vibrant new life to an old pub. Cask beer was in very good condition and at perfect serving temperature. Well done on that one. The house lager (by Mikkeller I am told) was excellent in every way. There was also a well thought out choice of imported keg beers, though of course having come from GBBF, where we have hundreds, I didn't bother with any. The staff were well trained and motivated, so really, nothing not to like as far as I could see. OK, it is a bit expensive, but the pub itself is splendid and you get a completely good experience for around the same price as some others who don't do it nearly as well.

So back to GBBF and Frantic Friday. If you are there come and say hello at the German and Czech bar. If I'm not around, I'll be schmoozing in the hall somewhere. It isn't all work you know.

PS Top insider tip. A German Imperial Stout on our bar. A ten percent delight.
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17 comments:

  1. Erlangernick5 August 2011 at 14:29

    That imperial stout's from Köln, I bet!

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  2. Leigh5 August 2011 at 16:38

    I visited on Tuesday night and thoroughly enjoyed our time there. Glad you picked up on the staff: I thought they were brilliant - busy, bustling, smiling (important!) and happy to help. will be posting up my thoughts on Craft tomorrow.

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  3. BeerReviewsAndy5 August 2011 at 19:23

    i popped in for a half of mikkeller on wednesday, very nice it was too.

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  4. craftbeercotom5 August 2011 at 20:37

    Thanks for the ace review, hope to see you again soon!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Zak Avery5 August 2011 at 23:14

    Meant to visit it, but ended up in Cask, where a certain notable blogger commented to me that the beer line-up wasn't particularly impressive.

    I asked him what would impress him, and he struggled to answer.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thomas6 August 2011 at 02:54

    Best line up in London, staff wise and beer wise. Lambics always on, where do you see that here?

    Bottle pricing is shrewd too, same as it is online and you don't need to pay the postage and packaging.

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  7. Tandleman6 August 2011 at 08:56

    Zak - It is the down side of choice to some extent. In the old days your choice was which brewery's mild or bitter you had and maybe beer drinking was a little happier then?

    We expect great things now. It isn't always liberating.

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  8. Erlangernick6 August 2011 at 10:39

    Lambics "on"? What kind of "on"? Lambic belongs in a bottle or cask IMO, not gassed up and kegged. Best is poured from a cask into a ceramic pitcher though.

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous7 August 2011 at 22:30

    I tried the Pivovarský dvůr Chýně 12 on the Czech Bar. One of the best beers I had all week. At least I think that was the one as I can't find it in the programme.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Unknown8 August 2011 at 07:58

    That is indeed a positive post. There are an increasing number of quality beer bars that understand the need to worry about good service rather than price. This is just one example.

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  12. beersiveknown8 August 2011 at 11:13

    I never made it to try any Czech/German beers during the festival but Bavers brought across some random Czech thing with a coastal plant in it. I probably met you again this year but still not sure who you are!

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  13. SteveF8 August 2011 at 15:09

    I like Craft a lot - spectacular (to put it mildly) beer selection and excellent service indeed. It doesn't yet have the atmosphere of a great pub, in my opinion. That's the only real downside for me (and one that the Euston Tap can suffer from too).

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  14. Neil, Eating isn't Cheating8 August 2011 at 16:07

    The keg Mikkeller was excellent in every way? So it wouldnt have been better on cask? Are you feeling ok?

    Baiting aside, this place sounds great. Didn't get a chance to visit when I was in London recently and had work commitmenst meaning i couldnt make GBBF either. Will endeavour to go for a beer or three on my next visit.

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  15. Tandleman9 August 2011 at 10:02

    Er Neil. This was the house lager. I don't think many would expect that to be cask.

    Need to step your game up to bait me! (-;

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  16. Neil, Eating isn't Cheating10 August 2011 at 14:39

    I wasn't saying what people would expect. I was asking what you would prefer. From your post it seems you preferred it on keg?

    Mikkeller Lager - "Officially endorsed by Tandleman as being better on keg than cask"

    got a nice ring to it!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Tandleman10 August 2011 at 14:47

    Well if it makes you happy - and I like to spread good cheer - yes I think the house lager is better on keg than cask. It is therefore an endorsement.

    ReplyDelete

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