The Bar Towel

[cannondale]

Thanks for posting this. I'll be in London this Saturday evening to watch the Brier, so this will come in handy. Am I correct in assuming that if I am only able to make it to one place, Gambrinus would be the one?

I'm amazed by the progress that has been made since I last lived in London.
_________________
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

[SteelbackGuy]

[cannondale]

[SteelbackGuy]

[cratez]

[cannondale]

[cratez]

So here's a current list of interesting taps downtown. I figure the update is necessary now that our #1 beer geek haven (Gambrinus) is closed. Like Belgian said, you can think of it as a "survival guide." The obvious tragedy is that most of these draughts used to be available in ONE location and served by folks who are much more knowledgeable and passionate about craft than anyone else in London. But if you're yearning for some micro beer on tap, are willing to hit multiple spots, and can tolerate varying degrees of quality and presentation (proper glassware at APK, Shire if you ask, Morrissey never), there's still plenty of craft to be had around the core.

The Black Shire Pub
Denison's Weissbier
Denison's Dunkel
F&M Stone Hammer Maple Red Ale
F&M Stone Hammer Dark
Grand River Hannenberg Pils
Stratford Common
Other taps from McAuslan, Railway City, Big Rock, and Stratford

The Morrissey House
Flying Monkeys Smash Bomb Atomic IPA
Fuller's Bengal Lancer IPA
Fuller's ESB
Double Trouble Hops & Robbers
Michael Duggan's #9 IPA
Lake of Bays Pale Ale
Other taps from Mill Street
30 bottles (Don de Dieu, Choklat, etc)

Brennan's Beer & Bistro
Spearhead Hawaiian Style Pale Ale
Flying Monkeys Netherworld CDA
Flying Monkeys Hoptical Illusion
Lake of Bays 10 Point IPA
Mill Street Lemon Tea Ale
Other taps from Railway City, Mill Street, and Steamwhistle
Muskoka, Urquell, and Smash Bomb in bottles/cans

APK Live
F&M Stone Hammer Oatmeal Coffee Stout
Muskoka Spring Oddity
Mill Street Cobblestone Stout
Unibroue Maudite
Unibroue Blanche de Chambly
Other taps from Wellington and Mill Street
15 bottles (usually LCBO seasonals)

The Early Bird / Nite Owl
Mill Street Seasonal (rotating)
Mill Street Tankhouse Ale
Steamwhistle Pilsner
Assorted bottles (Grand River, Black Oak, Muskoka, etc)

Again, the first four lists combined resemble the typical lineup at Gambrinus, and none of these other bars get the harder-to-find gems from Sawdust City, Granite, Cheshire Valley, etc., so hopefully Milos and crew are able to open their new joint ASAP. In the meantime we'll have to settle for the "decent but never great" pubs around town. Cheers
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"This whole being pleasant (thing) is fucking exhausting. I'm running out of nice juice to spray at these shit-munchers" - Veep

[LondonBeer]

Thanks for the update. At one time bungalow had a half decent selection also but lately it has kind of gone for a shit

[MatttthewGeorge]

[cratez]

[MatttthewGeorge]

re: Shire. Well they definitely don't have the dark, so it's the wrong tap handle. Thanks for the heads up; I'll call them today. There was a management change their a few weeks ago and they are adding 4-6 Labatt taps, hence why the Maple is now off. Sadly a couple of other micros are gone as well (Grand River being one).

re: APK. They were suppose to let me know when they tapped that, so again thanks for the heads up. Definitely the only keg left in London (except for two 30 litre kegs Milo's private stash!)

re: Windermere. Us and Flying Monkeys just put in a six tap fridge two weeks ago, hence the increase from 4 to 6. They are changing thier menu soon to try and be closer to a gastropub instead of a high-class restaurant.

[matt7215]

[cratez]

[ErkLR]

[cratez]