Since moving to London I’ve found it a real challenge to
find decent pubs that show live football and aren’t full of people,
particularly in central London and the City. Last week I planned to watch the
Champions League semi-final between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid and was again
presented with this problem. I recalled The Hoop & Grapes, a pub on
Farringdon Street just down the road from my work which, according to signs
outside showed live football. The downside was that it’s a Shepherd Neame pub.
I’m not a big Shepherd Neame fan and will try to avoid their beer if possible,
but every now and then I find myself in one of their pubs with little choice.
On this occasion I went for their Spitfire, an English bitter that commemorates
the Battle of Britain and is probably best known for a controversial ad campaign. The beer itself is really very average. Both aroma and flavour are
dominated by a sweet maltiness and it was pretty light in body. Nothing to
write home about at all. I subsequently switched to the Whitstable Pale Ale
which was something of an improvement although with an almost overwhelming
caramel flavour. Still, at least I got to watch the football.
Brewery: Shepheard Neame
Country: United Kingdom
ABV: 4.2%
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