I've been drinking in a
pub called 'The Druids Head', in the ancient market place in
Kingston, for several years on and off. My early memories of the
place are fairly distant and vague but I have noticed the clear
progression over the last couple of years. Be it down to the
management or a shift in focus on Greene King's part. When I say 'shift
in focus' it isn't a dramatic change at all, I'm simply referring to
something altogether subtle that I'm sure not many people would have
even noticed, as much as me at least. A similar thing has been
happening to Wetherspoon pubs, the assortment of beers, cask, keg and
bottle or can, both domestic and international has grown so rapidly
that you wouldn't be wrong in saying exponentially.
The change seemed to
slowly come about with the introduction of more and more guest ales.
Then the pace quickened with the addition of a few fancy
'continental' lagers and other beers on draught. The bottled beer
assortment steadily increasing almost unnoticed in the background. It
wasn't until the instillation of a 'Blue Moon' pump that I stopped
and started paying attention. It is a beer I knew from travelling
around the USA but had never seen it on draught here before, it isn't
one that I enjoy I have to say. For some reason I can't get past an
overwhelming celery taste that I find incredibly off putting.
In the couple of years
following the introduction of Blue Moon and the more recent 'Craft
Beer' explosion, the assortment has noticeably changed. Definitely
for the better, I have to say. Greene King have in started brewing
their own American style pale ale called 'Yardbird' which is actually
a very tasty drop if I say so myself, one that I drink on a semi
regular basis. They recently added Brew Dog's 'Punk IPA' and another
beer that must have been so recent as in the last couple of months.
Goose Island IPA. At £4.90 a pint it is not cheap but a beer that
rare and delicious is surely worth the hefty price tag.
A pub championing both
British and International beers is always a winner in my opinion.
A link to the Greene King website
A link to the pubs own site
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