It was a bit of a surprise if I'm going to be honest to find such an amazing place I wasn't really ready for! It wasn't just because we were in Darlington. I knew we would be going to a real ale pub for lunch, it's a given with my family, only it wasn't a typical tiny old pub with low hanging beams and beer mats pinned to the wall. Not that I dislike those pubs, but that whats I was expecting.

This 'pub' is at the opposite end of the scale, with high ceilings and lovely massive windows to give the bar an airy feeling to contrast against the deep purpley pink decor. With traditional features mixed in with modern detailing it could keep you curious for hours!
When I say modern I don't mean in that horrible way that some people take an old pub and stick mirrors and shiny surfaces everywhere, but they used very subtle tweaks which just give it an amazing charm. I loved it!
Dad and I had a bit of a dispute about the way we would describe Number Twenty 2. I started to take notes describing it as a 'Really traditional pub" but with contemporary details around and about. Dad instantly disagreed and said it wasn't really a pub, but more of a drinking establishment since it served food and was more like a bar??? I said it had the traditional elements still left from the original pub but they had made it more up-to-date with the decor yadda yadda yadda hence describing it as a pub Argh! This went on for a while after Mum telling us we were both right and we settled down. I'll let you know what he had to say on the matter after reading this post.
There were 12 pumps on when we were in there, Dad picked out Adnams Lighthouse by Soul Bray Brewery for me which was nice but I wasn't really feeling it. Not my sort of thing a bit too hoppy and with a strong malt flavours to it, So as Dads should always do, he swapped with me. He had Icon by Salopian Brewery which was a flowery ale, for very easy drinking, bit too flowery for me, I'm fussy I know. So as Mums should always do she swapped with me, HA!
She had Moonlight Ale which was an interesting one. We had all tried it it, Dad got the taste of "hundreds and thousands" while Mum got the flavour of pineapple chunks underneath the hoppy undertones. It was lovely but it was such a complex nostalgic ale which took both Mum and Dad back to flavours of their childhoods which was really interesting. I love ales that transport you somewhere totally different and make you think.
So there is was, we all had the appropriate ale at the end. Dad with a malty, hoppy ale. Mum with a flowery light ale and me with a 'thinker' ale, He knew what he ordered was right he just gave them to the wrong people! If I had to describe all our different tastes I think those 3 beers pinpoint us perfectly.
We then had some food from there small but perfectly formed menu of simple classics with a twist. So Mum had something called the 3 little piggies, which was a hot sandwich with sausage, bacon and black pudding with a onion relish, It was really tasty! Not too big so it wasn't too much with a salad on the side ( who were they trying to kid with salad???). Dad and I shared a ploughmans and I had ham on the side,with 2 local cheeses and one delicious goats cheese with a rosemary crust from Spain, grapes, apple, a bit of bread and chutney it just hit the spot.
We then got another round in, So after reading in the Darlington Drinker 181 about Number Twenty 2's own ale White Boar and how it has been chosen to be sold in the House of Common's Strangers Bar I had to sample this beer! If you don't already know, because I didn't, there is a bar in the House of Commons, so when somebody is shown around the HoC they get taken for a drink in there.
Anway, I decided that I had to try this politically appreciated ale and it didn't disapoint. A citrusy stand out beer with it's own individual flavours which is really refreshing. When you first 'nose' the beer you get a butterscotch bouquet with overtones of meady honey. I really enjoyed this beer and if you can get your hands on a pint I could recommend you try it!
This is has been one of my favourite beer sessions with all the casks obviously in good condition and the warm and welcoming staff, relaxed atmosphere in the perfect surroundings I would take anybody there in an instant. I'm going to put it out there and go so far as to say this is my favourite ale pub so far!
When I was in York, Dad produced a piece of paper with an article written about Number twenty 2 hat looked as though he had been carrying it around for weeks officially stating it is a 'drinking establishment'.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dad, you just couldn't let it go! ha