What I thought I would do in the next few posts is recommend some amazing new and old pubs that I have been spending far too much time at in the last two years.
As most of my friends know I can be quite often found at my second home, North Bar and if I didn't start with this one I think a fair few people would mock me. With an amazing beer selection covering all price ranges and a wide variety of characters visiting there is always something for everyone.
It can be quite helpful that I have made fantastic friends Erin who has been working at North Bar for quite a while, she is one of most passionate women I have ever met about beer. I have learnt so much from her and she has introduced me to so many different beers and taught me about the different beer styles. This is what I love about North, the approachable staff will always jump to suggest a beer and usually always have a fantastic eye for what their customers may be looking for.
As I am there quite often, my friend Sam and I frequent North Bar's own brew. Prototype (3.8% at £2.90 pt), this one of their most in-expensive beer and brewed only for the North Bar chain (I'll talk more about that later).
The staff went to Kirkstall Brewery and made 5 different prototypes of ale that they wanted to showcase North's style and appeal to their customers. They tested the 5 prototypes and got their customers to vote for their favourite. If I remember rightly I voted for their Prototype 5 but Prototype 3 won (booo).
Even so it's a lovely pale to amber, easy drinking beer and a good start up beer for when you arrive. This gives you time to peruse their wide selection of cask and bottled ale!
As I have changed job recently I don't find myself in the city centre any more so I needed to find another amazing local for me to pop into. The second I would like to mention is Arcadia in Headingley, this pub, like North is also mentioned in the Good Beer Guide every year.
I also have made another fantastic friend called Brook who is another very clever lady when it comes to all things beer (I'm collecting girl beer drinkers like Pokemon cards!), she also works at Arcadia with a few more beautiful ladies who you can go visit. Now don't get put off by the potential dreaded 'Otley Runners' (18 pub, student pub crawl, messy messy messy), Arcadia has put strict rules in place to avoid the fancy dressed students or even any groups arriving for that matter, so we can still keep the peace for all the regulars (you can still prebook a group visit if you wanted).
Graham the manager is another of my new found friends who is fantastically knowledgeable about beer and I love how particular he is about what beers he does have in stock, he is so willing to pass any trinkets of information to any customers that goes his way.
I find in Arcadia the turn over of beers is brilliant, even within the hour of you arriving two of the pumps have already changed over. With Timothy Taylor Landlord and Black Sheep as a standard on the taps the variation for known breweries to unknown breweries always keeps the drinker on their toes.
For instance I tried Black Sheep's Russian Imperial Stout for the first time and my goodness it was delicious, dangerous but delicious, Also Magic Rock Brewery's (swiftly turning into on of my favourite brewery) Magic 8 Ball. Neither are for the feint hearted with a very high percentage but delicious beers all the same!
Also you find with Arcadia, there are some interesting characters. For instance I had one of the most compelling conversations with Michael, who is a regular at Arcadia and we were having a drink and a very in depth discussion about beer (he used to work at the head quarters of Bass beer when it was located up north in Leeds!!). He brought over a pint for me and told me
"So this is my beer".
To which I replied "oh thanks, this is the beer you're drinking?"
"Oh no no, this is my beer. I am the head brewery at Elland Brewery and this is my beer I have been developing. It should taste of passion fruit and almonds what do you think?".
I was in shock!
Not only had I been blabbing on about beers but I was completely oblivious to whom I had been talking to. Not only that, he had asked my opinion! So we sat there as I have done on many occasions with lots of people dissecting and critiquing the flavours, clarity and colour of the beer. Not only this time could I sit there and make these comments but he was going to take my suggestions and correct this for the next batch he made! Once in a lifetime experience and I enjoyed every minute of it!
So, not that I am biased or anything but I would highly recommend the Elland Brewery's Beat A created by my new friend Michael and obviously tweaked by yours truly.
(I'm under no illusions that he actually went and made the changes i suggested but in my head he did and the beer will taste better for it HA!)
Next on my list is a new pub to Leeds and it's called Friends of Ham, located just next to the train station in Leeds city centre. Its deceiving entrance looks like it's going to a bit of a squash but as you venture downstairs the is a lovely, homely seating area. It has been open for about a year and a half and it's quickly pushing its way through onto the food and beer scene in Leeds.
They specialize in charcuterie so lots of nibbles to go with the beers. They have a wider selection of bottles than tap and some fantastic wine but still a lovely way to spend a cold winters day tucked away to forget the miserable weather. One of my favourite new pubs in the city centre.
There has been such a change in Leeds these are just 3 that are some of my favourites and I shall continue writing about the others that have caught my eye.
Next to come....
The Reliance
Social
The Adelphi
Alfreds
Whitelocks
Brewdog Leeds
The Grove
East of Arcadia
The Botanist
Tetley
The Bridge
Brew-denell Beer Fesitval
Middlesbrough side
Dr Phil's Real Ale House
and more that I am sure I have forgotten and any others that you may suggest?
Let me know in the comments below!
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