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Hinckley & Bosworth Branch |
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Merchant's Inn Beer Festival Visit Monday 21st April 2008 Again a full minibus arrived at the Merchant's Inn, Rugby for another of the ever popular Beer Festivals & the ever popular Dr. Busker. The festival theme was the number 6, as it was the Merchant's sixth anniversary in it's present form. Consequently all the beer gravities ended in a 6! Both the 50+ beers and Dr. Busker were up to their usual high standard, no one was disappointed. I found the Bazens' of Salford Black Pig Mild at 3.6% and Abbeydale Matins, also 3.6%, to be particularly to my taste. Along with a few other members, I took the opportunity to walk to a couple of other pubs nearby. First call was the Victoria in Lower Hillmorton Road, an excellent pub and a first for me. There was a most impressive row of 10 handpumps on the bar, each offering a different beer, several from Atomic Brewery. Next call was the Raglan Arms, my first visit since a change of landlord & refurbishment. It seemed much improved with, I think, 9 handpumps on the bar. As well as brews from the larger breweries - Abbot, London Pride, Ansells Mild, there were also several from smaller breweries such as Church End. There was also JHB straight from the barrel - very nice! Once again a few hours in Rugby makes you realise how lucky they are with the vast choice of beers available in some excellent pubs. If only the choice in Hinckley was half as good . . . . .
Words by Alan Cooke
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