Wetherspoon's Beer

Peddle Up!

Doesn't taste right. They sell several of my favourite beers, but they just taste "funny". Just me? :?

peat

Depends very much on the bar in general. The ones i have been into in Oxford keep thier beer quite well. It's only as good as the monkey preparing the barrels downstairs.

cornerblock

Something I've heard is the reason they can sell it so cheap is that they can buy bulk close to the beer's expiry date, knowing they'll get rid of it. If it does taste 'funny' it would be the only thing that is, certainly in my local Wetherspoon's. God awful depressing place it is.

AchillesLeftKnee

Cornerblock wrote:

Something I've heard is the reason they can sell it so cheap is that they can buy bulk close to the beer's expiry date, knowing they'll get rid of it. If it does taste 'funny' it would be the only thing that is, certainly in my local Wetherspoon's. God awful depressing place it is.

Have heard the same thing, and have the same opinion of most of the Weatherspoons I've been in. Chain pubs are soulless things at the best of times, but Weatherspoons really do go for gold in that department.

magibob

Good to see the, "they only buy it close to expiry date," nonsense making another appearance, That just ain't true. I used to be a Wetherspoons manager. I have even taken idiots into the cellar and shown them the barrels with long dates on them, and they STILL didn't believe it. "Must be something funny with the labels." "Well go and drink somewhere else then." "Oh no... I'm not complaining...." Tosser

Re beer quality. In my pub, Boston, I was proud that all the time I was on the management team, we always got 100% in Cask Marque visits. Then again, I'm not a monkey.

With just about any national chain of any type, the quality depends a large amount on the quality of the individual managers.

Bit of history. Tim Martin was always taken with the idea of the perfect pub, as described in an essay by George Orwell in 1946. It was called The Moon under Water, and that's why around Half of the Wetherspoons are either called Moon Under Water, or have Moon or Water in the name. Many of George Orwell's Ideals do go on in Wetherspoons. No music for instance so you can talk.

There is some seriously clever thinking gone into those pubs too. For instance, before the blanket no smoking ban came in, you couldn't smoke at the bar. Part of the reason for that was that at least one of a group of customers would smoke. So, no smoking at the bar, meant no groups of people blocking the bar and stopping people spending their money. :twisted:

There are a few more, buy me a pint and I'll tell you. :twisted: :twisted:

Cheers

Andy

AchillesLeftKnee

Magibob wrote:

Good to see the, "they only buy it close to expiry date," nonsense making another appearance, That just ain't true. I used to be a Wetherspoons manager. I have even taken idiots into the cellar and shown them the barrels with long dates on them, and they STILL didn't believe it. "Must be something funny with the labels." "Well go and drink somewhere else then." "Oh no... I'm not complaining...." Tosser

Fair point, I stand corrected.

mr_goo

Never been in a Wetherspoons but am waiting with anticipation for the much maligned newbie to open in Lymington.
I spoke to one of my favourite brewers Andwells earlier in the year, and they supply Wetherspoons across the south of England. There is no way that they would risk their reputation by selling/supplying below standard ale to Wetherspoons. I am sure like many other SIBA members they would hope that the experience of drinking their cask ale would enthuse the drinker to purchase their bottled produce from supermarkets or even the brewery outlets.

cornerblock

Magibob wrote:

Good to see the, "they only buy it close to expiry date," nonsense making another appearance, That just ain't true

Fair enough , you know what it's like when people drink, they talk rubbish.

cycologist

Like most chains , you have a good idea of what the corporate interior designer has in store for you (unfortunately) The price of a pint is also something that is pretty uniform (ie cheap - fortunately) The quality of the beer is the variable- as is so often the case, it is down to whoever is in charge of the cellar. I am only surprised that such an outfit as 'Spoons hasn't got a batter handle on quality control. I am available for an immediate start if they want to give me the job of Head of Tasting

Wardster00

JDW were the first ones to develop a chain of "Pubs". All of the other chains became restaurants or town centre "style" bars.

JDW are good retailers and market their outlets well, the issue comes around the brand. I'm sure that Tim Martin didn't want a company that was associated with old men carrying a Farmfoods carrier bag, drinking Stella at 10am, but that is what they have become.

Unfortunately, they are now used as a negative brand in the pub world and may have added to the pressures on pubs as younger people see a traditional pub as a Wetherspoons

peat

I'd say that 'spoons get pretty busy of an evening with all ages.

Cheap booze has a magnetic effect.

Widgey

I think its the smell of the place, changes the senses somewhat and gives the different flavoured taste.

freddiegrubb

I''ll say it loud & clear, I LIKE WETHERSPOONS, well run & reasonable grub especially the one in Kendal when I visit the town centre. In Harrogate yesterday & it was a good experience as was the specialized concept store.

team47b

There are over 850 pubs in this chain and I only ever went in one, in Bournemouth, only pub I ever went in that served fresh orange juice (I don't drink!) from a jug from the cooler not that nasty chemical Britvic 55 'orange juice' so I was impressed.

849 not sure about

capt_slog

freddiegrubb wrote:

I''ll say it loud & clear, I LIKE WETHERSPOONS, well run & reasonable grub especially the one in Kendal when I visit the town centre. In Harrogate yesterday & it was a good experience as was the specialized concept store.

I'm with you there. I can't say that I like the look of all of them, but the ones I have been in are OK. I was pleased to find one in Caernarfon when I was there on hols a couple of years ago, which made going out for a meal with the sons a doable treat. As you say, reasonable grub at the very least.

I don't bother about the beer very much. I'll have a pint with my meal and as long as it's drinkable it doesn't make a huge difference to my night.

willhub

Don't mind a pint of Guinnes and a burger.

Peddle Up!

Magibob wrote:

Good to see the, "they only buy it close to expiry date," nonsense making another appearance, That just ain't true. I used to be a Wetherspoons manager....

Thanks for such a detailed reply from the perspective of an insider. I’ve heard the “past its sell-by date” explanation loads of time too and never believed it either. But, to come back to my original comment I’ve never found beer in Wetherspoons to taste “right”. To be more specific the distinctive notes of malt and hop (and other flavours for some brews) seem “flat” and the overall taste “thin”. I’m not accusing ‘spoons of watering the beer but that’s how the taste reports on my palate.

I’ve tried beers in probably a dozen different Wetherspoons outlets and I can vouch that the quality can vary (as with any pub, chain or not). One poster suggested it might be the ambiance/atmosphere affecting the taste. That’s possible, but I’ve drunk some of my favourite beers in characterless halls that have all the atmosphere of a lunar crater and they seemed fine.

Maybe it’s just me. Odd. Me, that is. :?

BigJimmyB

willhub wrote:

Don't mind a pint of Guinnes and a burger.

Will (or anyone in fact), if you are still in London, go to the Crosse Keys on Bishopsgate.

Decent Guinness, loads of other beers (not sure how well the cellar is kept mind) and decent food at great prices.

It's an old banking hall and a beautiful building.

No aged farmfood bag wielding alkies either

BelgianBeerGeek

One of 'Spoonies biggest issues is with beer temperature. I really do love my beer but only rarely go to a Wetherspoons because all too often the ale is too cold. This has a massive effect on cask beer, to the point of making it undrinkable.

They do vary, though, and some are better than others.

Corporate Camper

I quite like the breakfasts in there occasionally, however, Weathersponns in the morning is a bit like being on the set of "Thriller"

Peddle Up!

BelgianBeerGeek wrote:

One of 'Spoonies biggest issues is with beer temperature. I really do love my beer but only rarely go to a Wetherspoons because all too often the ale is too cold. This has a massive effect on cask beer, to the point of making it undrinkable.

Hmmmm... Could this be it? :idea:

Ben6899

cycologist wrote:

I am only surprised that such an outfit as 'Spoons hasn't got a batter handle on quality control...

I think you're confusing it with Harry Ramsden's.

symo

I'll stick up for them too. Generally it is the idiot controlling the cellar who has the biggest impact. Also I have heard that "close to sell by date" rubbish too. CAMRA wouldn't align so closely with them if they were knocking out crap consistently. If you want a bad pint try my local Hall and Woodhouse in Fleet.

PS joining CAMRA is worth it just for 'Spoons beer tokens alone.

BelgianBeerGeek

symo wrote:

I'll stick up for them too. Generally it is the idiot controlling the cellar who has the biggest impact. Also I have heard that "close to sell by date" rubbish too. CAMRA wouldn't align so closely with them if they were knocking out crap consistently. If you want a bad pint try my local Hall and Woodhouse in Fleet.

PS joining CAMRA is worth it just for 'Spoons beer tokens alone.

I think CAMRA align themselves to Wetherspoons so much because they tend to offer a range of ales. To many members, having a choice of 10 indifferent beers is better than 2 or 3 of better quality. As a CAMRA member for years, this is one of my pet peeves with them. And they can keep the tokens.

t4tomo

BelgianBeerGeek wrote:

One of 'Spoonies biggest issues is with beer temperature. I really do love my beer but only rarely go to a Wetherspoons because all too often the ale is too cold. This has a massive effect on cask beer, to the point of making it undrinkable.

They do vary, though, and some are better than others.

You soft shandy drinking southerner. Ale is supposed to be served cold - witness any decent northern pub.

Simmotino

symo wrote:

If you want a bad pint try my local Hall and Woodhouse in Fleet.

Aaaah, the DeHavilland Arms or, as it should be known, The Elvetham Creche

RideOnTime

Peat wrote:

Depends very much on the bar in general. The ones i have been into in Oxford keep thier beer quite well. It's only as good as the monkey preparing the barrels downstairs.

yes. monkey = offensive.

MattC59

Peddle Up! wrote:

Doesn't taste right. They sell several of my favourite beers, but they just taste "funny". Just me? :?

And you're surprised ?

MattC59

BelgianBeerGeek wrote:

....... but only rarely go to a Wetherspoons because all too often the ale is too cold.

I rarely go to a Wetherspoons 'cause generally they're sh1t and full of c*nts.

dodgy

Peat wrote:

. It's only as good as the monkey preparing the barrels downstairs.

Not a word I would use to describe anyone that chooses to work (that is able to), no matter what the job.

DevonClimber

.[/quote]
You soft shandy drinking southerner. Ale is supposed to be served cold - witness any decent northern pub.[/quote]

Who says?