I am not a Number, I am a Free Man!
The plan today was to visit Portmeirion in North Wales. Only one thing was certain, we would be having Curry-Heute. Only two things were certain, we would be returning to the Pied Bull for the end of their UK v USA Beer Festival. Nobody expected Portmeirion to be a ninety minute drive from Chester, the plan was binned but Wales was not.
Colwyn Bay was deemed to be within an acceptable number of kilometres to drive and sufficiently far from England to be considered Welsh.
Just how many branches of a certain US Burger Franchise the people of North Wales require cannot be verified, however they appeared to be ubiquitous on our drive along the A55. We passed two castles which could justify a visit, the seeds of a return visit?
Taking the turn off for Colwyn Bay we managed to find the road along the coastline which meant we missed the town altogether – We missed the town. – and ending up stopping in Rhos on Sea.
Rhos on Sea is not the centre of the Universe, most of the visible populous appeared to be trying to escape given the number on the edge of the beach. Beach? Yet another seaside town, a la Blackpool, where the beach is only visible at low tide.
Back into the car and few more Kilometres along the road to the West lay Llandudno. This was a first. Lying in a textbook Bay between the two Ormes Headlands the town was as pristine as Leamington Spa. Graeme and Marion went off to do their own thing, Marg and I could see the End of the Pier, we had to go. Smaller than Brighton as one would expect, it did have a mini-version of the English End of Pier entertainments. This was thoroughly pleasant.
Wandering back through town I popped into a few Pubs to see if any Bier would call us in, nothing! No Bier in Wales? There was a Curry House.
The road up the Great Orme Headland is a Toll Road, fair enough, it is in a Nature Reserve. That we had to pay to park at the top was just a rip-off. Still the alternatives – The Tram – or the Cable-Car would no doubt have set us back even more. Again this was worth the visit. The Limestone gave a Mediterranean feel to the area; and the view, Snowdonia and Anglesey in the distance.
Llandudno has the atmosphere Marg and I both enjoy, Caernarvon and Anglesey beckon, we shall be back.
After the Chester Curry we walked the short distance to the Kash Tap Rooms. This is an ambitious Pub selling Craft Style Beer. The Green Hop Harvest, a 3.8% Ale from the Blueball Brewery (Runcorn, Cheshire) was a disappointment. Served far too cold and by a dubious dispensing method making it feel like Cask, we decided one Bier here would be enough. The Ale had no distinguishing flavour at all, so much for the Hops.
The venue was pleasant enough and the Chap behind the Bar was happy to discuss the Beer on offer, even accepting our Two-for-one Token. Cheap night so far.
And Finally..
It had to be back to the Pied Bull. The English Ale had all but gone from the Festival Bar, Hector was more interested in the US Beer. Surprisingly so was Graeme. The Ladies stuck to Soft Drinks, good, the Healthy Option.
Brooklyn (no other name visible) was the choice to get the night going properly. This 5.2% Dark Gold Beer from the Brooklyn Brewery (Brooklyn, New York, USA), verged towards the Amber, it was Cheek Suckingly Dry, excellent. Marg, shall we cross over to Brooklyn when we visit New York next year?
Time was against the Chaps, the Ladies were wilting, time to squeeze in a final Ale. Hopageddon at 7.0% was definitely the Night Cap. Brewed within the City Walls, this Pied Bull (Chester, Cheshire) Ale was Seriously Dry, very easy to drink despite the high abv. Fear not, we were home soon.
Now Chester feels like the sort of venue The Friends of Hector would enjoy for a Weekend Trip, or even a future New Year? The Travelodge gives the impression of being the best place to stay.
The Brewery Taps visited today:
The Kash Tap Rooms – 121 Brook St., Chester, CH1 3DU
The Pied Bull – 57 Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HQ