Dark Mild and Death Metal - More Bristol Pub Explorations

Further explorations of Bristol take in a spectacular riverside brew pub and a couple more beer guide entries, before we end up with thrash metal sound-tracking our final pint of the day.

We headed into the streets to the NW of Temple Meads, resisted popping into the Seven Stars, then found our way to Left Handed Giant's brew pub.  Unmissable when approaching from Castle Park, a little more challenging from the other direction.

LHG Brewpub (Compressor Building, Hawkins Lane, Bristol, BS1 6EU - web)

This was once the site of George's Brewery, founded in 1788 and expanding over the years until it dominated the whole area on the loop of the River Avon.

Courage took over in 1961, then eventually closed the brewery down in 1999.  It's been redeveloped into apartments, hotels, office space, bars and eateries, with  the old compressor building now housing Left Handed Giant's flagship site.

This was bustling downstairs by the bar - one of the busiest places I've been in some time.  Stairs led to two more floors with extra seating, where we found a table with views over the outdoor area and river.

The beer list advertised 12 of their own brews, plus 8 guests, ranging from low alcohol options to chocolate & vanilla stouts and Oud Beersel lambic.  I didn't spot half the available beers until looking back at a picture I took, otherwise I may still be there.


The single minimalist metal rod hand pump was dispensing a cask 'Dark Mild'.
Here it is looking foamy and delicious...

Such a sensible choice.  Except the 'My Paradise In Burning' 11% ABV imperial stout, in the glass next to the mild, is mine too.  I'll never learn.

There hasn't been a picture of shiny brewing equipment on the blog for a whole month!

We departed across the curving Castle Bridge which climbs upward as it crosses the river, leading to the pleasant park opposite the brew pub.  

Just around the corner was another Good Beer Guide 2022 entry, the Bridge Inn.

Bridge Inn (16 Passage Street, Bristol, BS2 0JF - web)
Eye-catching and unmissable with it's giant black and white mural - the first Hendrix pub appearance on the blog since the Kings Arms in Huddersfield.
The pub looks reasonably big from the outside, so it was quite a surprise to find just the one tiny room within.
"So small it feels like being in a fishtank" according to this Bristol Post article. 
Wouldn't it need to have huge glass windows for that? (Bag of Nails Pub Rule #6 "Sad pedantry is encouraged")

There were three available real ales on our visit, from Box Steam, Plain Ales and Quantock.
I always enjoy the Quantock beers, so picked the 'QPA', before we settled on bench seating in the corner, under some great framed retro posters from Bristol gigs by the likes of Led Zep, The Clash and Television.

A cosy, comfortable place with chatty customers, but we needed to drink up and move on.  We let Google guide us into the side-streets to our next pub, again picked from the Beer Guide...

The Volunteer Tavern (9 New Street, Bristol, BS2 9DX - web)
This is a 17th century pub, which still retains a little of it's historic character, but has kinda drifted into the hipster territory.
Too many fairy lights for my liking.  And whilst I'm all for pubs having local artists' work for sale on their walls, it was a bit disconcerting to have people peering over our heads as they decided which picture would look best in their living room.

Thumbs up for a lovely, well kept pint of stout from Moor Beer Company.

I was intent on getting to the rock pub, which involved a 20-minute trek across town whereas it would have made much more sense to visit somewhere closer to the Volunteer.  But off we went, navigating our way through the city centre streets.

The Gryphon (41 Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AP)
This is a great-looking triangular building on a street corner, with a bar in the front room and additional seating areas as it widens to the rear.
It's everything a rock pub should be - moodily lit, a bit battered round the edges, and noisy!

Upstairs is a small stage for live music - forthcoming bands playing include Visions of Disfigurement and Cuttered Flesh, names which suggest you're going to be disappointed if you come for the Ed Sheeran covers.

I was dressed completely wrongly for the occasion - not in black - although I did once see Slayer live, which I think is adequate credentials to feel at home in the surroundings.

 

There are probably a limited number of places featured in the Good Beer Guide where you're going to be entertained by a metal soundtrack.  It's in the Guide due to a dedication to real ales which can be seen by all the pump-clips adorning the ceiling.
And I liked it - more of this kind of thing please!

I ordered a 'Bastion Best Bitter' from Wrexham's Big Hand brewery.

Then set off to find the toilets - what's the worst that can happen if I pick the wrong door?...

 

And that brought our explorations of Bristol pubs to a close, for the time being.
With more sights to see, brewery taps to drink in, and Beer Guide pubs to get to, we'll be back soon.
Cheers! 🍻