Free Beer @ The Bodega!

Now, as I’ve said previously, I’m partial to the odd afternoon pint when time and commitments allow. My watering-hole of choice, should a brief interlude present itself, would usually be Newcastle’s ’The Bodega’, a Sir John Fitzgerald house at the foot of historic Westgate Hill - just after the Motorcycle Shops and before the start of the City Centre proper.

Usually quite, without the draw of a Bar Menu, the ‘Real Ales’ on offer however make up for any deficiency, there being an ever-changing range of some nine hand-pulls, a house regular ‘Big Lamp’s’ Prince Bishop, 4.8% ABV/£2.65 being my usual choice. However, and I’m not suggesting you try this in one go, but for each pint bought between 12 and 5pm, they’ll give you a stamped card, and when you get to number six, a free pint is on offer. Simple!

So today, after some 3-4 visits spaced over the last four weeks or so, I collected my sixth stamp and approached the bar expecting the choice to be from the ’Chemical Bros.’ collection but, was pleasanty supprised that I had the full ’Real Ale’ range at my dispossal. Not being a greedy so and so I’d have happily stayed with the Prince Bishop, however having partaken of their delicious ’Jalepeno Crisps’, something with a little more bite was called for - Nottingham’s ’Castle Rock’ Crayfish IPA, 6% ABV/usually £3.00, certainly fitted the bill.

Brewed on a changing monthly basis, ‘Castle Rock’ offers a different ale in conjuction with the ‘Wildlife Trust‘, each highlighting an endangered British Species, August being the indigenous Crayfish and the threat from a virus carried by the American Signal, originally introduced to the UK as a farmed alternative, but now appearing in increasing numbers in the wild. The beer however presents no such problems; pouring a rich golden hue with soon disappearing creamy head, a light vinous nose leading to a soft lemon zest palate, with rounded bitter finish. Not a true IPA in my book but a great beer nethertheless - and free!