Stout, a drink which I learned in the current issue of Pints West, the Camra Bristol & District branch monthly members magazine, is “one of the classic types of ale, a successor in fashion to porter. Usually a very dark, heavy, well-hopped bitter ale, with a dry palate, thick, creamy, and a good grainy taste.”
While reading the magazine by candlelight in the Green Man in Kingsdown, I discovered that the particular stout I was drinking, the Irish Whiskey Stout from Dawkins, the brewery who own this pub, was “dark and strong” and made with real Irish whiskey.
It was also in Pints West, a quite splendid publication never afraid to mince its words and the definitive source of knowledge for everything drinks-related in Bristol, that starting today is the Green Man’s annual beer festival.
Further investigation here revealed that the festival, running until Monday, will feature a hog roast, live music, entertainment, Morris Men, ciders and more than 20 real ales.
That’s a lot of beer, and like many of the best real ale pubs, the huge variety that has already appeared on tap here can be seen in the pump clips on the walls. Arbor Ales and Cheddar Ales are particularly popular, as of course are Dawkins past brews, from Gruit Lush, its medieval ale, to Victorian porter.
On tap last week when I visited were B’Eire and Irish Whisky Stout from Dawkins, Bitter Bully from Cheddar Ales, Celt Golden from Newmans Brewery in Caerphilly, Butts Traditional from Butts Brewery in Berkshire, and Arbor Ales Breakfast Stout.
PJ Harvey’s Mercury-winning Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea, was on the stereo, as two dogs of considerably different sizes entertained themselves in one corner. A poster for The Green Man starring Alastair Sim is on one wall and dried hops decorate the bar in a pub that due to its location is very popular with the student population of Bristol.
Not simply content with being in Camra’s Good Beer Guide, and warranting regular mentions on the pages of Pints West, a particular claim to fame for the Green Man is that it is Bristol’s only organic pub. And of course they serve a pint of damn good stout.
The Green Man, 21 Alfred Place, Kingsdown, Bristol, BS2 8HD.
