The Red Lion, Caersws

Old-style village pub, retaining its two-bar layout, and offering a friendly welcome. Fairly plainly decorated but tidily furnished lounge, with the other side set up as a café-style dining room. Two Monty's ales on handpump - MPA and Best Offa (£2.75) - together with Three Tuns XXX. Old Rosie and Rosie's Pig cider also available.

Decent pub which usually only opens early at the weekend. Monty's Ales well kept with the new Wrexham Lager also available. After I thought Barmaid was implying I was a CAMRA member I decided to ask my mates if I had an odour problem, dressed like a nerd and bored the pants off them when in conversation with them. Thankfully it was just an enquiry too see if I was eligible for a discount. Or my mates are too polite to tell the truth.

One of three pubs owned by Monty's Brewery under its Hophouse banner, the Red Lion is a large village inn not far from the crossroads in the centre of the village. I went in the bar to the left of the entrance and didn't explore the rest of the pub. On the bar are three hand pumps, one with a Welsh cider and the other two with beers from Monty's - on the occasion of my visit these were Desert Rats and MPA. I rightly suspected the latter to taste of grapefruit and lychees, my bêtes noires among modern hop flavours, and luckily for me the Desert Rats was OK, though looking at their website I wouldn't mind having a go at their Old Jailhouse best bitter. There was a good atmosphere here, with a friendly welcome from behind the bar. Sadly I was a day or two too late for their beer festival, but then I did have another 60 miles to cycle so it was probably for the best.