The Organ Grinder, Nottingham

We visited the Organ Grinder on the opening day of their 3 day Bank Holiday Beer Festival. Arriving at 6, the pub was busy and stayed so throughout the evening but the atmosphere was friendly and everyone queueing at the bar was very polite. This was probably helped by there being plenty of bar staff on, so the wait was short, most of whom were attractive young ladies and all were knowledgeable on the various beers available. On the handpumps were: BG Sips, Guerilla, Infinity and Sanctuary as regulars with the Ape Ale listed having already run out by the time we arrived and replaced with 99 Red Baboons. Additionally, for the festival, there were four specials on handpump including the excellent Organ Grinder. Everything we tried was in tip top condition and flew down. Also available were several interesting keg beers, which I assume are always there, including Brewdog Punk IPA and Magic Rock High Wire. Some 30 beers were also offered upstairs for the festival including offerings from, amongst others, Thornbridge, Magic Rock and Saltaire. The quality of these suggests that Blue Monkey have a lot of confidence in the quality of their own ale and rightly so. My view is obviously taken on the basis of a one off event but I found the Organ Grinder to be vibrant and friendly with a great selection of beers. Not only do Blue Monkey brew some of my favourite beers but they know how to run a pub as well. My first, and probably last, stop if in Nottingham.

Short and sweet review this one. Will agree with everyone else. Great pub, great beer. And for all young males in the early 80’s who fondly remember the only decent German pop song ever made, and found the foreign lead singing lass with hairy armpits strangely erotic, 99 Red Baboons is a fantastic beer name. Has to be tried for old memories sake.

A first time visit for us to this Blue Monkey tap, and I agree that it is a welcome pub in this part of Nottingham that is increasing in real ale outlets. Love following Soup Dragon on here as he describes everything so well. We actually popped in twice and managed to get Blue Monkey Magic first time round which had been replaced by Evolution on our second visit. Both excellent, along with the Liverpool Organic Jade.

A terraced 'Blue Monkey' pub, the upper half in plain brick with blue lintels above the windows, with the lower half in blue with large windows. The interior is an irregular shaped open-plan room. The decor is a mix of cream and olive green wood panelled walls, with a white ceiling and a wood floor. There is a brick fire place in one corner, which had a stove burner and there is red perimeter seating along with standard tables and chairs. There are lots of old photos on the walls, along with some posters and a large 'Blue Monkey' ape, which confused a couple of the PG crowd, who thought it was a mirror. There is a little library and a bit of chopped wood to give it a modern twist. There was no TV that i saw and there was no background music. The service was fine and the clientele mixed, apart from the invading Pubs Galore lot. Beer; usual tap stuff with several continental lagers, along with Blue Monkey BG Sips, Evolution, Original, Guerrilla, an excellent 99 Red Baboons, as well as Liverpool Organic Jade, Magpie Thieving Rogue and Bateman's XB. Absolute quality. My first visit but it certainly won't be the last. Another pub you could stay in for hours - simply go.