Cow & Cask, Newbury

Almost a nano-pub, with just two tables and a few extra bar stools to one side. Up to six cask ales in on gravity from a two-tier stillage beside the compact counter. With four on when I visited, I found a pair from Three Daggers, Vale 80/- (£4.80) and the 2.8% Modern Mild from Field + Theory. Also has a couple of keg beers from small electric pumps on the bar-back and several boxed ciders from Tutts Clump.

My last visit to Newbury fell on a Monday when the Cow & Cask was closed so I was happy to find it open during a recent Tuesday late afternoon visit. It’s a tiny place with a lino floor, four tableless high stools up the left wall and padded bench seating and a couple of tables across the front windows. There’s a white kitchen fridge on the right wall next to a couple of large beer fridges full of cans and the four boxed ciders listed on the chalkboard on the rear wall next to the serving counter, behind which are six casks on stillage. Two of these were on drawing Ramsbury Brewery’s Deer Stalker and Springer which were both good, but I preferred the less hoppy Stalker. Rebellion Beer Co’s Roasted Nuts was also available from a 22 pint mini barrel (nitro?) on the back bar. There were two other customers, the conversation flipping from beer to non-league football and back to beer again. An enjoyable visit.

A pretty traditionally run micropub concentrating on cask ale in general as opposed to craft beers. True to its classification it is pretty small inside and was well attended with middle aged chatty blokes. There were two beers from stillage, both from Ramsbury,Coronation IPA and Farmers Best, on the floor was a single barrel with a dispensing gizmo attached, this was Indigenous Baldrick, marked on rge beer board as being served under pressure, it was in fact a rather decent mild. This is a nice and very friendly micro serving decent beer and while I prefer a bit more of a choice on the beer front its certainly one of Newburys better venues.

Still easily the best pub in Newbury, this tiny micropub is making use of the space at the front, with some outdoor seating. We did reserve a table in advance and arrived a little earlier than expected, as our bus from Wickham stopped right outside. The owner is very friendly. I remember him from my last visit, despite being worse for wear on both occasions. The two real ales are dispensed directly from the cask. They were Hermitage Lodestone & XT Animal Hop Kitty. Two Tutts Clump ciders were also available from the box - Traditional Farmhouse & Mango. There was also a range of bottled ciders from Green Shed, which I would have quite happily worked my way through, had it not been time to catch a train. Worthy of a visit whenever in Newbury.

An interesting micro in a small area of shops housed in traditional building next to the bus station and in the lee of the monolithic modern shopping centre. The small bar is tucked in the opposite corner from the door with barrels racked up behind it. In between are a couple of tables and all were full on our visit. It's basic but functional with a convivial atmosphere. Beers on were Animal Manta Ray, Gadds Summers Day and Vale Brill Gold as well as cider, keg offering and polo shirts. The Summers Day was the pick of the bunch and was very good with the other two reported to be in less than perfect nick. I enjoyed it here - I stuck with the Gadds - and would always pop back to see what's on.