Imp & Angel, Lincoln

Micro-pub that is set back just far enough from the building line as to be rather inconspicuous, but otherwise much as you might expect... until, that is, you see the sports TV. Apart from that, it serves four cask ales, with a pair from Zest - Opal Fruits and Quench (£4.00) - along with Bruha's Cupshot Bitter and Life in Miniature from Welbeck Abbey. Also has a few more, fairly mainstream, keg beers from fonts on the counter and on the bar-back. However, not very welcoming I thought.

Not that easy to find if you’re on the same side of the road, it is a small frontage and partially behind a wall, look for the convenience store to its right. Inside is a small square room with a rear counter and toilet access. Outside on the left is a larger beer garden behind the afore mentioned wall. Four pulls, a triple T-bar and a keg solo, cask beers from Buxton, Abbeydale (Dr Morton’s) and Beermats, all in nice condition. Seating is converted pews at square modern tables with comfortable chairs. There is a big screen and it also sells spirits; sadly the default half pint glass is a jug.

Micropub set slightly back off the High Street that strangely has yet to make it into the Good Beer Guide. Situated close to Lincoln City's Sincil Bank football ground, I can't begin to imagine how packed it must get on matchdays. The small bar area was showing the Champions League final on a TV above the front window at quite a loud volume. A few locals were in and some appeared to be eating some kind of kebab which was stinking the place out. It's a micropub in name, but has more the features of a small bar to me. Outdoor seating was also available to the left-hand side of the pub, accessed by going back out of the front door and along the pavement. Despite the few negatives, this pub/bar did still have a good range of ales, most of which were at the stronger end of the ABV spectrum - Abbeydale Cryo Heathen, Zest Quench & Castle Rock/Ossett Easy As Pie. Ciders were SeaCider Hardcore & Snail's Bank Fruit Bat. My Easy As Pie was my first beer of the day from outside of Lincolnshire, but I enjoyed it considerably whilst watching a bit of the football, including the goal.

I walked past the Imp & Angel twice and when I did eventually locate it there were two blokes smoking outside what I originally mistook to be a hairdressers. Let’s just say that it didn’t look very inviting. Inside this very small shop converted bar are wooden benches along the front and up the side walls and a bar counter on the rear wall. The high tables have gone, I counted eight small tables in the centre, which may be a couple too many for the space. Up on the wall above the entrance was a television that was showing muted cricket via Sky Sports. This is the closest bar to Lincoln City’s ground so it makes sense that they have the facility to show live football. The conversation from the handful of locals and jovial owner during my recent late Thursday afternoon visit seemed to mainly revolve around sport. Craft keg was available and I counted five hand pumps, three of which were in operation. Welbeck Abbey Brewery’s Fruit Arcade and Abbeydale’s Through the Hopback Amarillo were both available, the latter being very good. I couldn’t read the third clip. There was a really good atmosphere in here and I left in a far better mood than when I walked in. This was certainly my favourite drinking hole along this strip south of the river.