The Consortium, Louth

A small micro lurking up a courtyard next to the Masons Arms Hotel at about 18 feet square it’s small, but there’s a seating area outside. Counter is to the left with four pulls, quite a geographical mix with Brew York, Orkney, a local brewery called Garden Shed and a coming soon as something had just run off, it was on as I left. There are a couple of low T-bars and a Guinness solo of the wobbulator type, it has a large collection of gins presumably from their own brewery / distillery, I didn’t see their beers on draught but I didn’t check the kegs too closely, some bottles were available though. Furniture round the edge is pale wood on top of scaffolding tables with benches and chairs, maybe a bit over furnished for the size. Antique juke box on the wall next to a big screen on “corporate” ads, including some AI generated tosh. There’s a beer board with what’s on and what’s next, sadly not quite up to date. No idea about toilet facilities. My beer was too cold, hazy (not meant to be) and a bit dodgy with a vinegar scent, so not a great showing for a GBG listed pub. At least there wasn’t any piped music. The man in charge did not resemble Buster Bloodvessel more Christopher Lee with a beard, an odd bunch of customers as well.

Micro-cum-brewpub down an alley with a jolly landlord who looks like Buster Bloodvessel, the kind of person who sets a positive atmosphere which you desperately need in (but don’t always find) in a micro; this was borne-out by me getting into a bit of chat with a couple of regulars. Inside is tidy place done to a better standard than the average micro. The homebrew, HBB 1874) was in good nick but not much to write home about as a taste (NBSS 3.5); does beggar the question of brew quality vs beer quality in terms of GBG (personally I’m in the latter camp). 7.5