The Head of Steam, Birmingham

Four years have passed since my previous visit, so I was pleased to call in again earlier this month. Different sections and levels with the almost-outdoors lower seating area, then the main bar up the steps, then a further level to the front inside. The central island bar sported seven available cask options, with a mix of styles represented. Service was friendly, albeit there was a small delay in being served as it seemed that not everyone behind the bar was actually serving customers. I went for Green Duck The Storm (4.6% stout) and Meanwood New Normal (5.6% old ale) - both pleasant but The Storm was more to my taste. Friendly service and decent ale selection means this will be on the cards for a return visit.

My first ever pint in Birmingham, a Vocation Naughty & Nice Marshmallow Stout. It was nice, with a pretty good lunchtime sandwich. The pub had the usual decent Head of Steam atmosphere and friendly staff, dealing with complex beer orders from gangs of blokes. Definitely one of the good pub chains, and it continues to be reliable wherever I find it.

Like going on holiday, without the hassle of travel. Fine collection of Belgian Beers (including the large 75cl Chimay Blue bottles for just shy of £20) - far too many handpulls to record - not that I could get to them, due to the bar hangers. Both Chouffe and Deliriums on tap. No end of craft. The Good Beer Guide describes it as "Cyperpunk" - so if you won't like it if you don't like exposed ducting. Or afternoon bouncers. However, a world of experimentation awaits, so well worth throwing caution to the wing and see where a beer topped with a pink elephant will take you.

A new and impressive mega pub from this excellent chain. Enter to a fairly large downstairs lobby area with nicely aged (if modern) plank panelling with a blue WMR (West Midlands Railway I guess) logo painted upon, a massive frieze of the wheels of a stream engine and huge wooden cogs on the ceiling. Up a few stairs to the main area featuring an island bar and ten pumps (9 ales and a cider) direct in view on entering. A similar decor ethos up here with a more industrial bent, as well as a ‘Brum by night’ jumbo frieze at the far end. An interesting mix of stuff on the pumps; 4x Northern Monk alongside some micros and larger quasi-regionals. My Northern Monk Coffee Porter was a tad on the warm side but managed to sneak in at an NBSS 3. Also a fair range of ‘crafty fizzpops’ too. Unfortunately my arrival coincided with a quiz which was being compered by an awful wannabe local radio DJ, far too loud and with the occasional high pitched squawk added as if he was having an unexpected rectal spasm. Otherwise it was a decent place and worth putting on the central Birmingham ‘should do’ list but I suspect it’s one to do earlier rather than later in the day. 7.5 - would hgave been a straight 8 without the din.