West Street Alehouse, Fareham

OK, it is a bit blue inside, but with enough decorations and other distractions to avoid being overwhelming. A nice little micro with some good beers (Goodens Gold, Downton Stout and Arundel West Street Best plus craft) which manages to avoid the barren feel of some. Well worth dropping by. Note that it might close early if no customers.

A superb micro in a former shop, as described by Quinno, though I didn’t find the décor that oppressive. The barman was welcoming, though a couple of the locals were less so. There is a ‘bottle shop’ at the back, though it sold cans. It’s dog-friendly and, while they don’t sell hot food, customers are encouraged to bring in takeaways from nearby small businesses; plates and cutlery are provided. Cask ales on were Quercus Eternal Spring, Cromwell Best Bitter and Blackwater Mild. Craft beers were Sonar Biscuit Sour, How It Remastered Pale Ale, Hop Hand Fallacy, Keller Pils, New England IPA, Squash Court DIPA and Sunset City barley wine. There were also 4 real ciders on. A good reason to come to Fareham, probably the only reason.

Micropub. Oppressively blue interior (even the ceiling), though the nautical flags pinned there break things up a bit. Usual uncomfortable seating. Plenty of chat from behind the bar, it’s fair to say that the lass who runs the place is not short of an opinion and quite happy to share said opinion confidently with the rest of the room. Three cask on, with a nice array of styles – a bitter, a heavy IPA and a chocolate stout available. Cask quality was good (even if the brew quality on the Fallen Acorn IPA wasn’t – NBSS 3.5 for that and a 4 for the Eight Arch Bobolink) so its GBG22 status is deserved. Also the usual multiple craft lines, ciders, bottles and cans to explore.

Facebook page of West Street Alehouse - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of West Street Alehouse - www.facebook.com

New(ish) micropub, housed in a former craft shop. Three rotating cask ales, six keg lines and up to four ciders are reportedly available.