The Crafty Jar, Stourbridge

A bright and unforgiving rectangular whitewashed space with hotel grade bogs as mentioned below. Wye Valley HPA ticked the box (NBSS 3) but we weren’t inclined to stay beyond a half and in fact both my pubmen companions took quite a dislike to it, though being forced to stand throughout didn’t help the cause.

The Crafty Jar is a single roomed bar with an L-shaped serving counter in the left rear corner and seating across the front and right-hand windows. Premium and craft keg were available alongside four hand pumps. My visit was late on a Friday night so it was busy with lots of people stood at the bar who were blocking the view of the cask options, but I did manage to order a pint of Wye Valley’s HPA. There was a thirty-something crowd who were probably drawn in more by the lovely hotel standard toilets in the rear. I jest, this place is a good option for a beer or two in the town centre.

Smart and modern looking little pub. Four cask ales on - HPE & Three Tuns are the regular offerings alongside 2 guests. The guests were Green Duck Blonde and one from Kinver brewery when I called in. Well worth a visit.

Opened in last week of November 2023. Stumbled across it after ironically looking at the dead pubs on the way to Amblecote. (It was the theme of a geocaching trip). Smart cafe style bar... open plan room with a wood burner, stools at the high bar, some seating along the wall and a couple of sofas. Plenty of craft keg offerings from local breweries and further afield. Also four cask offerings - which I was deeply suspicious off, as everyone else was on either coffee or craft. Worried about turnover and how long they may have been on, but on a Monday lunch, my Three Tuns XXX was in excellent shape. Cobs available on the bar. Will come again.

Facebook page of The Crafty Jar - www.facebook.com