The Victory, Hereford

Once again I found I was disappointed with the beers here. They had a selection of their own beers and I chose Celtic Gold which tasted tired, The guest beer Brecon Twilight Beacons was a little better but this pub being a brewery tap should be as popular as the Barrels down the road, but there were only a couple of chaps in the bar, one watching the football on TV, and a group outside. There was a lovely outside area there though. Maybe it is a night time venue.

It was very quiet when I was here, perhaps because it was happy hour at the Barrels just along the road. There are twelve hand pumps arrayed in the bar, which has been built inside a scale model of a fighting ship from Nelsons time - clearly not the Victory itself, but you get the general idea. Only four beers and two ciders on: three of the Hereford brewery's own (Dark, Light and Owd Bull) plus a guest from North Cotswold Brewery. I was quite enjoying my Hereford Dark at first, but as I got towards the bottom of the glass I thought I detected a hint of yeast bite. Not enough to complain about, just enough not to want a second drink. This was a pity as I quite liked it here, with its basic ale house ambiance and random tracks being played by the juke box, just a little too loud.

Home of the Hereford Brewery and just a few doors down from Wye Valley’s Barrels and suffering by comparison. It’s a very long pub going back a long way from the road, there’s also an outdoor sitting area to one side complete with a stone griffin or suchlike creature. The Victory thing is taken to extremes even the bar counter is ship shaped complete with protruding cannons, I’m not sure how far Hereford is from the sea but the nautical theme is a bit sad. Otherwise a reasonable pub traditional in style, the beer is OK but pales a bit compared to the Barrels, the staff are nowhere near as slick either. There are bandits and a juke box for your entertainment although the preponderance of younger punters and staff give it the air of an unruly youth club.

Normally has a good range of ales on including a number of their own Spinning Dog ales. Wonderful interior with the bar doen in the shape of an old galleon. Very quite of a Saturday lunchtime each ime we have been there in the last few years. Some of the younger bar staff show little interest in serving but some of the other staff have been very friendly. Believe this pub does get busier in the evenings especially if they hav live music on.

The brewery tap for Spinning Dog, I popped in for a couple after the Barrels and have to admit I was rather disappointed. The barmaid was too busy reading her magazine to be paying much attention to the new customers beyond a couple of cronies at the far end where she was sat. The beer, when it did come, wasn't up to much, both were decidedly flat. The rugby was on the TV, but there weren't many people in there. The Barrels must have had about a hundred crammed in there watching; this place (despite feeling twice the size in floorspace) barely mustered 20. Perhaps because of the above points? I ended up texting my chums who had stayed at the Barrels for an extra beer not to leave, as I was heading back with my other hardy companion, which is a real shame because the Victory has a lot going for it; the beer range is good (if not the quality - but that can be rectified) and the fact it's quite spacious inside and well-decorated with large chunks of nautical paraphernalia (the bar looks like the side of a ship) which make for a interesting look around. I guess I'd give it another go when in Hereford, purely because I really want to be convinced that it can do much, much better than this.

A short stagger from the Barrels, The Victory should also delight but I always have found it a disapointment. The beer never seems great and staff look as if they would prefer to be elsewhere.Pubs with their own brewery should be cherished but this gives me the impression of being in the doldrums.