Old Red Cow, Smithfield, EC1

I have in my notes that I was last here in March 2013. 10 years on and I can honestly say that I don't remember my previous visit. It's a noticeably small place with a tiny ground floor bar and further seating upstairs which I didn't investigate. The barman seemed on the grumpy side and served me a very cloudy Jimbo from Purity. I gave it a quick sniff and taste before walking away from the bar. It was still drinkable, but presumably coming to the end of the cask. A second cask beer was Mad Goose, also from Purity. Keg options included Fourpure IPA & Citrus Session, Magic Rock Murk-Life Balance, Lervig House Party, Purity Bunny Hop & Pulpt Flare. One young customer was sat at the bar and another group of punters all seemed to be young shipping magnates. Alternatively they just happened to have an unhealthy obsession with the shipping industry. I scored this pub a 7/10 on my last visit, but I'm not so impressed on this visit. Perhaps I'm getting harder to please as I get older?

Official site of Old Red Cow - www.oldredcow.co.uk

Official site of Old Red Cow - www.oldredcow.co.uk

Well known for carry a wide range of craft keg beers,the ground floor is quite small,square with few features and mainly high table seating options although bar stolls will get used and block bar access.The large staircase leads to a calmer dining room with another keg only bar,I expect you can escape up here to just drink but most folk will be eating from a menu long of pizze,pub grub and beer snacks.This will also be served in the bar and outside for vertical consumption. There will always be 4 real ales,on my trip Redemption Pale,Twickenham Naked Ladies,Moor Raw and XT3 West Coast IPA (decent nick).The 12 keg taps offer produce from Kernel,Fourpure,Redchurch,Big Drop,Signature,Beavertown,Hackney and Five Points,so if you understand the London keg scene,this would be a good sampling target. Lots of punters spill outside and there are drinking shelves to the front and in the archway,but the limited internal seating and short real ale menu may limit future trips to a swift one while passing.