The Organ Grinder, Nottingham

We visited the Organ Grinder on the opening day of their 3 day Bank Holiday Beer Festival. Arriving at 6, the pub was busy and stayed so throughout the evening but the atmosphere was friendly and everyone queueing at the bar was very polite. This was probably helped by there being plenty of bar staff on, so the wait was short, most of whom were attractive young ladies and all were knowledgeable on the various beers available. On the handpumps were: BG Sips, Guerilla, Infinity and Sanctuary as regulars with the Ape Ale listed having already run out by the time we arrived and replaced with 99 Red Baboons. Additionally, for the festival, there were four specials on handpump including the excellent Organ Grinder. Everything we tried was in tip top condition and flew down. Also available were several interesting keg beers, which I assume are always there, including Brewdog Punk IPA and Magic Rock High Wire. Some 30 beers were also offered upstairs for the festival including offerings from, amongst others, Thornbridge, Magic Rock and Saltaire. The quality of these suggests that Blue Monkey have a lot of confidence in the quality of their own ale and rightly so. My view is obviously taken on the basis of a one off event but I found the Organ Grinder to be vibrant and friendly with a great selection of beers. Not only do Blue Monkey brew some of my favourite beers but they know how to run a pub as well. My first, and probably last, stop if in Nottingham.

Short and sweet review this one. Will agree with everyone else. Great pub, great beer. And for all young males in the early 80’s who fondly remember the only decent German pop song ever made, and found the foreign lead singing lass with hairy armpits strangely erotic, 99 Red Baboons is a fantastic beer name. Has to be tried for old memories sake.