Derby Brewing Tap House, Derby

The curved bar counter across the rear wall of the Derby Brewing Tap House serves bars to the left and right that are split by a central flight of stairs that lead up to the Ark and Royal Rooms, that I imagine are for functions. Four DBC ales were on cask, Iron Ore, Dashingly Dark, Single Hop and Business as Usual, the latter being my beer of choice. Some real ciders from Weston’s were also available, but the four hand pumps in the right hand bar all stood unused. For lager lovers there is a range of premium keg and a longer list of craft keg, alongside Carlsberg for some reason. The bare board floor and sparse furnishings made this feel like quite a basic bar. The service was very friendly, but I struggled to get comfortable. That said the BaU was a decent drop so maybe I’d pop back in for a quick one if passing.

My initial impression of the Derby Brewery's Tap Room was of a pub which was brightly lit, but slightly under heated, as afternoon gave way to evening. There were 6 pumps on the bar (5 of their own with Thornbridge Cortado making up the numbers). Numerous keg taps upped the beer total. Food is offered till late which is helpful if you're pub-crawling. While it's a quality venue with good beer, overall I found it a bit sterile, especially having popped up the street from the more traditional Exeter (although not so much that I'd forgo a repeat visit some time).

One thing I've noticed with wedge shaped pubs is that they're nearly always pretty good,a fairly modern setup inside with a good range of beers, mine was Derby Hop Till You Drop, also ate in here which from hazy memory was good but I was past my best that evening and should have eaten somewhere much earlier, but I do remember it a decent pub certainly worth a return.

When i first visited this pub it was called The Royal Standard. It used to be an Ansells tied house which had a couple of rooms and plush carptets. I first went in the new Brewery Tap when it was done up now just called The Tap,but still the same as it was when the Brewery Tap. Once inside there is now a small room to the right in the apex of the pub that has the main bar,there is pew seats and comfy chairs in this area,there is a larger area to the left which is irregular shaped,there is leather bench seating here and chairs. The pub is now run by the Derby Brewery company,so lots of their beers on the bar,on my most recent visit i had a drink of DBC Hop Till You Drop,which was a very nice drink,the other real ales noted were DBC Quint Essential,DBC Dashingly Dark,DBC Double Mash,the guest beers were Church End fallen Angel,Taylor Landlord and Backyard Gold. I have always enjoyed my visits to the Brewery Tap and Tap over the years and it was fairly busy on my early Saturday dinner visit with drinkers. Royal Standard first visited 1982 Recent visit to the Tap 1/4/2017