The Cold Beer Company, Stirling

Official site of The Cold Beer Company - www.coldbeercompany-stirling.co.uk

This is now called "The Old Post Office," reflecting the building's former use. I will review it separately under that name.

Belhaven/Greene King purchased this pub. Rumour was that they feared Wetherspoons taking it over.

Morrisons is bar far the largest pub in Stirling and was established in 2009 making use of what was the former Post Office building. Whilst the exterior retains its municipal characteristics, the interior is a huge open plan and quite souless drinking barn that could almost pass for a Wetherspoons. The pub stretches back a long way with a raised section to the left and the bar counter extending virtually the full length of the right hand side with low slung lanterns and a bulge two thirds down where a couple of old brewing vessels are displayed. The ceiling is an ugly mass of exposed metal beams and air conditioning pipes from which some cube lighting rigs containing old bottles dangling. There are multiple TVs and a Big Screen at one end showing sports. Seating outside is available both on the pavement at the front and also a narrow terrace down one side which has its own outdoor TV, fruit machine and music feed. As it says on the tin, Morrisons is dedicated to cold beers and if the beers aren’t cold enough fear not, they keep the glasses frosted in a fridge behind the bar just to make sure your fillings rattle at every sip. There are beer engines by the dozen dispensing 40 draught beers as well as shelves behind the bar reaching to the ceiling for the 50+ rums, 80+ vodkas, 300+ whiskies and who knows what else. Ladders are available for the staff if you fancy a bit of top shelf pickings. Unfortunately, despite the number crunching product range, I came across little to indicate what is actually available whereas I would have thought a booklet, drink menu or even a blackboard listing would have been a necessity. I wouldn’t have thought it would be too against the grain to offer a couple of ales but sadly this isn’t the case. If you love lagers, vodkas, rums, whiskies and characterless pubs, this will be almost heaven as there is plenty of choice and it certainly appealed to a decent number of the local populace. I was a bit wary of the place when I first entered as it appeared to be the sort of place that attracts the local knuckle draggers but I didn’t find the ambience relatively civuilised but, whilst I don’t mind the occasional “cold beer”, I found it too big and cavernous to make me want to return again if I was in the area.