Barbridge, Stourbridge

Funky end of the mico spectrum - graffiti adorned corrugated iron on the bar and catwoman on the ladies loos. I had Bob Marley at a more sedate level. Slaters Haka in great condition. They have stopped doing Belgian Bottles - which is my Micro "go to".

Although classed as a micropub, this one falls short of the definition on a few criteria, notably the loud music. We were only here for a brief visit, and I can vaguely remember some Cream and some Hendrix, so no complaints about the type of music, just the volume. Real ale is not the main focus of the pub, with four hand pumps on the bar back rather than the counter. It's not a fault of the pub that none of the beers were on my taste spectrum - Neepsend Blonde, Mallinsons Faded Label, a New Zealand pale from Slaters and my eventual choice, Saltaire Titus. I think I can blame my lack of memory about what the beer was like on my grousing about the music. (Note to self: try to be more tolerant in future.)

Interesting place with a good selection of beers. I went for Fixed Wheel Chain Reaction which was fine. I enjoyed the music with some great tracks playing during my visit. Worth popping in.

We quite liked this bar with it's background music playing from a juke box. 4 real ales from Kinver, Marble, Green Duck and Slaters. 4 Key keg beers and we chose Beatnikz Kentucky Stout which was not too bad once the extreme cold wore off. Cider drinkers will love this place for the selection of 6 available. Variety of seating with sofas, cinema seats and high chairs round beer barrels.

This one isn't a proper micropub as it had music playing and does some mainstream keg products. However, it does have a glass cabinet that I assume is chilled and will hold at least eight casks. It's a roughly square room with a red tiled floor and mock graffiti. There was a Green Duck tap takeover about to happen on my visit so the choice was from Duck & Dive, Madness, Duck Under and Sitting Duck. I went for the Duck Under (£3.00) which was rather warm and possibly not ready.. I thought this place was OK but wonder if there's a question mark over beer quality especially as it's GBG listed.

Shop conversion with urban gritty theme, graffiti, music pictures etc. Couple of barrel tables in the middle of the bar. There is some high seating to the front window, though the view is only of the adjoining concrete multi-storey. Nice, different, but the beer quality was only ok. 4 real ales