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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Just Beer, Newark
Newark
NG24 1BG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Steve C left this review about Just Beer
Just Beer is housed in an old stable that spent some time as an art Gallery before being one of Newark’s go to places for a decent pint. The thin exposed brick interior has seating along the front and rear walls and a serving counter up the far end where it states that the bar opened on 4th August 2010, and since then 6004 beers have been available from 1486 different breweries, well that was the state of play during my visit just over two weeks ago. The only other customer was chatty, and very knowledgeable about all things pub and beer. After I commented that it was a bit dead I was informed that the kidnapper Michael Sams kept a couple of people in suitcases in this very building, one of whom he murdered, fookin hell!
Beer wise I counted eight hand pumps on the counter and some craft keg fonts along the back bar. I went for a great pint of Shiny Brewery’s Affinity. I left the bar full of new found knowledge about Newark’s pub and murder scene, and I look forward to revisiting next time I’m in the area.
On 22nd July 2023
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5228 recommendations about 5196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Just Beer
ORIGINAL REVIEW May 2012
A pub for beer tickers run by beer tickers.The interior is small and narrow with the bar at the far end of the room and bench seating either side with round tables and stools.The atmosphere is strange, like that at a small CAMRA branch beer festival,and some of the customers choose to wear leather hats even when indoors.There are a lot of handpumps but glad to see that the Weatherspoons policy of sticking "available soon"notices is copied here,meaning that on our trip only four pulls were dispensing.The ale selection was from truely obscure microbrewers,each pump with copious notes and offputting sample bottles full of ,I assume,beer.My rhubarb flavoured wheat beer was not easy to down nor something I wanted another pint of,and the same applied to other brews tried by the crew.The beer selection seemed focussed only on the rare and unusual,irrespective of quality but that is the world of the ticker.
There is a dubious range of branded merchandise for sale,and the Just Beer policy was subverted by under the counter availability of single serve wine bottles to some pub crawling young ladies who decided to call in,causing some consternation among the regulars.
One of the breed of micropubs to open recently,a local CAMRA favourite,not one that I would rush back to but it has served it's purpose by forcing the now excellent Prince Rupert to up it's game.Just Not Very Good Beer isn't such a catchy name.
12th May 2017
Pleased to report that the constructive criticism above seems to have been heeded,the welcome from behind the bar was very friendly and helpful with the regulars on good form and very chatty.The ale selection is now from respected micro brewers,and no longer confined to obscure brewers designed to produce a new tick,and my Marble collaberation Uppe Hela Natten porter was on very fine form,as were other ales sampled.The interior has now weathered in,and the addition of a choice of Just Cheese was a great idea.This micropub has a genuine community feel,and must not be missed when visiting Newark.It deserves it's CAMRA accolades.
UPDATE
Still an excellent micro,the new feature on this visit was the inclusion of 5 keg taps on the servery rear wall offering some very interesting craft keg if that's your game.
On 3rd July 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Just Beer
Attractive and welcoming courtyard micropub. Only half of the two banks of four handpumps were in use, but with the keg taps on the bar-back, the range of beer styles was as good as one could expect in the circumstances (this being the first day allowed for indoor opening in England). I went for the naturally cloudy Pentrich Under Control (£4.00) which was in great shape and apparently the beer of the day insofar as the other customers were concerned.
On 2nd June 2021
- rating: 9
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Just Beer
Loved this micropub which features in the 2018 Good Beer Guide, and we enjoyed Black Iris Bleeding Heart from the good selection available. Long pews with a central area to walk down to the bar, and a lot of interesting things pn the wall difficult to read due to it being busy in there, but I did enquire about the biscuit pig chart on the wall, and was told it was very popular with the regulars. Pay £1 and pick a name from the biscuit barrel and your name goes against the celebrity name on the chart. If your choice is the first to die you get the pot. Brilliant!!
On 8th August 2018
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Just Beer Micropub
I had the misfortune this time to visit when the local Camra beer festival was on. Lots of self appointed beer experts drivelling on with a half in hand - an utterly dispiriting pub experience. Go there when the Camra tossers aren’t - it’s lovely. Loved the Biscuit Pig of Death sweep stake, pick a random celebrity and when they pop their clogs you get the pot.
On 27th May 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Just Beer
Not obvious to find off the main street in a courtyard by the River Trent (I walked past it twice) is this rather brilliant micopub. Six ales and three ciders on with a great selection of quality brews in fantastic nick. My North Riding Christmas Pudding Porter was superb and the Market Harborough Hoo also very good. It’s basically a long narrow room with the bar at far end. Exposed brick walls and impressive collection of matchboxes for a form of wallpaper. Dart board spotted. There was a Xmas quiz on the go during my visit, resulting in some brilliant local banter. Knowledgeable and passionate bar staff. A bit of a cracker really and the best one I did in Newark – could have stayed all afternoon and next time I probably will. 9.5
On 18th December 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Just Beer Micropub
UPDATE MAY 2017
Three things have changed significantly here for the better:
Firstly, they have now realised that they have customers and have learnt to accommodate them. The welcome on this visit was warm and there was plenty of friendly banter with barman and locals alike.
Secondly, the place has weathered in and now has a much more comfortable feel with an exposed brick wall, red accents, beer related artwork and two clever pint width tables for those seated drinkers near the bar. Quite a change from the original stark white walled room.
Thirdly, and most imortantly the beer. The offer is no longer obscure and undrinkable home brew for tickers but features quality and renowned microbrewery beers. The four beers on when we visited were: North Riding NZ IPA, Marble Uppe Hela Natten, Twisted Barrel/Framework Belldandy and White Rose On Yer Bike. A good selection and those we tried were both very good and on top form.
The locals said that if a breweries beers go down well then they frequently feature again albeit with a different beer. A sensible policy - give the people what they want.
A well deserved upgrade to 9 from me and I wish them every success with the current approach.
ORIGINAL REVIEW MAY 2012
The Kings' New Clothes.
Just Beer has had a lot of publicity not least due to its 2012 Newark CAMRA pub of the year award. As has been noted, it doesn't just sell beer but that is certainly its main focus and there are a lot of handpumps, eight or so I think, in this small and narrow micropub. All of this made it a must visit in Newark in the hope of some top quality ale.
It does appear to be aimed at those searching for the more obscure ales and our Saturday evening visit found the following available: Shottle SPA, Pirate Caped Rouge, Revolutions Overkill and a mild from Fuglestou. I've certainly never heard of any of these but advice from behind the bar is readily available along with sample bottles in front of the pumps. We couldn't find anything which demanded a second or even demanded to be drunk at all.
The odd atmosphere resembled that of a private party, probably not helped by the small size of the place but it wasn't especially welcoming or friendly.
I'm sure that if I were local it would be possible to unearth a great and previously undiscovered gem of an ale here occasionally, but that would involve drinking an awful lot undiscovered indifference.
Micropubs must be a good thing as they are providing more places which sell real ale and Just Beer has had the awards and the publicity to pull people in. Sadly, in this case although real ale is available, it really isn't very good. The King is in the altogether.
On 15th May 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about Just Beer Micropub
Just Beer is a micro pub that is housed in an old building near the Waters Edge pub and the River Trent.
Once inside there is a small oblong shaped room with a bar to the rear,the seating is pew type either side of the room,there is a darts board to the left of the entrance.
There was a good choice of micro beers on the bar,i had a drink of Off Beat Kooky Gold which was quite a nice drink,the other beers noted were,Alchemy Azacca Ale,North Riding The Division and Glye 59 Tojouns Saison Ale.
There was only me and one other customer in on a Thursday afternoon visit,i did have a good chat with the bar person about some of Newarks lost pubs which i had been in.
I found this to be a decent micro pub and would visit again when in Newark.
Pub visited 2/6/2016
On 26th June 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Just Beer Micropub
This micropub which is number three on the Association list has now been going for five full years. As mentioned below it is set just down a slope towards the river past the castle. I wouldn't like to hazard a guess as to the original use of the building but it doesn't look like a shop conversion. Inside it's a smallish long room with normal rather than high seating and the bar at the far end of the room. On my Saturday lunchtime visit It started fairly quiet but other people soon started turning up. .
There were five beers available and loads of ciders. The beers were Brewster's Rutterkitty, Funfair Gallopers, Oldershaw Great Expectations, Dunscar Bridge Lancashire Stout and Imperial Yankee Doodle DanDale. I've encountered three of these breweries before and three of the specific beers are listed in the breweries section of the latest GBG so I wouldn't describe the selection as ticker fodder. I tried the Yankee Doodle beer (£3.10 including CAMRA discount) and Lancashire Stout (£2.90 including discount). Both were served in oversize glasses and were in great condition.
I thought this was an excellent micropub and would happily return.
On 17th September 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Just Beer Micropub
A single room micro pub housed in a brick built outhouse in a courtyard just off Castlegate. The counter at one end manages to support eight pulls, half beer half cider. The seating is former church pews with Britannia tables, there is one tall table with stools looking a bit out of place and an old cask which doesn't. The decor is mainly beer related but also with pictures of regulars as kids. There's a free standing unit with two pulls against one wall, the covers are off so you can see the cylinders and linkage. Pastimes available are a dart board on the end wall and a shove ha'penny board. The beer was excellent on this occasion and served in pub branded glasses.
On 28th July 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]