On a Thursday evening, after getting out of that noisy hole they call London, I often like to go for a pint of beer or two in my home town of Burgess Hill, West Sussex. This Thursday was no exception to the rule so I toddled off to a small bar in the town centre called Mooch@76 as I'd been told they had the Dark Star Seville on tap, a beer I had tried (and enjoyed very much) previously and wanted to tell you all about.
It was around 8.15 PM that I arrived and apart from two suited old fellas chatting, drinking stellas, the barmaid and her friend, the place was completely empty. Ike and Tina were quietly giving it both barrels in the background and from the doorway I could see my prize, the
Dark Star Seville pump clip, almost smiling at me as I walked in.
I asked for a pint and a half (as my better half was with me) of the Seville and was told straight away by the barmaid that they were closing at 8.30... understandable, as the place was dead. I decided to stick with it, despite the impending drinking up time; I was not only thirsty but hungry for the orangey goodness of the Sussex ale.
As soon as she pulled the pump handle, the beer came sputtering out rather than pouring. This was the last of the barrel! I'll give the young lady her dues, she almost got a whole pint out of it and the beer looked reasonably clear so most of the nasty ullage remained in the cask. The good news is that I didn't have to pay for a full pint. The bad news is that my girlfriend didn't get her half pint. I asked the barmaid for a half pint glass and she pulled out a filthy looking tall glass from under the bar that had more hand prints than Hollywood Boulevard. I decided to leave that there...
After all the fuss and nonsense I finally got to sit down and drink my beer. The Dark Star Seville is made with El Dorado hops and bitter oranges (from Spain, apparently) which before you even pick up the glass, fill your nostrils with the scent of an orange grove... straight away, I'm there, in Seville... Wow! The taste of the beer is no let down either. The head (which in this case, due to sputtering was epic) is very zesty and sharp, keeping that feeling of Spain alive while the main body of the beer gives you the delicious home comforts of a good old English cask ale. Surprisingly, the Seville isn't very bitter in taste; it's sweet but in a good way. It's sharp and zesty but at the same time smooth and comforting. It's fairly safe to say that I like this beer a lot. Sady though, the venue, although not bad, left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth.
Ratings
Dark Star Seville: 8/10
Mooch@76: 6/10
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