D is for the Dove

This time we decided to head to the pub immediately after a game of five-a-side football. We (the Capital Glovers) lost 5-3, despite having about 18 times as many shots as the opposition. We made the short journey from Islington to London Fields and The Dove.

The Pub

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What to say about the Dove...? More of a pub for Lager Boy than for me, if based only on the beers. A large choice, with a range of lagers and a few ales on tap and pump, and a huge number of bottles available. I was somewhat disappointed with the selection of British/local ale available, but that isn't really what The Dove is there to do. More about the beers we sampled below. We were also there during the Belgian Beer Fete, which dictated the theme of our choices. Beyond the beer, generally a very good pub. Prices were reasonable, even for the strong Belgians we tried; the staff were friendly and helpful; there's a bit of an old pub feel, despite it being situated in 'trendyville'; there's plenty of seating; and there are loads of board games available for punters to play. Food is also served, although we only sampled a couple of bags of crisps from behind the bar, and the toilets are unisex - we couldn't decide whether that was a positive of not - views welcome.

In the menu there are various recommendations from a Marc Stroobandt, who is the Belgian Beer Ambassador to London. Lager Boy would be happy to take this role as and when required.

The Beer

• Mayfields Ducking Stool - Lager Boy, ever the historian, suggested this should really be a 'cucking stool', but regardless of that I initially found it to be pleasant and very drinkable, but by the end of the pint I wasn't so keen on the aftertaste I was getting.
• Jupiler - Not the best of Beligum, more day trip to Brussels than weekend in Bruges. Steady, but nothing spectacular.
• Crouch Vale Brewers Gold - Light, not too floral, but maybe lacking a little something, although I couldn't put my finger on what that might be. Fairly drinkable, but if it was really good it would've disappeared much more quickly than it did.
• Belle-Vue Kriek - 'summer in a glass' according to Lager Boy. Fruity, but with a good beery aftertaste, and not too sweet. Very drinkable, for one; but unlikely to return for a second.
• Delirium - good things come to those who wheat. I blame Lager Boy entirely for the terrible pun. His favourite beer of all the pubs so far was advertised in the pub as having been 'elected the best beer in the world', and he thinks it lives up to the billing. Also has a celebrity fan in Bradley Wiggins, so if it's good enough for the Maillot Jaune, it's good enough for us.
• Rosarda - It's fruit juice, no? Maybe fruit juice that's been left in the sun for an afternoon and then re-chilled.
• Orval - this trappist beer was so dry it gave me a bit of a shiver when drinking it. Brewed by the monks of Abbaye NotreDame d'Orval, it was strong and full-bodied, and certainly not displeasing. After three other beers, that's as much as there is to say I'm afraid.
• Duchesse de Borgogne - I would struggle to explain just how pleased Lager Boy was to find this available, but he was close to ecstatic. The Duchesse is brewed using traditional methods in west Flanders, and is very much an acquired taste. Lager Boy has acquired this taste, while I very much have not. He would describe her as 'quite the lady', and we both agree that once you try her, you'll never forget. An undercurrent of a balsamic taste is the make or break. I implore you to try it if you see it, to make your own mind up.

The Verdict

A wide selection of beer, good staff, good facilities, but a bit trendy. Generally we would consider ourselves fans of the Dove, with a caveat that the situation has to be right.

C is for Clapton Hart

Pub C, the Clapton Hart, marked a departure from the hitherto standard Friday night approach, and a first foray into alphabetized school-night drinking. It's fair to say the location was therefore influential in our decision to choose this pub for C, despite myriad other suggestions having been put forward. Various positive reviews from a number of sources made it almost a no-brainer.

The Pub


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The Clapton Hart is Antic's relatively new addition to the East London pub scene, having opened in the former White Hart Hotel (boarded up for as long as almost anyone can seem to remember) only in early May. Sitting in an area that appears to be devoid of decent pubs, the Clapton Hart could well become a beacon for ale drinkers some distance around.
The pub itself is situated on the fairly busy Lower Clapton Road, but that hasn't prevented a few benches being placed out the front. If I'm honest I'm not convinced I'd want to sit there on many occasions, but there were a few hardy souls and smokers making use of them on a drizzly Tuesday evening. Inside it's very open, and the high ceilings made it seem fairly light and airy, despite the aforementioned weather. The plentiful furniture is an eclectic mix that could be described as faux-distressed and wouldn't be out of place down the road in uber-trendy Hoxton, although the sofa I sat on was actually a little bit worse for wear.
Accompanying music was a good selection of mainly older indie, generally at a sensible volume, and prices were as would be expected.

The Beer

• Blindmans Brewery Russian Roulette - Lager Boy took a gamble on this one for two reasons: name and origin (Somerset). Cue many puns about whether he dodged a bullet, and him really taking his life into his own hands. The consensus was that this was fairly pleasant, with a chocolatey after taste that was fairly pleasant.
• East London Brewing Company Pale Ale - I seem to be creating a trend of starting our visits with a fairly safe option, and this was certainly that. An easy drinking pale ale, that's fairly middle of the road, but certainly refreshing.
• Sandford Orchards Devon Mist - Lager Boy decided that this fairly clear, almost still Cider was a good next step, and I was inclined to agree that this would go down very well on a warm, sunny day, especially while watching some cricket. A fairly medium cider that had an excellent balance to it, neither too sweet nor too tangy.
• Windsor Knot from Windsor and Eton Brewery- At first I thought this one was a bit too flowery for my liking, but I grew into it as I drank and became more accustomed to the citrusy aroma. It did appear to be a little cloudy too, which was a marked change from the very clear ELB Pale Ale.
• Cotswold Wheat Beer - This is more like Lager Boy's bread and butter, giving rise to the quote, "wheat is where I'm happiest, not hoppiest". Certainly a tasty wheat beer, and not so overpowering that one would avoid a second, as some can seem.
• Devilfish Apachi - One taste told me that this would definitely not be for Lager Boy, and to be honest it wasn't really for me either. Very flowery (serves me right, some would say) and almost a bit of a chemical after taste that almost gave me a shiver. Unfortunately a disappointing end to proceedings.

The Verdict
Once again, a lot of boxes ticked here, although possibly a less well-received set of beers. Are we already becoming harsher critics, or was it just the fact that the drizzly Tuesday even had dampened our mood? There is certainly a lot going for this pub, and the location means I am very likely to return to sample more of their wares, and maybe even have a bite to eat. Particularly pleasing was the willingness of the staff to serve ASAP at the bar, meaning there was no waiting whatsoever. It will be interesting to see at some point whether this is also the case on a busier Friday or Saturday.