Mike Tempest (Owner and Head Brewer of the Wild Weather brewery) organised a Loony Party pub crawl straight after the official HowlinGale launch event at the Wild Weather brewery. Other people unable to come to the launch at the brewery joined us on the Pub Crawl.
We started off at The Alehouse, which had been voted runner in the CAMRA Reading and SE Berks Pub of The Year for 2014. Great atmosphere as we walked in at 8.30, Howling was howling away to the delight of the local customers and we were very well looked after by Carl and Lizzie behind the bar. Unfortunately we did not get to meet Katrina Fletcher the Landlady. Draft HowlinGale was served in excellent condition and it was a very memorable first ever pint from a handpump.
The party left around 9.15 and walked the short distance to The Greyfriar passing The Hope Tap (one of Howling’s favourite Wetherspoon pubs) along the way. We were well looked after by Richard (The Landlord) and his staff and again HowlinGale was in very fine form. The Greyfriar only opened in Feb 2014 and is already a very popular real ale destination as it is very close to Reading station.
We left the Greyfriar around 10pm and made our way to our final destination which was The Nags Head which has been CAMRA’s Reading and Mid Berks Pub of The Year for the last 6 years including 2014 as well and we could all see why when we first walked in. Jody Oates the Landlord gave us a great welcome and we were very well looked after by Lola and Dave Mac who joined in the party atmosphere. HowlinGale was exceptional but the Nags Head went even further and had laid on Ascot Ales’ Co-ALE-ition Hope & Glory as well so we had two Co-ALE-ition ales to drink. Not surprisingly we stayed there until closing time and were the last customers to leave just before midnight.
Howling’s appearance in Reading created a lot of interest in both the Party and the other Co-ALE-ition ales so we will no doubt be back at a later date as the three pubs were delighted to see us.
Special thanks go to Steve and Joy Lawson from Fleet who did all the driving for Alan and Derrill on the night and they also ensured Colin Bex (Leader of the Wessex Regionalist Party) go back to Reading Station safely for his trip back home to North London.