I've been appreciating good ale for 25 years now all over Britain.
I'm now living in Cardiff, and although I visit several different pubs a week in various areas of the city, I'm puzzled by the fact that I still haven't found one where the beer is *consistently* well kept (compared with my experiences in Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, London, and many small cities/towns/villages throughout England).
I've had many, many good pints in Cardiff, but have almost always been disappointed on return visits. I'm not talking about the beer being off - I have no problem with returning the beer if it tastes or smells like vinegar. What I'm referring to is beer that tastes as if it's either the last pint from the barrel, or has been sat in the pipes for hours, even when this isn't the case. Or perhaps that it's been spoiled by being tampered with.
To give examples from the last week or so: Cayo Arms (Canton) - Thwaites Lancaster Bomber, gorgeous when first tapped, but unrecognisable two days later (could have been Brains Bitter, by the taste). Tomos Watkin Cwrw Haf occasionally great, last Saturday, and the previous week, very dull and lifeless. Butchers Arms (Llandaff) London Pride, sometimes perfect, but quite often just ordinary, and today thin and watery. Black Lion (Llandaff) Brains Dark, sometimes delicious, last Friday thin with a peculiar cidery side tone to it Victoria Park- Brains Bitter, sometimes marvellous for what it is, but two nights ago had an overpowering aftertaste of damp socks. Tynant Inn (Morganstown) - London Pride, has been fine, recently awful (even when the poorly trained bar staff reluctantly remove the dreaded sparkler). One assistant bar manager apologised saying it was the CO2, which is a bit worrying, if even with blanket pressure on London Pride they can't stop it turning.
It seems to be the same pattern in every pub I visit. I haven't been to the Clytha Arms (near Abergavenny) for a couple of years now, but will always remember the consistent quality (and the devotion of the landlord to said quality) of the beers there: is there a pub where the beer is looked after this well in Cardiff? I'll look forward to buying a pint for whoever can point me in the right direction!
Dave