Baron’s wants to be king

Southport’s Baron’s bar is hoping to make 2008 the year they become the undisputed kings of beer.

Manager George Sourbutts and cellar-man Michael Hand plan to build on their growing reputation for excellence and sell more top-quality ale than anyone else in a series of beer festivals and special events. 

The Baron’s, which is inside the Scarisbrick Hotel, Southport, is a famous meeting point and oasis for the real ale fan, with up to eight cask beers and a selection of real ciders on tap at any time.

Recently the team decided to drop Timothy Taylor Landlord from the list of regulars after being impressed with the consistent quality and value of Moorhouse’s beer. Hand predicts there would be a riot if they tried to take off the Moorhouse’s fast-selling Pride of Pendle.

Another regular is Tetley Cask, which I constantly insist is a quality brew, if kept correctly. Meanwhile, for more than 20 years the house beer has been Flag & Turret, a great value drink at £1.65 a pint.

One rare beer making a regular appearance is Ossett’s Excelsior, no surprise as it is manager George Sourbutt’s favourite and winner of the recently held SIBA awards.

The last time it was on they sold nine gallons of the stuff in 45 minutes.

In fact, in any given year they go through about 500 firkins (9 gallon barrels), a typical barrel lasting 2 days at the most.

The Baron’s has a blessed location and because it is part of a hotel, doesn’t have to muddy the waters by serving food. It is a pub for drinkers. There’s a great enthusiasm in the cellar and the bar, and a pride in delivering the goods.

“It’s all about standards,” says Michael, who has worked in the cellar for 10 years after starting part-time aged 16. “If standards slip in housekeeping or the cellar, the quality of beer slips.”

Controversially, he believes the hated “smooth flow” beers are getting better.

“Some people like them because they know they’ll never get a ‘bad’ pint,” he adds apologetically.

Meanwhile, George – a CAMRA member – has been in the trade for 20 years, starting off as a dishwasher at the Coronation, doing a spell at the Carlton, running pubs throughout the north west before coming to the Brick nine years ago.

What strikes you about George is the seriousness and passion with which he approaches the trade.

“We like to support local breweries and small breweries. Why? Simply because we can,” he says.

“You go to a lot of places now and there will be Deuchars and Landlord. They are both good beers, but beer lovers like choice, and trying out new beers from smaller breweries. They always want something different.

George is a big fan of mild and is on a mission to make people drink more of it. His other aim is to persuade younger people and women to give real ale a try.

He may succeed with the ladies, but I fear the teenagers of today are a lost cause.

Most cannot even hold a conversation, let alone a proper drink.