Love on the rocks

On a hot tip from newshound Jmensa that my beloved Brains SA was coming on at the Phoenix, I hot-footed it over there to find it was still a day or so away from pouring.

I noticed that the new pub wasn’t that busy despite it being lunchtime, especially compared to the other night when I jostled for a spot to watch the Barca v Man Utd game there and put up with an under-par pint of Cain’s bitter.

Unenthusiastic for a second leg, I went over the road to Wetherspoons where there was a interesting selection, including beers from the up and coming George Wright brewery of Rainford.

The place was packed to the rafters, with staff doing their best to bite their lips as people fought to be served

With only time for a swift half, I shoved myself in front of the OAPs and disabled and roared for a Cain’s India Export pale ale, one of the Liverpool brewer’s seasonal range I’ve never tried before.

No complaints about the way it was served (although slightly too cold) it’s just I didn’t like this beer, it had a cloying, buttery mouthfeel and hodge-podge of fruit on the palate that didn’t add up.

Two poor pints of Cain’s in a matter of days – is the greatest love affair of them all on the rocks?