The Fox at Hurst Street in Birmingham

[www.midlandspubs.co.uk]

We went to see Alistair McGowan at the Birmingham Hippodrome last
night. We had time to nip into The Fox across the road. From the
outside it is a lovely looking pub and, over the decades, it has
enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with the theatre opposite.
Unfortunately, the interior has been ruined and few theatre-goers and
indeed thespians seem to bother with the place these days. On the plus
side the licensee is very enthusiastic in stocking a range of guest
ales in addition to the regular Old Speckled Hen, Tetley Bitter and St
Austell Tribute. We tried a beer called Nipin which is brewed by the
Backyard Brewery at Brownhills. A fairly new brewery, I hadn't tried
any of this micro's ales. However, on the evidence of this beer I'll
be trying plenty more. This is brewed to a similar recipe of other
highly rated beers utilising American hops, this was a very pleasant
dry hoppy pale ale with citrus notes galore. Very, very nice. We were
the only ones to venture out of the Hippodrome at the half-time
interval and make it across the road for a quick drink. Who would want
to queue up at the Hippodrome's bar for a glass of fizz when this sort
of beer is available a few yards from the front door? This is the
third time we have been in The Fox over the last year and I have to
say that the beer has always been highly enjoyable.

[www.midlandspubs.co.uk]

I wrote to the Backyard Brewery and said I'd like to do a feature on
the company and the beers but unfortunately I have had no response. As
the saying goes..... "You can lead a horse to water........." Oh well.
Frustrated
Kieron

On 16 Nov, 21:07, "www.midlandspubs.co.uk" <kie...@midlandspubs.co.uk>
wrote: