British Pubs in America

Yah know... the thought occurred to me, and I almost went there.

 

That was my thought on the entire subject. Contrived = crap, organic = authentic. And never, EVER, EVVEERRR a chain.

We have a place in the RIC called "Penny Lane" that tries too hard IMO. Like they are trying to become a tourist stop for people wanting an actual British experience or really going overboard in trying to pander to the soccer (I'm typing on THIS side of the pond, so no need for correction) crowd.

A proper pub need be no more ethnic than anywhere else, so long as the atmosphere is conducive to conversation, the feel is warm as to shake off drizzly 40 something degree chills just by stepping inside, and the comforts (food, beer and seating) have attention to detail implied but not fussy. Overall, the place should be presented well enough to compel you to lose track of time, not constantly check your watch. Wish to throw a Union Jack up here and there, knock yourself out but it isn't necessarily prerequisite and adds nothing to the overall aura.

 

in most real English pubs if you stand at the bar folks will talk to you....I been in many American pubs and no 1 would talk to me for hours, not even the bartender.....sad...

 

Ontario is full of British pubs. The province is also home to many expats, so I suppose the feel is authentic.
You need more than just décor, after all.

 

We visited friends in OC back in June. One day we did the tourist thing and toured the Battleship Iowa. For lunch we went to The Whale and Ale, which was authentic looking. A woman had spent time having it built, went to England for fixtures and furnishing, and spent a lot of money. Got that story from the present owner who was British, as the lady lost onterest in running a pub after a few years. The friends who took us there lived in London for 3 years, so they think it is pretty close, so did I.

http://www.whaleandale.com/#!gallery/c1pwt

 

How were the fish and chips? Looks like a cool place for sure.

 

Don't know I had the Ploughman's lunch, it was very good and true to what it should be. I got to have the Branston Pickle that others did not want, which was a lot.

 

Sort of on a related note.. a lot of so-called Irish pubs in North America are tacky, and complete eyesores.
They look like St. Patrick's Day gift shops, cluttered with kitsch. Essentially North American bars with lots of green and tricolour decorations.

 

I looked up Branston Pickle recipes and know that I would like it. Cheers.

 

Certainly looks the part - I know where I'm going if I ever visit

 

The Duke of Edinburgh in Cupertino, CA. My old "local". http://www.theduke.com
Great place for proper fish & chips, sunday roast, scotch egg and pints. Football on the tele, juke box, darts and outdoor smoking section (which I could do without). Good times, good times.

 

My second favorite is not really so British looking from the outside, but a little from the inside. What makes it A British pub is the owner, who is a Yorkshireman. 3 hand pumps, serving what he can get on cask from local Brewers. Last time I had some good pints of Bell's Porter. Thursday nights are excellent due to the musicians that show up to play Irish and British classics, the owner signs along for some. If we stay there in one of the rooms, the next day there may be some Rugby or soccer on the television in the morning. A relaxing place "Up North" with many things to do in the area. The fish and chips are pretty darned good, as are the Shepards and Cottage Pies.
http://littletraverseinn.com/gastro-pub

 

Awesome! Just moved to the area and this has not come up in any search on Tap Hunter, Beer Menus, etc...Thanks!

 

Pretty cool authentic Irish Pub I visited in Westminster MD a few weeks back. Called O'Lordans. Not the most extensive/best taplist, didn't see any cask options, but food options were really good.

http://www.olordansirishpub.com/index.asp

History:
The stone building appears on the maps between 1867 and 1870 as part of a land tract marking the opening of the west end of town. It opened as a foundry where they developed and refined innovative machinery such as the "Lion Fodder Crusher", making the job of local farmers easier. In 1878 the property was purchased by B. Frank Shriver Company. Having paved the way for advances in the canning industry, Shriver sold the property to Farmers Supply Company.

 

With crappy frozen food and crappy beer- with maybe a Guinness.

 

Fish and chips made with pollock? YGBSM!

 

Hey, you are a long way from the ocean up there. The local Whitefish is very good, but probably too expensive.

I would also love to have some pints of <4% beer on cask, but once again this is Michigan. Not many session beers made here.

 

Mad Fox in Falls Church VA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a deep love for pubs. The overall culture (beer, food, atmosphere, and history) are right up my alley. With that said Mad Fox is an American interpretation but very similar without becoming tacky or insincere. Their cask program is very well done too.

 

I've always wanted ANY British-style pub. There's so many "Irish pubs" in Boston. Most simply have Guinness/Smithwick's...etc. on tap and then sell shots of Jameson's and cheap Miller Lite to 20-something's, who gleefully pound "Irish car bombs" while the top hits of today are blasting in your ear, and everyone's falling over drunk and dancing.

We have some that are far more legitimate, but still, the "theme" is overdone. I even saw it in Montreal, and you see it in New York as well. I would love to see a comfortable British pub experience, with multiple casks of low abv ale from both the US and the UK. Pulled into imperial pints of course. The closest we get to this experience is NERAX, which is my favorite beer festival of the year, and very well run. Although it's become "hoppier" as the years have went on, it's still a very relaxed, social atmosphere.

I simply don't know how much interest there is in something like that though. Between casks generally being poorly taken care of in the US and very little interest in <4% abv ales, I don't know if this would work. Now German beer halls/gardens, I've always said that's something that could catch on here in the US. Although in the last few years I've seen more casks, and casks that aren't just a gimmick, they're properly cared for, and taste great.

The US beer culture is currently in flux, and we're still carving out our "culture". At the moment, it appears to be a mix of tickers and those generally interested in having good beer and socializing. However, I'm also starting to see more and more local breweries pop up, with some pretty cool and fun spots to hang out at.

 

I haven't thought of the Golden Bee in years the broadmoor is gorgeous I don't know whether I ever drank a beer there ate a burger I liked "The Bar" better. Cheers for brining back some great memories I need to make it back there. Even if their Sunday Grand Brunch was average as shit .