The Neighborhood Pub

On the LSE pubcrawl last week we went to a few pubs that were right in my neighborhood.  Tonight some friends and I went back to one of them after getting donar kebobs on Southwark Street.  The pub, called The Thameside Inn, is, as the name alludes, right on the Thames near southern bank of the London Bridge.  The front door is also about 15 feet from the water berth that houses the full-size replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship, The Golden Hinde.  Outside and in, it is a classic English pub.  They had 10-odd beers on tap, lots of dark wood, and comfy padded booths, chandeliers, and a nice, quiet atmosphere.

On Friday night, after describing my dislike of excessive hops (the stuff that makes beer bitter) to a bartender in a pub near Covent Garden, I learned that there is a whole category of beer without too much hops, lager.  Ever since (on Saturday night and today), I have been exploring this newfound category (although as of yet, i've only tried two).   Tonight I tried Kronenbourg 1664, a yummy French lager with less fizzyness and a bit more flavor than other beers I've tried.  Apparently it is the number 1 selling french beer, and the UK's second biggest premium selling lager, what ever that means.  Regardless, when combined with the lovely atmosphere of the pub and the fun people I was with (yes, cheesy), it was quite delicious.