Hop, Clip, & Pump

Going Coco Loco Down in Erm Barrow Hill… the title alone doesn’t quite behave like a sensible beer review. It reads more like a fever dream, or the name of a pub crawl that got slightly out of hand somewhere between a railway museum and a late-night decision. And in a way, that is exactly where this beer belongs. Set against the industrial nostalgia of Barrow Hill Roundhouse during Rail Ale trade night, this is not a controlled tasting environment. This is exhaustion, cask ale, railway heritage, and the quiet, slightly chaotic pursuit of 'something dark and comforting' after a long shift at work. Into this setting steps  Coco Loco . From Grafton Brewing . The Setting: Rail Ale and Worn-In Glassware Barrow Hill Roundhouse is the kind of place that already feels halfway between history and theatre. Trains, steel, echoing architecture, and then, suddenly, casks of ale lined up like competing narratives. After a long shift, the intention is simple, find 'dark oblivion...

There are moments in the pub when anticipation hangs in the air, that flicker of excitement when a new pump clip appears on the bar. You lean in, squint at the design, maybe exchange a hopeful glance with the regulars. This time, it was a paper-thin laminated effort, slightly rough around the edges. Not unusual. In fact, sometimes those modest, homemade-looking clips signal something special, a hidden gem from a small, passionate brewery. Sadly, this was not one of those times. First Impressions: Hope and Hesitation At first pour, there was curiosity. Maybe even optimism. The kind that makes you think, this could be a sleeper hit . But one sip in, and the mood shifted. The collective verdict, reached somewhere between raised eyebrows and puzzled frowns? Pernod. Not a subtle hint. Not a whisper of complexity. Just a full-on, unmistakable wave of aniseed crashing over the palate. The Taste Test: Aniseed Overload Now, aniseed has its place. In the right context, it can add intrig...