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Started the day in Branksome visiting “The Barking Cat”, onto Ashley Cross for “Knight Life Tap Room”. From here I got the bus into Poole, known for its commercial fishing fleet and ship building endeavours and Europe’s largest natural harbour. Here I visited “Brewhouse and Kitchen”, “The Brewhouse” and “Slipway Cafe”. A short train journey onto Dorchester, a lovely historic market town, and famously associated with Thomas Hardy. A number of visits here starting with “Copper Street Brewery”, and onto “Brewhouse and Kitchen”, “Convivial Rabbit”, “Blue Raddle”, “Tom Browns” and finishing at “Pursuit of Poppiness”.
The Barking Cat
Started off the day in Branksome, a short walk from the Railway Station brings me to “The Barking Cat”, this Micropub has won a number of CAMRA Awards and is owned by Mark and his eldest son Michael. A great warm welcome from Michael today. The Micropub has a Chinese next door so customers can order into the pub (they have a door between the two).
A fantastic range of 8 cask beers and 12 keg beers are available on the bar. The cask beers were a range from local breweries and breweries from further afield. I went with “Shellback APA” from Swindon based Hop Kettle Brewing Co. A great clean and fresh beer.
Knight Life Taphouse
A short bus ride towards Poole brings me next to the “Knight Life Taphouse”, which opened in December 2021 in a former bank. The brewery itself is located in Bournemouth. A great vibrant decor inside which is quirky and unusual.
A range of their own beers were being served, and love the idea of the spray cans instead of pump clips on the bar. Such a unique feature. 11 beers all on keg, 9 of them being their own. Tried 2 of their sour beers here starting with “Pie Sub Lime”, a tasty and tart key lime pie sour. Secondly was “True Lovers Ink”, a fruity blackberry pastry sour, delicious.
Back on the bus from here and a short journey into Poole Bus Station.
Brewhouse & Kitchen – Poole
A short walk brings me to “Brewhouse and Kitchen – Southbourne”. A popular bar which has a small number of pubs but each brewing beers on the premises. They offer a brewery experience day which is great value for money and very informative. This reopened in 2015 and the building itself was a pair of houses from the late 18th Century and converted into a pub in the early 19th Century.
A line up of 3 cask beers all brewed on the premises, alongside a wide range of their own keg beers with some guests. I went with “Telemark Extra Session IPA”, a delicious bright and hoppy pale ale, really refreshing.
The Brewhouse
A short walk through the centre of Poole brings me to “The Brewhouse”. A pub well known for winning awards in the local area. Very traditional looking pub with a nice outside seating area at the front on the main high street. A great warm welcome from behind the bar today.
A line up of 4 cask ales available on the bar today. I opted to go with “Summer Solstice” from Cambridgeshire based Elgood’s Brewery. A great tasting and easy drinking Golden Ale.
Slipway Cafe Bar
My last call in Poole is located on the top floor of the RNLI Training College as is known as the “Slipway Cafe Bar”. A beautiful cafe style bar overlooking the quayside and a number of RNLI boats and training boats, with a great balcony outside to view from. Their shop is located as you enter the building. A lovely warm welcome from the team working behind the bar today.
One cask beer on the bar aptly named “Lifesaver” from Devon based Salcombe Brewery. A tasty deep chestnut coloured beer and a nice sweet malty taste to it.
A short walk back to Poole Railway Station to catch a train to Dorchester South (a 25 minute journey).
Copper Street Brewery
My first call was directly over the road from the Railway Station and was into “Copper Street Brewery”. It is located in Brewery Square on the site of the old Eldridge Pope Brewery. The brewery was setup in 2018, and a taproom and bottle shop added. A great warm welcome from owner and brewer Alistair, and Richard serving behind the bar.
Alistair showed me around the brewery, located directly behind the bar/taproom seating area and explained the different beers they brewed and which were the most popular. A really nice setup here.
A line up of 6 beers on the bar today, 3 of their own and 3 guest beers. I started with “K Dinner Ale”, in collaboration with the Dead Brewers Society. First Brewed by John Groves and Sons in Weymouth on the 6th June 1944. Recipe donated by the Dead Brewers Society and brewed at Copper Street brewery to commemorate the 80th D Day Celebrations. I went onto trying “871”, their most popular beer. A great easy drinking traditional English Bitter.
Brewhouse & Kitchen – Dorchester
A short walk brings me to “Brewhouse and Kitchen – Dorchester”. A popular bar which has a small number of pubs but each brewing beers on the premises. They offer a brewery experience day which is great value for money and very informative. This pub was built in the late 1980s on the site of the old LSWR railway buildings.
A line up of 4 cask beers all brewed on the premises, alongside a wide range of their own keg beers with some guests. I went with “Project Cask – XPA”. One of their seasonal beers. A very light, refreshing and easy drinking extra pale ale.
Convivial Rabbit
A short walk through Dorchester brings me to my next call which is to the “Convivial Rabbit”. A hidden gem located down a side street and one not to miss. A beautiful setting with outdoor seating also. The inside looking very rustic and traditional. A lovely warm welcome from Ian behind the bar today.
A great line up of 7 cask beers all served from gravity. I started with “Barbus Barbus” from Somerset based Butts Brewery. A really easy drinking and well balanced English Bitter. My second choice was “Hapi” from Hampshire based Mysterious Brewing Co. A refreshing and moreish pale ale, packed full of flavour.
Blue Raddle
A short walk brings me next to the “Blue Raddle”. A genuine free house which is owned and run by the licensee and his wife. A very quirky pub with lots of photos and paraphernalia on the walls, and the covers of Private Eye around make interesting reading. A really warm welcome in here.
A selection of 4 cask ales to choose from on the bar today. My choice was “Giant Session” from Cerne Abbas Brewery who are based in Dorset. A deliciously tasty pale ale, hopped using Jester and Mosaic hops, adding some fantastic flavours to the beer.
Tom Browns
A short walk around the corner brings me next to “Tom Browns”. A great pub, very traditional inside with seating out at the front. Also has a skittle alley at the rear and has a secluded garden which you are able to access the River Frome. A lovely warm welcome from manager Will this afternoon.
A selection of 3 cask ales, all local on the bar, alongside a number of keg beer options to complement the cask line up, and one handpull cider. I started with “Mustang Sally” from Swanage based Hattie Brown’s Brewery. A light and hoppy American style session pale ale. I went onto “Tom Browns” from Dorchester based Dorset Brewing Company. A smooth amber coloured traditional English Bitter.
The Pursuit of Poppiness
My last call is just over the road from Dorchester South Railway Station and is to “The Pursuit of Poppiness”, sister pub to the one I visited in Bridport on Wednesday. A beautifully decorated Fizz Bar & Ale House, with added seating outside at the front. A nice warm welcome from behind the bar.
A line up on draught of 2 craft beers, a lager and a cider to choose from. I went with “Fresh Strata” from Strood based The Fresh Standard Brew Co. A super hoppy, light and mouth-watering pale ale, full of flavour.
Micropub Adventures 