Great Northern Hotel

Great Northern Hotel

644 Rathdowne St, Carlton North
www.gnh.net.au

BarAmigo’s two pesos – a great chilled out pub with wonderful beer choice and a beer garden that you could spend many summer days in.

When visited – Mon 31 Oct 2011 8.45pm to 11.45pm

The bar when you walk in at the Great Northern Hotel

The Great Northern Hotel embodies what you would expect in a great pub. It’s nothing flash but plenty of beer choice and a beer garden which would be perfect for a sunny day. Nothing pretentious and just a good spot to enjoy a beer with your mates.

Twas the night before Christmas… no not really but when you’re a working adult… a public holiday on a Tuesday (and Melbourne cup) is kinda the same thing And it’s Halloween as well but I did that at A Bar Called Barry two nights ago.

Anyway, it’s my mate’s b’day and I’m looking forward to a beer on cup eve… and of course catching up with mates. The Great Northern Hotel is chilled out as you’d expect on a Monday night. Plenty of tables available if you’re after a quiet pub meal. And a large beer garden out the back if it’s a warm day or evening. Unfortunately it’s a rather cool night so we’re inside but it’s still good to have a beer inside.

The bar from the other side... yeah i'm scraping the bottom of the barrel with these photos aren't I

The Great Northern Hotel is chilled, relaxed and unpretentious. Wear whatever you want and you’ll be comfortable. The bar staff are all pretty easy going and are happy to have a chat to you at the bar. Well I guess its cause they love their beer and I’m happy to talk about beer.

Whilst speaking about beer (gotta love the segue) I can’t be more pleasantly surprised about the beer selection. There’s 16 beers on tap with the most common beers on tap being Coopers Pale Ale and a Mountain Goat (besides Carlton Draught). I start with the Little Creatures Vintage Ale at $10 a pint then move onto the Hargreaves Hill ESB at $9.50 a pint. I then have a taste of the Holgate ESB but cause it’s out of the hand pump, it’s not as cold at the Hargreaves Hill so I stick to the Hargreaves Hill ESB. Gotta love a place that lets you try out the beer before buying it. I’m rather impressed with the prices but my mate reminds me that its city pint prices which I’m used to. He does have a point. But, $9.50 for a pint of boutique beer is still pretty good value in my opinion.

Crowd wise it’s pretty varied. Mid/late 20s through to those in their early 40s plus. It’s a pub so you gotta expect a rather wide age range. Some suits around sticking around for drinks after work so you’d be comfortable wearing whatever. It isn’t that busy given its a Monday but apparently Friday and Saturday nights are rather busy. Our group of 15-20 create that lively atmosphere which is good for our group but not really anyone else.

Heard the food is pretty good at the Great Northern Hotel but isn’t exactly the cheapest. Menu looks to be more gastro pub like. Anyway, the specials seem pretty good value with $12 parmas on a Monday night. And its apparently decent as well.

The Great Northern Hotel is a great pub with everything you’d expect from a pub. Nothing flash. Just great beer, plenty of areas for a seat and an expansive beer garden. Perfect to catch up with your friends.

Salud
Eddie
BarAmigo – Your friend at the bar

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