The Albion Hotel
While the décor or facade of this hotel won’t win any awards, they’re definitely serious about their beer. Not only will you find ten on-tap craft beers (and two hand pumps), they’ve also got tasting notes attached to the taps. It’s not a bad way to make choosing easier! Even better: their fifteen-buck pub lunch menu includes a wine glass sized taster with every dish. Spying the Commercial Fishermen’s Coop across the road, I took a punt on seafood (and wasn’t disappointed), from a Half Dozen Oysters ($15) to a better-than-average take on Beer Battered Flathead, Salad and Chips ($15). They both scrubbed up best against a local Newcastle brew, Grainfed Brewing Co.’s Sneaky One ($5.20/middy). Though if I was just settling in for an afternoon of drinking, my first choice would be the Hunter Beer Company’s biscuity Kölsch ($5.20/middy). At the fancier end of the lunch menu, there’s a Lemon and Pernod Scented Seafood Chowder ($15) densely populated with prawns, clams and mussels; or you can damn their proximity to the ocean and devour a nicely presented Chicken, Pork and Pistachio Terrine ($15). All in all, it’s enough to make me consider another quick trip up the freeway to try their six-course Beer Degustation ($89/head)…
The Albion Hotel
72 Hannell Street, Wickham
Ph: (02) 49622411 thealbion.com.au
Pub Bistro $
