The Australia, Porthmadog

This large split level, open plan pub caught my eye as we drove along the main road through Porthmadog one evening, thanks to the large banner outside proclaiming it as the home of Purple Moose beers. Popping back the following evening, we found the pub completely packed, with seating at a premium. You enter to the main bar area - a smart, bare boarded space with the servery directly opposite the entrance and seating space over to the right. Lots of chunky benches can be found around the room, including in a large front window bay, whilst low stools serve modest sized tables, all branded with the Purple Moose logo. The servery looks like a modern addition and has a dark wood counter and tongue and groove bar back but no real features of interest, whilst the walls have been covered either with fake brick wallpaper or else painted with chalkboard paint, allowing some creative soul to draw various brewery logos and promotional bits on the walls. Steps to the left of the bar lead down into a sizeable second seating area with similar seating arrangements and a small section of servery tucked into the rear right corner. A structural pillar has been embedded in a large barrel in the middle of the room and now acts as a drinking ledge, whilst on the end wall there is a chimney made from real bricks and with a stove blazing away inside. The pub's unusual name still remains a bit of an unsolved mystery, but the local theory tells a tale of sailors leaving Porthmadog for Australia with a ship full of slate, only to abscond when they reached the other side of the world. The ship was then sailed back by an Australian crew, who regularly frequented this venue upon arrival. It seems a spurious story but will have to make do with it so long as no other plausible explanation forthcoming. The bar had a good row of handpulls offering a wide range of Purple Moose brews, with options on this visit being Black Rock, Glaslyn Ale, Dark Side of the Moose, Madog's Ale and Snowdonia Ale plus a real cider. I gave the Dark Side of the Moose a try and found it a little below par but still an enjoyable brew. A few more Purple Moose beers could be found on keg dispense and the service was very friendly but glacially slow, resulting in a big crowd at the bar. This is definitely a must-do pub for anyone wanting to try some beer from one of Wales' top breweries but I was a little disappointed by the pub itself which was decidedly lacking in character and struggled to generate a convivial atmosphere even with a large weekend crowd. The place is still relatively new and perhaps is still trying to bed itself in but I think more could be done to make this somewhere you'd want to settle down for an evening. Having said all that, it is probably still the best option in town and I'd happily call in again.