Drink 3/5, Décor 4/5, Price 3/5, Atmosphere 3/5, Staff 3/5

AT THIS time of year everyone is offering words of advice to graduates and school leavers and I would like to add my own.

Take lots of cash when you visit the Grape and Grain in Crystal Palace.

I say this not because it is overly pricey but because there are so many drinks to choose from.

Usually when faced with a lot of choice I like to work my way from one end of the bar to the other drinking everything in sight.

But this time I foolishly did not take much cash and did not want to use my card too much, so could not sample everything.

Beers on offer included a couple from Sussex’s Dark Star Brewery and a selection from Adnams and Westerham alongside the Meantime Brewery.

Lager lovers would be equally pleased to have a choice of German, Dutch and Spanish beer rather than the usual Australian or French drinks which are served in so many boozers.

With my selection of shrapnel I started off with a pint of Hylder Blonde (around £3) from the Dark Star Brewery.

As with most blonde beers it was delicate and light so worked well for the summer.

It tasted slightly of elderflowers which added to the summery flavour although beers tasting of flowers are not really to my taste.

My pint of Adnams East Green (also around £3) was interesting in an environmental way as well as flavour wise.

It was dry and refreshing while being a little citrusy and the brewer boasts it is the first carbon neutral beer from the coast.

Personally I would compromise carbon neutrality for a good taste so it is nice to believe with the East Green you can have both.

It is a traditional pub with modern touches (i.e. light and airy rather than dark and gloomy) so I’m already planning my drinking route along the bar for next time.