Cocktail Kingdom & a Bottle Regret: Beer #4981 at Scarfes Bar
From the Desk of JT, the Beer Logger (B-Logger)
- Mission: 50 Beers to 5000
- Beer #: 4981
- Location: London, England
- Beer: Schiehallion Lager
- Brewery: Harviestoun Brewery
- Vibe: Velvet, jazz, and main-character energy
- Mood: Classy… but mildly disappointed
🍺 Beer #4981: Schiehallion Lager (3.0)
Coming back from Edinburgh for one final night in London felt like that moment when a great TV series ends and you’re not emotionally prepared. To soften the blow, we checked into the nicest hotel of the entire trip: The Rosewood London in Covent Garden.
Before heading out for an absolutely incredible Indian dinner, we noticed Scarfes Bar tucked inside the hotel. It already looked lively. Promising. Dangerous.
When we returned later that night?
Absolutely hopping.
Luckily, hotel guest privilege is a beautiful thing. Priority access, a table secured, and suddenly we were sitting in one of the world’s most famous cocktail bars while a swing band played — piano man holding court, two female singers bringing proper old-school elegance.
This place oozes class.
Which is exactly why what I did next was… questionable.
🥃 A Cocktail Bar… and I Order a Beer?
Scarfes Bar is legendary for cocktails. World-class. Bartenders who look like they could judge your life choices with a raised eyebrow.
And yet…
They only offer bottled beer.
Should I try one?
Probably not.
Did I anyway?
Of course.
Missing Scotland already, I spotted Schiehallion Lager from Harviestoun Brewery. Pronounced she-hal-i-on — which already feels like it deserves better circumstances than what followed.
Unfortunately, this bottle just didn’t show up ready to play.
😬 The Disappointment Factor
Let’s be clear: this is not a Harviestoun problem.
Other Harviestoun beers I tried on this trip?
👉 Excellent. No notes.
This one, on this night, in this bottle?
Flat, tired, and clearly not living its best life. Likely a bottle that had been sitting around too long — which makes sense in a place where beer is absolutely not the star of the show.
JT Bottle Breakdown:
- Drinkability level: Meh
- Setting mismatch: High
- Scotland nostalgia factor: Strong, but unfulfilled
- JT rating: 3.0 (the floor — situational, not personal)
This wasn’t a “bad beer.”
It was a bad decision.
🎶 The Bar That Deserved Better Choices
Here’s the thing: even with a disappointing beer in hand, Scarfes Bar is incredible.
- Live swing music filling the room
- Warm lighting and illustrated walls
- Crowd buzzing but never chaotic
- That feeling that you should be wearing a jacket you don’t own
Every single person around us had an absurdly good-looking cocktail. Meanwhile, I was holding a bottle wishing I’d read the room better.
Lesson learned.
🧠 JT’s Wisdom (Earned the Hard Way)
If you find yourself at Scarfes Bar:
✔️ Order a cocktail
✔️ Trust the bartenders
✔️ Embrace the moment
❌ Don’t order bottled beer unless absolutely necessary
Some places deserve respect.
Scarfes Bar is one of them.
🍺 Final Thoughts
Beer #4981 won’t be remembered for the beer itself — and that’s okay.
It’ll be remembered as:
- The final London night
- The classiest bar of the trip
- A reminder that context matters
- And proof that even JT occasionally ignores his own instincts
Next time?
Cocktail in hand. No questions asked.
Oh well. Cheers! 🍻
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