Long time no see readers!
I wanted to quickly update you on two new places have visited in Sheffield recently. As you may all be well aware there are a number of new venues in Sheffield - some of which have still not bothered visiting - but last month myself and Wee Keefy went out on a Friday night starting at the Beer engine on London road.
Its not a regular place for me to visit recently alas but I got a pint of Buxton IPA on kftf and WK a pint of beer on cask from the past - and we supped these sat in the garden. From here we went to Jabeerwocky for pints and lovely food ( WK was on their excellent fries with Goulash and that was immense!) before heading over tyhe road for my first visit to Bear on Abbeydale Road.
I think in the past this was called Shipyard Books or similar - it was certainly a book shop for many years - and now its a small two roomed bar serving about 5 beers on Keg, along with a fairly excellent range of beers including a stout wall, containing some excellent brews.
As we were on a crawl we only stopped for the one in here but I went for a pint of Verdant Even Sharks need water, which was cloudy and delicious. We sat at a small table looking out of the window at the restaurant on the other side of the road and I had a quick search of the beers on offer to take out - I ended up with a can of " Bring me the head of John the accountant" from Sureshot brewing - a DIPA which currently lives in my fridge. Am thinking that I may try it tonight, along with other delights.
The room behind the bar is small and comfortable and there is - crucially - a loo - I was in it whilst two people walked in and asked to use it - and had to leave! We finished off our pints quite quickly before heading off to our final stop at the Dead Donkey - definitely a place I will pop into again.
The second place is on the first floor of the Krynkle building at Shalesmoor. I remember that years ago there was a roof top bar - it was fairly dreadful if am honest - so have not been in again since apart from back in February where myself and my friend Hal tried to find the very same venue as I went to at the beginning of April.
The Cider Hole has been open - and brewing Cider - for what is possibly a year or nine months now - its a fascinating place which when I was told about it's existence I was warned about its restricted opening hours and difficulties to find it open. I popped into the Beer Stop at Dronfield the next day having found the website - " is the Cider Hole Open". It turns out that Luke the owner there helped set up that website and possibly the bar - such as it is - last year.
Interestingly I had looked at that site when planning to visit on a Saturday when they open at 1400 - and then visited on a Friday, arriving at 1430 - two and a half hours before they open!
After a few pints of cask (from the past) in Shakespeares I got back at 1705 and found a sign outside Krynkle - I was their first customer of the day. There was a guy called Ben working behind the tiny bar with two or three barrels of freshly made cider next to it. I know that Cider can have an effect on me - I had just a half pint of Cheddar Valley in the Orchard in Bristol and was quite "discussive" en route back to the hotel. Having already had three pints I opted to try a tasting slate of a third each of the three Sheffield ciders brewed using donated Apples found in Sheffield including (possibly) Crookes and Walkley.
I tried a third each of the Exemption Cider House Cool Neighbours, a 5.5% dry cider, their Ask Albert Dry cider at 6.5% and also their Too many apples, a 5.9% dry blend with notes of tanginess and very refreshing. The apples in the Ask Albert were proivided by Ross on Wye Cider and was possibly the most traditional of the three tastes.
Having got chatting to a young couple visiting from Nottingham I finished on a bottle of Zapiain Gure Sagardoa Gorenak - a 6.7% still and dry cider from Astigarraga in the Basque country - and very tasty - if a little tart - it was too. I also got some Oliver's Cider Pomona Blend and a can of Columbian Cider which I hope to share with Hal when I next see her!
Lastly I should mention a chap possibly called Wayne - although, as you may be aware - he could have had one of many thousands of himan male names. I met him in the Crow last week and he told me he was the owner of the bar on Worksop station - the Mallard. I did have to admit that I hadn't been for about ten years - simply because have not been to Worksop for about ten years! I was however pleased to hear that he appreciated my blog! I will hopefully see you soon mate.
So overall, both were excellent venues - I would however advise you that if you are planning on visiting the Cider Hole you check out their website istheciderholeopen before you go since it opens at 1400 on a Saturday and 1700 on Thursday and Friday.
Your very best of health
Cheers!
Wee Beefy