Hello again
day two dawned with mist and a chill in the air, quickly dispersed by a fantastic breakfast with a huge amount of food options to tempt us. Being the only guests we were free to have a leisurely (well over an hour) munch before heading off out in bright sunshine to walk along the Derwent.
The only downside to this was that we ended up missing the somewhat infrequent 6.1 to Wirksworth - so, dragging my titty lip along the floor, we "had" to storm along the A6 into Belper to plan how we might get to our intended first stop - having already, for a second day running, ditched plans to go to Buxton. Sorry Buxton. The solution was to catch the TP to Cromford and catch the 6.1 coming the other way to Wirksworth. Something of a fanny about but well rewarded with a trip to the Royal Oak.
This redoubtable old pub is tucked away on St John Street near two of Wirksworth's churches. You'd be very unlikely to complete the combination of happening across it by chance, and finding it open - it opens 12-15.00 Sundays and from 20.00 to 23.00 during the week as I understand. Luckily its been in the GBG for many years, which is where I found out about it.
Bass and Landlord are regulars and there is nearly always something from Whim - this time Hartington IPA, complimented by Blue Monkey Ape Ale. Miss N went for the latter and I the Hartington IPA, and we decided to sit in the beer garden. I think yard is a more accurate description - but whichever you use - what a fantastic spot. Sat in glorious sunshine beneath a cloudless sky supping pale hoppy real ale, after all the tribulation of getting there it felt like we'd got chance to relax. First pints quickly dispersed, we got sandwiches and both had a further pint of the Blue Monkey (£2.80, 5.0%). And then we repeated the round, before we set off once again.
Back on the 6.1 we alighted near The Tavern in Belper. I'd never been before but heard it sold real ales often including ones from Shottle Farm Brewery. None on offer this time but there were pints of Bradfield Northern General appeal brew to be supped, from a range that included Grafton brewery Jazz. The Jazz was really poor with almost no taste to it so we were glad of the Bradfield, and once again the drinks came to £5.60. Here we sat in the sunshine in the beer garden before heading up the road to find a bus stop with a timetable on it.
With no Sevens to get us to Openwoodgate, we caught a bus to Ripley. Here we went to the Pear Tree, and from a range of four predominantly Greedy King beers, I went for their mild (it doesn't count if you drink a beer they wish they could discontinue) and Miss N a Pale Ale from Dark Star. Once again the beer was £5.60!
A quick walk took us to the Talbot Tap House where there were five Amber Ales on offer, and a guest. I went for a pint of the Revolution, as did Miss N, which the barman told me was the eighth version brewed, and which the blackboard proclaimed featured Special B Malt. Whatever taste that might impart, the Revolution remains a favourite Amber Ales beer, so when the second round came I had that again, and Miss N something that was about 6.0%. Despite confusion about its name at the time, I didn't think to look at the clip, even when returning the glasses to he bar. There's journalism for yer...
A yomp followed to our penultimate boozer, the rather excellent Thorn Tree at Waingroves. Two good quality beers were sampled after a rather lengthy walk to get to it - 4T's Brewing face the hops, at 5.5%, and a Hopcraft Fleur D'Alsace which was slightly less strong but delicious nonetheless. Alas this was a short visit since we had no idea when the "nines" ran from the bottom of Pease Hill (both phones dead, locals lacking confidence in the idea we'd get home!) so we restricted ourselves to one pint before scaling the hill and walking down past the Beehive - to wait 40 minutes for a bus to Derby. Doh.
Once there we headed for The Station Inn but either it closes early Sunday or doesn't open at all - I probably ought to know this, in fact its probably on my blog. Either way, no amount of standing hopefully outside the door was going to make the lights come on. Round the corner the Brunswick was serving til 23.00 so we had chance for a quick last pint and a half - Railway Porter for Miss N and half for me, along with a pint of Brampton Griffin - and a pork pie.
So ended an at times hectic traipse round many excellent pubs in the Derwent and tributary valleys, memorable for great beer, fantastic scenery and lovely Autumn sunshine. We'll just have to do that ball ache journey to Buxton and Elton another time...
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
Showing posts with label Amber Ales brewery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amber Ales brewery. Show all posts
Monday, 7 October 2013
Saturday, 19 January 2013
Beerollercoaster
Good afternoon,
the title doesn't relate to a rather stomach churning film shown on Jim'll Fix it (although discerning which clips would make you gip nowadays is quite difficult), instead its a nod to the strange tumult of highs and lows I had last night.
I was meeting Fluffy after work, traipsing up to West Street in snow and slippery pavements, with all bathed in off yellow light, and snow forming a frothy head in my hair. I arrived at the Bath Hotel early, and looking like a badly poured Guinness. Luckily, there was beer to drink whilst I waited, and the whole place was coat dryingly warm.
I tried standing at the bar, as if I was in DAda, but to be fair there seems a bit more footfall in the Bath so I retired to the corner next to the radiator and got settled with my pint of the excellent Amber Ales Derbyshire Gold. They also had the Amber Jasmine IPA, but, not exactly surprisingly, this tasted of jasmine.
So when Fluff arrived I had another pint of the Derbyshire Gold, as did he and he got sat next to the lava hot radiator to get dried. I once again had one of their fantastic hot roast pork sarnies (thanks Steph!) and this filled me up perfectly for the night of drinking ahead. The only downside was the dire predictions of upcoming beers - selling 5 of my least favourite Thornbridge beers, including Kipling, Brother rabbit and Puja, it looked likely that the pendulum of popularity would swing back to DAda. These last two weeks have been a great example of soaring and falling fortunes in terms of the beer range at the Bath. Perhaps I was spoilt by Red Willow, Amber and aged Beadecas Well....
We walked to the Hop next, still in the snow, and decided to only stop for a half. There's something I just can't get on with about the Hop. I loved the green hop festival and there is always a mild on the bar, but its so transient - I always feel like I'm filling in ten minutes when I', in there - this time we literally were! Halves of Rudgate Ruby Mild fr me and Ossett Treacle Scott for Fluff, to prepare us against the snowy wind ahead.
Eschewing the charms of the Dev Cat we headed into Henry's past the promising looking frontage of the Brewery proclaiming its imminent opening. Its strange that Henry's never seems to be busy because the beer is fantastic in there, and well priced. I had a pint of sumptuous Dark Star Revelation, whilst Fluff had a half of the same, and a rather earthy Bridestones Chocolate Stout, from a range of about ten. A pub crying out for a session.
Off down to the Sheffield Tap next to be annoyed, disappointed and elated in equal measure. Initially our eyes lit up at the range, Magic Rock casks plus Human Cannonball on Keykeg, a Tiny Rebel beer, and a cask Sierra Nevada beer - Heaven! I had a half of the Cosmic Daze from S.N and a half of the Steel City Hop Cluster from the other night. And this is where it all started to go wrong...
Firstly, the tiny Rebel beer was about 4.5% and yet cost £5.00 (based on the cost two halves - note, this is according to Fluff, I didn't see the price myself). Not only that, it lacked significant noticeable flavour to overcome the carbonation and pointless coldness. It was like a shandy made with half a lager and some sparkling water. And why in the name of Christ was it £5.00 a pint?! Given that Keykeg was its most unsuitable serving style, it was galling enough to pay the infamous extra Keykeg cost at possibly a pound, but it was still £4.00 without! Is it made with gold? Mores the shame we couldn't remember the name of the brew.
The Sierra Nevada meanwhile was ace and lots easier to drink on cask than it usually is on keg or in bottle. However, the Steel City tasted of furniture polish and cucumbers. That is not how that beer should taste I assure you.
I took it back to complain and the lass behind the bar finished my sentence with the word furniture polish - so why on earth was it even on sale? She went to check with the manager if I could have it replaced with drinkable beer, a puzzle in itself, and I had a Rapture instead. To be fair they also took the beer off, but I can't begin to think what had happened to it to make it taste so bad, and however briefly, be on sale.
We cheered ourselves up with halves of Magic Rock Human Cannonball which is amazing, plus a half of the excellent Oakham JHB. The Human Cannonball was a great example of a strong beer that works well when sold on Keykeg. Joyous though this was, it just highlighted how bad the Tiny Rebel beer was.
Off to the Rutland Arms last and they also had Human Cannonball on - but, and I thought I'd never have reason to say this - at a pound more expensive than the Sheffield Tap. I love the Rutland but that's a slap too far! Luckily, they had Magic Rock Dark Arts on cask, so I had a pint of that and Fluff a rather ill advised pint of a Revolutions Christmassy spiced ale. Oh dear. What have you done to your image Revolutions Brew! Spiced ale is almost always unfailingly bad.
Luckily I bought Fluff a half of the Dark Arts, which he didn't finish as is usually the case in the last pub, so I had that, along with another pint of the absolutely excellent beer again. I love Dark Arts, and its a beer that needs to be on cask a bit more often I think. Probably the beer of the night.
So there you go, an up and down beer journey in the snow. A greatly enjoyable if frustrating way to spend Friday night - and what a great excuse for me to cancel my trip to Leeds today. A dry day inside with no costs involved is much needed I think!
Cheers
Wee Beefy
the title doesn't relate to a rather stomach churning film shown on Jim'll Fix it (although discerning which clips would make you gip nowadays is quite difficult), instead its a nod to the strange tumult of highs and lows I had last night.
I was meeting Fluffy after work, traipsing up to West Street in snow and slippery pavements, with all bathed in off yellow light, and snow forming a frothy head in my hair. I arrived at the Bath Hotel early, and looking like a badly poured Guinness. Luckily, there was beer to drink whilst I waited, and the whole place was coat dryingly warm.
I tried standing at the bar, as if I was in DAda, but to be fair there seems a bit more footfall in the Bath so I retired to the corner next to the radiator and got settled with my pint of the excellent Amber Ales Derbyshire Gold. They also had the Amber Jasmine IPA, but, not exactly surprisingly, this tasted of jasmine.
So when Fluff arrived I had another pint of the Derbyshire Gold, as did he and he got sat next to the lava hot radiator to get dried. I once again had one of their fantastic hot roast pork sarnies (thanks Steph!) and this filled me up perfectly for the night of drinking ahead. The only downside was the dire predictions of upcoming beers - selling 5 of my least favourite Thornbridge beers, including Kipling, Brother rabbit and Puja, it looked likely that the pendulum of popularity would swing back to DAda. These last two weeks have been a great example of soaring and falling fortunes in terms of the beer range at the Bath. Perhaps I was spoilt by Red Willow, Amber and aged Beadecas Well....
We walked to the Hop next, still in the snow, and decided to only stop for a half. There's something I just can't get on with about the Hop. I loved the green hop festival and there is always a mild on the bar, but its so transient - I always feel like I'm filling in ten minutes when I', in there - this time we literally were! Halves of Rudgate Ruby Mild fr me and Ossett Treacle Scott for Fluff, to prepare us against the snowy wind ahead.
Eschewing the charms of the Dev Cat we headed into Henry's past the promising looking frontage of the Brewery proclaiming its imminent opening. Its strange that Henry's never seems to be busy because the beer is fantastic in there, and well priced. I had a pint of sumptuous Dark Star Revelation, whilst Fluff had a half of the same, and a rather earthy Bridestones Chocolate Stout, from a range of about ten. A pub crying out for a session.
Off down to the Sheffield Tap next to be annoyed, disappointed and elated in equal measure. Initially our eyes lit up at the range, Magic Rock casks plus Human Cannonball on Keykeg, a Tiny Rebel beer, and a cask Sierra Nevada beer - Heaven! I had a half of the Cosmic Daze from S.N and a half of the Steel City Hop Cluster from the other night. And this is where it all started to go wrong...
Firstly, the tiny Rebel beer was about 4.5% and yet cost £5.00 (based on the cost two halves - note, this is according to Fluff, I didn't see the price myself). Not only that, it lacked significant noticeable flavour to overcome the carbonation and pointless coldness. It was like a shandy made with half a lager and some sparkling water. And why in the name of Christ was it £5.00 a pint?! Given that Keykeg was its most unsuitable serving style, it was galling enough to pay the infamous extra Keykeg cost at possibly a pound, but it was still £4.00 without! Is it made with gold? Mores the shame we couldn't remember the name of the brew.
The Sierra Nevada meanwhile was ace and lots easier to drink on cask than it usually is on keg or in bottle. However, the Steel City tasted of furniture polish and cucumbers. That is not how that beer should taste I assure you.
I took it back to complain and the lass behind the bar finished my sentence with the word furniture polish - so why on earth was it even on sale? She went to check with the manager if I could have it replaced with drinkable beer, a puzzle in itself, and I had a Rapture instead. To be fair they also took the beer off, but I can't begin to think what had happened to it to make it taste so bad, and however briefly, be on sale.
We cheered ourselves up with halves of Magic Rock Human Cannonball which is amazing, plus a half of the excellent Oakham JHB. The Human Cannonball was a great example of a strong beer that works well when sold on Keykeg. Joyous though this was, it just highlighted how bad the Tiny Rebel beer was.
Off to the Rutland Arms last and they also had Human Cannonball on - but, and I thought I'd never have reason to say this - at a pound more expensive than the Sheffield Tap. I love the Rutland but that's a slap too far! Luckily, they had Magic Rock Dark Arts on cask, so I had a pint of that and Fluff a rather ill advised pint of a Revolutions Christmassy spiced ale. Oh dear. What have you done to your image Revolutions Brew! Spiced ale is almost always unfailingly bad.
Luckily I bought Fluff a half of the Dark Arts, which he didn't finish as is usually the case in the last pub, so I had that, along with another pint of the absolutely excellent beer again. I love Dark Arts, and its a beer that needs to be on cask a bit more often I think. Probably the beer of the night.
So there you go, an up and down beer journey in the snow. A greatly enjoyable if frustrating way to spend Friday night - and what a great excuse for me to cancel my trip to Leeds today. A dry day inside with no costs involved is much needed I think!
Cheers
Wee Beefy
Thursday, 17 January 2013
Best is the guest?
Evening,
following on (slightly) from my previous post, and as promised, here are the details of that microcosm drinking session, and some from earlier.
All in all a great couple of nights, which nicely showcased some of Sheffield finest Brewery and Independently owned hostelries, proving that I have every reason to recommend a Thornbridge pub or two, but reminding me that the independents are always going to win in terms of choice.
following on (slightly) from my previous post, and as promised, here are the details of that microcosm drinking session, and some from earlier.
Whilst these are two separate events its easier to take them in one circular crawl, so for the purposes of this post I started at the Bath Hotel. Arriving at a time when only a few customers were in. I quickly got rid of them (not intentionally, although I had sweated en route, but one hopes they hadn't noticed!?) and soon set about chatting with Ed. He's an easy going likeable chap with a good sense of humour. No twats in suits for the Bath, and all the better for it.
He quickly drew my attention to the whisky barrel aged Beadecas Well from Thornbridge but I spotted the Amber Ales Revolution and had a pint of that. An absolutely fantastic choice. Refreshing, balanced and hoppy, and lasting about 5 minutes. So I had another! I then moved onto the recommendation...
The aged Beadecas was to be honest, stunning. A truly fantastic well rounded, monstrously luscious, creamy, smokey, spirit infused delight in a glass, but tasting stronger than its 5.5 (?)% strength. It certainly slowed me down, being less quaffable than the Amber, but it was a memorable pint. I finished though, on another pint of the Revolution. To me, it being good enough to have over the Red Willow, is high praise indeed. The Heartless remained untouched.
Down ro DAda next and on both my visits I had the same - a pint of the Dark Star Smoked Porter, which to answer a query from T_i_B is less good than the Beadecas (the aged version at least) and a pint of Hophead. Described by Jamie as the clearest beer ever, what wasn't in doubt was its excellent condition, superlative taste, balancing hoppiness, and refreshing bitterness. An understandable inspiration for my article yesterday - I went to a Thornbridge pub, and didn't drink one of their beers. The guests are always excellent in DAda.
My final stop, the first tonight, was Shakespeares. Surrounded by brewing glitterati, including Dave Unpronounceable, I got to choose from a range of excellent and impressive beers. I started with a pint of the Steel City Cluster Bomb, made with German yeast and being 4.9%. An uncharacteristically Teutonic ale based on its hoppy bite, along with a murkiness not helped by the chill haze but it was a very palatable bitter beer. I had my eye next on the Hop Studio Porter and he North Riding Special but alas both these went off as I approached the bar!
Instead I had the excellent Revolutions Vienna cask lager, which had a weirdly spicy after taste but a brilliantly refreshing body and mouthfeel, plus halves of the Shakespeares 1000th different beer, Sheffield NZ Pale Ale 3 (Pacific Jade) and a half of the North Riding Vanilla Stout. The stout was a bit disappointing to be honest, but the Revolutions was another classic, easy to drink but full flavoured and interesting.
All in all a great couple of nights, which nicely showcased some of Sheffield finest Brewery and Independently owned hostelries, proving that I have every reason to recommend a Thornbridge pub or two, but reminding me that the independents are always going to win in terms of choice.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
Saturday, 7 April 2012
A great good Friday at the Talbot
Hello,
yesterday I set off on a not particularly well planned yomp to Ripley to drink some beer at the Talbot Taphouse, now owned and operated by Amber Ales Brewery nearby. Here is how it all panned out.
Chesterfind
My East Midlands Journey Planner told me quite clearly that the quickest way to Ripley was a train to Alfreton, wait 20 minutes and get a bus to Ripley. About an hour and 20 from Station to pub I reckoned. But where's the fun in that? Much better to guesstimate my way there based on half remembered timetable information and suffer the slings and arrows of misfortune along the way.
I set off at midday and on arriving at the Interchange decided to wait 20 minutes for the X17 to Matlock, instead of walking to the Station to find an equally long wait there. This would, as the timetable showed, "conveniently" get in to Chesterfield 2 minutes after the Red Arrow had left, thus affording me the chance of a pint in Chez first. The thing about Chesterfield is its made entirely of direction confusing magnets and shapeshifting streets. I can't find a chuffing road or pub I want for love nor money. Somehow though, wandering for 10 minutes, I came to the Royal Oak, which I'd heard was OK these days.
Old Oak
I had never been in before, and initially sat in the top bar, which is separate to the rest of the pub, but at least does have five handpumps on the bar. I opted for a pint of the 3.6% Buxton Moor Top Pale (£3.00), a refreshing very hoppy beer that went down superbly for my first of the day. I didn't stay long, but on leaving noted that I could really do with a loo trip so went in the bottom half (etc), and ordered a half of the Otter (possibly the same price, not sure if unjustifiable half premium added) and had the shortest of visits finishing off this radically different but pleasant brown brew before hot footing it to catch the Red Arrow.
Higham secret
What I like abut the Red Arrow is that its rabidly punctual. At 13.49, a minute before departure, an older couple started running towards the bus - passengers started to, in ever increasing frequencies of panic, point out to the driver that some passengers were approaching. On heroically reaching the bus the driver said "hurry up please because we have to leave" before closing the doors behind them and setting off. This may seem odd, but I get the feeling the timetable is based on the smooth passage of the bus along all of its route, so there's no time for dawdling.
Before leaving the house I was trying to recall the name of the pub in Higham. According to the Internet it was the Greyhound - I knew it wasn't, because there are two, and it aint that one! The Internet, where everything is true, then told me it was called the Three Horseshoes. So this is all I had, along with a half remembered mental picture of the pub being near the cross. The Red Arrow follows the main road which passes the Greyhound, but then bypasses the old village centre. My only gripe about the Red Arrow is that its coaches don't seem to have a bell - anyone getting off thus far had just got up and announced their desire to disembark. I did this at seeing the Greyhound, and then waited 5 minutes for the bus to set off a goodly distance round the corner away from Higham village.
On disembarking I asked a woman walking her dog which way the Greyhound was (the pub, not the dog) - beccause I wasn't sure the other pub was the Three Horseshoes, and I knew it was near the Greyhound. she told me, and when I asked about the Three Horseshoes, she gave it another name, like a restaurant, even when I queried what the other pub was called. She seemed quite sure there was only one pub in Higham, so I gave up and started walking.
Luckily on reaching the village I spotted the cross, and soon the Crown came into veiw. This redoubtable old pub has had a modest makeover and a bit of a tidy up, but still retains a traditional interior (and a quaintly tiny entrance) of two separate sections with a bar in the middle and a third room on the right. On the bar were Bombardier, Brains SA and Buxton Spa. I had a pint of this (4.5%, £3.30 a pint) and some crisps since, alas, I had missed the food. I sat down facing the bar and the fireplace, and caught up on insulin, photographs and writing up my beers.
I was here for a good half hour, noting the comings and goings of the staff and also that it was soon near empty with only me in. I decided to walk slowly up to the Greyhound next, and wondered as I did why someone in the same village seemed unable to recall that the Crown existed - and why did she call the Three Horseshoes (wherever that was) Santo's?
The Greyhound has a massive car park and a prominent Taverners table sign leaving you in no doubt of its style and sales intentions. Inside is one massive room with a few distinguishable areas, and every table set for diners. This is not a drinkers pub. Its unnaturally warm, and the beer range is disheartening fare, but there is a real cider, Westons Old Rosie. The four real ales are Jennings Cumberland, Pedigree, Hobgoblin and Brakspears bitter. Having found this on such good form at the Miners Standard in Winster its immediately obvious the half I bought was either green or subject to some sort of miraculous dequalitising (no, that's not a word) gas which makes it extremely drab. A pub that does exactly what it sets out to, nothing more.
Tap House of Delights
On arriving in Ripley I quickly got some brief directions to Butterly hill and found my self at the Talbot. Described as a Flat Iron style for its unusual shape, it was similar to the Three Tuns in Sheffield and Baltic Fleet in Liverpool, and was mainly reminiscent of a ship.
Whilst I wait for him to resurface I peruse the programme - there are about 20 Amber Ales beers on and guests from around the UK including Raw, Oakham, Black Iris and Nutbrook. I started proceedings with a pint of Amber Ales Barnes Wallis, a drinkable 4.something percent IPA style beer that went down very well and was packed with flavour. I then went for a couple of halves - in fact, I had several, so for the sake of convenience I'll list them for you here :
Nutbrook Same Again 4.5%
Amber/Naked Revolution 5.5%
Bambuster 5.5%
Dry hopped Imperial IPA 6.5%
Brewers Breakfast 6.5%
Derbyshire Gold 4.?%
Black Iris Klazny 4.5%
Raw/Somebody Else's collaboration beer of unrememberable name
All beers listed without a brewery are Amber Ales. Percentages supplied are a mixture of guesswork and fact. Prices ranged from £2.80 for Derbyshire Gold to £3.30 or so fpr the plus 6% beers.
During my encampment near the door I got chatting to a couple next to me who were sampling the beers using the increasingly popular 3rd of a pint sharing boards. Their first selection included the Amber Ales damson porter, which they had been warned by the barman was a bit,erm, fruity (or thick and cloudy as described by them), Ginger Blonde also from Amber and the Nutbrook same again. The name of this beer caused a little confusion when related to me, as I couldn't work out why they had three 3rds and two were the same beer.....
John and Denise were from near Ripley and out for a short session before Denise had to get back for practice in her folk group, Peasants Revolt (the card for which I hope I haven't lost as it has a recommendation for a really good pub to try). Unfortunately for Denise she was driving, but John made every effort, utilising the convenient smaller measures, to try most of the beers that I didn't buy including the Oakham summat, and the Braggert, which we all agreed was a bit weird. although me and John didn't dislike it I recall - it soon became apparent that as a rule of thumb, if Denise pulled a face, John would like the beer.
Red Lion
I spent about 3 hours in the Tap House overall and had a really enjoyable time, my experience made all the more enjoyable by the warmth and conversation of Denise and John - thanks both. All too soon though, having survived on a pork pie and a sausage roll, I decided it was time to find food. I headed off up into the town via the Crest of the Wave, where I got some chips and curry sauce to tide me over (no pun intended ).
I checked the times of the Red Arrow then went for a quick Half in the Red Lion, which I thought was a Wetherspoons but am not sure! Here I got to try a half of another of the blogosphere's most talked about ales, the Hawkshead Windemere Pale Ale at 3.5%, a delicious refreshing hoppy beer perhaps benefiting from it being a little cool in the warmth of the pub.
Return to chez
I was soon back on the Red Arrow and back in Chesterfield. I had wanted to go to the Rose and Crown at Brampton but needed some cash and a loo visit first. I found the Market Inn on the Market Place which had been recommended to me earlier as selling local beers, but what I found was a range of national brews, with a few exceptions. I had a half of the Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted (£1.50) and stayed for a brief drink, given that it was completely rammed.
I also went back to the Royal Oak for a last half, having given up on my Brampton plan due to mild inebriation and a lack of directions or transport to Chatsworth Road. This time I had a half of the Moor Top again, although had I been a bit less tired I may have had the Jaipur which I have now not had for many months.
Sheffield Tap House
I was back in Sheffield soon enough and headed straight round the corner for the Tap. As usual there was a good range of beers on with an emphasis on Magic Rock and Orkney, plus one from Roosters. Beer ticker extraordinaire Brian was again in their and informed me that he was cock a hoop at seeing the Roosters. I myself had a far greater prize in my sights - Magic Rock Dark Arts on cask.
I had a half of this and their excellent High Wire IPA sat in the back room, this time mercifully avoiding the wobbly tables. (please note the above photograph is deliberately taken at a jaunty angle). The Dark Arts is allowed to be a much more complex beer in cask. The keg dispense maybe hinders its warmer flavours simply by virtue of the temperature served at but the keg version was also much less rounded. Yes, there are astringent hops and bitterness to both but there were other more subtle flavours in the Cask version.
1854
Not the number of alcoholic units consumed that day, but my final destination, arriving at Harrisons just as they were about to close earlier than planned, based on a slow day. I remarked to Barraharri that I had been puzzled all day to see pubs closed, even ones that would normally open on both a Sunday and a Friday (in case they were mysteriously applying often less helpful Sunday hours). Although this was frustrating, perhaps the lack of customers anticipated by the closed venues was the experience of those that opened?
Here I had a pint of the Abbeydale Brewery Now Then, a pale 4.1% beer brewed to celebrate Now Then magazine in Sheffield. Alas my misfortune at arriving so late meant I had only time for a quick half, but this was an enjoyable beer to finish on.
Finally, the Internet led mystery of the Three Horseshoes can probably be explained thus - the RuRad "In the Sticks" magazine I picked up in the Talbot reported that the Three Horseshoes at nearby Wessington had been de-licensed and sold to a local builder. I did get in there once, on my walk to Ashover a couple of years ago, and they were selling the equally doomed Wild Walker beers. Its a crying shame that another rural pub has been sold for what will inevitably be housing stock, no doubt sold well outside the price range of the locals who would most benefit from buying a house or flat in the area.
Overall this was a fantastic day out encompassing a great new pub or 2 and a fantastic range of beers at the Tap House beer festival. Lets see whether he rest of the Easter weekend can live up to the Goodness of Friday.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
yesterday I set off on a not particularly well planned yomp to Ripley to drink some beer at the Talbot Taphouse, now owned and operated by Amber Ales Brewery nearby. Here is how it all panned out.
Chesterfind
My East Midlands Journey Planner told me quite clearly that the quickest way to Ripley was a train to Alfreton, wait 20 minutes and get a bus to Ripley. About an hour and 20 from Station to pub I reckoned. But where's the fun in that? Much better to guesstimate my way there based on half remembered timetable information and suffer the slings and arrows of misfortune along the way.
I set off at midday and on arriving at the Interchange decided to wait 20 minutes for the X17 to Matlock, instead of walking to the Station to find an equally long wait there. This would, as the timetable showed, "conveniently" get in to Chesterfield 2 minutes after the Red Arrow had left, thus affording me the chance of a pint in Chez first. The thing about Chesterfield is its made entirely of direction confusing magnets and shapeshifting streets. I can't find a chuffing road or pub I want for love nor money. Somehow though, wandering for 10 minutes, I came to the Royal Oak, which I'd heard was OK these days.
I had never been in before, and initially sat in the top bar, which is separate to the rest of the pub, but at least does have five handpumps on the bar. I opted for a pint of the 3.6% Buxton Moor Top Pale (£3.00), a refreshing very hoppy beer that went down superbly for my first of the day. I didn't stay long, but on leaving noted that I could really do with a loo trip so went in the bottom half (etc), and ordered a half of the Otter (possibly the same price, not sure if unjustifiable half premium added) and had the shortest of visits finishing off this radically different but pleasant brown brew before hot footing it to catch the Red Arrow.
Higham secret
What I like abut the Red Arrow is that its rabidly punctual. At 13.49, a minute before departure, an older couple started running towards the bus - passengers started to, in ever increasing frequencies of panic, point out to the driver that some passengers were approaching. On heroically reaching the bus the driver said "hurry up please because we have to leave" before closing the doors behind them and setting off. This may seem odd, but I get the feeling the timetable is based on the smooth passage of the bus along all of its route, so there's no time for dawdling.
Before leaving the house I was trying to recall the name of the pub in Higham. According to the Internet it was the Greyhound - I knew it wasn't, because there are two, and it aint that one! The Internet, where everything is true, then told me it was called the Three Horseshoes. So this is all I had, along with a half remembered mental picture of the pub being near the cross. The Red Arrow follows the main road which passes the Greyhound, but then bypasses the old village centre. My only gripe about the Red Arrow is that its coaches don't seem to have a bell - anyone getting off thus far had just got up and announced their desire to disembark. I did this at seeing the Greyhound, and then waited 5 minutes for the bus to set off a goodly distance round the corner away from Higham village.
On disembarking I asked a woman walking her dog which way the Greyhound was (the pub, not the dog) - beccause I wasn't sure the other pub was the Three Horseshoes, and I knew it was near the Greyhound. she told me, and when I asked about the Three Horseshoes, she gave it another name, like a restaurant, even when I queried what the other pub was called. She seemed quite sure there was only one pub in Higham, so I gave up and started walking.
Luckily on reaching the village I spotted the cross, and soon the Crown came into veiw. This redoubtable old pub has had a modest makeover and a bit of a tidy up, but still retains a traditional interior (and a quaintly tiny entrance) of two separate sections with a bar in the middle and a third room on the right. On the bar were Bombardier, Brains SA and Buxton Spa. I had a pint of this (4.5%, £3.30 a pint) and some crisps since, alas, I had missed the food. I sat down facing the bar and the fireplace, and caught up on insulin, photographs and writing up my beers.
I was here for a good half hour, noting the comings and goings of the staff and also that it was soon near empty with only me in. I decided to walk slowly up to the Greyhound next, and wondered as I did why someone in the same village seemed unable to recall that the Crown existed - and why did she call the Three Horseshoes (wherever that was) Santo's?
The Greyhound has a massive car park and a prominent Taverners table sign leaving you in no doubt of its style and sales intentions. Inside is one massive room with a few distinguishable areas, and every table set for diners. This is not a drinkers pub. Its unnaturally warm, and the beer range is disheartening fare, but there is a real cider, Westons Old Rosie. The four real ales are Jennings Cumberland, Pedigree, Hobgoblin and Brakspears bitter. Having found this on such good form at the Miners Standard in Winster its immediately obvious the half I bought was either green or subject to some sort of miraculous dequalitising (no, that's not a word) gas which makes it extremely drab. A pub that does exactly what it sets out to, nothing more.
Tap House of Delights
On arriving in Ripley I quickly got some brief directions to Butterly hill and found my self at the Talbot. Described as a Flat Iron style for its unusual shape, it was similar to the Three Tuns in Sheffield and Baltic Fleet in Liverpool, and was mainly reminiscent of a ship.
Inside there is a long bar as you enter, and the whole pub is one room, essentially an elongated L shape. The bar is light and airy, painted in white and with lots of light wood on display. Its homely and busy and there is only one member of staff behind the bar.
Nutbrook Same Again 4.5%
Amber/Naked Revolution 5.5%
Bambuster 5.5%
Dry hopped Imperial IPA 6.5%
Brewers Breakfast 6.5%
Derbyshire Gold 4.?%
Black Iris Klazny 4.5%
Raw/Somebody Else's collaboration beer of unrememberable name
All beers listed without a brewery are Amber Ales. Percentages supplied are a mixture of guesswork and fact. Prices ranged from £2.80 for Derbyshire Gold to £3.30 or so fpr the plus 6% beers.
During my encampment near the door I got chatting to a couple next to me who were sampling the beers using the increasingly popular 3rd of a pint sharing boards. Their first selection included the Amber Ales damson porter, which they had been warned by the barman was a bit,erm, fruity (or thick and cloudy as described by them), Ginger Blonde also from Amber and the Nutbrook same again. The name of this beer caused a little confusion when related to me, as I couldn't work out why they had three 3rds and two were the same beer.....
John and Denise were from near Ripley and out for a short session before Denise had to get back for practice in her folk group, Peasants Revolt (the card for which I hope I haven't lost as it has a recommendation for a really good pub to try). Unfortunately for Denise she was driving, but John made every effort, utilising the convenient smaller measures, to try most of the beers that I didn't buy including the Oakham summat, and the Braggert, which we all agreed was a bit weird. although me and John didn't dislike it I recall - it soon became apparent that as a rule of thumb, if Denise pulled a face, John would like the beer.
Red Lion
I spent about 3 hours in the Tap House overall and had a really enjoyable time, my experience made all the more enjoyable by the warmth and conversation of Denise and John - thanks both. All too soon though, having survived on a pork pie and a sausage roll, I decided it was time to find food. I headed off up into the town via the Crest of the Wave, where I got some chips and curry sauce to tide me over (no pun intended ).
I checked the times of the Red Arrow then went for a quick Half in the Red Lion, which I thought was a Wetherspoons but am not sure! Here I got to try a half of another of the blogosphere's most talked about ales, the Hawkshead Windemere Pale Ale at 3.5%, a delicious refreshing hoppy beer perhaps benefiting from it being a little cool in the warmth of the pub.
Return to chez
I was soon back on the Red Arrow and back in Chesterfield. I had wanted to go to the Rose and Crown at Brampton but needed some cash and a loo visit first. I found the Market Inn on the Market Place which had been recommended to me earlier as selling local beers, but what I found was a range of national brews, with a few exceptions. I had a half of the Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted (£1.50) and stayed for a brief drink, given that it was completely rammed.
I also went back to the Royal Oak for a last half, having given up on my Brampton plan due to mild inebriation and a lack of directions or transport to Chatsworth Road. This time I had a half of the Moor Top again, although had I been a bit less tired I may have had the Jaipur which I have now not had for many months.
Sheffield Tap House
I was back in Sheffield soon enough and headed straight round the corner for the Tap. As usual there was a good range of beers on with an emphasis on Magic Rock and Orkney, plus one from Roosters. Beer ticker extraordinaire Brian was again in their and informed me that he was cock a hoop at seeing the Roosters. I myself had a far greater prize in my sights - Magic Rock Dark Arts on cask.
I had a half of this and their excellent High Wire IPA sat in the back room, this time mercifully avoiding the wobbly tables. (please note the above photograph is deliberately taken at a jaunty angle). The Dark Arts is allowed to be a much more complex beer in cask. The keg dispense maybe hinders its warmer flavours simply by virtue of the temperature served at but the keg version was also much less rounded. Yes, there are astringent hops and bitterness to both but there were other more subtle flavours in the Cask version.
1854
Not the number of alcoholic units consumed that day, but my final destination, arriving at Harrisons just as they were about to close earlier than planned, based on a slow day. I remarked to Barraharri that I had been puzzled all day to see pubs closed, even ones that would normally open on both a Sunday and a Friday (in case they were mysteriously applying often less helpful Sunday hours). Although this was frustrating, perhaps the lack of customers anticipated by the closed venues was the experience of those that opened?
Here I had a pint of the Abbeydale Brewery Now Then, a pale 4.1% beer brewed to celebrate Now Then magazine in Sheffield. Alas my misfortune at arriving so late meant I had only time for a quick half, but this was an enjoyable beer to finish on.
Finally, the Internet led mystery of the Three Horseshoes can probably be explained thus - the RuRad "In the Sticks" magazine I picked up in the Talbot reported that the Three Horseshoes at nearby Wessington had been de-licensed and sold to a local builder. I did get in there once, on my walk to Ashover a couple of years ago, and they were selling the equally doomed Wild Walker beers. Its a crying shame that another rural pub has been sold for what will inevitably be housing stock, no doubt sold well outside the price range of the locals who would most benefit from buying a house or flat in the area.
Overall this was a fantastic day out encompassing a great new pub or 2 and a fantastic range of beers at the Tap House beer festival. Lets see whether he rest of the Easter weekend can live up to the Goodness of Friday.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
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