Now then,
last week I went out for a few beers with lovable rogue Matthew, AKA Meathumph, Matty, Oi, and other names. The original plan was to meet at midday in the Brothers Arms, travel to some local and further away hostelries, and end up being joined by Tash. Only one of those concepts was correct alas.
Matt rang me and said he was hungover and suggested we meet at 14.00, in the Brothers Arms. Setting off at 13.05, it took me an astonishing 1 hour 15 minutes to get there by bus. I could have walked it in 10 minutes longer. Still, the sun was shining (initially), the weather was warm and I was thirsty. Me and Matty sat on the back in the sunshine drinking pints of Cromarty Red Rocker Rye Red ale and all was well. We even went back fro a couple of halves - more Red for me and a Pictish Wakau pale for Matt. Was good seeing John from the White Lion as well - must visit soon!
Down the hill the other way is the Sheaf View. A Red Willow Ageless Double IPA was on at 7.2%. We ordered 2 pints but it ran out so got 1 and a half, nearly, and paid for one. We sat initially in the child free beer garden, before, as it had Saturday, it started raining. Heavily. We sat in the back room and listened to the downpour and I went and got a half of Victory Dirt Wolf Double IPA at 8.7%. A truly stunning and brilliantly hoppy, slab of a beer.
We walked next along the river and headed for the London Road area. We paused at the Railway across from Sheffield United's ground. This was advertising "Coffee and Casks" on the windows - being a pub I have never previously visited, maybe a first one may have to take place soon.
Out onto London Road and we visited the Albion. Four Sheffield Brewing Co beers and a Clarkes were the choice - we both went for halves of 5 Rivers and settled down to chat and sup and receive phone calls.
Soon we arrived at the Beer Engine. Tom was in as always and we asked him what food they were serving. As timings isn't our speciality, its no surprise that they had stopped serving, but Tom very kindly did us two hot pork sandwiches with homemade apple sauce and roast potatoes on brioche. It was just what we needed!
Beers wise we had a couple each. I know Matty had a Magic Rock Salty Kiss, an excellent and unusual beer, and I had a strong cascade, possibly from Wiper and True, but am not sure what we had on cask - I#m thinking it was a Neepsend Brew Co beer? Either way, the two keg offerings stuck in my memory a little more.
Next we visited the Brewery Tap next to Henrys. The latter is closed for refurbishment but the Tap remains open. Still the brewery is redundant, still the trial brews are, I imagine this time, poor. We both had a pint of cask each and it was pale and from Derby Brew Co, in fact we had one each of their offerings, but am unable to recollect which! Don't worry - there are memories later I promise.
We walked up to High Street beneath glowering angry black clouds, to catch the 95 to Walkley, and to walk down in the fading light to the Blake. A good selection of ales were available including Neepsend Brewery Co but we both had a pint of something different. To contradict my earlier comment, I can't recall what it was . It was £2.70 a pint whatever it was.
This was one of our favourite pubs but it could have been our worst visit. We got chatting to a Slovakian bloke called Filip. He offered to buy us two whiskies so we accepted, thinking at that points that he was not, in fact a racist violent lunatic. Alas he was. Its not often these days that you hear the word nigger in a conversation, but he used the word three times to describe his f***ing black b**tard doctor". We were quite shocked, and seeing this he said "don't you tell me I'm racist because you won;t live more than a few seconds if you do". Brilliant. A drunk, aggressive, racist simpleton. As we carried on listening and hastily finishing our drinks he went outside to make a call so we legged it down the hill. A revolting person that marred an otherwise exellent experience.
Our next stop was the Double H. Matty has never been to the Hillsborough Hotel so I thought this would be a good chance fr him. On the bar was the Potbelly Beijing Black which is a beer I really like but having a tried it tasted sour. "I don't like it, it tastes sour" the man behind the bar said. Well done = maybe its, um...off? Anyway we had a try of other mediocre beers and opted for two pints of Wentworth Clock ale or similar. From here we walked down the main road to our penultimate stop.
The Wellington was quiet but am not sure Sunday is a good day to judge any pub in terms of numbers of customers. Excellent real ale was on offer as always and we both had pint of the excellent Green Arrow from Little Ale Cart. Was lovely sitting in the room on the left getting our thoughts together and enjoying the refreshing hoppy ale.
Walking past the Ship Inn Matty found out he could catch a bus home any minute so I left him there and walked on to Shakespeares. I know I had a half, and maybe a pint of the excellent but hefty Mad Hatter mild at 7.4% but am not sure what else, although, by this time I was on pint number 9 of a rather thirsty day. And after leaving Shakespeares to get the last First bus home, the Beefdozer cometh, so I had to get a taxi back from Woodhouse Station.....
So, overlal this was a fantastic pub crawl with Matty providing good comapny and where we enjoyed some excellent beers along the way - best beer ramge probably came at the Sheaf View and the Beer Engine. I would recommend a visit to all of the pubs we tried, but some more than others.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
Showing posts with label The Hillsborough. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Hillsborough. Show all posts
Saturday, 29 August 2015
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Wee Beefy's Sunday Ale Amble
Now then,
a couple of weeks ago, myself and Fluff met up for a beverage or two, and a walk from Broomhill, over Crookes, down to Commonside, onto Infirmary Road and into town. There was a secondary motive for this yomp, but mainly it was to get to some pubs that we either rarely or had never previously in Fluff's case, visited.
We started in Broomhill, just time for one pub here from the choice of 5. If I'd had my visiting a new pub head on we'd have gone to The Place - but I hadn't, and we met in The York.
Visiting The York on a Sunday is probably suggests its a restaurant that serves food. Its clear that most of the tables are for gnashing and chomping at and despite the relaxed lazy Sunday vibe and comfy seating on the right, I can't escape feeling like I'm gatecrashing a family meal.
When we were 17 (shock, horror, scandal!) we both used to drink in the York. I know I used to favour the Bass over the Stones, but its unrecognisable in terms of interior as well as beer choice now - from a range of beers dominated by True North offerings, I tried the excellent Kelham Island Wild Rider, which is or more likely has made an appearance at the Ship at Shalesmoor. This is a cracking hoppy beer and probably one of the best Kelham beers I've had for a while, although their Brooklyn Porter a year or so ago was exemplary.
After Fluff had recovered from walking over from Woodseats, and finished his much needed pint we headed up the bus route to Crookes. If we'd been doing a proper survey we'd have made 4 stops before we reached the Punch Bowl but really Crookes was just a convenient route over the hill to Commonside. A pressing need for Fluff however meant an unplanned visit to the Princess Royal.
Still serving a good range of beers it was warm, crowded and friendly, and there was some good music on the jukebox. We both had halves of the Welbeck Bay Middleton, a well kept refreshing dry bitter with a lovely aftertaste.
All too soon we were off for a rare visit to the Dram Shop. We'd earlier noticed that Rhythm and Booze on Crookes had real ales on handpump, but despite the obvious temptation to follow suit, the Dram Shop have always steadfastly concentrated on bottles. From a list of to be fair expensive bottled exotica, Fluff purchased a Brooklyn beer (I think) whilst I saved my cash for more beer in the next pub.
Its only a short walk round the corner along Howard road and down the hill to the Blake Hotel. This was the first time I had been when I noticed the slow service that some people complain about. To be honest, its fair to say this was out of the hands of the staff - some customers really are just slow.
Fluff had time to go to the loo and come back to find me in exactly the same position, and when a bloke turned up and motioned for us to go to the bar to be served since he'd only just arrived, I was quick to point out that I needed to have been nearer sooner to spot which beers were on offer. Bizarrely, this chap took my comment as an invitation to simply put his order in first, and then take a seeming age to get it. A lack of pub etiquette always baffles me, but this was surprising in just how brazen it was. I was temporarily speechless.
Luckily the beers helped soothe the hurt, and despite not being reckless enough to make any notes the quality of the very best beer means I can remember clearly what it was. I know we sampled halves of Potbelly and possibly a Phoenix offering as well but stand out ale there was the Peakstones Rock Black Hole, very much like a silky porter or dark ale to me, but described by the brewery as a dark bitter brewed with chocolate malt. Either way it was fantastic.
Down the hill next to the Hillsborough, where I noticed the Raw Dark Peak Stout was on so had an OK pint of that, Fluff meanwhile went for a Wood Street Brewery Ebony Stout. The jury, I think, is still out on Wood Street beers. The stout was nice enough but not especially well balanced, and lacking in that edge that usually defines a stout. Still, a work in progress can of course improve, so I will continue to try their beers as and when I get chance.
Our final stop was the Wellington. Despite being accused of being the inventor of Saison beer, I was disappointed not to be referred to in such terms, and after a rather awkward bar staff identification mix up me and Fluff both went for pints of the excellent Mallinsons Topaz Centennial, one of my beers of the festival at the Sheffield beer fest that same weekend. Its ironic because I'd been espousing the credentials of the excellent Little Ale Cart beers all the way to the pub - and then we didn't have any...
Fluff ended up walking all the way back into town from here whilst I studiously reserved sufficient funds to catch the bus. All in all this wander was further than we anticipated, but none the worse for it, and featured some great pubs and beer along the way.
Definitely worth doing again to take in some of the other gems that we missed.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
a couple of weeks ago, myself and Fluff met up for a beverage or two, and a walk from Broomhill, over Crookes, down to Commonside, onto Infirmary Road and into town. There was a secondary motive for this yomp, but mainly it was to get to some pubs that we either rarely or had never previously in Fluff's case, visited.
We started in Broomhill, just time for one pub here from the choice of 5. If I'd had my visiting a new pub head on we'd have gone to The Place - but I hadn't, and we met in The York.
Visiting The York on a Sunday is probably suggests its a restaurant that serves food. Its clear that most of the tables are for gnashing and chomping at and despite the relaxed lazy Sunday vibe and comfy seating on the right, I can't escape feeling like I'm gatecrashing a family meal.
When we were 17 (shock, horror, scandal!) we both used to drink in the York. I know I used to favour the Bass over the Stones, but its unrecognisable in terms of interior as well as beer choice now - from a range of beers dominated by True North offerings, I tried the excellent Kelham Island Wild Rider, which is or more likely has made an appearance at the Ship at Shalesmoor. This is a cracking hoppy beer and probably one of the best Kelham beers I've had for a while, although their Brooklyn Porter a year or so ago was exemplary.
After Fluff had recovered from walking over from Woodseats, and finished his much needed pint we headed up the bus route to Crookes. If we'd been doing a proper survey we'd have made 4 stops before we reached the Punch Bowl but really Crookes was just a convenient route over the hill to Commonside. A pressing need for Fluff however meant an unplanned visit to the Princess Royal.
Still serving a good range of beers it was warm, crowded and friendly, and there was some good music on the jukebox. We both had halves of the Welbeck Bay Middleton, a well kept refreshing dry bitter with a lovely aftertaste.
All too soon we were off for a rare visit to the Dram Shop. We'd earlier noticed that Rhythm and Booze on Crookes had real ales on handpump, but despite the obvious temptation to follow suit, the Dram Shop have always steadfastly concentrated on bottles. From a list of to be fair expensive bottled exotica, Fluff purchased a Brooklyn beer (I think) whilst I saved my cash for more beer in the next pub.
Its only a short walk round the corner along Howard road and down the hill to the Blake Hotel. This was the first time I had been when I noticed the slow service that some people complain about. To be honest, its fair to say this was out of the hands of the staff - some customers really are just slow.
Fluff had time to go to the loo and come back to find me in exactly the same position, and when a bloke turned up and motioned for us to go to the bar to be served since he'd only just arrived, I was quick to point out that I needed to have been nearer sooner to spot which beers were on offer. Bizarrely, this chap took my comment as an invitation to simply put his order in first, and then take a seeming age to get it. A lack of pub etiquette always baffles me, but this was surprising in just how brazen it was. I was temporarily speechless.
Luckily the beers helped soothe the hurt, and despite not being reckless enough to make any notes the quality of the very best beer means I can remember clearly what it was. I know we sampled halves of Potbelly and possibly a Phoenix offering as well but stand out ale there was the Peakstones Rock Black Hole, very much like a silky porter or dark ale to me, but described by the brewery as a dark bitter brewed with chocolate malt. Either way it was fantastic.
Down the hill next to the Hillsborough, where I noticed the Raw Dark Peak Stout was on so had an OK pint of that, Fluff meanwhile went for a Wood Street Brewery Ebony Stout. The jury, I think, is still out on Wood Street beers. The stout was nice enough but not especially well balanced, and lacking in that edge that usually defines a stout. Still, a work in progress can of course improve, so I will continue to try their beers as and when I get chance.
Our final stop was the Wellington. Despite being accused of being the inventor of Saison beer, I was disappointed not to be referred to in such terms, and after a rather awkward bar staff identification mix up me and Fluff both went for pints of the excellent Mallinsons Topaz Centennial, one of my beers of the festival at the Sheffield beer fest that same weekend. Its ironic because I'd been espousing the credentials of the excellent Little Ale Cart beers all the way to the pub - and then we didn't have any...
Fluff ended up walking all the way back into town from here whilst I studiously reserved sufficient funds to catch the bus. All in all this wander was further than we anticipated, but none the worse for it, and featured some great pubs and beer along the way.
Definitely worth doing again to take in some of the other gems that we missed.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
Thursday, 13 September 2012
Wee Beefy's beer roundup
Mornin,
I have been out and about a little lately, flexing my drinking muscles on my week off. Heres some of what I've encountered....
Dada
The venerable Da was quiet as is often the case, Jamie was dispensing drinks and conversation from behind the bar and James milled around busily in the background. Thornbridge Jaywick was available, but a little heavy at 5.9% to start, and the night was to be remembered mainly for the excellent Saltaire Cascadian Black. The beer had been poor at the Bath but was its usual excellent self here, bursting with hops and creamy dark malt for a lovely finish.
I tried the Jaywick next and in comparison to the Saltaire it was a little disappointing, but it was still an enjoyable beer in itself. I also had a half of the excellent (albeit keg) Schlenkerla Rauchbier which was likewise in great form, as well as the cask Wild Swan which was admirable. I then had several more Saltaire...
Apart from excellent company and chatter from the Jims I also had a taste of the new Puja Jasmine Pale from Thornbridge. Not exacly sold on it first time, I was horrified to discover it now tasted of raita dip! I don't know what they did with the already debatable merits of the recipe but this was a hugely unpleasant offering. When you brew beer that tastes of yoghurt based dips you've crossed a line gents, seriously.
Cranes
Earlier that day I'd had good beer in the guise of half of the excellent Blue Bee Lustin for Stout at the Three Cranes. I had nipped in for a quick half and was dismayed to discover that the Lustin warranted another go - alas I had no time....
Rutland via the Internet
I had noticed that the Rutland was selling Potbelly Beijing Black, Magic Rock Curious and SWB Diablo, whilst fannying about on social media earlier that day. True to their word I arrived at 15.00 to find all 3 available, plus the immeasurable quality of Great Heck Yakima IPA at 7.4 %.
I started on the excellent (if cloudy) Magic Rock Curious which was potentially a little drier than I remembered but still delicious. I then had the Potbelly Beijing Black. This is the third time I have tried the beer lately and I have always been underwhelmed. The beer was a little sharp with what I subtly described as a strawberry or cherry finish - euphemistic beer parlance for it being on its way out.
A further Magic Rock pint followed, and then, having dallied with the idea of a pint of Dark Arts, instead I went for a half of the fantastic Great Heck Yakima IPA. This was a refreshing citrussy bitter pale beer with perhaps too much alcohol given its easy drinking qualities, and the bitterness was complimentary, not jarring. An excellent beer. Just a shame the Blue Bee Nectar and Bees Knees were so poor, as I was looking forward to finishing on the Bee.
Tap
I haven't been in the Sheffield Tap for seemingly yonks so decided to pop in. I was richly rewarded with a range of ales from Ilkley brewery and others, so went for halves of Sunny Republic Hop Dog, Kirkstall Pale Ale and a pint of the tremendously enjoyable Ilkley Stout Mary, 4.5% oatmeal stout. I have only ever had lower gravity Ilkley beers and have sometimes been a little underwhelmed but this was just the right balance of flavour, body and weight.
Whilst there I bumped into John the barman from the Wellington, who was in for a quick half on his way home. It was good to get his angle on Keykeg, and real ale, and, erm, drunk bloggers who misidentify their work colleagues whilst in the Wellington......
Blake
Off next to the criminally under patronised venue which is the Blake. I got in after 18.00 so was worried that I would have no chance for food but mercifully pies were to hand - so I bought two. It was in the end only a short stop in here, although it did afford me the pleasure of finding that the Kolsch that they sell is called Gaffel. So that mystery is cleared up.
I had a pint of the Wood Street Brewery Ebony Stout, a bit of an odd choice since I was heading their next, but I wanted to compare and contrast. It was a decent roasty dark pint, if unexceptional.
Hillsborough, The
I was down in the pub before long and thinking over what to have. The bar staff recommended their new Wood Street offering which was brewed with honey and am afraid its name somehow escaped my memory. It really wasn't my thing at all, but that's not to say it was a bad beer, it was perfectly well kept, just too poorly balanced for my taste. The staff seemed quite shocked that I had bucked the trend of punters liking it!
Instead, having tried the Beijing Black which was dire, I went for a pint of their Wood Street Brewery Gold, a rich golden, maybe a bit amber bitter which was very easy drinking at 4.1%, and a steal at £2.20 a pint, as is their bitter. I sat outside at the back with some gents talking about Crete and holidays, having been invited to join them on the only dry seats.
On coming back in I had just enough time and funds for half of the Ebony Stout which I have to say was better than at the Blake, much more rounded and satisfying, and only £2.50 a pint at 5.0% once again represents good value. It was noticeable and perhaps a little disconcerting that the pub was really quiet. After myself and the three blokes I'd been talking to left there was probably only the couple stood at the bar throughout and some people in the room on the left.
I hope the Hillsborough does well, but I think it could be testimony to just how poor the beers had become at the previous incarnation, The Hillsborough Hotel, that people may still be staying away in protest. Either way I hope trade picks up for them.
So, all in all an interesting few visits to some cracking pubs with some truly excellent and despairingly woeful beer along the way. Hopefully wherever I get to with my Brazillian football star friend Janinio later will provide us with a flawless clean sweep of excellent ale!
Wee Beefy
I have been out and about a little lately, flexing my drinking muscles on my week off. Heres some of what I've encountered....
Dada
The venerable Da was quiet as is often the case, Jamie was dispensing drinks and conversation from behind the bar and James milled around busily in the background. Thornbridge Jaywick was available, but a little heavy at 5.9% to start, and the night was to be remembered mainly for the excellent Saltaire Cascadian Black. The beer had been poor at the Bath but was its usual excellent self here, bursting with hops and creamy dark malt for a lovely finish.
I tried the Jaywick next and in comparison to the Saltaire it was a little disappointing, but it was still an enjoyable beer in itself. I also had a half of the excellent (albeit keg) Schlenkerla Rauchbier which was likewise in great form, as well as the cask Wild Swan which was admirable. I then had several more Saltaire...
Apart from excellent company and chatter from the Jims I also had a taste of the new Puja Jasmine Pale from Thornbridge. Not exacly sold on it first time, I was horrified to discover it now tasted of raita dip! I don't know what they did with the already debatable merits of the recipe but this was a hugely unpleasant offering. When you brew beer that tastes of yoghurt based dips you've crossed a line gents, seriously.
Cranes
Earlier that day I'd had good beer in the guise of half of the excellent Blue Bee Lustin for Stout at the Three Cranes. I had nipped in for a quick half and was dismayed to discover that the Lustin warranted another go - alas I had no time....
Rutland via the Internet
I had noticed that the Rutland was selling Potbelly Beijing Black, Magic Rock Curious and SWB Diablo, whilst fannying about on social media earlier that day. True to their word I arrived at 15.00 to find all 3 available, plus the immeasurable quality of Great Heck Yakima IPA at 7.4 %.
I started on the excellent (if cloudy) Magic Rock Curious which was potentially a little drier than I remembered but still delicious. I then had the Potbelly Beijing Black. This is the third time I have tried the beer lately and I have always been underwhelmed. The beer was a little sharp with what I subtly described as a strawberry or cherry finish - euphemistic beer parlance for it being on its way out.
A further Magic Rock pint followed, and then, having dallied with the idea of a pint of Dark Arts, instead I went for a half of the fantastic Great Heck Yakima IPA. This was a refreshing citrussy bitter pale beer with perhaps too much alcohol given its easy drinking qualities, and the bitterness was complimentary, not jarring. An excellent beer. Just a shame the Blue Bee Nectar and Bees Knees were so poor, as I was looking forward to finishing on the Bee.
Tap
I haven't been in the Sheffield Tap for seemingly yonks so decided to pop in. I was richly rewarded with a range of ales from Ilkley brewery and others, so went for halves of Sunny Republic Hop Dog, Kirkstall Pale Ale and a pint of the tremendously enjoyable Ilkley Stout Mary, 4.5% oatmeal stout. I have only ever had lower gravity Ilkley beers and have sometimes been a little underwhelmed but this was just the right balance of flavour, body and weight.
Whilst there I bumped into John the barman from the Wellington, who was in for a quick half on his way home. It was good to get his angle on Keykeg, and real ale, and, erm, drunk bloggers who misidentify their work colleagues whilst in the Wellington......
Blake
Off next to the criminally under patronised venue which is the Blake. I got in after 18.00 so was worried that I would have no chance for food but mercifully pies were to hand - so I bought two. It was in the end only a short stop in here, although it did afford me the pleasure of finding that the Kolsch that they sell is called Gaffel. So that mystery is cleared up.
I had a pint of the Wood Street Brewery Ebony Stout, a bit of an odd choice since I was heading their next, but I wanted to compare and contrast. It was a decent roasty dark pint, if unexceptional.
Hillsborough, The
I was down in the pub before long and thinking over what to have. The bar staff recommended their new Wood Street offering which was brewed with honey and am afraid its name somehow escaped my memory. It really wasn't my thing at all, but that's not to say it was a bad beer, it was perfectly well kept, just too poorly balanced for my taste. The staff seemed quite shocked that I had bucked the trend of punters liking it!
Instead, having tried the Beijing Black which was dire, I went for a pint of their Wood Street Brewery Gold, a rich golden, maybe a bit amber bitter which was very easy drinking at 4.1%, and a steal at £2.20 a pint, as is their bitter. I sat outside at the back with some gents talking about Crete and holidays, having been invited to join them on the only dry seats.
On coming back in I had just enough time and funds for half of the Ebony Stout which I have to say was better than at the Blake, much more rounded and satisfying, and only £2.50 a pint at 5.0% once again represents good value. It was noticeable and perhaps a little disconcerting that the pub was really quiet. After myself and the three blokes I'd been talking to left there was probably only the couple stood at the bar throughout and some people in the room on the left.
I hope the Hillsborough does well, but I think it could be testimony to just how poor the beers had become at the previous incarnation, The Hillsborough Hotel, that people may still be staying away in protest. Either way I hope trade picks up for them.
So, all in all an interesting few visits to some cracking pubs with some truly excellent and despairingly woeful beer along the way. Hopefully wherever I get to with my Brazillian football star friend Janinio later will provide us with a flawless clean sweep of excellent ale!
Wee Beefy
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