Red Arrow pub crawl

Hello again,

   
      Its perhaps not a surprise to regular readers to discover that, having failed to find a closed pub that may not have existed, I consoled myself by visiting several that did. Getting to Stretton on the Red Arrow Derby to Nottingham bus meant I had ample opportunities to sample some cracking pubs - the pain of research!

Stumbling off the train in Chesterfield having had a very refreshing session the night before, I somehow resisted the temptation to visit Coco, but equally, knowing I had 35 minutes to kill before the Red Arrow, it seemed silly not to remind myself why I like pubs enough to go hunting for them in the freezing countryside. The White Swan was a good place to do this, what with it being ace. From an unsurprisingly stellar line up I had two halves, one of Elland Summit from outer space, a 5.5% extra hoppy bitter, and the Otley Oxymoron, a 5.5% Black IPA.  
 

Both were very well executed hoppy beers but I think the Elland edged it because the Oxymoron was so bitter that I could still taste it half an hour later. Not an ideal start, especially with my body cramping and gently shaking as the toxins started to turn my insides to seaweed and picked off drowsy brain cells one by one.
 

On to the Red Arrow and it soon became apparent that I didn't know where I was getting off - having over shot my stop and disembarked at Mickley I then walked in the wrong direction (clearly not still drunk from the night before?!) and ended up in Higham!

Luckily, the Crown has recently been taken over and reopened by new owners, originally from Mansfield and now returned from Florida, having, one assumes, tired of the heat and annoying sunshine. From a range of Bombardier and Buxton Spa (both regulars) I had a pint of the guest beer. Bumpmill Brewery Heart of Gold is a very local ale indeed - being brewed about 300 yards from the pub on Bumpmill Lane (website). The H.O.G was a very palatable malty but refreshing beer with a bittersweet flavour that went down alarmingly well.

The Crown seems to have changed its identity and ownership every time I visit and the new incumbents have been in only 3 weeks. They are waiting to reopen the kitchen and have plans for a traditional pub menu. They also regularly take Bumpmill beers, having recently had their Ebony and Ivory stout on. Lets hope they make a go of this excellent old traditional pub.

 

 

I had to walk back to where I was to go pub hunting because Derbyshire County Council had ingeniously thought that access to local businesses could be improved by scrapping, or at least altering the route of, the 150 bus. So it was a good 20 minutes walk to the White Bear at the top of Ashover New Road. Sadly there were no signs of life, and it didn't look like they were just closed during the day. This remains a pub I've never visited.
 

Back on the Red Arrow (eventually) I hopped off in Ripley and went to the Talbot Taphouse. Arriving around 15.00 I found it completely deserted, much to my surprise. Mind you this gave me the chance to chat to the barman, and get a few pics. I started with a pint of the excellent Amber Ales stout, 4.0% and £2.80 a pint. This didn't last long so I moved on to a pint of one of the guest beers, Oakham Preacher, at 4.3%, which had a fantastic hop character and was really refreshing into the bargain - another excellent Oakham beer. I finished on a half of the Amber Ales 6.5% "full flavoured IPA" that did everything it said on the tin, but somehow wasn't quite what I was expecting.
 

My next stop wasn't really on the Red Arrow route (although I could have caught it for the first bit, but you never know where the blasted thing stops!) and having secured directions from the barman and his mate I set off for a rather long walk. Walking along the main street past the Pear Tree I found the bottom of Pease Hill and walked first to the Beehive. Two beers were on the bar, from Woods and Oakham, and I had a half of their excellent Citra before tiptoeing through the fairy lights in the back garden to visit the Honey Pot.
 

This surprisingly under promoted gem is a real notch in the pubs belt, selling fruit beers on keg and real ales on cask. From a choice of 3, all at £2.50 a pint, I had a pint of the Blue Monkey Monkey (I couldn't see the pump clip, and was assured that was the beers name),which was a light refreshing beer that went down well, as did the conversation and directions, shared with and provided by the barman and the only other customer. Yep. Just one. Come on Ripley! Pull yer finger out!
 

My next stop was another walk away, this time to the Thorn Tree at Waingroves. I had heard plenty of people mention this excellent pub and this was my chance to find out what the fuss was about - I wasn't disappointed. From a range of 5 or 6 real ales I had halves of the Red Willow Wreckless, and the Buxton Dark Heights, both of which were excellent (and which along with a much needed pork pie came to £4.20). It was warm, friendly busy and sold excellent beer. I get what the fuss is about!
 

A long tedious trek back to Ripley followed where I grabbed some snap and headed in the Wetherspoons Red Lion for a quick half of Lymestone Stone Cutter, which was a nice drop at a quid, before getting back on the Red Arrow into Derby. Here I intrepidly set out for venues new - I first managed to find my way, mainly based on directions given in the Honey Pot, to the Peacock on Nottingham Road. Noting that time was getting on and that more food was required I only had a half in here, but it was excellent - Hartshorne Apocalypse 6.2% was a revelation, especially since its so rare that I get to try their beers. A fab range and great atmosphere mark this pub out, as does, in my weird world, the fact that the toilets are virtually outside.
 

A short wander to the Furnace next (are their two Furnace pubs in Derby?) where the plain unassuming frontage rightly beckoned you to an interior of the same merits, but one housing a bar with a10 handpumps. I tried the two new beers from the new Shiny Brewery based at the pub - their 3.9% Launch Pad and 4.1% Golden Man. Its only early days but I really enjoyed the Launch Pad, even if the stronger beer was a bit less enjoyable. And I loved the fact that the pub smelled strongly of fresh hops. A great new addition to the Derby scene.

 

 

I managed to get a bus round to the railway stating to check the train times then waited to be let in the Station for an inevitably gorgeous pint of Bass from the jug. I couldn't linger over it alas, as I had to get my train.
 

Safely back in Sheffield I went to the Sheffield Tap and found to my delight that a Tiny Rebel beer had made its way over from Wales. I had a pint of their Dirty Stop Out smoked out stout, which was a delicious and nicely balanced beer, along with half a Tempest Emanation pale (ish) ale. Two fantastic beers topped off a day of drinking great beer perfectly, although ,my legs are very stiff today with all that yomping around Ripley and Derby.
 

Next? Bring on the 21st, when I will be back out South Wingfield/Higham way to try out a new pub and a couple of old favourites.

 

 

Cheers!
 

Wee Beefy

To Ripley and beyond...

Hello,

   after my beer festival visit on Saturday, it seemed churlish to simply jump on a bus home and not make the best use of my Derbyshire Wayfarer. The buggers cost £11.50 now so a return train journey doesn't really cut it any more, so, for this reason (and this reason alone) I decided to head out into Ripley and then see where the night took me.

Starting my Derbyshire Wayfarer abuse mission took some time since I missed a bus on my way out of the festival and decided to walk into Ripley, which isn't far. Spotting a festival goer heading in the opposite direction I asked him if I could cut through the road opposite to join Lowes Hill. He said I could. I had guessed nearly the best point to come out, along Alma Street, to get to the George.

The George, tucked away down Lowes Hill seemingly a long way from the centre (more so on the way back up) used to be in the GBG but always had a chequered history for me. The first time I went, with Davefromtshop, having laboured down the hill in the dark and cold on a Christmas jaunt we found it packed out and selling just Cottage Santa's something or other. I have to declare a certain dislike for post Golden Arrow Champion beer of Britain Cottage beers. They are malty, sweet and usually cloudy.

My next visit heralded a couple of Amber Ales beers which was a marked improvement and me and Dave returned once more to savour the same level of excellence, but its not been in the GBG for a bit and seemingly in testament to this the Wild Walker brewery banner on the side suggested that its fortunes had perhaps faltered with them. On the bar was 1 beer. Cottage something or other. Having been supping cracking ales like Oakham Green Devil and Citra there was no way I was going to enjoy this so made my polite excuses and left.

On the way back up the hill a bloke I had asked which way the pub was (just to be sure) enquired if it had been shut - I replied that the beer choice was a bit grim and was off instead to the Taphouse. "I hope your earning plenty then coz its bloody expensive" he said. "Beers good though" I replied, and went on up the hill wondering how cheap the beer I didn't fancy at the George would have to have been to make the £3.00 a pint I was expecting at the Talbot  seem expensive.

Inside the Talbot Taphouse was busy as always and there were plenty of ales on offer. Here I was determined not to fanny about with nonsense like notes and simply photographed a blackboard and the odd pump clip. I started with a couple of guest beers, Raw Ecky Thump which was brewed with fresh hops, and Liverpool Organic Simcoe, which was a really nice hoppy brew, although less pale than I'd expected. I also had a half of the Amber Ales Revolution, which was described as an amber ale. It really was. I also remember a protracted quest for an Amber Ales original stout but I have to confess I'm not sure i got to try it!

To be honest my most sensible purchase in here was a large sausage roll, although I quickly worked out that further sustenance was required. Still, it was nice to once again pick a perch in the long bow of the ship like hostelry, looking at the sun streaming in through the window and picking out a random customer, or glass, in perfect detail.

Soon I upped sticks and headed for the Red Lion, sort of on the understanding that I might bump into the Kilburn Crew, but mainly to assess the ales on offer. Whether through poor eyesight or some mild confusion I didn't spot anything to tempt me so headed off round the corner to the Crest of the Wave chippy, and set about securing directions to the Beehive.

This proved quite difficult as no-one seemed to have heard of it but the lass serving said she knew it was down Peashill and set about giving me complex directions. Luckily the bloke in front of me said he was heading that way in the car and gave me a lift. Even in the car it was nearly 10 minutes (although its further round) and I was glad I hadn't attempted the walk in the dark across the fields. Many thanks to traditional Northern named Pierre for his kindness!

The Beehive is an unassuming ex Home Ales pub near the bottom of Peashill with a relatively unspoilt interior and a visible allegedly usable off sales hatch. There was one real ale on the bar, Consett Ale Works Red Dust, which was OK, but the barmaid quickly worked out that I was here for the Honeypot bar at the back of the pub. Mind you, I necked the Red anyway.                                     



Out the back and up through a marquee and a gap in the hedge and up some steps is the bar, open slightly less hours than the main pub but boasting an admirable range of ales from the cask, plus draught lagers and bottled beers. I went for a half of the very drinkable dark Nutbrook More, a 4.8% dark ale which I had a couple of in the end.

All the real ales are £2.50 a pint, but there were some slightly stronger ales, from a choice of 4. There was also a cider and only that and the strong continental draught beers attracted a premium. It was a really interesting place to visit, and its something thats catching on in pubs in Derbyshire - the Silk Mill has another bar inside at the back, the Queens Head at Marlpool has one outside, the Red Lion at Fritchley does or did and I'm sure there are others around.

Alas all too soon  I had to head off following the landlords directions to the bus stop in Marehay, and was in Derby by half 9. Just chance to catch a bus round to the railway station to check the time of the last train, and pop in the Station on Midland Road for a last couple of pints of delciious Bass from the jug. The pub was busy and surprisingly the door was unlocked - perhaps this was a reflection of the fact that the East Midlands Derby was being played the next day? Please note, the below photograph of delicious Bass from the jug is deliberately taken at a jaunty angle. Honest....

Boarding the train home I bumped into Dave Unpronounceable, and Shaz, and had a very long but if am to be honest not especially cogent conversation all the way back to Sheffield. Here I had agreed to meet Fluffy for a last one in the Rutland, and its not clear who out of the two of us, and his Mum and Colin who were also out with him, was most "refreshed". Either way, I somehow ended up with one dark half of something that might have been from Raw and two halves of Black Mass. Almost all of which I think I drank.

I then walked up to Arundel Gate to fall asleep at the bus stop and end up getting a taxi home, after which I slept for 14 hours. Looks like I may have overdone it slightly over the last couple of days....

So, this was a great day out, featuring a new pub, an old haunt or two and a favourite pub in the making, along with some excellent beer.

Now to try and recover and prepare for the 38th Sheffield Steel City Beer Festival starting Thursday.

Cheers!

Wee Beefy