Hellall,
apart from my Derbyshire based sojourn recently I really haven't been out as many times as normal. But this month I have at least tried some venues that are new to me, whilst also trying out some old faves from the past. Here are some memories of such visits that have somehow filtered through.......
Starting on the 30th July (just to undo my previous statement), and myself and my friend Mr G went out for a few boohars starting at the Nags Head at Stacey Bank. I first went for beer here when I recall it was still a Kimberley's pub when me and our lass were on a CAMRA pub of the month trip to none other than the Three Stags Heads at Wardlow Mires. The Three Stags was as always wonderful, but I don't recall being that impressed with the Nags. Nowadays it does a range of about six beers from Bradfield, sadly including their lower gravity and awful fruit nonsense, but noticably and crucially their excellent Farmers Pale and the Sixer. Once I had provided my details (I think....) I had two pints of the Pale and Mr G a beer shandy followed by a soft drink. We sat outside in the sunshine and chatted lengthily, enjoying our rural location. I then suggested we went somewhere new....
Using a mixture of knowledge and Nav suggestions we soon found our way out of Stannigton and it wasn't long before we dropped into Bakewell. We immediately found the Joiners Arms pub and parked in the yard outside. It was initially busy when we went in but soon quietened down and Mr G had a soft drink and I a pint of Abbeydale Heathen on keg from the future. Once we had acquired a seat at a table we relaxed and spent a good couple of hours in the pub on what was both our first visit's. We got chatting to the lass behind the bar, and found the atmosphere was enjoyable, and crucially they had installed an in one end out the other system along with markings on the floor to keep people apart. I went for a pint of the 6% Peak Ales IPA on Cask from the Past, and despite being surprised by it's high cost am well aware that Bakewell is an expensive place to rent - and of course, they had been shut for nearly 4 months so needed to recoup some costs. Overall this was a highly enjoyable first visit. And we still had time to be seated and table served at the excellent Shakespeares in Sheffield en route home, where I had beers, which had names, and everything......
Earlier this month I met up with the excellent Robert J Ward and his mate Mr Pickles in Bar Stewards before we headed for a pop up pub in Neepsend. I started on a pint of Abbeydale Heathen on cftp and then had a can of the excellent North Kveik IPA before we set off. Ace boohars as always here. After walking past the K.i.T and then the Ball Street Bridge bars and the Gardeners we eventually found Heist Craft Brewery's pop up bar set in a car park further along Neepsend lane. Sadly by the time we got there around 19.00 or so they had run out of much of their beers, sadly including their one featuring the wonderful Kveik, but their All Together beer industry IPA was still available in cans, so we had a can each of this whilst sat in the far corner watching people come and go, including a group of six who simply grabbed take out food from the burger van and escaped by taxi! Having never made it Heist's place in Clowne, am really looking forward to them opening their multi kegged tap room next door to the Gardeners in the next year.
Speaking of which, we couldn't get in the Gardeners as it was filled up so we wandered up the hill to the Forest for a pint each, somewhere elese I haven't been for a while. There were three Tool Makers ales on and I had a red one and the other two a pale before we got sat down in the back for a natter and a sup. Robert J Ward (for that is his name) had never been here before but quickly realised its a good friendly boozer.
From here the three of us sat in the Kelham Island Tavern in the back room, after a minor hassle getting in, where I was on a couple of pints of the Blue bee Confusion Black IPA which was delicious, as we thoroughly enjoyed our Yorkshire Day supping!
The last place I have been for the first time is the Early Bar on Crookes. I had heard a micropub had opened in the former butchers shop at the top of School Road just before lockdown but having closed on 20th March I was worried it may never open again. Luckily, owner Joe reopened quite soon in July and I have now been there twice, including stopping for a couple of pints with WK after our walk up Rushup edge and down into Edale. I was on pints of Abbeydale Orion on cftp, and a keg American IPA whose name sadly escapes me. Before we left we managed to get a seat on the tables outside and sat there watching the last of the day's sunshine. Here's hoping this place stays open and thrives as restrictions are slowly reduced.
The last two gasps from the past were the Old Queens Head, where I went on Friday and enjoyed half a bottle of wine along with three excellent pints of Abbeydale Orion once more - and I hear they are still doing their excellent Garlic soup so it's somewhere I intend to revisit. And the last was the recently reopened Three Tuns on Silver Street Head. My friend Peter Hudson had been in that day and had a pint of Old Peculier on cask for £3.00 a pint, and although it's not as good as it used to be I had a pint of that last night and it was excellent. The pub was busy and playing some excellent music and rumour has it that they may start serving food again so that is somewhere to keep an eye on!
Overall I have really enjoyed my pub visits, and am glad to see that all those visited have installed their own regulations and sensible restrictions in order to try and reduce the spread of Covid-19 whilst allowing safe supping.
Your very best of health!
Wee Beefy
Sunday 16 August 2020
Thursday 13 August 2020
DEYA
An unforseen future, nestled somewhere in time,
Unsuspecting victims no warnings, no signs,
Judgement day the second coming arrives,
Before you see the light, you must die!
Ah, whoops. Have got DEYA, a Cheltenham based brewery, mixed up with Tom Araya's excellent thrash master's Slayer. Soz....
Back to boohar, and over Loockdown, and largely via my chums at Bar Stewards, DEYA have produced some of the frankly finest pints. Prior to writing this I had a quick check of my previous posts and noticed that in 2018 and onwards I had already recognised the excellent quality of their soups - and had written about it a number of times previously, thereby proving me right. Tonight I had the first of three cans of theirs which I picked up from Bar Stewards, and found it unsurprisingly excellent.......
Over the past four months their Steady Rolling Man, an excellent 5.2% IPA, is probably the beer, of many, that I have drunk most often. Its a great quality, vegan friendly, unfiltered and unpasteurised IPA which drinks like babbeh milk with an excellent hoppiness in the background. This was well received and enjoyed, and in fact most of their best beers have been 5.2 - 6.9%, but they did also do a fabulous DIPA collab with Left Handed Giant in Brizzle. Despite some disappointing brown colours this once again was excellent.
One of the things I like about DEYA is that as well as them producing big cans, therefore supplying a whole and wholly enjoyable 500ml, they also state that the beer was produced "in our house style". Am well aware that this is neither a soul changing nor spine snapping revelation, but I do think it perfectly sums up their output. Tonight I enjoyed a 6.5% "Glue IPA" and it was outstanding. Perfectly pale, utterly clouded, hoppy and fruity in the aftertaste and displaying an excellent overall mouth feel. Although it sadly does not list the HOPS used, it's noticable that they are of good quality, perfectly balanced, and the overall taste is so good that I can forgive that lack of information.
Have never had chance to travel down to Cheltenham to pop into, as well as what I hear are some excellent pubs, their brewery tap. It is however something that I would love to do. Not least because, its actually very rare to find a brewery whose every output you desire, simultaneously doesn't disappoint. and which leaves you craving some more....
So although this is a short post I would like to thank DEYA for their marvelous output, and to hope to see then in keg or can, or who knows, perhaps even Cask from the Past, at sometime soon.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
Unsuspecting victims no warnings, no signs,
Judgement day the second coming arrives,
Before you see the light, you must die!
Ah, whoops. Have got DEYA, a Cheltenham based brewery, mixed up with Tom Araya's excellent thrash master's Slayer. Soz....
Back to boohar, and over Loockdown, and largely via my chums at Bar Stewards, DEYA have produced some of the frankly finest pints. Prior to writing this I had a quick check of my previous posts and noticed that in 2018 and onwards I had already recognised the excellent quality of their soups - and had written about it a number of times previously, thereby proving me right. Tonight I had the first of three cans of theirs which I picked up from Bar Stewards, and found it unsurprisingly excellent.......
Over the past four months their Steady Rolling Man, an excellent 5.2% IPA, is probably the beer, of many, that I have drunk most often. Its a great quality, vegan friendly, unfiltered and unpasteurised IPA which drinks like babbeh milk with an excellent hoppiness in the background. This was well received and enjoyed, and in fact most of their best beers have been 5.2 - 6.9%, but they did also do a fabulous DIPA collab with Left Handed Giant in Brizzle. Despite some disappointing brown colours this once again was excellent.
One of the things I like about DEYA is that as well as them producing big cans, therefore supplying a whole and wholly enjoyable 500ml, they also state that the beer was produced "in our house style". Am well aware that this is neither a soul changing nor spine snapping revelation, but I do think it perfectly sums up their output. Tonight I enjoyed a 6.5% "Glue IPA" and it was outstanding. Perfectly pale, utterly clouded, hoppy and fruity in the aftertaste and displaying an excellent overall mouth feel. Although it sadly does not list the HOPS used, it's noticable that they are of good quality, perfectly balanced, and the overall taste is so good that I can forgive that lack of information.
Have never had chance to travel down to Cheltenham to pop into, as well as what I hear are some excellent pubs, their brewery tap. It is however something that I would love to do. Not least because, its actually very rare to find a brewery whose every output you desire, simultaneously doesn't disappoint. and which leaves you craving some more....
So although this is a short post I would like to thank DEYA for their marvelous output, and to hope to see then in keg or can, or who knows, perhaps even Cask from the Past, at sometime soon.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
Sunday 9 August 2020
One fine summer's day....
Hello,
I have gotten on to the old version of Blogger because the new version, which am guessing they consider is the future, will not allow me to write anything below the red line underneath the title. Apparently I can only use this version for a further few weeks so this maybe one of my last posts. Unless I can somehow change to blogging on my ultra modern laptop in future, which should work....
So a couple of weeks ago a friend and I decided we would like to go on a days tour of pubs in far away Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Having previously done some of the route, and also checked up with every possible venue that they were still open, we set off around 11.00 on Friday. Having got to Chezvegas, and used the satnav (sorry) to find a quicker route to the road past Walton Hospital, which we did, we headed over the Two Dales Road into Darley Dale and soon enough having viewed the delights of Wensley and the mad road up through Winster we arrived at the Miners Standard at the top of the village. Have not been in for a while but they had a range of four real ales on, or rather three plus Greedy King, including two from Aldwark Artisan Ales. I had a pint of their Pale IPA at 4.8%. It was delicious, especially sat outside in the hot sunshine.
From here we drove over Bonsall Moor and then into Upper Town of Bonsall, before taking that mad road near the bus stop to the corner near the footpath to Ible, in the Dale. Sadly we had already found out that the excellent Barley Mow would be closed but it was worth showing my friend Bonsall, the Barley Mow and the absurd road. From here we headed up to Grangemill and then over the moors and through the woods to the turning of the A515 down to Milldale and then up to Stanhope and then in the glorious sunshine to Ilam, up to Throwley (including opening a gate en route) before heading down to Waterhouses and then up to our next stop in Waterfall, the Red Lion.
Four cask ales again, including the excellent Bass plus a few others, with me starting on Wainwrights before having another pint, this time of Bass. Sat outside in the hot sunshine we could very easily have stayed here all day - the place, beer and atmosphere was excellent. Instead we headed off for Leek, and parked nearly outside the Hideout.
First visit for me, and we once again sat outside overlooking the square in very hot sunshine - they usually have two casks and ten Kegs from the future but were sadly down only to five kegs - despite this I bought myself a whole pint of Drop Project DIPA at just 8%, which I supped outside in the sun with my mate who was on soft drinks, both wanting a snack. Love the Hideout as I do (it was ace) I would rather have purchased some crisps from them, so after just one pint we headed off (and I will return) using satnav (and very effectively) to find the turn for Onecote.
The Jervis Arms is somewhere have not been for a while - last time they had about five different cask ales as well as food. Now, although we enjoyed our tipples, its basically just a restaurant that serves bowze. We had much needed crisps each with what for me was an OK pint of Taylors.
Further up the road and off we made what for me, unless I popped in with WF when I was a child, was my first visit to the Black Lion at Butterton. We sat out the back in the last of the sunshine and my friend chose a half of Bass and I a rather tired but definitely not off pint of Storm - (which the barman warned me was near it's end) am guessing Silk of Amnesia, but am not sure. All was well organised and the pub was busy, and am sure it's somewhere we would consider visiting again.
Our final stop was an old favourite,the Pack Horse at Crowdecote. Again all was well organised, and we stood waiting at the bottom entrance to get to the bar - there were four beers on and I have to admit as with usual trecks, am not sure what it was that I had, but it was delicious. We sat up at the back in the Beer garden and awaited our scran and it was well cooked when it arrived, although am not sure my mate loved his burger. It was a shame not to see the usual landlord but am guessing he may have been off - either way this remained an excellent finisher.
We went back via Monyash listening to excellent Cathedral which I rather worryingly sang along to, and by 22.30 I was back home and safe. Thanks once again to my wonderful friend for an absolutely fabulous day out, and also to the different pubs visited for their speed and kindness in responding so quickly to our requests for info. Your very best of health.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
I have gotten on to the old version of Blogger because the new version, which am guessing they consider is the future, will not allow me to write anything below the red line underneath the title. Apparently I can only use this version for a further few weeks so this maybe one of my last posts. Unless I can somehow change to blogging on my ultra modern laptop in future, which should work....
So a couple of weeks ago a friend and I decided we would like to go on a days tour of pubs in far away Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Having previously done some of the route, and also checked up with every possible venue that they were still open, we set off around 11.00 on Friday. Having got to Chezvegas, and used the satnav (sorry) to find a quicker route to the road past Walton Hospital, which we did, we headed over the Two Dales Road into Darley Dale and soon enough having viewed the delights of Wensley and the mad road up through Winster we arrived at the Miners Standard at the top of the village. Have not been in for a while but they had a range of four real ales on, or rather three plus Greedy King, including two from Aldwark Artisan Ales. I had a pint of their Pale IPA at 4.8%. It was delicious, especially sat outside in the hot sunshine.
From here we drove over Bonsall Moor and then into Upper Town of Bonsall, before taking that mad road near the bus stop to the corner near the footpath to Ible, in the Dale. Sadly we had already found out that the excellent Barley Mow would be closed but it was worth showing my friend Bonsall, the Barley Mow and the absurd road. From here we headed up to Grangemill and then over the moors and through the woods to the turning of the A515 down to Milldale and then up to Stanhope and then in the glorious sunshine to Ilam, up to Throwley (including opening a gate en route) before heading down to Waterhouses and then up to our next stop in Waterfall, the Red Lion.
Four cask ales again, including the excellent Bass plus a few others, with me starting on Wainwrights before having another pint, this time of Bass. Sat outside in the hot sunshine we could very easily have stayed here all day - the place, beer and atmosphere was excellent. Instead we headed off for Leek, and parked nearly outside the Hideout.
First visit for me, and we once again sat outside overlooking the square in very hot sunshine - they usually have two casks and ten Kegs from the future but were sadly down only to five kegs - despite this I bought myself a whole pint of Drop Project DIPA at just 8%, which I supped outside in the sun with my mate who was on soft drinks, both wanting a snack. Love the Hideout as I do (it was ace) I would rather have purchased some crisps from them, so after just one pint we headed off (and I will return) using satnav (and very effectively) to find the turn for Onecote.
The Jervis Arms is somewhere have not been for a while - last time they had about five different cask ales as well as food. Now, although we enjoyed our tipples, its basically just a restaurant that serves bowze. We had much needed crisps each with what for me was an OK pint of Taylors.
Further up the road and off we made what for me, unless I popped in with WF when I was a child, was my first visit to the Black Lion at Butterton. We sat out the back in the last of the sunshine and my friend chose a half of Bass and I a rather tired but definitely not off pint of Storm - (which the barman warned me was near it's end) am guessing Silk of Amnesia, but am not sure. All was well organised and the pub was busy, and am sure it's somewhere we would consider visiting again.
Our final stop was an old favourite,the Pack Horse at Crowdecote. Again all was well organised, and we stood waiting at the bottom entrance to get to the bar - there were four beers on and I have to admit as with usual trecks, am not sure what it was that I had, but it was delicious. We sat up at the back in the Beer garden and awaited our scran and it was well cooked when it arrived, although am not sure my mate loved his burger. It was a shame not to see the usual landlord but am guessing he may have been off - either way this remained an excellent finisher.
We went back via Monyash listening to excellent Cathedral which I rather worryingly sang along to, and by 22.30 I was back home and safe. Thanks once again to my wonderful friend for an absolutely fabulous day out, and also to the different pubs visited for their speed and kindness in responding so quickly to our requests for info. Your very best of health.
Cheers!
Wee Beefy
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