Other pubs

 Evening all!

     This last week I have gone mad and ventured out to two different pubs, along with a final visit of the month to the fabulous bar stewards. I booked a table for me and another, starting at 1830 on Wednesday at the Dorothy Pax. In order to achieve this I had to join a group or an app called TGINIFY or similar, and through whom I paid a £5 deposit, which upon arrival I would receive back in the form of a token or a discount of £5 on my first purchase. Crucially the Pax said they couldn't supply heaters so I should wrap up warm - so I turned up on Waingate at about 1800 wearing six layers.......

The Pax was quite busy when we arrived. I quickly spotted Dr Johnson and David Major sat under the three nearest covers to the Pax - I later noticed they did in fact have a modicum of heating. Our seat was at a large table next to the canal basin, and sadly I have to admit that I found it cold! Not a criticism - just a reflection of my sadly developing neshness.

I had a pint of Blue Bee Triple Hop on CftP, then another, and he had a pint of Berliner pils and also another. The place stayed busy throughout and two wanders to the outside loos warmed me up quite a bit. I went for a third pint of the Triple Hop but once that was nearly gone I suggested we moved off - we had already overstayed our booking so that was no problem.

We walked to the Kelham Island Tavern, and after spotting Nisha from the Stewards outside, we went in and got a table at the back of the garden. It was noticeably warmer here and although I started with  another pint of the Blue Bee Triple Hop, since it was very nice, I then moved onto a pint of Paranoia, a 6% Black IPA I think, and I have to admit that was delicious. Crucially I was pleased to notice that throughout we encountered no groups of idiots, and the beer was on top form throughout.

On Thursday Robert J Ward booked a table for 6 at the Bar Stewards from 1600. I was a trifle late leaving and so didn't get there until 1745. Finding the door locked, thankfully Nisha turned up and I enquired once inside if everyone was outside. I also asked for a pint of cask from the past as well - which is when I fopund out that they don't open until 1800!

The pint was once again Blue Bee Triple Hop, and having joined Rob, Dan, Vikkie and Matt and also seen Richard Eason, I soon moved onto a pint of the Pomona Island Soylent Green, a fabulous cloudy IPA at about 6%, followed by a half of the Pollys also on keg. We were joined by Katherine (I hope thats correct!) and Anthony and the night got better from their on.

It was the first time the oft regular drinkers had met up since back in October and it was lovely to see everyone of them. As also was the half of Pastore Limone at 2.5% also on keg. Have really fallen in love with Pastore, and their amazing range of beers, and this easy drinking but ludicrously refreshing lemon beer was fabulous.

I had a further half of Soylent Green, which was delicious, before finishing once again on a can of the fabulous DEYA Saturated in Mosaic, or a similar named hop. I had a great chat with Anthony and Richard and left at about ten to 2300 to catch the last Wirst bus home.

I realise its still a while away before we can go inside pubs, hopefully without needing a booking, but its ironic that by the 17th of May the weather will undoubtedly be warmer! Really looking forward to this happening, as am sure lots of you are, and finally being able to gawp, even if not queue at, a pub bar.

Cheers!

Wee Beefy

Pub

 Afternoon!      

        on Thursday I visited a public house, as you used to describe them in the 1930's. It was the first time that I had seen a beer menu for such an operation, since back in October 2020. I walked into town, principally to see the sun setting since I wasn't booked in until 20:00, and having allowed quite a while to arrive I was there by 19.55 and waited to find out if my table was ready. I was quite warm after the walk, but as Charlie advised, that wouldn't be an issue once I was sat outside in the cold...... 

I started on a pint of Abbeydale Heathen APA on cask from the past - goodness - it's like it's.......2020 all over again! Luckily the Heathen was on good form and only lasted me about 10  or 15 minutes so I quickly ordered and more slowly supped another pint. I had a quick chat with Mr Cullen  and found that one of his chums was supping a fabulous can of the St Mars of the Desert Barley wine at 9%. I assured him that he would like it - I know I certainly did.

I was supposed to be meeting up with a chum but after a few texts , and having now moved onto a 6% Full Circle IPA on Keg from the future, I discovered that they were sadly unable to join me. By this time, having moved under one of the heaters and added two further layers, I was finished with the IPA and thought about getting a canned beer from their excellent selection. Luckily they had a can of DEYA Saturated in Citra available so I decided to grab a can of that, and as I was starting that, now aware of the quality of the heated lights above me a bit more, I was joined under the cover by a group of chaps from fine, sunny, Sheffield.

One of them was called Alan, or indeed, one of thousands of other human male names. Likewise, the latter applies to the others, who all sported  pronounceable noises with which to identify them. They had been sat out in the cold when I had arrived and one of them was wearing shorts like some kind of madman. They were at the same time attempting to find one of their group whom it transpired had left a near full pint having said he was going to the loo. A number of texts confirmed he had in fact gone home! What a terrible waste of lovely beer...

I chatted to this group for a good while but finding out it was nearly 22:50 I decided to head home myself, and I got to Waingate a couple of minutes before the 52A none Stenchcrotch peasant waggon arrived - weirdly carrying no bottom deck passengers but 4 members of staff.... 

I have to say that despite gaining a minor blister on my left foot (I took the extra insoles out of my boots when my feet swelled up earlier in the year and had forgotten to replace them - and the current insoles are a trifle damaged...), I have to say that I really enjoyed my visit - and once I finish my current batch of antibiotics I am returning to join Mr RJW and chums sat hopefully right at the back of the covers surrounded by warm humans!

Cheers!

Wee Beefy

Whiplash Drone Logic Simcoe DIPA

 Hello folks,

              now am well aware that some recent posts may worry the less open minded of you that all I drink is marmite and blood orange land bier, and equally, that you may, all you caring bunch, worry that all I  drink is beers above 6% - my usual starting strength. Well in truth as I worry I may have said about 50 times, whilst at home at least less so, but I always like to start on a pint of "cask from the past". Its like the 1860s , when we hde yet to learn that diseases such as cholera were transmitted by mucky water. And therefore we should all the same only drink clear cask ale.....

So to undermine that outlook I wanted to describe a beer from Whiplash brewery, whom I understand are based in Dublin. The chaps at Bar Stewards have been getting Whiplash beers in quite a lot this year and thus far have tried about 6 of their brews. I have enjoyed every one. Unsurprisingly this brew contains oats . When I was a youngster, about  7 years ago, the very suggestion of the inclusion of "modern muck" like oats and wheat malt in the mash, would have instantly made me suspicious and dismissive. But I now realise that in its right place most adjuncts have the potential and in this case the ability, to help dispense tasty beers. Am certain that Arpus from .....um...somewhere Eastern European, (Latvia?)  contain the same. And I love their beers. This one is once again extremely easy drinking.

I have always loved Simcoe hops - am not 100% sure how long they have been around, nor indeed where they might be produced in, but have always loved them along with US cascade and Citra and Columbus and similar. And as you know, I do like an easy drinking beer.

The aroma of Drone Logic is in this case quite yeasty - but that is likely down to my always washing out cans to get the chunks of non dissolved yeast elements and other physical additions mixed into my cloudy beer. The taste is actually quite honest in terms of the yeast - and the Simcoe still provides a delicious background, probably less hoppy in terms of bite due to the collaboration of both oats and wheat.

So far have more or less finished the beer in an hour - but that is related to the amount of time it takes to log onto here!

 I realise that the addition of wheat and oats no doubt is repsonsible for its easy drinkingness but its still incredibly quaffable. I also realise that I have said before that ideally I should want beers to taste of cement or unset concrete, and sadly in the last 30 years a few probably have, but this collage of features is extremely enjoyable. Who wouldn't crave the mix of suppability and hoppy delights? Well, in the absence of any actual answer, the short answer of course is myself. Cracking brew!

Last info is to confirm that tomorrow, which is a day, I will be supping in the niddering cold of the outside of Bar Stewards in the evening! I was very lucky to get a table full stop if am honest. I admit that I probably told a lot of regular drinkers that I wanted initially to avoid my favourite pubs but this is the fourth consecutive day (tomorrow) that many will have been available to us folks.

In the meantime, I may see some of you there , and if so or if not, I wish you the very best of health.

Cheers!

Wee Beefy 

Clamp

. Eefnin all,

         Since starting in late 2018  ( feel free to add relevant date/year), and, as admitted themselves, regrettably opening to visiting drinkers in January 2019 (same offer!) I didn't in fact get to visit the excellent folk at St Mars of the Desert until June 2019, and at once somewhat fell a bit in love with the place. Of course I also like Daan and Martha, fabulous folk as they are, but with them having been closed since November or similar, as well as having tried a few excellent new brews including Fluffy White Rabbit hoppy spring ale, it occurs to me that they are a brewing operative to rely upon.

As every month. as far as is possible, I recently bought a can of Clamp. This is a 5.4% NEIPA made exclusively, hop wise that is, with Mosaic and Waimea. Being so "weak" its an absolutely fabulous starter, and whilst I have thus far yet to find a dire drink of their's, I have to say that Clamp is a modern classic.

Its quaffable strength is not the whole story re it's drinkability -  whilst I don't know if they use the Koelship in this brew, the blend of hops malt and yeast alone makes this entirely suppable. The other aspect in their appeal lies perhaps in the sheer range of styles produced. Although have not so far found a standard brown bitter in their range, the density of styles along with the long list of strengths always encourages interest.

On my first ever visit I tried a pint of what was likely a 3.2% pilsner, and it was delicious - not heart stoppingly weak of course, but still packing a substantial punch regarding its ease of drinking along with a myriad of traditional flavours. They also did a traoitional Victorian imperial mild or similar at 9% at a festival at Shakespeares, and all that they produce seems to be simultaneously well balanced along with extremely flavourful.

Once the luffly pubs reopen, in the next month or so, I can heartily recommend following the Five Weirs Walk upo from Sheffield town centre and coming out across from the beginning of Stevenson Road next to Washford Bridge  its just a short hop from there to the excellent looking brewery outside seating and their excellent tap.

Finally I should point out that I tried all  of their Belgian style ales at Christmas and not one disappointed!

Give their beers a try if you see them in off licences or local pubs to drink in or take out, and continue ti support this fabulous Sheffield brewery.

Cheers!

Wee Beefy