CAMRA Members Weekend 2011

Day One

Not sure why more branch members were not unable to attend the CAMRA Members weekend in Sheffield, so it was left to the four musketeers once again to represent the branch.

Due to the cost of train travel Kevin had volunteered to drive to Sheffield and after a smashing breakfast at Jollys Café in Chippenham we set off north. With hindsight Kevin agreed we should have used the M4/M5 and not the Fosse way (where our journey was dogged by Sunday drivers, on a Thursday! and traffic lights.)

After a relaxing drive (I slept for most of it) we pulled up at the 4* Copethorne Hotels where Shaun had worked his magic on accommodation and we had palatial rooms at just £50 per night.

Dropping off our bags we set off for the city and our first , Although the map in the member’s brochure had a map showing all the recommended not many of the roads were named so navigation was interesting.

We stumbled across the Red Lion and I tried the Kelham Island, Of course at this stage we were just planning the weekend so I didn’t want to wait until we eventually reached the Kelham Island and we set about deciding on a loose plan for the weekend, which had to take in the GBG pubs and of course the Kelham Island Tavern (National Pub of the Year 2008 & 2009)

Reading through our Members Weekend Info ( we had pre-booked so got it early) the area of the Don Valley indicated a reasonable number of pubs and was marked on the map as the valley of beer! As the valley is also the home of the Kelham Island Tavern it was obviously the place to visit.

Immediately after getting off the tram we saw the wonderful exterior of the Ship Inn but it was closed, One for later.

Some minutes later we came across the Kelham Island Tavern, which as previously mentioned is the CAMRA National Pub of the Year. With 10 Ales and a beer festival which had a further 8 on we stayed here for a little while enjoying both the ales and ambience!! With prices as low as £2.50 for the delightful Spire Coal Porter we thought we were in heaven and this was only our second pub ☺

Not too far to our next pub, the Harlequin. This pub had 10 ales and 12 ciders as well as a great range of bottled beers. We tried the Porter from the Old Mill brewery It was time for a bite to eat and whilst the chilli burger was very good value the Toad in the Hole (Yorkshire pudding with sausages) was disappointing - no potatoes, no vegetables and an overcooked Yorkshire Pudding.

Not to worry off to the next pub the Riverside. Just 3 minutes away this end of terrace pub backing onto the river Don has a lovely simple clean and crisp interior. Delightfully fresh Riverside Pale from the Saltaire Brewery followed by Triple Chocoholic Hmmmmmmm ☺.

We now moved to an old industrial area to the Fat Cat. This traditional two roomed pub with a corridor bar has 10 ales on and a beer garden. We always enjoy good interiors whilst enjoying our ales and the Fat Cat was no exception including some interesting taps in the gents loo! We tried a few ales here but as the four of us live on the dark side the Wychwood Hot Chocolate got a thumbs up!

Kevin was very very happy when there was some of his Wychwood Hot Chocolate left after he offered it to us for tasting!

Just around the corner and we visit the Milestone. First impression of this bustling Bistro Bar was disappointing as it appeared to have no real ales, but moving a menu revealed 2 pumps. The Kelham Island Pale Rider was particularly good, as was the service. Our eyes were drawn to the interesting menu, which resulted in us calling the following morning to book a table. Real Ale and good food are always a combination when we are on our travels. We reflected on this early indication that real ale was going to be available in a diverse range of outlets.

Another pub close by is the Wellington, Which is one of the 26 GBG listed pubs in the city and has been a pub since it was built in 1847. It is now the Little Cart Brewery Tap. Although there were 9 ales available this pub did not seem to welcome real ale drinkers, with notices such as “buy before you try" and “tasters come in halves". However, we particularly enjoyed the Coal Train Liquorice Stout from Little Ale Cart brewery.

We head for one more pub before catching the tram. The Ship Inn was the pub we spotted earlier on in the day. We tried the Hardys and Hanson Kimberly bitter which we all agreed unfortunately tasted like a bland Greene King beer.

Catching the tram back to the city we were just too late for the Sheffield tap, closed at 11pm, but a local told us of the Rutland which was open late.

Ten minutes later we are in the Rutland drinking Sheffield Porter from the Sheffield Brewery Company a choice of 6 ales on offer. Interesting wall drawings outside the pub.

We set off home and found a welcome takeaway. It was but a short walk back to the hotel after what we all agreed was a good start to the weekend.

Day 2

An earlier Google search for traditional cafés in Sheffield only resulted in two cafes but heading for one of these we came across Rosies sit down café. After a wholesome English breakfast we set off for day two.

Wonderful interior of the Sheffield Tap, ale and décor!

We decided to start at the Sheffield Tap which is actually on Sheffield railway station in what was formerly known as “The Edwardian Refreshment Room and Dining Room of Sheffield Station”. This Graded II listed building had 10 real ales & European lagers on tap plus over 200 bottled beers from around the world. The Thornbridge Brock was a fantastic stout which set us up for our next leg.

This journey to the furthest point on the Super Tram and the shortest walk from the tram to a pub, 4 steps took us from the tram to the Rawson Spring one of a number of Wetherspoons in the area I tried the Davenport Fox’s Knob but it was a weak tasteless beer.

As yesterday the weather was fine and we set off for a mini hike to the New Barrack Tavern. Another pub with 10 ales on…Although they have close ties to the Castle Rock Brewery the Screech Owl from Castle Rock was in particularly good condition and enjoyed in the sunny beer garden.

A walk by the side of a busy dual carriage way brought us to the sanctuary and quite of the Hillsborough Hotel, it was busy but quiet as most people were savouring the wonderful ales. Once again we were tempted by dark ale and the Stannington Stout from The Crown Brewery, which is in fact attached to the pub, was definitely a good choice. Again we enjoyed the sunshine, this time on the upper deck of the hotel. It appeared to try and rain but our joint sunny disposition soon stopped that!

A walk back across the dual carriageway and through some of the remnants of Sheffield’s steel industry brought us to the Gardener’s Rest. An interesting name for a pub in the middle of an industrial landscape but the landlady explained long before the industrial revolution this area was of course countryside and in fact the market garden area of a large manor house.

Whilst enjoying a Boggart Extra Rum Porter I notice the familiar figure of Eric Mills, Chairman of the Highlands and Western Isles branch of CAMRA, who I had met a number of years ago on the Great North (ale) Run. His wife’s family live in Sheffield so what better excuse than to visit them on CAMRA members weekend. I managed to get a copy of ‘Whats Yours Then’ The Highlands and Western Isles newsletter which although produced in black and white has a full 40 pages backed with info. Always a good read.

It was time to start heading for the CAMRA Members Weekend venue so we could get signed in. Back on the tram but on the way we got off to find Fagan’s. This was a really disappointing pub with grubby interior and a limited ale range and certainly not worth the walk.

The University Arms up the hill was a totally different matter with 6 hand pumps and 13 ales available from the cellar in jugs!!!. The Two Roses Black Beauty Stout was wonderful. We didn’t really have time to do this pub justice and with hindsight should have gone back again….next time maybe??

After enjoying stout and sunshine in the garden we set off on the short walk to the Member’s weekend venue. Having signed in we went to the member’s bar which had a reasonable number of ales on but we had already tried many of them in the pubs of Sheffield. However I did enjoy Oakwells Dark Mild and the Abbeydale Black Mass, which tasted wonderful but the nose was like Stilton!

After enjoying ales in the members bar we set off for the Milestone where we had booked a table. The food and service were excellent and the ales in wonderful condition. We had an interesting demonstration of an automatic roller fire door closing the kitchen area when the fire alarm sounded! Fortunately it was a false alarm and all was well apart from a shaken waitress who had almost been crushed by the fire door!

As the Wellington was so close we had to pop back in again and tried more of the Little Cart brewery ales.

Heading back into Sheffield centre we went to the Red Deer and enjoyed the Old Mill Traditional Mild and promised we would be back to taste some of the other 13 ales on offer and then wandered to the Bear which only had Sam Smiths Cask for sale and sadly it wasn’t in that good condition.

Heading back to the hotel we stopped off at the last pub of the day the Devonshire Cat. This busy students bar was a tad noisy but we were still able to chat and enjoyed Salamanders After Dark Stout, and Mongrel from the Marston Moor brewery. At the end of the bar was a glazed ‘cool room’ in which was stored the European lagers in casks and bottles. In fact they also had over 100 different ales from around the world which we managed to resist, well Stewart almost did. A short walk back to the hotel was the end of another successful and enjoyable day in Sheffield.

Day 3

Once more to Rosie café for breakfast and some important branch business in the form of the Champion Beer of Britain votes for our branch. An hour later we have finished our breakfast and head off to the Bankers Draft, a large Wetherspoons on the edge of the city centre. It was busy downstairs after choosing a Rumey King Maker we went upstairs to find another bar with a different range of ales on including Weltons Chocolate Mild and Jamaica Stout from the Big City Brewery.

Once again the sun shone on the righteous and we enjoyed a short walk in the glorious sunshine to The Museum where a well kept Absolution from Abbeydale brewery was enjoyed.

Trippets was next but was closed; The Grapes had repeat beers which was a very rare occurrence. The Dog and Partridge only had Tetley’s for sale we didn’t stay but the friendly landlord gave us directions to other pubs on our map.

We stopped at the Old House. Not really a pub more of a bar, which had four ales on, but one that was comfortable and familiar even though I had never been before. An excellent wall print of the Prohibition said it all but to be fair Sheffield was definitely delivering! We enjoyed Bradfield Farmers Stout and agreed it would be a great place to eat later. The barmaid/waitress agreed with our choice of ale and tables are not bookable which was fine as we could enjoy more ale as we waited for dinner.

Still following the members weekend map we passed the Green Room, which was closed and the Varsity had no real ale on at all. Getting thirsty we stopped at S1 and had Marston’s EPA, bit too thin and wishy washy for those of us that live on the dark side ☺.

We enjoyed the Red Deer so much last night we thought we’d pop back again this time trying the wonderfully tasteful Tabatha the Knackered Cat from Anglo Dutch. Seeing a group of chaps in suits drinking real ale we figured they might be from the member’s weekend, sure enough they were members of the National Executive. On being asked why they weren’t at the members discussion session they replied “We are only here for motion 12” what about all the other motions members put forward weren’t they interested in them as well???

The Bath Hotel was next on our list and we found this Grade II 1867 pub is a gem. Wonderful interior with 2 rooms and a corridor bar. More dark ales here in the shape of Blue Bee Lusting for Stout. I also tried the Imperial Bitter from Imperial breweries.

The Wick at Both Ends had to be visited and is just around the corner from the Bath Hotel. Large bar but pretty empty at that time of the day. Sheffield Breweries Sheffield Tram Lines seemed appropriate as we were on the tram route.

As The Old House stop serving food early we decided to head back there for dinner but first we thought we’d try The Rat and Parrot just across the road. Again more of a bar than a pub nevertheless the Red Island Molly from Kelham Island was in good condition. Taking a window seat to watch the street scenery we enjoyed a few halves.

Arriving at the Old House they disappointingly found us a table almost straight away, so we had less time to have a few ales! The food was plain but excellent, my lamb wasn’t as pink as I would like it but the flavour was wonderful and Shaun’s fish and chips portion was the size he likes! We tried the Bradfield Farmers Stout and the Kelham Island Pale Rider and enjoyed them both.

We now headed back to Trippets hoping to find it open, It was but the interior was very plain and uninspiring. Ale selection was also limited (but we had been spoilt visiting pubs/bars that had 5+ ales on regularly).

We wandered to the Three Tuns, but when Kevin popped in they had no ales so we set off for the Dove and Rainbow but passed the Wig n Pen on the way. Popping in we discovered it was the sister pub to the Milestone. We spent an entertaining 30 minutes watching the barman mix cocktails (One of Stewarts hobbies) and enjoyed Yorkshire Farmer from Bradfield ales.

We set off again for the Dove and Rainbow and discovered it was a rock pub but with music that was loud enough to enjoy but not so loud that we couldn’t chat. The Spire Ales Sgt Peppers Stout was fantastic and what a way to end our last full day. By the way we have no idea who the guy taking his shirt off is!

We stayed a long while enjoying the music, ale and interesting art! before leaving and popping into the Rutland again to finish the day on refreshing Lightness from Acorn Brewery

Interesting art work in the Dove and Rainbow

Day 4

Sunday morning and we headed for the Bankers Draft for breakfast. This was a little disappointing as they had no bread or field mushrooms so basically no big breakfasts

We wanted to visit the Sheffield Tap to buy some bottled beers but it didn’t open till 11am so from spoons we headed for Sheffield centre and enjoyed an hour sat drinking coffee in the sunshine outside Sheffield’s magnificent town hall, very cosmopolitan!

Having visited the Sheffield Tap and bought our bottles, Kevin allowed us non drivers to enjoy a last glass of ale, mine was The Thornbridge Brock, before setting off home.

We arrive back in Chippenham about 4pm on Sunday after another successful adventure into the world of real ale. We all agreed Sheffield had the largest rang of ales we had seen for a while almost all of them in excellent condition and the prices….. 6% Stout for just £2.60 a pint!!!

We reckon the average price was about £2.40 a pint and no CAMRA discounts needed. Sheffield was definitely worthy of the visit and some pubs will have to be visited again for a longer period.

Members Weekend business…..Ah that’s another story ☺

Many thanks to Kevin, Shaun & Stewart for their company over the weekend.

Thanks again to Shaun for some of the photos used in this write up and for taking photos of all the pump clips enabling me to list most of the beers we saw and drank (not all of them of course). Thanks also to Tim Nickolls for some extra data gleaner from ‘Pints West’ My wife June for proof reading and spotting the mistakes we all missed in our ☺

See next few pages for a list of the pubs and the ales we found in them. I thought it would be interesting from a historical point of view to list the breweries, the ales (and what the breweries designate them to be, always an interesting topic of conversation) and the ABV. In addition Shaun took some photos of blackboards showing the ales and their prices and these are shown on the last pages Our southern friends will be envious of the prices paid

Pubs (29) Visited in logical order ☺

Red Lion University Arms Kelham Island Tavern Red deer Harlequin The Brown Bear Riverside Devonshire Cat Fat Cat Bankers Draft Milestone Museum Wellington S1 Ship Inn Bath Hotel Rutland Arms Wick at Both Ends Sheffield Tap Frog n parrot Rawson Spring Old house New Barrack Tavern Trippets Hillsborough Hotel Wig n pen Gardeners Rest Dove n rainbow Fagan’s

Ales tasted or available was over 167 and this didn’t include the ales in the members bar!

Brewery Ale ABV Abbeydale Absolution 5.3% Abbey Vale Brimstone 3.8% Abbey Dale Deception 4.1% Abbeydale Deception 4.1% Abbeydale Moonshine 4.3% Abbeydale Moonshine 4.3% Abbeydale Surreal 1.1% Abbeydale Tourmaline 5.8% Abbot Ales Greene King 5.0% Acorn Barnsley Bitter 3.8% Acorn Darkness 4.2% Acorn Galena IPA 5.0% Acorn George’s Best 4.6% Acorn Lightness 3.9% Acorn Old Moor Porter 4.4% Allgates Winter Meltdown 4.3% Anglo Dutch By Thor 3.9% Anglo Dutch Tabatha 6.0% Barlow Carnival Ale (Golden Pale Ale) 4.0% Bateman’s All Seasons 4.2% Big City Jamaica Stout 5.0% Black Hole No Escape 5.2% Blue Bee Bees Knees 4.0% Blue Bee Lusting for Stout 4.8% Blue Bee Red White & Blue 5.0% Boggart Extra Rum Porter 6.4% Bradfield Farmers Bitter 3.9% Bradfield Farmers Blonde 4.0% Bradfield Farmers Stout 4.5% Bradfield Sheffield Tigers 4.8% Bradfield Steelers 4.5% Brampton Golden Bud 3.8% Brew Company Devonshire Cat Pale Ale 4.0% Brew Company Dry Hop No 16 4.2% Brew Company Hopmaster 4.5% Brew Company Riverside Pale 4.2% Brew Company Slaker 3.8% Brew Dog Growler 4.5% Butcombe Mendip Spring 3.8% Caledonian Deuchars IPA 3.8% Castle Rock Cowslip 4.0% Castle Rock Harvest Pale 3.8% Castle Rock Kiss Me Kate 5.0% Castle Rock Preservation 4.4% Castle Rock Screen Owl 5.5% Cottage H.S.T 4.4% Cottage Viscount 4.7% Crown Brewery Brooklyn Heights 5.8% Crown Brewery Dislocation 3.8% Crown Brewery Hillsborough Pale Ale 3.9% Crown Brewery Royal Crown 3.9% Crown Brewery Stannington Stout 5.0% Daleside Spring Frenzy 3.4% Davenports Fox’s Knob 5.0% Devonshire Cat Pale Ale 4.0% Durham Apollo 4.0% Elgoods Spring Challenge 4.3% Flowers IPA ( Yes I know I Know) 3.6% Greene King St Edmunds 4.2% Glastonbury Love Monkey 4.2% Grafton Medicine Man 3.9% Hardys & Hansons Olde Trip 4.3% Harwich Town Phoenix 5.0% Hawkshead Cumbrian Five Hop 5.0% Hereford Cathedral Bitter 4.0% Hereford Mutley’s Revenge 4.8% Howard Town Dinting Arches 4.5% Howard Town Howard Town Bitter 4.7% Harlequin Best 4.2% Harlequin Blonde 4.0% Imperial Best Bitter 3.9% Imperial Imperial Bitter 3.9% Kelham Island Kelhams Best 4.0% Kelham Island Pale Rider 5.2% Kelham Island Red Molly (red ale) 3.8% Kelham Island Royal Pale Rider 5.5% Leyden Fruit of the Field (Wheat Beer) 3.8% Leyden Kate & Wills 3.8% Little Ale Cart Brown Jack 4.1% Little Ale Cart Coal Train Liquorice Stout 4.8% Little Ale Cart Father Ambrose 4.0% Little Ale Cart Honingham Hall 4.3% Little Ale Cart Manna 5.0% Liverpool Organic Brewery Liverpool Pale Ale 4.0% Mallinsons Puss Cat 4.1% Marstons EPA 3.6% Marston Moor Oyster Catcher 3.9% Maypole Kiwi IPA 4.8% Maypole Major Oak 4.4% Maypole Wellow Gold 4.6% Milestone Millennium 4.1% Milestone Sherwood Stag 4.8% Milestone Vale Mill 3.9% Moorland Old Speckled Hen 4.5% Moorland Original 4.0% Naylors Pinnacle Pale 3.6% North Riding Peasholme by Night 4.0% Nook Bees Knees 3.9% Oakwell Barnsley Bitter 3.8% Old Mill Traditional Mild 3.4% Old Mill Yorkshire Porter 4.4% Ossett Big Red 4.0% Pictish Brewing Co Brewers Gold 3.8% Preservation Fine Ale 4.4% Raw Red Ghost IPA 5.9% Red Fox Fennec Fox 4.5% Red Fox Gold 4.0% Ruddles Best ( Yes I know I Know) 3.7% Udgate Viking 3.8% Salamander After Dark Stout 4.5% Sheffield Brewing Co Crucible Best 3.8% Sheffield Brewing Co Pacifica 4.7% Sheffield Brewing Co Seven Hills 4.2% Sheffield Brewing Co Sheffield Porter 4.4% Sheffield Brewing Co Tramlines 4.0% Solitaire Blackberry Cascade 4.8% Solitaire Raspberry Blonde 4.0% Solitaire Triple Chocoholic 4.8% Skinners Mousehole Moonshine 4.3% Spire Coal Porter 4.5% Spire Land of Hope and Glory 4.5% Spire Sgt Pepper Stout 5.5% Spire Whiter Shade of Pale 4.0% Steel City Columbus Tomahawk Zeus 4.0% Stones Cask Ale 4.1% Tetley’s Bitter 3.8% Theakstons (Masham) Best Bitter 4.8% Theakstons(Masham) Old Peculiar 5.6% Thornbridge Ashford (Brown Ale) 5.2% Thornbridge Branta (Extra Strong/Special Bitter) 5.0% Thornbridge Brock (Stout) 4.1% Thornbridge Brother Rabbit (Golden Ale) 3.7% Thornbridge Chiron (Pale Ale) 5.0% Thornbridge Hopton (English Pale Ale) 4.3% Thornbridge Jiapur (India Pale Ale) 5.9% Thornbridge Kipling (South Pacific Pale Ale) 5.3% Thornbridge Red Lion (White Gold Pale Ale) 3.5% Thornbridge Seaforth (India Pale Ale) 5.9% Thornbridge Wild Swan (White Gold Pale Ale) 3.5% Thwaites Bloomin Smoky 5.0% Thwaites Nutty Black 3.3% Titanic Capt Smiths 5.2% Titanic English Glory 4.5% Titanic Iceberg 4.1% Titanic Mild 3.5% Titanic Steerage 3.5% Titanic Stout 4.5% Titanic White Star 4.8% Tigertops May Bock 6.1% Toad Blonde on Blonde 4.5% Two Roses Black Beauty 5.0% Two Roses First Edition 4.0% Weltons Chocolate Mild 3.9% Vale Ale Gravitas 4.8% Wentworth Early Fruits 4.1% Wentworth Imperial 3.8% Wentworth WPA (Wentworth Pale Ale) 4.0% West Brewery WD-40 4.0% West Gate April Fool 4.3% White Rose Gecko to Nose You 4.5% Wm Youngers No3 4.3% Wychwood Hot Chocolate Stout 3.9% Wold Top Spring Fling 4.3% World Top Mars Magic 4.6% York Brewery Willamette (single hop) 4.0% Zeunerts Bryggeri (Sweden) Zeunerts Ale 4.5%

An idea of the range and prices