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PUB UPDATES:
- HALLAMSHIRE HOUSE, SHEFFIELD: I stopped in one freezing Friday after work and was very excited to find two new very exciting-looking beers, both with a reasonable ABV. So I decided to have a half of each. The cask ale was Spectral Emissions Hazy Pale Ale (4.5% ABV, Shiny Brewery, Derby, Derbyshire). Brewed with Brut-1, El Dorado, and Idaho 7 hops, this was a very welcome starter with a great grouping of hops. The second was this year’s edition of Pint of Sheffield (4.7% ABV, Triple Point Brewing Company, Sheffield, South Yorkshire), an absolutely heavenly New England IPA on keg. Whooie, ooh! Yes, oh my!
On another visit I had a quick taste of Regional Haze (5.5% ABV, Thornbridge Brewing Company, Bakewell, Derbyshire). A collaboration with Rivington Brewing Company, Chorley). A Hazy IPA, this was good, but a bit too tame in flavour and character to risk that high ABV out in public. Doug agreed with me, and he was also surprised that it wasn’t a hell of a lot more punchy.
So I went for a pint of the very, very nice and highly satisfying Wipeout (4.2% ABV, Shiny Brewery, Derby, Derbyshire). A gluten-free session IPA, this is really very enjoyable, and at that ABV it’s happily drinkable. I hope this lasts for a while.
More recently after work I went for another new cask pint, this time the interestingly-named Elephants and Acrobats (Black Lodge Brewing, Liverpool, Merseyside). A collaboration with Thornbridge, this offered a super bitter palate bath of resin-intense New Zealand hops. Considering the current political climate, though, I do really wish it were called Donkeys and Acrobats instead (no offense to pachyderms, of course).
On my next visit I went for a pint of Lush (4.2% ABV, Wylam Brewery, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear). This is a great hoplishous smacker, I must say. Yep, I’ll say it again: this is a great hoplishous smacker. I originally wanted to go for a cask ale that was obviously calling out to me. Ash thought it had sadly run out, which actually brought a tear to my eye. But when Doug arrived he checked it out and managed to pour me a taste of Pacific Ocean Blue(5.0% ABV, Thornbridge). This is a West Coast IPA that’s a collaboration with Black Lodge Brewery of Liverpoo--and oh yes, this was a very, very nicely bitter warm-sun blossom. The label is even perfect, too: a blue ocean wave which reminded me of my body-surfing days. Oh, yes, yes!
Most recently I tried a pint of Satzuma Pale Ale (4.5% ABV, Thornbridge. Brewed with First Gold, Mandarina Bavaria and Cascade hops, and with satsuma peel added, this was very drinkable, much like Thornbridge’s low-ABV Zesty but with a bit more alcohol to enrich the character.
- TWO SHEDS, SHEFFIELD: One one of the first days of the new year, I stopped in here and had a pint of Speed Wobble (4.7% ABV, Twisted Wheel Brew Co, Pickering, North Yorkshire, but now at McCanns Brewery, Tenterden Kent). When I looked up the brewer of this beer and discovered it seemed to have had a bit of a cross-county wobble, I thought that might be what the wobble was about. But the term “speed wobble” actually refers to the rapid shaking of a bicycle or motorcycle’s handlebars that happens at high speeds. But considering the rather horrifying events that the year 2025 was promising, I thought drinking a beer with this name was extremely appropriate. Hopped with Cryo Citrus and an addition of oats, It was quite enjoyable, though. So bombs away!
Later, on a lone visit on an unbelievably freezing night, I first had a quick taste of Dark Angel (4.5% ABV, Abbeydale Brewing Company, Sheffield, South Yorkshire), which was surprisingly good for a slightly chocolate-flavoured stout. But I went ahead and had a pint of Deepdale (4.0% ABV, Buxton Brewery, Buxton, Derbyshire), a gluten free session pale, and the second nice zippy pale I’ve tasted recently from the brewery.
On another after-work stop I had a pint of Heathen Club (4.4% ABV, Northern Monk Brewery, Holbeck, West Yorkshire). Because I do like Abbeydale’s Heathen, and all of its variations, I was interested in finding out the ingredients of this other Heathen. But I couldn’t find anything online about the hops or other ingredients. Oddly enough I did manage to find a few Finnish reviews. As they were written in Finnish, a language which I’m afraid I don’t speak, I did get this Google translation of the most recent one: "A couple of fingers' width of light fast-falling foam above a cloudy yellow particle light-transmitting beer that smells like a light fruity citrus willow juice and tastes a gentle light crisp grapefruit willow resin juice, three and a half bojoo.". And yep, that's probably pretty close to what I'd say.
Most recently, on a busy Saturday afternoon, I had a pint of Bystander Effect (4.5% ABV, Atom Beers, Kingston-upon-Hull, East Yorkshire). A New Zealand Double Dry Hopped Hazy, this is hopped with Nelson, Riwaka, and Rakau, and also contains oat grist and Vermont yeast. Before I even took my first sip I was hit with a gorgeous Oomph! aroma, with a surprising suggestion of bananas. The pub was really crowded and loud, but for a change it wasn’t irritating, because nobody with an obnoxiously loud voice was shouting and squawking constantly. It was quite refreshing, just like my pint.
- BLAKE HOTEL, SHEFFIELD: I stopped in here one wintery Monday afternoon, when the ice and snow we’d had for a week were just starting to melt. I first had a taste of Tawhaki (3.8% ABV, Neepsend Brew Co, Sheffield, South Yorkshire). A session pale with Galaxy, Nectar, and Citra hops, it was quite drinkable for such a low-ABV beer. But I was steered away by a cask beer, Brulotte (4.5% ABV, Neepsend). A pale ale with Bru 1 and Vic Secret hops, this offered a good bitter rumble to those fine classy hops. As I was on a mission to take a photo of a roaring fire to send to a friend, I sat for a bit in the dark side room, near the not really roaring fire; and the only occupant was a solemn-looking woman who was staring silently at her phone. I finally moved back into the main room and sat at a table with a view of the bar. I ended up chatting for a bit with an Irish man who was helping organise jazz gigs around Sheffield. And I definitely put the bearded barman straight when he expressed his opinion that women don’t like bitter beers, probably because “they have children or something”. It is my sworn duty to correct the ignorance in the world...
On a later visit I tasted the Comet Session IPA (4.5% ABV, Brewsmith, Ramsbottom, Bury, Greater Manchester), simply because it was hopped with Comet, Ekuanot, and Mosaic hops, which are three quite great hops. But I ended up going for a pint of Rongo Pale Ale (4.4% ABV, Neepsend Brew Co). This is brewed with Centennial, Summit, and Waimea hops, which are also three quite great hops. I took my pint and sat at the end of the bar this time, because there were quite a few people in the pub on this Monday afternoon and I wanted to catch some of the action. But after enduring an hour of a hideously-voiced woman talking loudly nonstop, with every pause for breath punctuated by an irritating “AANND…”, to let her listeners know that she wasn’t finished yet, I took my pint into the fireplace room and plugged my ears with my earphones. It was only then that I finally realised that this was a lively cask ale, truly nice and enjoyable. But perhaps that was just my relief talking...
- WALKLEY BEER COMPANY, SHEFFIELD: On a freezing cold day I walked down the road and in here and had a pint of Holly (4.7% ABV, GlassHouse Brewing, Birmingham, West Midlands). A hoppy pale ale hopped with Mosaic and Idaho 7, this offered a real oowee! fulsome flavour which made it a pleasurable reward for walking practically all day through the ice and snow. Yep, I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I was once again rewarded with an excellent beer at this wonderful pub.
On another visit, on another freezing cold day, I went for a pint of Simcoe DDH (4.5% ABV, Two By Two Brewery, Wallsend, Tyne & Wear). Single hopped with Simcoe, this wasn’t one of the knockouts I’m used to having at this exciting pub, but it was good enough. I quite enjoyed it as I tried to block out the intensely irritating and loud woman’s voice near me.
On another Saturday night I met up with my friends Mike and Mel here for a pint before heading back down the road to the Wobbly Dagger, Walkley’s new cocktail lounge and bistro. Just as Mike was doing, I went for two unique halves. The first was Origami Suplex Hazy Pale Ale (4.6% ABV, Shiny Brewery), brewed with Cashmere and Simcoe hops, and as a folder of hundreds of origami figures in my lifetime, naturally I had to taste this. It was a very nice experience, as it folded its exotic hops perfectly around my palate. I also had a half of Export India Porter (5.0% ABV, The Kernel Brewery, London), simply because The Kernel, whoever he or she is, really knows how to do proper porters.
More recently I stopped in and immediately went for a pint of Byker Pale (4.0% ABV, Two By Two Brewery, Byker, Wallsend, Tyne & Wear, on the hand pump). This was basically just a good pale ale, very nicely done. While I was there, though, I became so intrigued by Byker’s neighbour that I asked Jay if I could have a taste of it: Cherry Porter (4.9% ABV, Titanic Brewery, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire). And oh my god, I really wished I’d seen this before I ordered my pint. This was the first cherry porter I’ve ever tasted, and it was heavenly! It reminded me of dark sour cherries in a nonsweet liqueur of porter, seeing as how I once experienced dark sour cherries in a jar of brandy that sent me and the other party participants into raptures. Yes, yes, gimme gimme gimme! Sadly there were only a couple of gallons left, and I had to get home because it was freezing outside and I was really tired, and I know those are just lame excuses for not staying and wallowing in this gorgeous cherry heaven. But I shall never forget this stuff. If I ever see it again on tap, I will definitely go for it.
The next time I decided to go for two distinctly different half pints. The first one was just a decently drinkable hoppy keg beer, Heidrun Session NEIPA (4.8%, Three Hills, Kettering, Northamptonshire, brewed with Cryo El Dorado, Cryo Citra, and Cryo Mosaic. And seeing a list of hops like that just makes me want to cryo in my beer. And the second, of course, was the Cherry Porter, which I was so happy to see still on. And my god, it was good!
And on a more recent day after work, when I didn’t want anything too strong, I had a taste of Dolphin Milk (4.1% ABV, Shiny Brewery, Derby, Derbyshire). A DDH Pale Ale with Citra, Krush, and Nectaron hops, this had a shockingly sweet edge to it which turned me off, and I certainly didn’t expect it from such a fine brewery. Andy agreed with me, but he said a lot of people have been liking it, so I guess it’s a case of different strokes for different folks, to each her own, or whatever your favourite saying might be. If you like sweetness in your beers you may well like it. So I went instead for a cask pint of Daydream Nation (3.8% ABV, Turning Point Brew Company, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire). Brewed with Amarillo, Vic Secret, and Mosaic hops, I expected something a bit more exciting than what it really was. Granted, it wasn’t very powerful, but I’ve had some whopping 3.8% successes before. I mean, it’s pleasant and perfectly drinkable, but just not terribly exciting.
BOTTLED/CANNED BEER UPDATE:
- Rising Waves West Coast IPA (7.8% ABV, Round Corner Brewing, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire). After an exhausting day at the exhausting-work campus, after starting out the day a bit exhausted, I’m now home on my comfy sofa and have just tasted this gloriously rewarding beer. Brewed in honour of Women in Brewing, this features lots of pine resin bitterness rolling in on a 12-foot breaker in my mouth, on this bitterly cold February day. It’s the kind of taste I love in a beer: a splashing, crashing Xmas tree of delight in my mouth. Plenty of lemon-lime citrus dripping from the pine needles. Happy Surfmas, everybody! Very gold in colour as well.
- Aoraki DIPA (8.0% ABV, Vocation Brewing, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire) Hazy Hoppy with Motueka, Rakau, and Nelson Sauvin hops. I had a taste of this when my friend Mel--who dares anything ABV-wise where I fear to treat--ordered it at Vocation in Sheffield. With those New Zealand hops, naturally I would find it quite enjoyable. I dedicated it on this stressful night to those of us in Sheffield who are surviving the slogging around every day though the extreme Sheffield cold and ice, but even more dedication to my compatriots, good friends, and relatives who are dealing with the horrors of the current hellish fires in California that, with the extremely high Santa Ana winds, are burning down to ashes Pacific Palisades and Altadena. I feel heartbroken on so many levels: from the points of view of a native Californian, a native Angeleno, a lover of my California culture, especially the architectural and historical aspects which re currently being wiped off the face of memory while destroying, in the process, the homes and lives of close friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike. I dedicate this particular can to all of these. Oh, and the taste? It’s wildly Kiwiland, I would say, steadying the currently hot/cold confusion of my soul.
- Toucan Tropic DDH IPA (6.7% ABV, Vocation Brewing, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire). Now, how could I resist a can with a toucan on it, and also containing an IPA named after a toucan? Brewed with Mosaic, Simcoe, and Galaxy hops, it was described on the can as “Orange, citrus, pine”. It was certainly a very appropriate can for a night after work, when the freezingly bitter snow and ice was almost completely melted. It wasn’t as perishingly frigid as it had been, but it was still really, really cold, especially as I had to wait 25 minutes out in it for my bus home to show up. As the blood slowly returned to my white fingers, this toucan gave me hope for a tiny bit of warmth in my soul.
- Porque Te Vas? Grape NEIPA (6.8% ABV, Funky Fluid, Warsaw, Poland, collaborating with SOMA Beer, Girona, Catalunya, Spain). This is Funky’s collaboration with SOMA, who specialise in extra-hoppy NEIPAS and are considered one of the top IPA breweries in Europe, and the name translates as “Why Are You Leaving?" This rather wonderful beer is dry hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Enigma, and Mosaic and enriched with grape must from Spanish white grapes. It’s quite very, oh so very nice, with excellent hops in that subtle musty wine touch. Brilliante y sofisticado crujido en mi lengua. Estoy in un paraiso exquisito! Ooh-ooh, mucho gusto!
- Death By Cherries Fruit Sour (4.5% ABV, Vocation Brewing, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. Described as brewed with kettled soured black cherries, honestly, this was just a bit disappointing. There was certainly no threat here, much less any "death" about it. It was just pretty much a milky cherry-flavoured sour beer, and a mild flavour for a sour. I mean, I was hoping for more KZING! during this depressing week on the fascist-turning world stage. Oh well, so a mildly alcoholic fruit punch it was.
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