March 2026. Sheffield. Things never end well when I agree to meet Quosh for “a quick one“. After slightly too long in SMOD it was time to ensure the quiet lad from east Manchester got home safely from the dangerous back streets of Attercliffe, following the River Don along the Five Weirs Way to Kelham.… Continue reading THE COBWEB BRIDGE
COVER DESIGN FOR NEXT GOOD BEER GUIDE REVEALED
April brings the joy of the annual CAMRA conference, this year from St Albans (aka Greater Luton), a chance to assess whether the Fighting Cocks really does have the oldest beer in the country. CAMRA, once again, stands at a crossroads. Can it attract young (under-62) members with its exciting programme of motions focused on… Continue reading COVER DESIGN FOR NEXT GOOD BEER GUIDE REVEALED
THE STAMMTISCH AT ST. MARS OF THE DESERT
March 2026. Attercliffe. Sheffield. Quosh was in town, headed for St Mars of the Desert; I felt duty bound to save him a seat. 20 minutes along the Five Weirs path from the KIT to SMOD, where you wait outside the Smallest Carrot. I guarantee that The Smallest Crarrot will be a craft bar, exclusively… Continue reading THE STAMMTISCH AT ST. MARS OF THE DESERT
THE BEST SEAT IN THE KELHAM ISLAND TAVERN
March 2026. Sheffield. Back home (they’ll be thinking of us) I managed a day’s housework before succumbing to the lure of Kelham on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. Oh well, the KIT, then. Earlier this month I treated our 2 Chicago visitors to practically perfect beer (NBSS 5) in the Tavern. “At this stage you’re basically… Continue reading THE BEST SEAT IN THE KELHAM ISLAND TAVERN
Radler
March 2026. Cologne. A final Cologne post (promise) as Mrs RM gets to tick her tourist essentials by the waterfront, including the Lindt chocolate museum (not as much free stuff as Cadbury world) and the Kranhäuser im Rheinauhafen, a weird modernist housing estate/office complex where you’d expect to see craft bars there’s a cafe called… Continue reading Radler
Früh by the Rhine
March 2026. Cologne. Our lads had headed down to the banks of the Rhine on our last afternoon in Cologne, and while joining them for a Kolsch at Martinswinkel (stop it) seemed appealing, those familiar outside seats at Pfaffen looking on to the main square won out. But the boys were still down in the… Continue reading Früh by the Rhine
The Belgisches Viertel, Cologne
March 2026. The Belgisches Viertel. Cologne. Our last day in Cologne, a day carrying our luggage around, but that’s OK because I follow Mrs RM’s packing guidance. I should stop promoting her blog; she’s getting a thousand view a day which is the same as me without the North Bergen data farms. Despite staying yards… Continue reading The Belgisches Viertel, Cologne
Geese after Gaffel. Gig night in Cologne
No, the bloke with the sword waver isn’t a famous American real ale drinker you might know. March 2026. Cologne. Germany. You left me and our lads in Kupferhut in the Cologne suburb of Mülheim, finishing our second Gaffel and deciding that we were never going to get a third, so let’s get to the… Continue reading Geese after Gaffel. Gig night in Cologne
The Kupferhut. A proper Cologne kneipe.
March 2026. Mulheim. Cologne. Our last night of three in Cologne, time for a gig out in the slightly edgier suburb of Mülheim, the only place we’d see much “diversity” (most of it in Turkish kebab shops). Seven minutes on the train, 25 15 minutes walk to our show at the Palladium. Doors don’t open… Continue reading The Kupferhut. A proper Cologne kneipe.
Pfaffen, not Paffgen
March 2026. Cologne. Germany. Back from Bonn on our last night with the lads in Germany, with a BIG indie gig (not Nicole) to come in Cologne. Indie gigs don’t start till late, so no rush; I walked Mrs RM back to our ring-road hotel and popped in Paffgen for a quick couple of the… Continue reading Pfaffen, not Paffgen
retiredmartin 