AN ADMISSION – I ACCEPTED A TASTER IN THE OLD SHOE

August 2023. Sheffield.

I sense I’m going to be using, and recommending, the (new) Old Shoe quite a lot. OK, it lacks the heritage fittings of the Brown Bear, but it’s drawing in a lovely range of folk to sample its astonishing range of drinks.

And with it being literally on my way home from that Abbot in the Museum (if you walk through TK Maxx to go home) I was always going to be unable to pass by, particularly since I’d failed to try the cask on that first visit.

And they had the Barbie OST on the turntable, so any resistance would have crumbled.

I saw Barbie on Sunday with Mrs RM; it’s the best film since Apocalypse Now. Probably.

I’m definitely going for the Big Trip,

but I spot the Duchesse du Bourgogne on the back board and go “Oooh” and before I know it I’m accepting a taster (me, a taster !) of the cherry version. It’s a slippery slope, folks.

The Big Trip is superbly conditioned, and I enjoy the sight of a busy pub, especially in the courtyard where what looks like 20 blokes are spending a Thursday afternoon on the beer.

The daily beer list that Mrs RM so loves gives me a choice ranging from 10% chocolate Stouts to Orange wine to that cherry sour,

but I’m always drawn to Polly’s murk from Mold, because Mold is near Wrexham and Wrexham is the centre of the world after their epic Hollywood win on penalties against Wigan tonight.

I’m not always impressed with the Polly’s, just as the Deya or Verdant can sometimes be a bit thin, but the trick is to immediately decant your half into a pint glass and add pappadoms. Trust me. It works.

I trust the Old Shoe, and their eclectic vinyl collection.

But I can tell you nothing about the Bull LP that replaced the Barbie with a bump.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

5 thoughts on “AN ADMISSION – I ACCEPTED A TASTER IN THE OLD SHOE”

  2. I was actually offered a taster of a keg beer last week. I had gone to Newport to check the Swan as I’d seen “Banks’s Amber Ale (Electric pump)” on the WhatPub site despite it being keg only a few years ago. I first looked round the back and the only empty containers with a black and a yellow band painted round them were kegs, with not a cask in sight, and inside I asked with the helpful barman it was confirming keg only and politely offering me a taster which I politely declined.
    Then in Newport’s Bod I asked if the Titanic Pale Ale was citrussy. The helpful barmaid said that she didn’t know but that the Iceberg was. On explaining that I wanted a beer that was NOT citrussy she offered me a taster which I accepted.
    I have NEVER asked for a taster.

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