retiredmartin

March 2024. Sheffield...

Or is it Kelham Island ? The Good Beer Guide sees fit to label the Valley of Beer as a separate entity this year (but not, say, Hillsborough),

and who am I to argue with the Good Book.

You left me drinking 10% Norwegian Marshmallow Imperial Stout on my return from a week in Portugal, failing spectacularly to find cask in a cosy trad pub at the first hurdle, but somehow loving it.

I did manage to go past Hymn to Ninkasi, the wedge shaped beer shop I’ve still failed to visit,

but seconds later I was at a Proper Pub.

A bit like the Cambridge Blue, the Fat Cat gets a bit overlooked these days, particularly since the loss of the adjacent brewery,

but even without Pale Rider this looks a potent line up. Who needs electronic beer boards when you’ve got chalk ?

Big Trip (them again) was being poured, making my choice easy.

“And a steak pie and chips please”.

“Sorry, the kitchen’s being refurbished”.

“We’ve got pork pies”.

They’ll have to do.

At least my favourite seat in the left hand room, the one where I entertain the in-laws, was free.

Tonight the free entertainment came from an after-work party from the local cardboard box supplier.

I know this because the boss said “At night I dream about cardboard boxes”. Unless it was a discount funeral service.

The lads (all lads) were called Josh and Magic Mike and told tales of stealing meat cleavers.

It made me faintly nostalgic for my own days of team bonding over pints of Pale and late night curry as they called for a taxi.

“A-sho-ka. A.S.H.O.K.A”.

“Just time for a quick wazz” said Josh. I think he pulled when he should have pushed.

Haven’t heard “wazz” for decades.

Pub observation at its finest. I added a half of Fernandes Stout to my empty pint glass, took pics of the Cat as if for the first time,

and wondered if I ought to finish off those four empty glasses,

before sanity returned.

Who leaves that much beer though ?