retiredmartin

December 2025. Sheffield.

Perhaps only Will the Sheffield Hatter is as passionate about beer quality in the pub as I am, starting many a scrap reasoned debate on CAMRA Discourse of late.

Like Will, I reckon that quality can vary by the day, or session, even in the best of pubs, and discussion about “good” beer is largely pointless outside the context of the pub that stores and serves it. Only this week on Discourse Clive alerts us to a pint of Tetley scored NBSS 5 in Cambridgeshire; I must visit.

After an afternoon of mixed fortunes in classic Sheffield pubs on Black Friday I thought I’d give the Bath and Red Deer a repeat trip following Will’s tales of nectar.

You’ll remember the Bath,

so I’m delighted that it’s back to its rich, chewy best (NBSS 4).

How has it improved ? Don’t ask me, I don’t analyse beer.

And as for the Bath, it’s joyous, a haven for the solo drinker as much as the groups arriving later.

Will tells me that Black Sheep is back on at the Red Deer, the less spectacular looking but equally cosy backstreet boozer near the Uni.

It’s Cambridge equivalent would be the Live & Let Live, rather than the Blue.

A lot of beer bloke banter is about sighting of rare beers, “just seen Batham’s, get there NOW“, but Will is letting me know he’s scored a 4, which is far more important.

Black Sheep may have had a troubled recent history, but that Best Bitter is possibly the most consistent drink in the UK, particularly in pubs with a real fire, bench seating and a soundtrack of Jamiroquai.

It’s absolutely immaculate (NBSS 4+), the head the perfect level, a testament to the brewer’s art.

Will was right.