January 2026. Sheffield.
Enough of me, I’m sure you’re all keen to know how Mrs RM is getting on with her 0.0 January. Well, she holds on to the lie that alcohol-free beer tastes just like the real thing, and was ready to have temptation placed in her way with a Sunday in Kelham Island.
Kelham gets new housing by the month, and it must be good for pub trade,
but Sunday lunchtime seems reserved for roasts and walks rather than the Korean chicken served up at Osset’s modern bar.
SALT seems to alternate between bustling and bare, and though it won’t make many “Essential Sheffield Pub Crawl” schedules it’s always a good bet for cheap and interesting Asian grub and alpaca posters. That Alpacalypse keg is everywhere.
Bao buns have been replaced by Korean chicken, 3 dishes for a tenner. Sadly, the Dryanuary menu was more an exhortation to drink dry Gin than a list of N/A beers, so the 0.0 Guinness it is, again.
If Mrs RM is jealous of my Barghest Stout (NBSS 3), she hides it well.
I reckon I might find something better in the N/A range in Thornbridge’s Fargate, and I also reckon Mrs RM’s resolve will be broken at the sight of the Jaipur pump.
But her resistance is commendable, and her Green Mountain 0.5 is tasty, if fizzy. My 1838 Union bitter (NBSS 4) looked on contemptuously.
This was Mrs RM’s first visit to the Fargate, whose appeal was thoughtfully considered by Boak and Bailey recently. “Classy, nice beer menus, no clutter on the tables, staff aren’t asking me if I’m OK for no reason” says Mrs RM, and she’s right.
It’s hard drinking a pint of keg fizz though, whatever the ABV, and I have to stay for a half of Anthology (NBSS 4) which tells me that Thornbridge are as good at picking guests as running an upmarket pub.
Also good at running pubs are J D Wetherspoon, and when Mrs RM dragged me into Hillsborough’s Rawson Spring the next afternoon I was convinced Dryanuary was about to end, big style.
But no, it was just that salted caramel fudge rush we all need after a trip to the garage.
Didn’t stop me flaunting my bargain Adnams Old Ale (NBSS 3.5) in her face, though.
retiredmartin 
” Well, she holds on to the lie that alcohol-free beer tastes just like the real thing,”
Heh. 😊
“Kelham gets new housing by the month, and it must be good for pub trade,”
(looks down)
It would seem some of the new housing is reverting to the old days of castles with arrow slits.
“Alpacalypse keg”
Just read up on that a bit. Good branding, nod to history (alpaca wool in Saltaire) and apparently pretty darn good as a session beer pulling off a proper IPA feel. 👍
“If Mrs RM is jealous of my Barghest Stout (NBSS 3), she hides it well.”
Heh. 😊
“and I also reckon Mrs RM’s resolve will be broken at the sight of the Jaipur pump.”
From what little I know of Jaipur, that could very well be true.
“But her resistance is commendable, and her Green Mountain 0.5 is tasty, if fizzy. My 1838 Union bitter (NBSS 4) looked on contemptuously.”
Mrs RM is definitely made of sterner stuff!
“This was Mrs RM’s first visit to the Fargate, whose appeal was thoughtfully considered by Boak and Bailey recently. “Classy, nice beer menus, no clutter on the tables, staff aren’t asking me if I’m OK for no reason” says Mrs RM, and she’s right.”
And, she also knows her stuff. 👍
“and I have to stay for a half of Anthology (NBSS 4) which tells me that Thornbridge are as good at picking guests as running an upmarket pub.”
Good on ’em.
“and when Mrs RM dragged me into Hillsborough’s Rawson Spring the next afternoon I was convinced Dryanuary was about to end, big style.”
(waits for the shoe to drop)
“But no, it was just that salted caramel fudge rush we all need after a trip to the garage.”
Hah!
“Didn’t stop me flaunting my bargain Adnams Old Ale (NBSS 3.5) in her face, though.”
You’re a braver man than I, Gunga Din.
Cheers
LikeLike
Thought of Old Mudgie when I was in the Bell at Walberswick this week. He’d have grumbled about the current % for Old Ale. It’s now a session beer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was in The Fargate midweek. At 5pm they dimmed the lights and came round lighting candles on every table. As I commented in my Pubs Galore review: “No, no and thrice no!”
LikeLike
That’s a shame, as I’m sure I read that you were specifically their target audience, Will. I hope for less (or is it fewer ?) candles in Nottinghamshire next week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That happened to me in the Red Deer of your parish, fifteen or more years ago. I was drinking with a male work associate, with whom relations were perhaps rather strained.
The landlord said “There, that’ll make it more romantic for you.”
It’s the thought that counts.
LikeLiked by 1 person