Premier League
Sunday 7 April 2024
SUFC 2023/24 Game #57
Good news. This week, we had a Beer Adventure. We did have loads of other stuff planned. Chelsea mates were staying with us. Hallam were at home on the Saturday. Waterlogged. Again.
But, at about the same time Sandygate was failing that inspection, word began to filter down to Carrier Bag Firm Towers.
“It's on. It's come on yesterday. They're serving it.”
I'll explain what IT was and WHO was serving it in a bit. But first, let's meander.
Starting with Gwenda’s Garage. Roz Ellen & Annette Williams had passed motor vehicle mechanics training in the 1980s. Ros Wall was already what we might call a self taught mechanic. The three of them struggled at times to get jobs in what was a male dominated industry. The 1980s were also heady times for activism. Lovers of bikes and cars, part of feminist culture, and with lots of energy, the three women decided to strike out on their own.
Grants (remember them?). Rent deals with Sheffield Council (remember them?). Help from female electricians and plumbers, subsequently repaid in kind with car repairs & maintenance. And, Roz, Annette & Ros were able to open their own garage in Neepsend.
In earlier times, Gwenda Stewart had medals and was mentioned in dispatches for driving ambulances through dangerous territory in WW1. In the 1920s, Gwenda was breaking 1,000 mile and 12 hour records. In the 1930s, Gwenda broke the one mile speed record a number of times. She competed twice in the Le Mans 24 hour race.
In her honour, Gwenda's Garage seemed a suitable name for Roz, Annette & Ros’s new venture. Trust me. There is much more to the story or these three women & Gwenda. But, let's just summarise. Three women, setting up a repair garage in Neepsend, and naming it after a famous & record breaking female driver.
Fast forward to another industry “historically” dominated by Men. Brewing.
In 2013, Sophie de Ronde, Head Brewer at Burnt Mill Brewery (Suffolk), had the idea for International Women's Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD). The basics would be that women brewers and others (that “and others” is going to be crucial in this Blog) would get together on or around International Women's Day (8 March) to collaborate on a beer brew.
So. It came to pass that, this year, one of the Carrier Bag Firm, an and others, participated in an IWCBD brew at Heist Brew Co, Neepsend, Sheffield. You'll remember Neepsend. Original home of Gwenda's Garage.
Now. I'm a bloke. I wasn't at the International Women's Collaboration Brew Day. So, I can't give you the deets of the day. But, when we were told;
“It's on. It's come on yesterday. They're serving it.”
With IT being the appropriately named Heist Brew Co, Gwenda's Garage, Hazy IPA at 4%.
What I could do was organise a lovely loose grouping of “the collaborator”, Blades, Chelsea fans, Cider drinkers, Lager drinkers, Abbeydale Heathen drinkers and assorted Carrier Bag Firmers to head over to the Heist Taproom. Frankly, to try and drink the Keg(s) of Gwenda's Garage DRY.
The CBF brew the beer. The CBF drink the beer.
The beer is a juicy session New England IPA. Brewed with 2023 Yakima Chief x Pink Boots Hop Blend. Idaho 7, Ahtanum, El Dorado, & HBC 638. I mean oooofffftttt.
One of the Chelsea Cider drinkers pronounced it - pineapple juice.
Not wrong Dark Fruits Frankie. I mean. Don't trust what I say about this beer. I'm biased on this one. But, lovely and soft and pillowy. Tropics, citrus, some hay. Lovely.
Enjoyable game. It's difficult. My impressions included Chelsea were poor. Backed up by the (maybe) jaundiced views of my Chelsea mates. The slightly less shit scared than usual United side were able to show there's a football team in there somewhere.
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