The Funny Name Ones

Coventry City 1 v Sheffield United 0 

The Championship 

Wednesday 19 October 2022 

SUFC 2022/23 Game #23 

Sheffield United 2 v Norwich City 2 

The Championship 

Saturday 22 October 2022 

SUFC 2022/23 Game #24 

Coventry Hot Take

I had warned sundry and all about the possibility of Purity Brewing Co, Mad Goose Pale Ale being available in the ground. So, a real What The Fuck moment, as the actual search unveiled;

Purity Brewing Co, Fixie, Coffee Stout on Keg at 5%

Brewed in Collab with Monsoon Coffee. I loved it as a Guinness Buster. The coffee was there, but didn't dominate. Some bitterness in the finish.

Norwich Hot Takes

There are things you can look after. Discipline is one. Lots of chatter traffic about the Norwich player faking it as Sharp confronts him. And collects a booking. Thing is, after thinking he'd been fouled (?by another player?) on the touchline, Sharp doesn't need to go in for the toe-to-toe, chest out, eyeballing. He makes a choice to go over there for the classic - no YOU fuck off - encounter. If Sharp doesn't go over there, there's no faking, there's no booking.

McBurnie could have won that at the death. His header was downwards. But, basically lacked power and was straight at the keeper. I find it odd. When he's at his bustling best, McBurnie looks like he might win every crossin the box. Gets the right side. Stays strong. Gets up. Hang time. But. McBurnie also never looks like scoring from those crosses. His headers are more like a cushioned header you'd do in midfield than a full on, neck stretching, have that bastard. Odd.

Basham shuffled to Left Centre Back not only makes us a bit iffy there, but it also reduces our attacking threat wide right. Anel is prepared to, and capable of, pinging accurate balls cross field, wide left to (in this case) Osborn, with his right foot. And, it's sort of easier for right footed quarter back Norwood to go that way as well. But, much harder for Bash' to cross field ping wide right to Baldock.

Norwich centre backs were immense. Snuffing out and heading back cross after cross.

Steel City Beer Festival

The rolling drinking event of the week has been The 46th Steel City Sheffield Beer & Cider Festival 2022 at the Kelham Island Museum. Three years of Covid Confusion since the last one. Still a superbly organised event. But, fuck me, the sort of rain we had on Thursday can get in the way. Piss wet through by the time we got there. Made worse by the (thankfully short) out in the open queue to pay and get in. Completed by intermittent re-soakings as you make your way between the Marquee, The Upper Hall & the pissoirs.

The Carrier Bag Firm game plan can be summarised as follows; start with a clear attack plan through the 3.5% to 3.9% Hoppy Pales, get distracted by the "oooohhhh funny name" ones, descend through the chaos of provenance, see out the final minutes searching for a £1.80 half as that's all the tokens you have left.

Neepsend Brew Co, Mimosa, Session Pale on Cask at 3.9%

Hopped with Wainea and Southern Cross.

DEYA, Have You Got Cask Or Is It All Craft?, Pale Ale on Cask at 5%

Oooohhhh Funny Name. Brewed in collaboration with Cafe Beermoth. Saaz and UK Chinook during the boil. Strata in the whirlpool.

Drone Valley, ECKY Hopped Best Bitter on Cask at 4.5%

Provenance. Provenance. Provenance. I'm a shareholder/member at Drone Valley. And this was brewed with green fuggle hops from Eckington (where I used to live).

True North, DEVIKA, IPA on Cask at 5.2%

This was judged Champion Beer of Sheffield 2022. Centennial and Citra Hops. 

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Jerry Should Sue

Coventry City 4 v Sheffield United 1 

The Championship 

Saturday 12 March 2022 

SUFC 2021/22 Game #62 

First. Things. First. I'm going to push the Beer In The Ground KLAXON. Easy to miss. Not listed on any of the boards. (Sorry, all the pictures I took "failed"). The slight giveaway was that one bar was called the Purity Bar. One keg font had…

Purity Brewing Co (Alcester), Mad Goose IPA on Keg at 4.2%

Too diff to make notes. It was alright. But, more importantly, it was in the ground.

For those of you who don't know, there is a micro brewery yard within a couple of minutes of the turnstiles.

Dhillon's Brewery

Unit 14a, Hales Industrial Estate, Rowley's Green Ln, Longford, Coventry CV6 6AT

They've certainly made the best of what they've got. As well as the main unit, they've built two more covered, decking & picnic areas. There are three bars, a full wall projector screen, a DJ & a food truck parked outside. On home Saturdays, it becomes The Biggest Sky Blues Party On Earth. Fine. Get on with it. But, it rather spoils the Brewery Yard feel. 

Carling. Dark Fruits. Two Pint "glasses". All the Ska & Indie Classics blaring. Lip Up Fatty & Shit On The Villa. I can't hear you. Make some noise. Fair play. A number of the Sky Blue Army were worried I couldn't see the lunchtime game on the "wall". No drama. No interest.

So, the beer experience was lessened. But, hey hey, this was the flow. Flow with it. There were three of their own on Cask. Two of their own lagers on Keg. And one of their own "non lager" on Keg. They basically gave up on that in the first 15 minutes, after pouring two pints of nothing but froth for the first punter. (At one stage, it seemed they expected him to go & drink the froth & take the hit). The two people who served me had absolutely no idea how to pull a pint of cask. Not even holding the "glass". Just standing it there on the drip tray and pulling for all their worth.

They'd got the bars organised all wrong. The only soft drinks were on the bar with the real ale. So, the lager for me, pop for the kids, firm were queuing with the nerdy beer geeks. While the lager & card only bars were empty.

There were bottles & cans, but getting the bar staff to tell you what was available was painful. That's the flow. Right. Recover. Recover. Look, it's an out of town stadium build, with a shopping centre developing alongside it, be thankful there's anything nearby. And, once navigated, the beers were OK.

Dhillon's Brewery, Bright Eyes GPA on Cask at 3.8%

Head a bit Soapy. Very easy drinking. More hops coming through than I expected. Slight toffee maltiness.

Dhillon's Brewery, The Amber Gambler, English Bitter on Cask at 4.8%

ps, not Amber. That came at me all at once. Some nice honey in the malt to lift it up a bit.

Dhillon's Brewery, Ghost Town Lager on Keg at 4%

No. Poor. I'm not even sure what they're trying to do here. It'd got that awful, cloying sugar thing going on. Jerry should sue.

Dhillon's Brewery, Fair Lady, Pale Ale from a tin at 4.5%

Best of my lot that one. From a tin an' all. Thick, cloudy & full on. Some tobacco in the smell. Bags of flavour. Rich. Some Tizer.

The game, you say? Back down to Earth with a bump. Bare bones as we've said previously. When we're on, we're on. But, today we were off. I felt we missed any sort of midfield enforcement. Berge has the physicality for that. But, not any of the other tools. We're "having to" use Osborn at right back. Brunt & Neal or out on loan. So, it was left to Arblaster to bench. Hourihane has to enforce really in that line up.

It's far from ideal. But, it's who/what we have. Some games we make the best of it, some we don't. Stay in the fight.

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Coventry City 3 v Sheffield United 1

Saturday 30 April 2016

League 1

Played at the Ricoh Arena

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If we win next week. And other results go our way. We can finish ninth.

United did give it a go at the beginning of the 2nd half. But, ultimately they couldn't paper the cracks over.

Last away match of the season. Let's have a quick away pubs review. Three new (to me) Belters.

Port Vale. The Bulls Head in Burslem. Effectively a Titanic Brewey tap. And, quite close to the Brewery itself. Which has its own Tap, usually open on match days.

Bradford City. Bradford Brewery (Rawson Road). As you'd guess, the brewery tap.

Gillingham. New find of the season has to be the superb Past And Present in Gillingham. A full on micro pub. No real bar. Stuff written up on the blackboards. The staff moving amongst the punters in circulation. Great place.

And a nod to some old favourites;

Rochdale, the Baum
Barnsley, The Old No. 7
Walsall, The Wellington (in Birmingham)

And, another new find. But, a bit inconvenient. Unless you're staying/drinking in St Annes for Blackpool or Fleetwood Town. No. 10 Ale House in St Annes. At the micropub end of the scale.

But. Today. Lime Kilns, on Watling St, Burbage, Leicestershire. Marston’s house. Five on cask. I went…

Jennings, Cocker Hoop on cask at 4.6%. Nice & bright. Tangerine tanginess. Well balanced. Pleasant. But not a lot going on.

And then. George Gale, Redwood on cask at 4%.

309/648

From Red Card to Redchurch

Barnsley U18 2 v Sheffield United U18 0

Sheffield United 2 v Coventry City 2

Saturday 21 February 2015

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Rare double header today. Made easier by my 2nd visit to the Barnsley Academy in 6 days. So at least I'm sure of the logistics & timing.

No teamsheets. So I'm guessing

1 Aaron Ramsdale
3 Graham Kelly
4 Shea Gordon
5 Ioan Evans
6 Emmanuel Adebowale
7 Danny Ramsey
9 Daniel Cockerline
10 Jorome Slew
11 David Brooks

And some others.

Nice n lively game. Barnsley probably deserved it. I know you have to teach players to organise others. But, you have to organise yourself as well. Too much shouting & pointing at others from the Young Blades for my liking.

At one stage Travis Binnion (Coach) told a few players to "Get That Shirt In" (as in Tuck). I quite admire that.

The first goal was a Penalty after 30 mins. The second, a good run & cross from the right & a clean, powerful header after 85.

A few other chances at each end. Danny Cockerline hit the bar.

Then. Madness at The Lane. Baxter sent off. Two down. Up a gear at the end. It has finished two each. I'm a big fan of how Division 3 is reffed. I thought the Baxter challenge had all the hallmarks of a red card. In real time, I thought just maybe he'll give him Yellow. But Red. No real complaints from me.

Then for long long periods it looked like the wheels were well & truly off again. Harem Scarem. Never under control. Nothing happening forward.

But, monkey caught slowly. They edged back into it. Got one. Irresistibly they equalised. Given what had gone before, I'll take that.

Anchorage. Redchurch IMBC Porter on keg at 7.4%. Very nice. Clearly got all 3 things going on. Roast/Toast, bittering & some sweetness. The sweetness sits sugar on your lips in the finish. Maybe with some cinnamon spice swirl. There is a bit of pineapple sweetness upfront. But that gives way quickly to the bitterness. The hop fired bitterness & the burnt toffee from the roast seem to kick in together. Not sure I've noticed that effect in other Porters before. Nice burning abv kick on the way down.

92/214

In defence of Wetherspoons

Coventry City 1 v Sheffield United 0

Saturday 16 August 2014

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….and of course this away game at Coventry City was played at Northampton Town.

This blog post is mainly about the beer.  After all, in a week when the Ched Evans will they won’t they story reignited, and the week that Bramall Lane featured in the surfacing Cliff Richard allegations - what else have I to write about.

One of the reasons I like Wetherspoons is you know what you’re getting.  I got the train to Leicester, the train to Wellingborough, the bus to Northampton. I walked to my target pub (The Lamplighter), and it wasn’t open (too early).  OK, it wasn’t yet noon, I could have phoned, I could have checked their website.

So, the pre-noon reappraisal is usually - Wetherspoons, they’ll be open.

Another reason I like Wetherspoons is their showcasing of foreign brewers (during their Real Ale Festivals) and American brewers year round in their American Brewers Showcase series.  I know it’s a bit of a cheat, with the beers usually being made at major UK industrial breweries.  But, it’s a neat way of being exposed to foreign brewers stuff.

So, I hit The Cordwainer in Northampton and had a go on Barley Brown's Black IPA at 5.2%. The pump clip said by Tyler Brown & Eli Dickison of Baker City Brewing Co. Oregon. It was dark but not quite black. Impressive head clinging to the glass.Lovely mouthfeel soft and gentle.Nice combination of toast & hopped bitterness at the back of the throat.  I like Black IPA (although increasingly less so) and this was a good high quality version.

After a quick “are you open” phonecall it was back to The Lamplighter.  It’s a lovely welcoming place. Only when I needed the loo did I realise that it’s a warren of rooms both downstairs and upstairs. Very calming paintjob. I counted 6 cask on handpulls, some of the usual suspects and one UK craft brew keg.  When I showed an interest in that (was it Brewster’s Brewing from Lincolnshire?), the Landlord offered me a taste. Very welcoming - hi mate, sorry I forgot to ask your name.

I started on Phipps NBC Red Star at 3.8%. Ruby. Nice head. Not much aroma. Malty toffee on the palate. Pleasant easy drinking. Powerful finish but more malt than bitter.

I moved on to Nobby's Wild West at 4.6%. Very thin mouthfeel. Very very slight hint of liquorice (I thought odd for a copper/ruby beer - though not unpleasant). I’m sorry - but I felt it was a sort of nothing going on beer. More hint of orange peel as I got down it.

Another “are you open” call, and it was on to The Garibaldi Hotel.  One of the reasons I like Wetherspoons is their wide and mixed business model appeal. Early risers, night owls, solitary afternoon drinkers, real ale heads, lager jockeys & cider gliders, pensioners, young kids pre-loading...all catered for.

As an older fella - here’s a tip for emerging craft beer places - watch it. Keep your offering mixed enough to attract people like me. It’s not always going to be about honing down for the hipsters. The Garibaldi is just on the cusp I feel. My mate walked in and said “Hoxton”.  Now that’s OK - but you don’t want to go too far.

As I recall it was 2 cask, 2 ciders, 3 Meantime, 3 Camden, Brooklyn, Vedett - maybe a Purity. Bottle list on a big, informative sign behind the bar.

I started with Meantime ShortList Fool's Gold a 4.5%. It looked slightly unfiltered and a little opaque. Very lemon citrus on the nose. Bursting with flavour. Very refreshing. Grapefruit kicking in. I really enjoyed that one.

I had a good look at the bottle list. The barman (Josh I think) was very helpful & informative.  He pushed my buttons. I’d never heard of Runaway Brewery.  But Josh told me the brewer was called Darren - always a winner with me if I know the brewers first name.  I was sorely tempted by the Smoked Porter - but on Josh’s tip I had Runaway Brewery IPA at 5.5%.

Tongue tingling pucker up hoppiness. Grapefruit. I love beers like this. Looked unfiltered and unpasteurised. Superb.

My mate did have the Smoked Porter - unfair of me to comment. The smell was fantastic - swirling blackcurrant.

After the game, and before the bus to Wellingborough I had one in another Northampton Wetherspoons, The Moon On The Square. I had Grainstore Brewery Rutland Panther at 3.4%. Oh and at £1.89. I know there is a danger of Wetherspoons buying power making it difficult for smaller breweries to get a toe hold. But, you know £1.89 is a good price.

Very, very dark brown. Lovely foam head. Sugar cube sweet on the nose. Earthy, peaty on the palette. Rich & spicy.