From Cruzcampo To Chocolate Fudge Donut

Chelsea 2 v Sheffield United 0 

Premier League 

Saturday 16 December 2023 

SUFC 2023/24 Game #31 

NFDR 

No Football Don't Read 

Some of my longest serving football friends are Chelsea supporters. Those friendships cemented over the many years I lived and worked in London. I became related to some of them by marriage. Some of them are my current non-league groundhopping companions. Some of them I only see at funerals. Some of them I only see at milestone birthdays in Benidorm. You get the picture.

So, today promised to be a great social occasion. But, a poor beer occasion. That is because I was, naturally, invited to “their” Chelsea Pub. That pub chosen by them for a variety of reasons. Glass glasses until 1pm, or later if you keep a supply of your empties under the table for decanting. Very little hassle from “The Old Bill”. Cheap. DJ willing to play Blue Is The Colour & The Liquidator. Moody digital box showing the game for those no longer allowed, financially able or willing to go to The Bridge. I'm saying - that pub NOT chosen because of local Cask ale. Nor top of the range pukka craft beers.

Cruzcampo & Moretti were consumed. John Smith's and Fosters were available. No, I cannot name the pub for obvs reasons.

But, my Beer Day turned North after the game. One of my Chelsea mates had to make his way home from Euston. So, we met in;

The Euston Tap

190 Euston Rd., London NW1 2EF

I haven't been in for a very long time. Eighteen on Keg. And I didn't even look at the cask board. First guy I spoke to in there was the owner & brewer at FutureState brewery in Reading. So he's “benefitted” from me talking at him. But, more importantly, The Euston Tap was participating in The 6 Stouts Of Christmas. New Bristol Brewery collaborating with six UK breweries to dole out six banging stouts.

(Warning - the mood lighting in the tap has given some of my photies a green hue. And a green hue to a marvellous latte coloured foam on a black as over Bill's Mother's stout is NOT a good look.)

The 1st Stout Of Christmas

New Bristol Brewery, Collab with Overtone Brewing Co (Glasgow), Chocolate Fudge Donut Stout on Keg at 6.5%

East Kent Golding Hops. Liquid cacao. Fudge essence. And I don't really know how they get a “doughnut” flavour in there. But, fair fucks, it did taste like a doughnut. Pronounced his winner by Stevie T.

The 2nd Stout Of Christmas

New Bristol Brewery, Collab with Left Handed Giant (also Bristol), Salted Caramel Espresso Martini Stout on Keg at 7%. Not sampled by me I'm afraid. 

The 3rd Stout Of Christmas

New Bristol Brewery, Collab with Unbarred Brewery (Brighton), Chocolate Orange Stout on Keg at 7%

East Kent Golding Hops. Orange zest.

The 4th Stout Of Christmas

New Bristol Brewery, Collab with Vault City Brewing (Edinburgh), Bayleys Mocha Choca Flaked Truffle Stout on Keg at 7%

East Kent Golding Hops. Cacao. Coffee Beans. And name presumably changed for legal reasons Irish Cream Liqueur. Pronounced his winner by Phil R.

The 5th Stout Of Christmas

New Bristol Brewery, Collab with Elusive Brewing (Wokingham), Pastel De Nata Stout on Keg at 7%

East Kent Golding Hops. Madagascan Vanilla Pods. Cinnamon. Tonka Beans. Slightly disappointing if I'm honest. The vanilla, imitating custard, didn't really come through.

The 6th Stout Of Christmas

New Bristol Brewery, Collab with Vocation Brewery (Hebden Bridge), Coconut Chocolate Cake Stout on Keg at 7%. Not sampled by moi I'm afraid. But pronounced by Rach R as;

"lovely, like a Bounty, and I don't even like Bounty's."

I'd like to stay in this league because I love my football club. I'd like to stay in this league so I can have London and Sheffield days/nights out with my old Chelsea mates. I'd like to stay in this league until there are twelve Stouts Of Christmas. I'm neutral on staying in this league so I can visit Footie Pubs. We might not stay in this league though.

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Chicken Town, Evidently

Norwich City 0 v Sheffield United 1 

The Championship 

Saturday 1 April 2023 

SUFC 2022/23 Game #55 

I'm thinking, they're not helping themselves there. The landlord and locals were a tad surprised when we rocked up in their pub, on the green, in Hempton, which I'm going to dismiss as a village outside a village (Fakenham).

"How did you get here?"

"Was the River Wensum on your right?"

"Did you pass The Gas Museum on your left?"

"Did you see The Chicken?"

"He's got his own hut he lives in you know."

Fuck Sake. Look. I'm a Big City Craft Beer Ponce. But, you, with your resident chicken and its "house" are playing up to The Bumpkin stereotype.

I took the contingency of phoning up at 11:04 am. Just to check he'd opened at the advertised 11am. No point in seeing the Gas Museum, Chicken and Hut if you're on a wasted journey to the pub.

The Bell

24 The Green, Hempton, Fakenham NR21 7LG

Three locals already sat at the bar and at it when we walked in. And another guy sat at a table. Two rooms. No food. No TVs on. Features in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. You nervously cast your eye around, worried that you'll have to go back past the chicken without a Beer Tick under your belt, you note Doom Bar, you note Abbott Ale, you frantically scan for any plausible keg beer.

Phew. There's the good stuff. Sandwiched between the Abbott of Doom are two independent Cask Ales.

Elmtree Beers (Snetterton), Snetterton Scary Tree, English Bitter on Cask at 4.5%

Named for an "augmented" tree at the Snetterton Motor Racing circuit. Sometimes called Victory Tree, because it resembles someone holding their arms wide in a victory salute. The tree met a sad demise on 9 February 2020 when Storm Ciara had a pop. Of course, that wouldn't be down to a climate crisis added to by cars & bikes roaring around Snetterton Circuit. Oh no. Completely unconnected to that I think they'll be arguing. Anyway - Snetterton Scary Tree - congratulations, you have just been informed by the Carrier Bag Firm.

Cascade Hops I'm reading. A proper English Bitter that one. Not my preferred style (anymore). But, good a hit nevertheless. Not oversweet. Good malt bang, then swirling bitterness.

Woodforde's Brewery (Woodbastwick), Wherry, Amber Ale on Cask at 3.8%

Inci fucking dentally, that was available in the ground, in bottles. The CBF rule always used to be if a plausible independent beer is available in the ground, you must get it, and you must push the Beer In The Ground KLAXON. But, we're "in between drinking systems" at the minute I'm afraid.

On Cask, it was a lovely drop. Unchallenging sounds a criticism, but it's not meant so. Just an easy drinking, straight ahead pleasure. Moreish. Neutral. Tasty.

Moving day at the football. I was vaguely aware 'Boro were one up. United were staying in the game. So were Norwich. But you wouldn't say either team were creating much. Tommy Doyle was taking corners right in front of me. Got Berge on one. Got Ahmedhodžić on one. And he hit the bar. 

Fella over my left.

"Three One Huddersfield"

"Fuck Off mate, if there's rumours to start, I'll start 'em."

Murmurs. Clamours. Enthusiastic enthusiasm. FFS - better check me phone. And, then United scored before I could really put it away. We've got a Magic Number now. Five games. And, the fucking Scary Tree is already blown over remember. 

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Pub. Game. Geeks.

Sheffield 8 v Staveley Miners Welfare 1 

FA Youth Cup, Preliminary Round.

Played at The Coach & Horses Ground, Dronfield 

Monday 7 September 2020 

Football With Fans Game #7

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That was a Big, Big Night for all those lads out there. They've played in the FA Youth Cup. Put it on the CV. That was also the first game Club have hosted this season with Fans. We've all sort of moved on since then, but it was a simple enough set up. Buy an e-ticket online. Your name is on a list at the turnstile. It was actually declared "a sell out" online. 

The Coach & Horses. A chance to feel a little bit normal again by just dropping into a pub for a drink. Without a "Reservation"? Are we mad? Wait at the door. Two of us. Yes, happy to sit there. OK. No danger. I'll fill this form in. Order from you do I? You bring it from the bar? Let's get at it.

Disappointing actually. I decided to go session abv. With two beers I've had previously. And loved. Just to ease myself in gently. Neither quite lived up to the pre lockdown form book. The best of the pair was;

Rooster's Brewing Co, Highway 51, Pale Ale on Cask at 3.7%.

That's got most of what you need in a Sub 4. Packed with flavour. No complications. Bitter from the get go. Just a little cut of citrus coming in.

Being a neutral. It was a bit difficult to enjoy that drubbing. Best just to rejoice at being in a ground again. With some geeks. All I've really got is the scoreline reflected the dominance.

Stats

I have now Blogged from 924 games in 2,211 days

Disastrous Start

Hallam v Sheffield

Hallam win 6-5 on Penalties after 1-1 Draw

Tuesday 7 July 2015

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What a DISASTROUS start to my 2015-16 season. I’ve marched into The Plough (opposite Sandygate) full of anticipation & bonhomie. I lost count, was that four or five handpull pumpclips off & turned around. Abbot the only survivor. Disgraceful scenes.

About turn, into the Clubhouse. No Cask, but Kelham Island bottles. I’ve gone for Pride Of Sheffield at 4%. Saviour. Uphill from here me hopes.

I’ve got that as a 12 Day Close Season for me. Last game of 2014-15 saw England U21 knocked out in Olomouc. Here we are cracking into 2015-16. A mate of mine used to swear blind that the last match of the season was always the Christians In Football Cup Final. However, their website hasn’t been updated in over a year. Maybe that’s gone as well.

Hallam is a flag of convenience for me. I live reasonably close. I claim to support them. But, in all honesty, I go very infrequently & wouldn’t pick any players out in a line up. They do tend to play midweek games on Tuesdays, and United matches often get in the way. I doubt I average three games a season.

Oddly, I do get a little flutter up my spine for this Derby. Simply because of the historical significance. For some time, there was a league Derby. Both teams were in the Premier Division of the Northern Counties East. Since those heady days, Hallam have moved down the ladder & Sheffield up. Hallam finished mid-table last year (in Division One).

I’m generally not nostalgic, nor sentimental. But, it is great to see these two old/first clubs still playing competitive football in the Pyramid. (Although not against each other). So, it seems a great way to lose my 2015-16 virginity.

My ignorance means I’ll never know whether either side put full strength sides out. But, Hallam were competitive throughout (against their bigger Cousins). Hallam had the best of the chances & it was a great nip & tuck game.

Good game. OK Beer. Poor Pub.

160/350