Where do you start with my favourite ale pub of 2015, in Sheffield we have so many in Sheffield and to narrow it down to just 1 wasnt easy, I had 10 on my phone which were in the list and finally managed to choose 1 of them.
So what about the other 9 (in no particular order apart from the order on my phone) :
Beer Engine – a new pub this year which is in the same building as Delaneys used to be, situated at the bottom of London Road behind the big fireworks building and easy to get to, plenty of buses go up London Road. 6 ale pumps and always have different ones on each visit, I have got used to the wooden tables now, they were a shock at first, lovely owner and nice bar staff, I have not tried to food yet but I shall in 2016.
Bath Hotel – I am a big fan of Thornbridge ales and having a pub in town centre is just great, situated off West Street just through West One area, my short walk from The Hop, you are guaranteed the usual Thornbridge ales and they have some nice guest ales as well, which adds that extra bit of mixture. Staff are very nice and friendly and in the winter months a nice fire was in the other room, which I didnt know was there until earlier in the year. A discount for CAMRA members as well, I must start taking my card with me.
The Ball – situated at Crookes on the 52/52a bus route and a Greene King pub but unlike other Greene King pubs they dont have many of their ales, which is good, the selection they do have is great, they like to mix the guest ales which is something I like, they did have quite a few Christmas ales and helped with my December challenge. A large pub which serves food and also has quite a few tv screens for sport, the beer garden is qute large as well, had a refurb on the front part. Also handy for a walk round Crookes/Walkley pubs, back in my pub list of 2016.
Sheaf View – a pub at Heeley just up the hill under the bridge situated on the corner and serving various ales, always changing and the beauty with this pub is they advertise on Facebook what the lineup is, very friendly staff who know their ales, a nice quiet pub with no music and seating outside as well.
Cremorne – on London Road and has a few bus services to the pub, distinctive red building and serving the unusual ales along with Stancill which appear, I have found some interesting porters/stouts in here and always features when I am doing my London Road/Heeley walk, not a very large pub to sit down in, it does have a beer garden at the back. They do serve pizzas if you are hungry.
Fat Cat – Located down at Kelham Island area and home to Kelham Island Brewery, although I am not always a fan of their ales, I do like the guest ales the Fat Cat has and can expect the unusual ales, plenty of seating in the beer garden which is quite large, the pub is broken into 2 seating areas, only problem is the small bar but you get served pretty quick, they also serve food which I have yet to try,
Gardeners Rest – I am not sure what bus goes to this pub now with the recent bus changes, this is on Neepsend Lane and I find it best to get to from Penistone road up along Wickes and to the left, a lovely pub with a very unusual beer garden full of all strange things. Ales are both Sheffield Brewing Co and guest ales, so always eomthing for me. Another pub with no music and it nice and quiet.
Museum – Another Greene King pub in town centre but one which has quite a few guest ales and that is what I like about this pub, I do find Salamander ales here which is a bonus, plenty of seats in here, and they do serve food, and also very nice staff.
Rutland Arms – based near the Showroom and is sat on a corner, very interesting ales in there, usually find a porter/stout which I have not tried before, Blue Bee features here as well, they do serve food which I have yet to try and there isnt much in seating area so when its busy you probably wont get one, there is a beer garden at the back of the pub.
So what is my favourite pub of 2015, which one has been the standout for me:
Devonshire Cat -this one is behind Devonshire Green and part of the Abbeydale Brewery family of pubs, other one is Rising Sun at Fulwood. Vast aray of ales here, several pumps are dedicated to Abbeydale ales which has my 2 favourites, Absolution and Deception, and the guest ales is what tips it at this pub for no1 spot, found some really great porters/stouts and strong pale ales here. The bar is one of the best laid out as well, all pumps in one line and each with a description of what you are drinking. They also did a beer festival this year which I loved, again some interesting ales, they did one at Rising Sun as well and that was extremely good. This pub does serve food but as yet to try it, plenty of seating area and always had no problem finding a seat.
