Has anybody tried the bottled version of Wards beer which is out today.

Anybody newish to the city probably won't have a clue what Wards tastes like. It was brewed in the Sheffield up until about 3 years ago before that dratted NE brewery decided to close the brewery up.

It had a very fruity taste and was the most perfect laxative on the market.

I think that like many bottled versions of draught beers it may be a disappointment.
:(

I thought they had stopped making Wards Bitter all together?

Today!??!!:o

Thats weird, I bought some in Morrissons 3 week ago to take to a relative in Basingstoke who left Sheffield in 1956!!!:o :o

Anyone got any old cans of Wards stashed away in their shed, just in case armaggeddon arrives????

.......or maybe a stray barrel?????

I think another brewery has bought the name and is producing it, BUT it tastes very different to the old Wards beer.

Originally posted by pontious
Today!??!!:o

Thats weird, I bought some in Morrissons 3 week ago to take to a relative in Basingstoke who left Sheffield in 1956!!!:o :o

Anyone got any old cans of Wards stashed away in their shed, just in case armaggeddon arrives????

.......or maybe a stray barrel?????

Well I heard it on the local radio station yesterday.
You aren't mixing it up with Waggledance are you, which was also brewed at one time on the old Wards site. I know that Morrisons have stocked that for some time but alas not a patch on the draught version :(

I have an ORIGINAL can of Wards Best Bitter.
Out of date but been in the fridge for years.

Unopened and not pierced.

Wonder if I should Ebay it?

Originally posted by DaBouncer
I have an ORIGINAL can of Wards Best Bitter.
Out of date but been in the fridge for years.

Unopened and not pierced.

Wonder if I should Ebay it?

DB what are you doing keeping an old can of beer in your fridge? It must be 3 years out of date :roll:

Well I thought that would be obvious. Wards closes down!
Think to yourself, an original can of beer may be worth a bob or two in later life when someone takes an interest in history.

:roll: :o ;)

Originally posted by Mo

You aren't mixing it up with Waggledance are you, [/B]

Nope, I know me Wards when I see see it, I don't go in for all that waggly taggly throbbin chunder stuff, but I was partial to a drop of 'Sheffield bowel loosener' before its sad demise! It was definately Wards in a bottle!!

Bouncer - I dare you to open it up and see what its like!! :lol:

Anybody remember the short lived Trumps special beer from Wards? It was named after the charman's dog, allegedly, and he, the chairman not the dog, had no idea why people found it funny and didn't buy it.

Originally posted by pontious

Bouncer - I dare you to open it up and see what its like!! :lol:

Heeeeeeeeell No. That can is my Great Great Great Great Grandson's Pension! ;)

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Heeeeeeeeell No. That can is my Great Great Great Great Grandson's Pension! ;)

Oh, he is so going to thank you.

I didn't rate Wards' to be honest, don't get me wrong I like a good bitter, it's just that Wards' tasted a little bit TOO bitter for my liking.

True Rich, Ward's did give the word Bitter it's true meaning. Although it did have a fruity edge to it too which I thought played a good part.

People who were Ward's Bitter fans would rarely drink owt else as the taste was pretty unique.

I fear that if I bought a bottle of the new stuff which is being made by another brewery would taint the flavour I remember.

All in all, Ward's IMHO was the best of the best!

Now, should I Ebay that can?

Talking of beer do they still make Trophy Bitter?

There was a bit in the Star about this new Wards beer the other day. I was going to post it here but someone chucked the paper away.

I do remember, though, that the brewer who's made this used to be head brewer at Wards.

Someone mentioned that new stuff dont taste at all like the old stuff! Head or no head.... it will never be REAL Ward's!

After sampling the 'new' Wards I can now declare my final verdict.

It is pleasant enough but I have to say as a longtime Wards drinker, it's nothing at all like the original. For starters it's darker, much more bitter (lost that fruitiness) and it smells different too.

I would drink it again but I am sooo disappointed :(

PS you were right Pontious, Morrisons do stock it.

Originally posted by Jon
Talking of beer do they still make Trophy Bitter?

I hope not!!

that stuff was disgusting!!:o

OK, here is the gen on the new Wards.

A new company, the Double Maxim Brewing Co (based in Sunderland), which also has a new subsidary company, Wards Brewing Co, has been set up by a couple of former Vaux directors (Vaux are the ones that used to own Wards before they decided to close it down).

This new company has launched a new bottled Wards Best Bitter, which uses more or less the same recipe as the old Wards Bitter, except it is brewed to a stronger ABV to reflect the premium beer market that bottled beers tend to be sold in.

However providing sales of the bottled stuff go well, they are talking of launching a draught cask conditioned version next year, which will have a lower strenth, nearer the old stuff.

The new Wards beer is not actually brewed in Sheffield, as the brewing is contracted out to Robinsons of Stockport, and with beer the local water tends to affect the taste. However if the venture is successful who knows - maybe they might invest in building their own brewery in Sheffield? We can only hope.

Just to add to that, the old head brewer from Wards now works for Robinsons, so by co-incidence he is now brewing the new Wards!

I am a big fan of "proper beer" but as a mere nineteen year-old I can't say I was ever lucky enough to sample a nice drop of Ward's Best Bitter.

I can remember the famous signs promoting the name outside the local public houses when I was growing up, but to taste Ward's from the pump is but a pipe dream.... if you'll excuse the pun.

As a student now living in Southampton, I've enjoyed trying a range of bitters from the nearby Romsey brewery. But I was overjoyed when I recently found a bottle of the Sheffield brewed bitter in the local Asda.

When I turn twenty on Wednesday I shall enjoy it then. From what I've read it can't compare with the original, but I'm sure somewhere hidden within the hops and yeast is a magic essence that will conjour up images of factories, trams and sadly destroyed egg-box shaped buildings in my mind. Ah! The seven hills of my homeland....

I need a girlfriend, badly.

many happy returns for wednesday, pilon, BTW!

ahh, Wards, "trump-y beer", we called it, in our family!

I wonder if the new Wards beer makes you f*rt as ripe-ly as the old Wards used to...?

My father and grandfather, when the grandparents used to live on Upperthorpe, used to go supping in "The Meadow", on Meadow St, which at that time was a Wards' House.

Oh, gosh I well remember the stench on a sunday afternoon at my gran's, after my dad and grandpa had had an afternoon of "Bevvying it" at The Meadow... It was absolutely VILE! Ugh!The "Meadow-stink" was what my mum and granny used to call it.

My Dad and Grandpa's backsides could wilt an oak tree at fifty yards!!!! I don't know what they put in wards's beer that they did not put in any other beers, but by gum! Dad and Grandpa could break-wind, to olympic standard, for England, and win Gold, Silver, and Bronze!

Imagine it... Gramps and dad have a skinful of Wards'.. then come back for sunday lunch, inevitably laden with windy vegetables, such as sprouts, cabbge and peas..... the combilation of the two substances was like intestinal semtex! Jeese, louise! Talk about potent! lol at the memories

Pass the gas mask, please!

PT

Originally posted by Plain Talker
ahh, Wards, "trump-y beer.
PT

Aah, Wards. It were good stuff but you're right about the flatulance. When but a mere apprentice electrician I had to share a cabin with a chargehand who drank the stuff every night. During the morning break he would usually 'let off' several times accompanied by the words 'Aah, Waaaards'(wonder if it's a relation). It was vomit inducing.

Having said that, it was awfully good beer. Far better the Whitbread Trophy, Stones or that really insipid stuff from Bass Charington. The only thing that came anything like near was John Smiths Magnet. Although Sam Smiths Old Brewery Bitter wasn't bad. God, I could just go a pint of the stuff right now!

Originally posted by DaBouncer
True Rich, Ward's did give the word Bitter it's true meaning. Although it did have a fruity edge to it too which I thought played a good part.

People who were Ward's Bitter fans would rarely drink owt else as the taste was pretty unique.

I fear that if I bought a bottle of the new stuff which is being made by another brewery would taint the flavour I remember.

All in all, Ward's IMHO was the best of the best!

Now, should I Ebay that can?

i have a can to, but opened, maybe if we put them on ebay together we will make a fortune, best of both worlds, one can kills you, the other doesn't, no-one loses!

Lovers of the draught stuff will be pleased to know that it is on it's way back to Sheffield pubs. Article can be seen in the Star at (http://www.sheffieldtoday.net)


Tried to post direct link to article but it was broken

Yuck, if the new Wards is anything like the original Wards it'll taste 'orrible, like processed wee wee :lol:

you can actually still buy bottled wards in some parts of britian why sheffield isnt 1 of them is strange but im very glad to hear its coming back on draft as you cant beat it!!! :)

Ward's Best Bitter on draught is back in selected Sheffield pubs. According to an article in The Star it'll be back in a pub near you soon:

Ward's cask bitter is back (http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=762751)

It will be interesting to see if it tastes the same.

The Kelham Island Brewery now have the original Wards yeast strain for their brewing process.
It was presented to them by the Master Brewer of Wards when it closed down.

that's excellent news, I'll look forward to trying the 'new' wards.

If anyone can find out which Sheffield pubs are selling wards could they post it here?

Originally posted by max
Ward's Best Bitter on draught is back in selected Sheffield pubs. According to an article in The Star it'll be back in a pub near you soon:

Ward's cask bitter is back (http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=762751)

This is a duplication of my post yesterday;

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?postid=90309#post90309

I'll look forward to trying the 'new' wards, I was quite a fan of the old wards.

Anyone know which pubs in Sheffield will be serving it?

Originally posted by Mo
This is a duplication of my post yesterday;

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?postid=90309#post90309

Oops, missed that. Have merged threads now.

Originally posted by bassman-x
I'll look forward to trying the 'new' wards, I was quite a fan of the old wards.

Anyone know which pubs in Sheffield will be serving it?

From the article in The Star

To find out where to get the beer, call 0845 129 7191

Its not too bad but dunt taste as nice as it used to....

If Wards is re-introduced I hope it is better than it was in the late 50 s.
Some say it was pulled straight from the Don


the person I am refering to ,used to frequent a Wards House on Penistone Rd.I think the pub backed on to the Don.
Hence "Pulled straight from the Don".
If it was so bad I wonder why he went there.
Perhaps it was in staggering distance to his home

That would be difficult as the Sheaf Brewery is on the Porter a mile or two from the Don.

I must admit, I was a big Ward's fan. I'll certainly give it a try, but somehow I can't see it being quite the same.

I tried a bottle of that new bottled Ward's stuff over Christmas, and I was very disappointed.

The bottled version is Wards 1844 Best Bitter, which is a different product with higer ABV aimed at the premium bottled beer market.

The Draught Cask Wards Best Bitter which launches on Tuesday is nearer the old wards, it's a session beer, very drinkable, but with distinctive malty flavour.

It isn't quite the same as the old Wards as it isn't quite as overpowering in the malt and sulpher department, but that can't be a bad thing.

I have been to Jennings brewery on a press trip to preview the new Wards and can declare it a nice pint!

I'm told about 150 pubs/clubs will sell it, 2 I know for certain are the Fountain Bar in town and Gardeners Rest at Neepsend. Guess it will appear in most of the freehouses.

Well, today (tuesday 30th March) is launch day for the new cask conditioned draught Wards Best Bitter.

Let us have any reports from the pubs firstly where they are selling it and whether you think it's any good.

Yuck, if the new Wards is anything like the original Wards it'll taste 'orrible, like processed wee wee

Rich - do you drink a lot of we-wee?

Originally posted by Jim
Rich - do you drink a lot of we-wee?

No... But I can imagine it tasting disgusting, hence my comparing Wards's Beer to it.

Do you see?

Oh yes...silly me, taking your comment literally :loopy:

I love the bottled stuff, abd have been really looking forward to having it on the pumps BUT I hear tales from folk who have been in t he pubs tonight that it costs £2 plus per pint in some pubs . Why? Will people spend that? Doesn't sound like it'll run and run at that price....

I have never tried Wards beer,but my preference in ale is first Boddingtons and secondly John Smiths.Whenever my wife and I go to our favourite fish and chip restaurant here in Edmonton,Alberta,Canada,I always have a couple of cans of one or the other,with my supper.Cant stand this Canadian lager that they sell over here though.Tastes like weasel ****.[Although Ive never tasted that].

Had a pint in The ball, Crookes last night. Taste's ok...very similar to how I remember it. At £2.15 a pint though it is a bit steep.

Can't say I'd choose it again - there is a much wider variety of cask alses about now and I wouldn't be surprised if Ward's appeal was limited.

Well I've just had a pint in the Devonshire Cat, and sad to say it's nothing like the original really.

Only vague hints of that maltiness, and just the faintest eggy whiff. Very dissapointed :(

I will report tomorrow on the other effects.. if any! (Wards drinkers will understand that:))

Originally posted by Jim
Oh yes...silly me, taking your comment literally :loopy:

Daft bat :lol: :loopy:

Originally posted by Tony
Well I've just had a pint in the Devonshire Cat, and sad to say it's nothing like the original really.

Only vague hints of that maltiness, and just the faintest eggy whiff. Very dissapointed :(

I will report tomorrow on the other effects.. if any! (Wards drinkers will understand that:))

Indeed, Wards does (ahem) loosen the bowels.

Hmmm. Well it's not as good as the original on that score too :D

£2.15 a pint!!!????
Bloody Nora I can remember when tha could get 5 pints for a quid.
'Course now I'd pay £215.99 for the real thing if I could get me hands on it..... but enough of my bachelor problems.