'Tetley Bittermen' (and possibly ladies too) in Sheffield

[Eckolad 10]

Hmmmm Tetleys

[DerbyTup 10]

I know what you are saying about the original Tetley bitter. The best pub I recall around these parts was the Angel at Spinkhill. Appreciate that isn't quite in Sheffield. Other than that I had it while in Leeds and it was also very good there in a number of different pubs.

 

You can't begin to compare what Tetley's was like then with the brew served under the same name now. The same goes for Stones. The original Stones bitter with its pale straw like colour and well-hopped creamy taste was exquisite. The best pint of Stones I ever had was at the Devonshire at Middle Handley. Pure nectar. (Back in the days of Tom Walker).

 

Again - that's a completely different proposition now.

 

Breweries closed down and bigger brewers took them over - changed the recipes and moved production. Shipstones was another one that used to be a bit of a rare delight in these parts. The British Oak at Mosborough kept a very good pint - but this brewery also went the same way.

 

Thank heavens that the real ale movement was started by CAMRA and the big brewers haven't completely had their way.

 

Having said that - they have been sneaky in introducing some mass produced real ales, like Pedigree, Landlord, Black Sheep, London Pride, Deuchars, Old Speckled Hen, Ruddles to their pubs to meet the real ale demand. These are some of your "mainstream" real ales - many of them are pale shadows of their former self - and you can do far better.

 

The small microbreweries are a breath of fresh air. So good in fact, that I doubt whether even the original Tetley and Stones's could compete with them.

[Ousetunes 10]

In my days of following the Blades very often the highlight of the day when playing at home would be the Tetley's in The Cremorne before the match. It was wonderful.

 

The beer-clip with the same image and name is not dispensing the same drink these days.

 

Same applies to Stones (best pint The Castle at Bolsterstone) and Ward's (RIP - best pint probably The Hallamshire, Commonside).

 

There are some wonderful bitters produced by the micro-breweries but I'd sell my house for a pint of original Waaaaaarrrrdddss.

[Eckolad 10]

Hmmm bring back wardss and shipstones!

[Bilge 34]

Hmmm bring back wardss and shipstones!

 

Ah yes, Shippo's was lovely stuff too. So was Home Ales Bitter. Good 'session ales' as the CAMRA men call them.

 

I was never that keen on Ward's really. It wasn't on handpumps very often either - why was that? Even when it was cask it was electric dispense which seemed to make it taste much like the keg version to me.

[Bilge 34]

Another thing I miss is being able to order 'a pint of bitter' in a pub. I haven't uttered that phrase for years. I always have to specify some beer with a stupid name to distinguish it from the others or from the 3 or 4 taps of creamflow dross.

[Eckolad 10]

Another thing I miss is being able to order 'a pint of bitter' in a pub. I haven't uttered that phrase for years. I always have to specify some beer with a stupid name to distinguish it from the others or from the 3 or 4 taps of creamflow dross.

 

Yes but in corrie they ask for a pint of bitter!

[jemson 10]

TBH drinking Tetleys in Leeds at Uni got me `into` ale, `progressing` onto Black Sheep, Theakstons, Deuchars, etc. I do still think that there must be a real skill in making a good bitter / session ale that you could knock back a fair few of and there aren`t too many about IMO. (Anyone?). The trend now is for mega hoppy brews that are quite often high ABV but I`m not complaining!

[777steve777 10]

Yes, you are right, i remember going into the Angel at spinkhill and having a pint of tetley - the best pint around that area.

[Stoatwobbler 10]

TBH drinking Tetleys in Leeds at Uni got me `into` ale, `progressing` onto Black Sheep, Theakstons, Deuchars, etc. I do still think that there must be a real skill in making a good bitter / session ale that you could knock back a fair few of and there aren`t too many about IMO. (Anyone?). The trend now is for mega hoppy brews that are quite often high ABV but I`m not complaining!

 

I got into real ale the same way myself! Tetley's first, the progressing onto the regional beers such as Marston's Pedigree & London Pride, then onto micro-breweries.

[Stoatwobbler 10]

Ive never found a good pint of tetley bitter, but have had lovely pints of tetley dark mild

 

Hmmm, never got on with Tetley's Mild myself. Plenty of other milds that I'd choose ahead of that one.

 

But then life would be boring if we all liked the same thing wouldn't it?

[Bilge 34]

Is Fagan's still the best (of a bad bunch obviously) in Sheff?