If the Beermeister did perfect drinking partners...

OK, so I'm shallow, but who would you like to share your time with when you go for a beer? 

Please share your thoughts :-)

Pub of the Week - Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield

OK, have to add the Kelham Island Tavern in Sheffield as this weeks pub of choice for a few reasons, and not just because it has been CAMRA's National Pub of the Year TWICE in recent years! 

This warm, clean and friendly pub has a diverse clientele, and for a real ale house, a surprisingly high number of female customers too. Ales are kept in cracking condition, quality lagers, good value food, comfortable to sit in, and welcoming barstaff too. A place to visit, whenever I get to Sheffield. 

And, for me, I'll always meet someone I know there to talk to, CHEERS :-D

Pub of the Week - The London Apprentice, Old Isleworth

The London Apprentice dates to Tudor times, being rebuilt in the early 18th century. Their website reports that it was patronised by a number of eminent people in the past, including Henry VIII, Charles I, Charles II and Nell Gwynne, Lady Jane Grey and Oliver Cromwell, all of whom had close links with nearby Syon House. 

My brother and I had walked a larger circular route, including the north bank of the Thames from Richmond Bridge to Putney Bridge, stopping on the way at The London Apprentice, cracking pub! 

There are 6 ales served by handpumps at the bar, regulars include Fullers London Pride, Adnams Broadside and Sharp's Doom Bar. There are also 3 rotating guest ales, on my last visit these included Young’s London Gold, Brains SA and Purity Mad Goose, the last being in very good form and very much enjoyed! Keg beers are served too, of course, and include Staropramen, Leffe and Hoegaarden, for people with more European tastes. 

We enjoyed ourselves immensely, the bar staff were very friendly, though it was early in the shift (before noon), so it did start getting busier whilst we were there, and investigating the building was a pleasure too. We had only ever seen it from the south bank of the river on a significant number of occasions before our visit, when we kept agreeing we must cross the river sometime. We were suitably shocked and impressed at its history and fine features, not to mention enjoying the beer. One of the advantages of Isleworth is that it is also easy to get to Twickenham or Brentford, only a short distance away. Enjoy it yourselves!

Eight Bells

Many thanks to Stephen H again for this addition for the Eight Bells.

The Eight Bells, Putney Bridge

Stephen H's next posting following QPR's 6-0 drubbing by Fulham on 2nd October:

We ended up drinking in the Eight Bells, Putney, prior to the drubbing at Fulham. Not sure how far we actually walked to The Eight Bells but, by the time we arrived, I was so thirsty I had to have five pints to rehydrate. Lovely old pub where you can get a decent pint of London Pride (ed's note, they also sell Sharp's Doom Bar). The atmosphere was really good with a selection of Fulham, Chelsea and QPR fans all drinking in harmony. See attached pictures.

Wolverhampton, The Great Western

This is a review from Stephen H, many thanks to him, written after the Wolves v QPR match played on 17th September, Rangers won 3-0:

The Beermeister comes up trumps again. Our small group was on the road again last Saturday following our beloved Queens Park Rangers for the away fixture v Wolves. Just like our recent trip to Liverpool, I had planned the trip to coincide with a visit to a good pub and again contacted my fellow R'sss supporter Steve, otherwise known as the Beermeister. 

Steve, almost without hesitation, suggested that we visit the Great Western located in Sun Street and I can say that we were not disappointed. When entering the Great Western the first thing to hit you is the way that it has been set out, in fact it almost feels like walking into an old railway waiting room full of railway memorabilia. 

Next and by far the most important feature is the selection of beers with my attention being immediately drawn to the HOLDENS Black Country Bitter and Mild pumps, I sampled both and can confirm that the Beermeister’s recommendation was as always 100% correct. 

Beermeister note: The Great Western sells sells good value food too, excellent roast meat sandwiches in rolls/baps, or 'cobs' as they're called up here. In addition to their own beers, such as Holden's Bitter, Special Bitter and Mild, they regularly sell gtheir great rival's Batham's Best Bitter and other guest ales.

At QPR and Fullers ales...

Any Blackburn fans in West London this weekend, if you want a decent pints of Fullers, go to The Dove, Churchill Arms, Victoria or Salutation, in diverse places close by, see http://www.beer-meister.co.uk/london-and-south-east/london/qpr

The view is of the Dove from the south bank of the Thames, looking north towards Hammersmith, great view of the river from sitting outside at the back... ie you'll see me photgraphing you from the south bank on this day :-)

Tout travail mérite sa bière

So, we deserve a beer after work... but also, when we go to a football match... and usually before and after the match... Certainly, over the years, I have found it hard to cope with watching my team sober, though I'm sure United fans haven't had such a problem for a long time, despite there being many cracking pubs in Manchester to drink in!

I bought this t-shirt at a fair in Brussels, and it's always a cracking place to find beer in, a particular favourite of mine being Westmalle Tripel, or Triple for the Walloons ;-)

But who am I to enjoy beer, or to even talk about it?

Oh yes, Steve the Beermeister! So I should really talk about it as this is a blog directed at beer drinkers, and particularly those visiting towns and cities they are unfamiliar with... So, we have been adding pubs of the day, whatever, but also, I want to develop this into talking about beer, wine, food, architecture, history, politics, music, football... hell! It's all culture, and this is what I'm about, culture, and specifically as far away from the vulgar end of it I can get (not easy for me ;-)

Please read, comment and enjoy our suggestions, and remember, I am not alone, Kieran is also a regular contributor to this blog, and he's a good lad, despite our trip to watch QPR at Exeter together a while ago, but that's another story I am giving him the opportunity to add Exeter before I do.

CHEERS!