By
Andy
The window tax imposed by King William III in 1696 famously caused
his citizens to brick up their glazing, leading to a surge in cases
of rickets.
Taxes
on the width of buildings in Amsterdam in the 17th century
led to the architectural style now synonymous with the city, as
narrow but tall designs quickly became the norm.
More recently, the ever-increasing UK business rates – which impose punitive charges on pubs with large premises – have also spawned an unintended by-product: the micropub.
As this was our second micropub in recent outings (after The Itchy Pig Ale House), it was time to address the issue...
Micropubs are fantastic
– they invariably stock a broad range of beers from local
breweries, and their smaller size (and often 'one-man band' nature)
allows them to be personal affairs – cosy, friendly, and
uniquely-themed.
The
problem is, when we began Pubquest in 2012,
pubs were closing at such an alarming rate that we calculated the
entire venture wouldn't take long. Now, with micropubs springing up
across the city, it feels like we'll never fully finish – but then
again, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Despite our fondness of
micropubs, I didn't think The Beer House was the perfect example.
Yes, the beers were varied and the owner was friendly, but it was a
bit like having a drink in your living room: there was nothing to set
it apart from the norm. When compared to The Itchy Pig Ale House –
with its homemade furniture and pig-themed decor – the place was
slightly basic.
When
the Porter Brook
(just 30 seconds down the road) also offers good beers and polite
staff, you have to wonder whether Sheffield's first ever micropub was
strictly necessary.
Picky I know, but just
as the standard of Sheffield pubs has increased since 2012, so have
our standards here at Pubquest.
Pub:
The Beer House
(623 Ecclesall Road, S11 8PT)
Rating:
7.5/10
Pint:
Espresso
Brewery:
Dark Star Brewing Company (Partridge
Green, West Sussex)
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