Doncaster Brewery Tap, Doncaster

Tucked away in a fairly horrible 1960's development, a shop conversion which was surprisingly full of 'ordinary' locals rather than beer drinkers. 12 handpumps featured 6 ciders, 4 of their own brews, one from Acorn and one from Bang the Elephant. The brewing kit can be seen off the corridor behind and there is another room upstairs with its own bar. An interesting contrast to more-conventional pubs.

Doncaster Brewery Tap is a single room bare board floor micro with bench seating across the front windows and up the left-hand wall. A piano is found in the front right, but everyone’s attention was taken by the weekly Tuesday evening quiz that was in progress. The serving counter across the rear supports twelve hand pumps with six ales to the right and six ciders to the left. I went for a pint of Doncaster Brewery’s Handsome Pat which is a decent session beer. The service was friendly and the locals were equally nice, so I think this is currently my favourite bar in Donny.

We paid a return visit to this Brewery Tap early on a midweek evening. Being a converted shop, it very much has the feeling of a micropub. It was quite busy whilst we were there, with quite a few regulars and beer tickers. Sand House is the regular beer. Additional beers from the brewery were 203 Minutes, Cheswold Bitter & Wishbone T'Pol. However, as with my last visit, the excellent cider range drew me in - Village Green Classical Dry & Sweet Country, Udders Waterloo Sunset Perry & Lindley Gold, Abrahall's Strawberry & Lime Cider & Ascension Champing At The Pit. I tried a couple that I'd not had before, leaving me no time to try the Doncaster brews. There is a reason why this is the local CAMRA cider pub of the year. Whilst I used to like Cask Corner when it was open, I believe this is now Doncaster's best pub.