On the way to Rotherham-Maltby to see the recently reformed Grey Lady Down, Hector stopped off for a Quick Half at The Fat Cat, Kelham Island. Until Pale Rider won the Best Beer of Britain award this indeed was a wonderful Ale. By 2007 the Brewer had moved on to Ossett, and the Sheffield Flood did no favours. This Ale is a Pale Shadow of its former self.
In Glasgow none of The Friends of Hector will touch it, this along with Jaipur (Thornbridge, Bakewell, Derbyshire) are simply not what they were, imposters!
The Fat Cat remains a great Pub, with a fine array of Bier and Ale, there is little to mock. It is not their fault that the adjacent Brewery on Alma St can no longer produce what they once did. I tried the Pale Rider, last time at SOURCE it was still a decent tasting Ale, today it could have been antiseptic, dreadful.
Meanwhile Kelham Island, the former industrial heart of Sheffield is unrecognisable compared to how it was when Hector first set foot here in 1996. The numerous flats have encroached right on to the perimeter of the Brewery, new clientele, pity about the Beer.