Dom’s Casks of the Month

Well, it’s been another fine month for real ale around Sheffield! This time, all three featured beers come from local brewers, showcasing what a great selection we have around the Steel City. Here they are, in no particular order: What: Cold Conscience (4.5%) – Abbeydale (Sheffield) Where: Head of Steam This mango and lychee pale ale was the third in Abbeydale’s series of collaborations with Brewdog Sheffield. A hazy beer with a thin, white head and a distinct aroma of tropical fruits, the mango content in particular was very evident. New Zealand hops cut through the fruit to give a slightly bitter finish to make for an extremely refreshing beer that would be perfect for a sunny day (unfortunately, we didn’t have too many of those!) What: Nutty Ambassador (6.0%) – Little Critters (Sheffield) Where: Fox & Duck I’m not usually a huge fan of milk stouts but this one might have changed my mind! Now part of Little Critters’ core range, this was a deep black colour with an intense aroma of hazelnuts and chocolate. The beer was extremely easy to drink, with the wonderful nutty flavour complemented perfectly by the chocolate and coffee hints from the roasted malt, the sweetness from the lactose and the smoothness of oats. What: Chipping Hammer (4.5%) – Toolmakers (Sheffield) Where: The Forest Another stout, but this time a bit more conventional. A very dark brown colour with a slightly creamy off-white head, the aroma was filled with the classic coffee notes of a beer of this style. The flavour was well-balanced, with a mixture of malts giving a pleasant roasted coffee taste. All in all a nice example of a traditional stout. If you’ve had enough of reading about my favourite brews, get in touch with your top three beers of the last month and you might get the chance to see your choices featured in the next edition of Beer Matters! Dominic Nelson