Pub of the Month May 2019

The Ale Club on Ecclesall Road is a relative newcomer to the Sheffield beer scene having only opened its doors in November 2017. However, over the last 18 months this micropub and bottle shop has gained a healthy reputation for its varied selection of real ales and craft beers and is a worthy winner of this month’s Pub of the Month award. For those who haven’t visited before, the Ale Club acts as the brewery tap for Sheffield-owned cuckoo brewery The Brew Foundation (the brewing is actually done at Wincle in Cheshire). Brewer James Eardley opened the bar in order to showcase some of the brewery’s offerings such as Little Bitter That (3.8% English bitter), Laughing Water (4.3% hoppy pale), Janet’s Treat (4.8% chocolate cherry porter), Wheat Your Heart Out (6.0% white IPA) and Free Beer (4.4% APA which is both gluten free and vegan!). There are five well-kept real ales on offer, always including at least one from the Brew Foundation range. Guest beers include interesting choices from well-known independent breweries such as Hawkshead and Blackjack, as well smaller local brewers including Lost Industry, Crosspool Ale Makers Society and Holmfirth’s Three Fiends Brewhouse. If you’re in search of craft beer you won’t be disappointed either with eight keg lines and more than 130 bottles and cans, ranging from the more traditional styles to juicy IPAs, big imperial stouts and funky Belgian gueuzes. Some of the UK’s biggest craft names such as Verdant, Cloudwater, Kernel and Northern Monk feature regularly. As well as having a great range of ales and beers, the Ale Club is a really interesting place to sit and enjoy them. Step through the door and you’re transported from the noise and bustle of Ecclesall Road into a world inspired by old-school private members’ clubs where the lighting is low and the walls and bookcases are adorned with knick-knacks and curiosities from around the globe. If the weather’s nice (and you get there early!) there are also a couple of tables out the front for those who prefer to imbibe al fresco. Congratulations to James and all the staff at the Ale Club on their award, which we hope will be the first of many. We will be handing over the certificate on Tuesday 14 May, as usual arriving from around 8pm for a presentation at 9pm. The pub is located at 429 Ecclesall Road, S11 8PG and is well served by local buses (65, 81, 82, 83, 88 and 272). Hope to see you there!