A growing number of breweries in our area have opened taprooms offering the chance to drink the beer at source. Some others own their own pubs that can be considered a brewery tap. Here is my beer tourist guide to local brewery taps.
Abbeydale
Established in 1996 and is now the oldest in the city! It is most famous for their Moonshine pale ale which is widely available in cask. Over the years the brewery has expanded, now producing around 220 barrels a week, including more modern craft beers such as their Funk Dungeon and Brewers Emporium range alongside the classics. Many of the beers have the addition of Brewers Clarex to make them suitable for most gluten-free diets. They own the Rising Sun at Nether Green which acts as their tap, showcasing their range of beers and serving good food. This pub was Sheffield CAMRA’s Pub of the Year 2022. Buses 83 and 120 (towards Fulwood) stop right outside.
Blue Bee
Established in 2010 and produces a range of quality cask ales on their ten barrel kit with no fuss or hype. The range is mostly focused on well-hopped pale ales but also look out for their Ginger Beer. They also produce a traditional bitter and a stout. They don’t have an official tap, however under the same management is the Kelham Island Tavern where you will normally find their beer on the many handpulls. Alternatively Reet Pale and Hillfoot Best Bitter are regular house beers at the Rutland Arms.
Bradfield
Established in 2005 on a working dairy farm on the edge of the Peak District, initially as an exercise in diversification but following the success and expansion of the brewery it has pretty much replaced the farming business! The brewery has its own Millstone Grit spring providing the water to brew with and produces a range of mostly simple, classic beers with the biggest selling being Farmers Blonde. There is a shop at the brewery while the original tap pub is the Nags Head Inn, a short distance from the brewery in Loxley (bus 61/62 Hillsborough-Bradfield go there); since then three other tap pubs have been added – the King & Miller in Deepcar and Wharncliffe Arms (both on bus route 57/57a Sheffield-Stocksbridge) along with the White Hart in Bradwell (on bus route 271/272 Sheffield-Castleton).
brewSocial
Launched in 2022 and is owned by social enterprise Yes2Ventures, which is all about training up people who are disadvantaged in the labour market. The brewing, in an Attercliffe railway arch, is led by Richard Hough, an experienced and well known local brewer who in the past has worked for Abbeydale Brewery and was involved in the initial setup of Blue Bee Brewery. They don’t have a tap, keep an eye out for their beers in local pubs!
Chantry
Based in Parkgate, Rotherham and founded in 2012. The name is taken from Rotherham’s most historic building – the Chantry Bridge and Chapel. It has since expanded with an 80 barrel capacity and lagering tanks. A range of mostly traditional cask ales are brewed along with a couple of lagers. The most recent developments is the opening of a Chantry Brewery Tap and live music venue within the brewery, a short walk from the Parkgate tram train terminus. Note on gig nights (including the Saturday of the CAMRA Members’ Weekend) tickets are required to enter. They also own three pubs – the New York Tavern and Cutlers Arms in Rotherham town centre, near the football ground; and the Chantry Inn at Handsworth in Sheffield (buses 30, 30a, 52, 52a, 80 and X5).
Collyfobble
Based in the Derbyshire village of Barlow, near Dronfield (bus 16 Dronfield-Chesterfield). Beers names are generally reference to local dialect and sayings. The brewery is attached to the Peacock pub and hotel.
Dead Parrot
The brewery name is a bit of a family in joke, as the brewer’s brother is the manager of the Frog & Parrot which used to have a brewery in the cellar under previous ownership and the family used to run Henry’s bar and associated Aardvark brewery which has since been demolished – much of the equipment has come from both dead ventures! The brewery produces a broad range of cask ales at their site on the edge of Sheffield City Centre, shared with their tap bar Perch and an events yard which will be hosting a beer festival on the CAMRA Members’ Weekend.
Drone Valley
A community interest company owned by members and partly staffed by volunteers with much of the profits going to local good causes. The beer range is fairly traditional and produced in a unit on a small industrial yard alongside the river Drone in Unstone, just south of Dronfield. Tap sessions are hosted in a marquee attached to Drone Valley brewery every weekend (buses 43/44 Sheffield-Chesterfield).
Emmanuales
This is a very small scale brewery producing interesting beers with a Christian theme to the names. Originally it was a cuckoo brewing operation, now the kit is based at the brewer‘s home! The beer is usually available only in bottles but occasional cask is produced for special events.
Eyam
Started life in 2017 with a 1.5 barrel plant in the famous Peak District plague village of Eyam which has inspired many of the beer names. In 2019 they relocated up the road to the village of Great Hucklow with a bigger kit.
Fuggle Bunny
Opened in 2014 as a family business with a theme of beers that tell a story – the pumpclips are designed like bookmarks. Ownership has since changed but it remains independent. A bar in the Fuggle Bunny brewery opens for tap sessions every Friday and it is a ten minute walk from Halfway tram terminus (Blue route) or buses 26, 26a, 80 and 80a stop close by.
Grizzly Grains
Started out in 2020 producing small batches of bottled beers in the Walkley area of Sheffield but has since relocated to a small industrial unit on the edge of the City Centre not far from the Sheffield United stadium. As well as producing a number of traditional cask ales, some more experimental brews are produced, often in collaboration with organisations such as Heeley City Farm who can supply locally produced ingredients such as honey, apples and fresh hops. There is no associated pub, however look out for occasional pop up tap sessions at the brewery.
Heist
Started life as a craft beer bar in Clowne, Derbyshire, in 2017 with an on site brewery opening a year later. Heist relocated to an old industrial building in the Neepsend area of Sheffield in 2020 and converted it into a brewery and taproom, which opened to the public towards the end of the pandemic. The brewery produces mostly modern craft styles of beer in keg and can, although now and again do very interesting one-off cask ales. The taproom features 30 lines showcasing their beers and guests, a gaming area and is home to a branch of Slap & Pickle burgers. Buses 7 and 8 stop outside or Infirmary Road tram stop (Blue and Yellow routes) is less than ten minutes walk away.
HQ Brew
Sheffield’s newest brewery is associated with the Harlequin pub, whose regulars contributed to a crowdfunder to start the brewery which raises funds for local good causes. The first beer hit the bar in December 2022. Buses 7/8 and 95/95a stop outside the pub.
Intrepid
Based at Hope Valley in the Peak District National Park. They commenced brewing in the summer of 2014 on an eight barrel plant. There are four core beers plus seasonal specials supplied in cask, keg and bottle. A popup shop opens in the Intrepid brewery most weekends and there are occasional open days in the summer when they have a bar in the brewery while outside in the yard they put seating, music and a food vendor. Buses 271/272 (Sheffield-Castleton) that are routed via Bradwell stop at the end of the drive.
Little Critters
A small batch, family-owned microbrewery opened in 2015 operating on a ten barrel plant. The regular beers carry wildlife themed names and artwork (their Nutty Ambassador hazelnut milk stout won Champion Beer of Sheffield in 2018) alongside a series of one-off specials.
Little Mesters
Based at Meadowhead and named after the traditional Sheffield craftsmen who manufactured things like knives on a small scale. This is a small brewery based in a shop unit, neighbouring Mitchell’s Wine Merchants, who sell their range of bottles and cans. There is a small range of regular beers plus the occasional special – mostly traditional beers given a twist. The Little Mesters brewery has an upstairs taproom which is currently just used for special tasting events but there are plans to open it as a public bar in the near future.
Lost Industry
Run by a family of beer enthusiasts and opened in 2015. They brew a range of creative beers that is ever changing, although some popular beers do make a comeback from time-to-time such as the Mojito Sour.
Loxley
Based at the Wisewood Inn, established in 2018 and uses a five barrel plant. Buses 61/62 (Hillsborough-Bradfield) go there. They also have a second pub where you can try their beers, the Raven in Walkley.
Neepsend
An independent brewery established in 2015 that has since moved premises to Burton Road. Their regular beer is a Blonde with an ever-changing line-up of beers brewed alongside it, available in cask, keg and can. Their nearby tap pub is the Wellington, located by Shalesmoor tram stop (Blue and Yellow routes), where cans and minikegs can also be picked up.
Saint Mars of the Desert
SMOD to its friends, opened in the Attercliffe area of Sheffield after Dan Paquette and Martha Holley relocated from Boston, Massachusetts in 2018 with over 20 years brewing experience. The brewery is one of only a few in the UK with a koelschip and the beer range has an international influence including rustic ales, monastic type beers and koelschip hopped lagers. The beer is available in keg and can. The brewery site is two small buildings – brewery and taproom around a courtyard. The taproom, which opens at the weekend, offers table service. Dan and Martha are usually around to answer any questions about the brewery. Note no cask beer and payment is card only.
Stancill
Brews a range of simple session ales and a lager using equipment relocated from the closed Oakwell Brewery, which had been known for its Barnsley Bitter. They have two tap pubs – the Albion and Closed Shop.
Steel City
Cuckoo brews at Lost Industry Brewing about once a month, usually collaborations producing something a bit fun!
Tapped
Following the successful conversion of the old Edwardian dining rooms and first class refreshment rooms at Sheffield Railway Station into the Sheffield Tap bar, brewing began in 2013 at an onsite brewery with viewing gallery. Tapped Brew Co supplies beer to all the venues under the same ownership.
Temper
Based underneath the Dronfield Arms pub, Temper was established in 2021 leasing the brewery originally installed as Hopjacker. The kit is a five barrel plant and their aim is to produce beers that are approachable and balanced that suit an enjoyable afternoon or evening in the pub with friends. Beers are available in cask and keg, and there are usually some available on the pub’s bar. You can get there on bus 44 (Sheffield-Chesterfield) or it is a short walk from Dronfield station.
Thornbridge
Started out life in a tiny outbuilding next to Thornbridge Hall but now based on the Riverside Industrial Estate in Bakewell on a much bigger scale with a complex featuring two breweries, taproom and barrel-ageing store. The smaller of the two breweries, in the taproom building, produces the smaller batch cask beers. The Thornbridge taproom also features a shop and pizza kitchen. Bus 218 (Sheffield-Bakewell) will get you to within 15 minutes walk of the brewery.
Toolmakers
Located behind the Forest pub in a former toolmaking factory (hence the name), the brewery was established in 2013 with a five barrel plant, principally supplying the pub and the brewery taproom which operates as a live entertainment venue.
Triple Point
Triple Point brewery is in converted former carpet showroom is home to their brewery, bar and the Twisted Burger Company. The brewery is visible from the bar area and includes modern equipment, manufactured by a German company using Sheffield steel! Beer is dispensed from a mixture of cask, keg and tank. Many of the beers are gluten free.
True North
Small brewery and gin distillery in Sheffield City Centre. The brewery was opened in 2016 and the company changed their name from Forum Café Bars to True North. They supply their bars which include the Broadfield, Waggon & Horses, British Oak, Forum Café Bar, Old Grindstone, Punchbowl and Horse & Jockey plus the free trade. In 2020 they started brewing the cask version of Stones Bitter, which is now a Coors brand but was originally brewed at the long since closed Cannon brewery in Sheffield.