Brews towards the end of 2025 at Blue Bee included American 5 Hop version 86 (Columbus, Citra and Azacca, dry hopped), Nectaron Superdelic 5.6, a stout, five malt mild v3 and Little Nectaron (3.5% ABV single hop pale).
Blue Bee have kicked off 2026 with three brews, the classic Hillfoot Best Bitter, Citra Simcoe IPA and Amercian 5 Hop v86 which includes Cashmere, Columbus and Comet hops among the five!
A planning application has been made to convert the former Kelham Island Brewery into a seafood restaurant and takeaway. The original brewery ceased trading after Covid and the current company brew their beer at Thornbridge, in Bakewell.
Thornbridge have published their “year of beer” planner for 2026. Cask releases include Salted Caramel Lucaria (ice cream porter) in January, Venn (blonde) in February, Hirundo (spring pale ale) in March, Quasar (European pale) in April and Present (coffee mild) in May.
Sunday 28 December saw the inaugural Great Drone Valley Barrel race take place. This saw teams competing to be the quickest to carry empty beer casks from Drone Valley Brewery up the hill to the Cross Daggers pub in Coal Aston. The pub’s festivities continued into the evening with live music to keep drinkers entertained!
Fuggle Bunny Brew House have announced they will be hosting additional tap events on Saturdays once a month throughout 2026, on the last Saturday of the month. The Saturday events also feature live music and a food vendor with the first one being on 31 January when the bar will be open 3pm to 9pm with live music from 5pm and wood fired pizzas available. The brewery is a short walk from Halfway tram/bus terminus towards Killamarsh.
The first seasonal brew of 2026 from Bradfield Brewery is Farmers Mild. It’s a rather sessionable 3.4% ABV with a well rounded malty body and moderately fruity hop finish.
Little Mesters have had some new brew kit installed, more about this soon!
Torrside Brewery in New Mills have now announced the dates of their tap weekends in 2026. These are 3/4 April, 29/30 May, 26-27 June, 24/25 July, 28/29 August and 25-26 September. In most cases they are open 4-9pm on the Friday and 12-8pm on the Saturday. These events see a bar open in the brewery and usually a street food trader outside. We are planning a branch social trip on the train in July. The brewery is walkable from New Mills Central station on the Sheffield-Manchester line but closer to New Mills Newtown station on the Manchester-Buxton line.
Ticking Clock Brew Co in Shireoaks continue to open their tap room Thursday to Sunday (4pm to 9pm Thur/Fri, 12-9pm Saturday, 12-6pm Sunday) often with street food traders outside. They have now expanded with a second room called “The Cold Store” which hosts events, including on Saturday 31 January a metal night with live music from 6pm. The brewery is a short walk from Shireoaks railway station, on the Sheffield-Lincoln line.
Recent brews from Ticking Clock include “Just Like Yesterday” (4.4% best bitter) and “Be There Two O’Clock” (4.2% oatmeal stout) in cask and “Where’d all the time go” (7% hazy IPA hopped with Strata and Talus) in keg and can.
Eyam Brewery Tap & Shop in Tideswell opened for its final weekend of the November/December run of pop up events on 30 December. Eyam are now going through the process of gaining planning permission for change of use and a permanent licence for the premises after which they’ll be getting the builders in to convert the industrial unit into a proper tap room bar, kitchen and shop. In the meantime you can order bottled beers to drink at home online with a click & collect facility at their brewery in Great Hucklow and of course various pubs in the region serve their beer including the Outbreak bar in Chesterfield.
Resting Devil Brewery, based at the Chesterfield Arms pub in, erm, Chesterfield, launched their take on a dark Belgian ale in December. It’s called Leuven, is 6.7% ABV and is brewed with an authentic Trappist ale yeast.
Ashover Brewery, based at Clay Cross in South Chesterfield, have launched a new range of merchandise.
Duality Brew Co took delivery of new fermenting vessels in December which will increase their capacity significantly.
Neepsend Brewery are brewing a Pilot series of experimental single hop beers. Spotted on the bar at the Wellington (their tap) recently was Pilot #2.
Brampton Brewery on Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, have announced the dates they are hosting brewery tours this year. They take place on Friday evenings once a month, starting on 27 February. Tickets cost £15 each (from their website or brewery shop) and include 2 pints in their bar as well as illustrated talks and a tour. The hours are 7:30-10:30pm.
Intrepid Brewery in Brough (between Bradwell and Hope) have got the new year off to a start with a new brew of Pecsaetan IPA and a bottling of Stanage Stout.