Blue Bee Brewery
March sees the return of Sheffield Beer Week and we can’t wait to enjoy some of the great beery events planned throughout the city. We were really pleased to welcome Luicenne from the Shakespeare down to the brewery to brew a beer for their Collabracadabra brew fest, the beer in question is a style we have not brewed for a while, a Black IPA showcasing American Ekuanot hops. At the time of writing the full details had not been decided but expect a dark ale packed full of hoppy bitterness. We also headed down to Steel City/ Lost Industry to join the Shakespeare team, Abbeydale and Neepsend to brew a beer for the event and can’t wait for Friday 13th March to try both beers at the Shakespeare.
Other beers we have available for March are the new American 5 Hop version 43 4.3% this time combining Amarillo, Columbus, Cascade, Centennial and Mosaic. We also managed to get our hands on some Australian Galaxy hops for the first time in a long time and have combined it with Mosaic to create a citrusy and fruity West Coast IPA with a bitter finish, inventively named Galaxy Mosaic IPA 5.8%. On top of this we have Citra and Simcoe session New England Pale Ale in the pipeline so watch this space.
On Friday 13th March we’re proud to be hosting the launch party of the collaboration beer between Abbeydale, Sheffield based LGBT community – Out & About and The Queer Brewing Project.
This collaboration will be joined by a host of other beers on draught that have been brewed by LGBT+ people in a considered effort to promote the much under-represented LGBT+ beer community. This is more than a tap takeover; it is a celebration of equality, diversity and of course great beer!
Michael Deakin – Bar Manager at The Devonshire Cat. 
Dorothy Pax, Victoria Quays: A cosy bar in a railway arch alongside the canal basin offering a range of real ales and regular live music events, mostly blues and generally free entry. In the summer look out for special festival events with a music stage outside on the waterfront.
Frog & Parrot, Division Street, Sheffield City Centre: This slightly quirky but classic Greene King pub is a Sheffield institution and hosts live music at the front of the pub from time to time.
Gardeners Rest, Neepsend: A community ethos runs through this pub in both the ownership and the way it operates. It has three rooms (snug, lounge and conservatory) and a riverside beer garden. Music performances, normally folky, are regular in the lounge.
Greystones: This pub run by Thornbridge Brewery has a back room for ticketed events including live music and comedy.
Harlequin, Kelham Island: The lower part of this pub is regularly converted into a stage area, with Saturday nights often seeing live music, usually classic rock covers.
Hillsborough Hotel, Langsett Road: Look out for monthly folk music sessions.
New Barrack Tavern, near Hillsborough: This multi-roomed roadhouse pub has a stage area in the main bar room as well as in the beer garden and hosts regular live music and comedy events. The bar features a choice of real ales and an extensive cider selection. Check their Facebook page for entertainment guide.
Picture House Social, Abbeydale Road: As well as DJs in the bar, there is a seperate gig room at the back of the venue which hosts regular ticketed events.
Shakespeares, Gibralter Street: The upstairs “Bards Bar” hosts a busy gig programme.
Toolmakers Brewery tap room, Neepsend: As well as enjoying ale brewed on site, this venue located behind the Forest pub opens for gigs once or twice a month including jam nights as well as full band gigs. Events are a mixture of free entry and ticketed, check out the brewery Facebook page for details.
Washington, City Centre: The raised part of the dance floor is utilised as a stage for regular free entry live music nights, often young up and coming indie bands. Gigs are normally an 8pm start, with a DJ on after. 6 real ales available on the bar, which stays open until 2am midweek and 3am Thursday/Friday/Saturday night. Check their Facebook page or website for whats on. (photo by Martin Clark).
White Lion, Heeley: The raised area at the back of the pub hosts live music of some description most nights, the exception being Wednesday when it is quiz night. A range of real ales are available. Check their website for listings.
An honourable mention as a mainstay of Sheffield’s music scene goes to West Street Live, unfortunately there is no real ale or craft beer on tap there but there is usually something worth drinking in bottles or cans. Green Room also hosts regular live music events, they have real ale on a part time basis, usually Doom Bar. 
We are pleased to be able to announce our festival will be returning to Kelham Island Museum again this year from the 21st to 24th October.
As ever we will have lots of real ale and other craft beers, cider & perry, street food, games, live music and more spread across various areas of the museum site.
There will be some changes to the layout this year, we’ll no longer have the Millowners Arms as a festival brewery bar as this is now an independent pub open full time all year round – however we expect their bar to be open during the festival in addition to our own relocated brewery bars, meaning an even bigger choice of beers and rooms to explore!
The festival is entirely organised, managed and staffed by volunteers, if you fancy joining the team the volunteering form will go online soon and watch this space for more news as things start to get organised.
One Valley, Dronfield – Saturday 6th June
There is no CAMRA real ale festival taking place in Dronfield this year and of course 3 Valleys is no more, however there is quite a list of pubs, clubs, breweries and shops putting on their own independent events on the traditional date, offering a day out in the area featuring beer, food and music.
There are two collectives putting on events:
One Valley (Dronfield town centre and Dronfield Woodhouse):
Hill Top Sports and Social Club, Blue Stoops, Coach & Horses, Hyde Park Inn, Manor House Hotel, The Underdog bar, Jolly Farmer, Dronfield Wine World, White Swan, Victoria, Dronfield Arms and The Beer Stop. These are all either within walking distance of Dronfield railway station or served by Stagecoach bus 43.
One Valley EXTRA (surrounding villages and beyond)
The Pioneer Club in Dronfield, Miners Arms in Hundall, Drone Valley Brewery in Unstone and Jacey’s micropub on Whittington Moor. Stagecoach bus 43/44 and TM Travel bus 14/15 link these venues with Dronfield town centre, additionally a taxi minibus service will be shuttling regularly between these venues throughout the afternoon.
For the latest information check out their Facebook event pages.
Barnsley CAMRA , Elsecar – 7th to 9th May
The beer festival organised by Barnsley CAMRA in Elsecar this year has moved from its previous home at the railway, although not very far – the 2020 event will be at Elsecar Heritage Centre, which beer lovers in the area will know as the home of Maison de Bier craft beer shop.
As ever, volunteer staff are needed!
Recent brews from Blue Bee include a couple of beers celebrating particular hop varities, Rakau Pale at a sessionable 3.9% ABV and a still fairly sensible Centennial American Pale Ale at 4.7% ABV. 