Kelham Island Tavern
At the end of July the Kelham Island Tavern had a full cellar refit which included a complete replacements of all the beer line and hand pumps.
As well as the addition of more keg lines which means they now have four rotating keg taps featuring the top end of UK brewing, including at least one sour and a couple of IPAs. But not to worry there is still 13 hand pumps showcasing a great range of cask beers of all styles, from both top local breweries including Blue Bee and great beers from around the country.
On cask a mild, stout and porter all still feature alongside strong beers, IPAs, pales ales, bitters and speciality beers.
New Beer – Fresh Start
We can’t believe it’s actually getting round to that time of year again…..time is flying by!
As we gear up for the crazy season, we welcome Kieran Chadwick to the Brewing team. Joining Head Brewer Sam Jubb and new brewer Bruce Woodcock, Kieran brings a wealth of scientific experience to the team and is enjoying his new venture within the brewing industry!
Two firm favorites on the seasonal ale calendar are available again for 2019. Farmers Jack-O-Lantern will tempt the taste buds with its lightly hopped flavour and dry aftertaste and will be available from 7th October. Farmers Poppy Ale is returning for 2019 remembrance. This pale fruity ale is a must try, and with 10pence from every pint donated to the Royal British Legion’s local Poppy Appeal, who needs any more excuses to give this one a try!
The newest addition to Dronfield’s bar scene opens on 18th September.
Underdog is a free house on Dronfield Bottom, next door to the Dronfield Arms, Beer Stop and White Swan and just a few minutes walk from the station. It is the premises previously occupied by Smiffy’s, which has undergone a refurbishment by local tradesmen giving it a modern look with exposed brick and steelwork.
Continuing with the local theme, all the staff are from the Dronfield area and local suppliers are being used where possible.
On the beer front, Underdog will feature a range of 5 cask and 21 keg taps with Triplepoint Brewery in Sheffield supplying the house beer.
The bar also boasts an extensive gin list, with the house pours provided by Derbyshire Distillery, plus of course other fine wines and spirits!
Meat and Cheese sharing boards will be available Thursday to Sunday to provide nice nibbles to accompany your drinks.
Special events are planned including beer, wine, port, gin, rum and whisky tastings with small plates paired with the drink, there are also likely to be tap takeovers and trips to visit the breweries involved!
Like with many craft beer venues, a nice line in merchandise is also planned for their fans…!
First up is Pilgrim (5.0%), our pumpkin spiced ale, and the first beer that (at the time of writing) we’ve confirmed as being at the Steel City Beer Festival from 16th-19th October, so do join us at the bar for a pint! We’re also very pleased to have Iced Tea Dead People (4.6%) back – our peach iced tea pale, using tea from the lovely Birdhouse Tea Co. and hibiscus to add an extra layer of flavour and a peachy hue.
My history with The Commercial runs not nearly as deep as it does for many, nor does my frequency of patronage approach anything that might offer me license to think of myself as a regular. These things notwithstanding, I felt instantly compelled to nominate this fine establishment for a PotM award when I was last leaning upon their most estimable bar, learning that they were eligible again (their last nomination was quite some time ago). The occasion of said visit is itself reason enough to justify the nomination, since I was there to present the landlord with an award to acknowledge a noteworthy achievement, namely, 20 consecutive years in The Good Beer Guide.
I can vividly recall my first visit to The Commercial, for ‘twas a day upon which I was returning to Sheffield from Leeds. A friend offered to drive me and another down, rather than have us catch the train. The driver was to visit his family in Chapeltown, so it seemed like a sensible marriage of objectives. Upon arriving into Sheffield’s northernmost parts, it was suggested we visit The Commercial to help alleviate the symptoms of our previous night’s indulgence. Walking in, it immediately became clear that the choice to have a Saturday afternoon beer in this particular spot was no accident. The bar was a forest of beer engines (at that time, serving numerous ales from the now defunct Wentworth Brewery), there was an abundance of polished wood and brass… and a dartboard! That particular afternoon slipped by in perfect contentment and it was a shame that we couldn’t stay there (upright) all day. I always look forward to returning to The Commercial and take opportunities to introduce the place, wherever necessary, to those that have yet to have had the pleasure.
Of course, there are all sorts of things that recommend this pub to its patrons, chief among these being the terrifically popular monthly whisky tasting events, the hearty food, the friendly staff and the indefatigable landlord.
I find the Commercial, at once, remarkable yet unremarkable. It is a place of plain, winsome beauty that serves glorious, well-conditioned beer. In short, it is an unadulterated delight to spend time in Chapeltown’s most decorated public house.
Patrick Johnson