Author: Andy Cullen

Firstly we were really pleased to win two awards back in October at Huddersfield Beer Festival. We won gold in the strong bitter category for Attack of the Geek 6.0% which also just missed out at Sheffield Beer Festival coming second in the same category as well as this Ginger Beer 4.5% came third in the speciality category  at Huddersfield. Ginger Beer will be available throughout the festive period. Although Attack of the Geek has sold out, the next in the series will be available in December: Revenge of the Geek 4.5% is a red hoppy beer packed with Mosaic hops to give plenty of tropical fruit flavours and a combination of five different malts to give a robust malt body. On top of this the next two single hopped IPAs will both feature southern hemisphere hop varieties the first from New Zealand: Rakau IPA 5.0% the hops impart tropical fruit passion fruit and citrus characteristics. The second will feature Australian hops: Galaxy IPA 5.0% these hops impart passion fruit and peach characteristics.  Both beers are sure to have plenty of tropical fruit hop flavours. A few other beers we are working include Into the Void 6.0% a black IPA containing Columbus and Motueka hops. As well as Motueka Pale 3.9% which will be a crisp refreshing pale beer showcasing this New Zealand hop.

Well I can’t believe it’s coming round to the festive time of the year already, we would like to wish everybody Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! And what a year it has been! So much we could talk about, but firstly lets talk about our two pubs! We were delighted that the Devonshire Cat was awarded November Pub Of The Month, and this was a fitting way for our exiting manager, Josh, to sign off with! Thank you to all that came down to celebrate with us. We are equally delighted to announce that our new manager is Elizabeth Casserly, who moves over from the Sheffield Tap. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge and I’m sure she will continue to improve the pub in every department. The Rising Sun has been undergoing a mammoth expansion project, which is hopefully finished by the time you are reading this! Now with a full kitchen, extra drinking and dining area, and new toilets, we hope that you will come in and enjoy the new environment, with a warm welcome from Ryan, Nicole and their team! The kitchen is being run by our Head Chef from the Devonshire Cat, Pete Lightfoot, and expect the same high quality, freshly prepared pub food. Serving times are TBC.  Also keep an eye out for the brand new website and social media presence for the pub! (risingsunsheffield.co.uk) As much as 2015 has been a great year for the brewery, 2016 is going to MASSIVE! We celebrate our 20th birthday, plus SunFest’s 10th birthday! There will be a range of very special 20th birthday beers released at various points throughout the year and you may even see our beer in containers that we have yet to use before now!!! However that’s all I’m allowed to say right now (“Yes – shut up now Robin!” – Dan)!     Onto beers that I can talk about, our festive offerings from Dr Morton, ‘Our Wayne In A Manger’ and ‘Turkey Surprise’ should be hitting the bar by now, but also look out for ‘Thaw’ (4.8%, pale) and ‘Snowdrift’ (4.0%, pale with orange and cloves) in December and early January. Getting ready for all those New Year promises we bring back ‘Resolution’ a 4.2% pale beer that is sure to keep you on track (unless you give up drinking for January!) Robin

Fuggle Bunny is pleased to announce their latest beer Chapter 8 – Jammy Dodger 4.5% ruby red ale won silver in the Best Bitter category at the CAMRA Steel City Beer & Cider Festival at Kelham Island Museum in October 2015.  The Bunny is well hoppy… 🙂

The Drone Valley Brewery cuckoo brewed its third beer in time for the Chesterfield Market Beer Festival. This was Fanshaw Blonde at 4.8% ABV. The beer proved to be very popular both at the festival and at several local hostelries. Progress has been made in setting up their own brewery, with a target date of December 2015 for the first brew. Volunteers are needed to help with a range of tasks, including decorating the building. Further investment is still being sought, and the series of roadshows promoting the venture continue. There is a ‘community benefit’ element of the brewery’s ethos in that a proportion of each year’s profits will be donated to local good causes. Further details are available at:  dronevalleybrewery.com