Author: Dominic Nelson

Join us again for a RambAle in 2019

Posted on by Dominic Nelson

It’s springtime again, time for us to get our walking boots on and go for some drinks further afield. Sheffield has many great pubs and green spaces within its boundaries, but looking further afield there are many villages in the easily reached surrounding countryside which have great pubs in them too – all worth visiting. We are also lucky to still have within the city a public transport system that will get you there and back (most of the time!).

Although we as a branch have organised minibus trips to many of these pubs – usually on our way to present one of them with a well deserved award – these can be limited. To supplement them we are continuing our RambAles, a series of roughly monthly guided strolls in the countryside surrounding Sheffield visiting a number of pubs for a drink.

We hope that people won’t find the walks too long or too strenuous. Most routes will feature a number of drop-out points where people can leave the walk and make their own way back to Sheffield by public transport if they don’t fancy doing the whole walk, or want to stay for another drink in a particular pub. These will also provide joining points for any latecomers. Some timings and fares will be given in the walks’ listings (see the Diary section), but it pays to double-check these yourself!

The first RambAle of 2019 will take place on Saturday 23 March. The plan is to catch the 11:40 272 FirstBus from Sheffield Interchange as far as Fox House (c12:18). We shall walk through the Longshaw Estate to the Grouse Inn, then through Hay Wood to Grindleford station and Upper Padley. Any walkers who wish to can then continue along the Derwent riverside path to Leadmill and Hathersage for further refreshment and buses or trains back to Sheffield.

RambAle dates for the rest of 2019 will be:

  • Saturday 20 April – Chesterfield Pub Circular
  • Monday 27 May – Hope Valley Meander (including festival at Old Hall in Hope)
  • Saturday 29 June – Deepcar to Wortley (for Wortley Beer Festival)
  • Saturday 27 July – Baslow, Froggatt, Longshaw, Fox House
  • Saturday 24 August – Bradfield, Dungworth, Stacey Bank, Nags Head
  • Saturday 28 September – Monyash, Bakewell, Sheldon, Ashford, Thornbridge Brewery
  • Saturday 26 October – route TBC

We hope you can join us on one or more of our RambAles. Everyone welcome.

Malcolm Dixon

Beer Matters up for national award

Posted on by Dominic Nelson

At the end of January, we received the fabulous news that Beer Matters has been entered into the national CAMRA Magazine of the Year competition.

Every year, Regional Directors choose the best magazines from their area to go forward to the national contest and this year we have been chosen by the Regional Director for Yorkshire, Kevin Keaveny. Explaining the process, Kevin said: “As Regional Director I and my colleagues receive copies of every magazine produced in our regions. One of our tasks throughout the year is to choose two contenders to go forward to the national judging. For Yorkshire this is extremely hard with ten branches producing a magazine on a regular basis.

“For this year’s competition this magazine has gone forward as one of our entries. How do we choose? Well, that’s the hard bit. There are certain features that all CAMRA magazines must include, then I look at the editorial – is it understandable by non members and does it contain a element of campaigning? This magazine ticks all the boxes across the year. The final thing I look at is readability – by that, I mean is the font size reasonable with no magnifying glasses required?”

“I would like to thank all the magazine editors and their helpers, who are all volunteers, for the time they spend putting the magazine copy together, selling the advertising, delivering to pubs etc. Without this band of dedicated people you would not be reading this!”

The overall winner will be announced at the CAMRA AGM and Members’ Weekend taking place in Dundee in April, so we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed until then! Thanks once again to all our contributors, sponsors and distributors for making the magazine possible.

Dominic Nelson

Heritage Pubs: Royal Standard

Posted on by Dominic Nelson

We were recently contacted regarding some etched windows at the Royal Standard on St. Mary’s Road. These looked the part: three glass panels across the front of the pub, each with a distinctive ‘HB’ initial. The initial suggestion was that ‘HB’ referred to the long-lost Hoosons Brewery (1865–1914). Their Park Brewery on Cricket Inn Road, along with their 31 pubs, were taken over by Ind Coope in 1914. However, the Brewery History Society states that the Royal Standard was obtained by S. H. Wards in 1876, from William Bradley. The next thought was that ‘HB’ referred to a past Landlord: the only possibility was Henry Piggott, a licensee in the 1850s and 60s.

Finally, a visit to Sheffield Archives found the solution. From 1972, until it was discontinued in 1985, the Royal Standard was subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) from Sheffield City Council concerning the development of the Inner Ring Road. The file concerned with the CPO included a colour photo of the pub – no etched windows! Hence the windows were possibly late 20th century, not a relic of a by-gone age.

More research saw more recent photos and plans for a 2002 revamp (Ian Whitehead Contract Furnishing Limited for Enterprise Inns Limited) bringing changes leading to the present configuration of an opened out central area with wide spaces leading to what were originally the three separate rooms. ‘HB’ refers to The Bramwell Pub Company Limited, a subsidiary of Enterprise Inns plc. Bramwell went into administration in 2013: some pubs were sold to other operators while others, including the Royal Standard, reverted back to Enterprise Inns.

We believe the windows were installed in 2002. Thanks to Dermot Kennedy and Jamie Thompson for their assistance.

Dave Pickersgill

Pub and Industrial Heritage Walk

Posted on by Dominic Nelson

As part of Sheffield Beer Week 2019, our branch’s Pub Heritage Officer will be leading a walk around Kelham Island and Neepsend on Tuesday 12 March. The tour starts at 2pm at the Millowners Arms at the Kelham Island Industrial Museum, a gallery celebrating Sheffield’s brewing heritage, complete with its own traditional bar. After a short talk, the event will follow a 1.2 mile route passing the oldest working brewery in Sheffield, a myriad of industrial sites, more breweries and a number of pubs before finishing at the Gardeners Rest, close to the now derelict Cannon Brewery.

A limited number of copies of the Sheffield’s Real Heritage Pubs will be available at a reduced price of £5.00. The book is also available as a free download:  sheffield.camra.org.uk/rhp.

Places should be booked in advance. Full details, including booking information, are available at: tinyurl.com/yc3djsuo.

Dave Pickersgill

Kelham Island Brewery

Posted on by Dominic Nelson

We have two great specials for March. Another Fine Mess (4.0%) is a rich malty porter, brewed with the finest ale malt and a blend of four different roasted malts complimented with the sweet creamy taste of vanilla. From our retro gaming range we also have Sonic Non Youth (5.0%), a refreshing pale ale so amazing it will put you into a spin. Clean and fresh on the  palate, with a hint of citrus.

For Sheffield Beer Week, we are doing a collaboration with Little Critters Brewery, a mango IPA (6.0%). Also. as part of the Beer Week Photography Trail we are opening the downstairs bar next to our shop – opening hours will be Monday to Friday 9am-3pm. There will be someone available to stamp a person’s Photography Trail and refreshments will be available.

Jim Connolly will be down here on Saturday 9 March in the loft bar from 10am until 4pm with a selection of his artwork, plus he will be using the projector and giving a talk. Refreshments will again be available.

Michael Williams

Crosspool Ale Makers Society

Posted on by Dominic Nelson

The change from Hopscotch is now complete. My launch night as Crosspool Ale Makers Society took place on Thursday 14 February, so by the time the next issue of Beer Matters is due I’ll hopefully be in full swing.

The first pubs and bars confirmed to be taking the first batch are: Boozehound @ Cutlery Works; Two Sheds Micropub, Crookes; Guzzle Micropub, Woodseats; and The Itchy Pig, Broomhill. Plus more to be confirmed, (hopefully!). The first beer for the launch was my 4.5% Citra-hopped golden ale, Horatio Bright.

The plan is to do a Tap Takeover on 11 March at Two Sheds as part of Sheffield Beer Week. By then, I should have 2 more beers in the lineup; a 5.4% extra pale, The Lost Tribe, and a 3.6% session blonde, Sandygate.

Mark Booth

Abbeydale Brewery

Posted on by Dominic Nelson

The celebrations for Sheffield Beer Week are taking place this month, so there will be tons going on all over the city. We’re very excited to be representing at Indie Beer Feast at Abbeydale Picture House again this year, it was a brilliant day in 2018 and great to see that it’s already expanded to a two-day festival. Hope to see you there on Friday 8 and Saturday 9t March!

We are also particularly looking forward to the Food & Beer Pairing evening to be held at the Devonshire Cat on Wednesday 13 March – please check the pub’s website for all the ticket information. The event is being hosted by the magnificent (not to mention world famous) beer writer Melissa Cole, who we were lucky enough to collaborate with, so one of two beers we created with her will be released in time for the event. Keep those eyes peeled for the details!

We’ve got plenty of other new releases this month too. New to the Brewers Emporium and ready to lead us into springtime after a very long winter, we have Reverie (4.2%), a Citra and Cascade dry-hopped pale intended to transport your mind to a glorious daydream. Bursting with a fruity, floral flavour that blooms upon the palate.

We’ve also got a (name currently TBC) Farmhouse IPA coming up, brewed in collaboration with the incredible Siren Craft Brew. Look out for the barrel aged version coming later in the year too, and if you get hold of a can then be sure to save your label as artist Lewis Ryan has come up with another mind-blowing idea for our artwork!

Our next (very) limited edition Methuselah (10.5%) is going into cask, keg and for the first time into can, and this iteration is a Bretted barrel aged imperial stout. Potent and robust, a quintessential impy with just a hint of a bretty twang which rounds the beer out perfectly. This one’s been a long time coming and we’re very excited to see it finally making its way onto bars and shelves around the country.

Staying on the dark side, the next version of Salvation is to be released and takes the guise of a classic Breakfast Stout (5.4%). A carefully selected malt grist (with some smoked malt for added complexity) and plenty of coffee from Sheffield based Cafeology provide a smooth and balanced bittersweet stout. We reckon it’s the most important beverage of the day…

And finally, we have yet another collaboration, this time with Leeds-based Wilde Child, a brewery we’ve long admired. We’ve teamed up to make a punchy West Coast style IPA with a winning combination of hops. These guys will be showcasing a range of their beers (including this one!) at a Meet the Brewer and Tap Takeover at the Devonshire Cat in April too, so look out for all the event details coming soon.

Cheers,

Laura

Welbeck Abbey Brewery

Posted on by Dominic Nelson

The nights are starting to get a little bit brighter and the days (hopefully) a little bit warmer, and we’ve got some specials this month that will help you start feeling some Springtime vibes.

We’re kicking off March with The Loyal Duke, named after William Cavendish (ancestor of the Welbeck dynasty). This is a 4.0% luxuriously smooth and biscuity four-grain golden ale, brewed using the very finest transcontinental hops to compliment these British malts.

Our next special is a St Patrick’s Day favourite dubbed Sligo. At 5.4% this is a velvety smooth, chocolatey oatmeal stout, created using the finest roast British malts and rolled oats. Mmm.

And finally, from our brand new and innovative Foraged & Found range we’ve got Take It Squeezy. At the Welbeck Farm Shop a mesmerising ‘Zumex’ orange chopper and squeezer instantly provides shoppers with the freshest orange juice possible. But what happens to the left over flesh? Well, we have harnessed the remaining flavour in these to create a wonderfully zingy, tangy golden ale with British hops. Its 5.6%, and zero waste!

Lastly if you’re interested in attending one of our Brewery Tours make sure to grab your tickets know as half the dates are already sold out! You can grab them online at www.welbeckabbeybrewery.co.uk.

Jess Low

Railway Hotel, Bramall Lane

Posted on by Dominic Nelson

We at Railway Hotel are enjoying an exciting 2019, which we began with some internal renovations. The place is looking fantastic inside, and we intend to continue these renovations externally as the year progresses. Moving through the year, we will be continuing our weekly themed quizzes every Tuesday. Previous incarnations have included Simpsons, Marvel, Harry Potter and Doctor Who themes. Keep your eyes peeled to our Facebook page for the upcoming quizzes.

Thursdays at Railway are games nights with competitions on our free-to-play retro tabletop machines and an ever rotating selection of PS3, GameCube and board games on offer. All free to play, all night long.

We saw an influx of students through our doors towards the end of 2018 and want to make them feel even more welcomed in 2019 with plans to introduce a Student Rail Card, which will serve as a loyalty reward scheme for our valued student customers. With a brand new cocktail menu and even more student offers in the pipeline, we’re sure everyone will find reasons new and old to spend time in our cosy little pub.

As ever, we will continue to host an eclectic mix of our local breweries’ fantastic ales that come and go with increasing frequency. The real ale scene in Sheffield is truly one of a kind, and we are blessed to be a small part of that. Long may it continue. A CAMRA discount of 30p per pint applies to every ale we tap so come and find your new favourite tipple with us.

All of us at Railway Hotel wish the very best for the people of Sheffield and look forward to meeting many more of you in 2019. For details of all of our events, opening hours, ales on offer and a whole host of miscellany: find us at facebook.com/RailwaySheff.

Dayve Traynor

Bradfield Brewery

Posted on by Dominic Nelson

Spring is in the air! To celebrate we welcome back a fruity beer to our range of ales as Farmers Plum Bitter (4.4%) returns to the brewing schedule once more. This deep rich reddish-coloured beer is smooth on the palate and has tonnes of plums for a fruity finish.

Our mascot, Farmers Blonde Bottle, has a new claim to fame – he only gone and popped up as poster boy for the Sheffield Half Marathon! Sticking with costumes and we are excited to announce that we are supporting elite runner Peter Knight in his Guinness World Record attempt for the fastest marathon dressed as a glass! Peter will be donning a new Bradfield Brewery costume at this year’s London Marathon on 28 April, where he will attempt to beat the current record of 4 hours. As part of his training Peter will be running the Sheffield Half Marathon in the new costume, look out for it and give him a wave!

As much as this kid loves running, he’s doing it for a good cause too! Peter is running for the charity Myaware which is the only charity in the UK dedicated solely to the care and support of people affected by myasthenia.  Myasthenia affects all ages and genders but it is treatable and can be brought under good control with medication, however in some circumstances, it can be fatal. You can support Peter via his JustGiving page: justgiving.com/fundraising/fastglass.

For further updates and to follow the progress of Peter and the Bradfield Brewery Glass, give us a like on facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

Jackie