Award gallery
Author: Guest
Abbeydale Brewery
Hopefully by the time you read this, our new brewkit should be back in full working order and producing plenty of beer for you to enjoy! Doctor Morton’s Desert Sand (4.1%) is planned as the first special to be brewed on the new kettle, a refreshing pale ale with Cascade and Vic Secret hops for notes of peach, citrus and pine.
We’re pleased to be bringing back our Deliverance collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops (7.0%), featuring Sabro, Talus (previously known as HBC 692) and HBC 472, which still doesn’t have a name but is very tasty nonetheless. Aromatic and flavoursome, with juicy citrus and lashings of creamy coconut flavour. Probably my personal fave from this range so I for one can’t wait for this one to be available again!
And we know it’s a bit early, but we’re already shouting about all things Christmas here at Abbeydale HQ (sorry not sorry!). Excitingly, we’ve been able to create our very own advent calendars this year which are available exclusively on our online shop, so do take a peek at those! The festive theme will start to creep over into our beers by the end of the month too, with Doctor Morton’s Christmas Hamster, a 4.1% pale ale with Green Bullet, Citra and Cascade hops, coming up.
Finally, our “Baltic Up North” brew which some of you may remember from a few years ago has found a new home in our Brewers’ Emporium range as Restoration – Baltic Porter (7.0%). Brewed with lager yeast and fermented cold, expect a smooth and spicy dark beer with a delectable roast character and a very more-ish finish. This on cask in a cosy pub is going to be an absolute treat.
Collyfobble brew day
During the COVID pandemic and the lockdowns, lots of people have turned their hands to a wide range of additional skills and pastimes, be it baking, gardening and in my instance, I turned my hand again to homebrewing. Ive been on and off brewing at home for a good number of years and the pandemic gave me a huge boost to get going again.
This passion for brewing ale has subsequently flourished and a number of recipes have been repeated time and time again. One recipe in particular is a pale/ blonde ale hopped with Nelson Sauvin I call “Lawnmower”. It started life as a brew to sip in the garden during lockdowns where there was so little to do other than mow the lawn.
At a recent CAMRA meeting, the upcoming Sheffield Beer Festival was mentioned and a gem of an idea was formed. Would Sheffield Beer Festival like a cask of “Lawnmower”. As a homebrewer this is a real test of brewing skills, to be judged amongst professional brewers and the ego boost of seeing a pump clip on a bar was just too tempting to miss out from.
I had met the brewer at Collyfobble, Ash Linnett at a previous CAMRA meeting and after a few phone conversations a date was set to brew a batch of Lawnmower on a full size brewery. Collyfobble Brewery is based at the recently redeveloped Peacock Pub in Barlow. The brewery itself is a beautiful showpiece example of a small scale commercial brewery, housed in an impressive building at the side of what is arguably one of the most picturesque landscapes in the region. The brewery supplies the pub with great core range beers; in recent months this range is being extended to supply other venues.
The brew itself went through the brewery and transferred to the fermenter without a hitch, Ash showing his depth of brewing experience at key points in the journey. As the hops were added, the brewhouse was filled with delicious fruit aromas of grapes, passionfruit and gooseberries exactly as it does at my home. I am proud to say that the beer is fermenting well and initial samples are nearly identical to previous batches brewed at home. I cannot wait to see it at Sheffield Beer Festival on an actual bar.
Sheffield’s 46th Steel City Beer & Cider Festival takes place from 19 to 22 October at Kelham Island Museum. All the details are here.
Kelham Island beer is back!
- Sheffield’s oldest independent brewery, has been saved from closure.
- The brewery is a significant part of Sheffield and the UK’s brewing history.
- Its award-winning flagship beer, Pale Rider has previously been named Champion Beer of Britain and will return on cask at the Fat Cat and at CAMRA’s Steel City Beer Festival on the 19th October.
Kelham Island Brewery, Sheffield’s oldest independent brewery, has been saved from closure by a group from Sheffield.
The brewery’s rescue is a collaboration between Tramlines co-founder and Sheffield venue owner James O’Hara, his brother and financial analyst Tom O’Hara, Simon Webster and Jim Harrison of renowned Thornbridge Brewery, Peter Donohoe, founder of Sheffield based creative studio Peter and Paul and Ben Rymer marketing manager from beer festival organisers, We Are Beer.
James O’Hara, who put the group together after hearing about the brewery’s closure, said: “Kelham Island Brewery, and its flagship beer Pale Rider, are known and revered beyond Sheffield. It’s heritage that we, as a city, should be really proud of. We couldn’t let that just disappear, it means too much within the city and to the UK’s beer culture for it to become another Wikipedia entry.”
A pioneer for the UK’s craft beer scene, Kelham Island Brewery has played a significant role in Sheffield’s brewing history and heritage. The brewery was founded in 1990 by Dave Wickett and was the first new independent brewery in Sheffield for over 100 years. From humble beginnings in the garden of the Fat Cat pub in Kelham Island it flourished, with many of its brewing talent going on to set up and work for the likes of Abbeydale, Thornbridge, Magic Rock, Bradfield and Brewdog.
Simon Webster from Thornbridge Brewery commented, “Kelham Island Brewery has always been linked with Thornbridge. They were the reason we started the business. Theirs were the first beers we brewed and Dave Wickett was a guiding hand in the early days of Thornbridge. When I first heard about the closure, I immediately thought, how can we help? How can we save the heritage that the Wickett Family had built? I chatted passionately about what we could do with James and we formulated a plan to try to save those great beers. I’m so pleased we have been successful. We’re looking forward to brewing the beers and keeping Kelham Island Brewery alive in Sheffield and beyond.”
Pale Rider, the brewery’s flagship beer, won the Champion Beer of Britain in 2004, it was the first winner to use hops from the USA and is still the only beer in South Yorkshire to have ever received the accolade.
Ben Rymer, who works for beer festival organisers We Are Beer, a celebration of all things in modern beer culture, said: “American hops form the backbone of the modern craft beer scene, but what Dave was doing was really revolutionary. He really went out on a limb at the time and was a true visionary. No one was setting up breweries back then and the craft beer industry as we know it now simply didn’t exist. The fact that Dave had to sell the beer he made in his own pub wasn’t about creating a scene, it was a necessity. Most pubs at the time were all owned by big pub companies.”
Jim Harrison from Thornbridge Brewery said: “Dave was a good friend and really understood beer and its regional variations. He understood that to be successful you needed to get your beer to people outside of the area. He was years ahead of his time and I’m so proud that we have been able to save these beers from being lost forever.”
Ed Wickett, former Kelham Island Brewery owner and son of founder Dave Wickett said: ‘I’m really pleased the brewery is in such safe hands. It’ll be great to serve Pale Rider in the Fat Cat again’
The first pour of Pale Rider will be at the Fat Cat on lunchtime of the 19th October, it will then also be pouring at CAMRA’s Steel City Beer Festival taking place, fittingly, at Kelham Island Museum starting on the evening of the 19th October for four days. The beer will then be delivered to the wider on-trade from week commencing 24th October.
NB – we understand that until the brewery on Alma Street is restored to working order (the kit etc was sold off when the original company was liquidated), the beer will be brewed by Thornbridge in Bakewell.
Bus cuts, 2 October
2 October is going to be a date that won’t be celebrated by those travelling by bus. It sees government Covid support funding, which had been supporting the existing network against a background of falling ticket sales, rising costs and a national shortage of drivers, start to be phased out, disappearing entirely next March. This means the network has to adapt to be sustainable, which in most cases means cutbacks to services.
One of the cuts in many areas, which is of particular relevance to us as it impacts pubgoing, is evening services although there are also examples of routes either shortened or cancelled altogether.
All the details are at travelsouthyorkshire.com/en-gb/newsupdates/service-changes but here is a basic summary for Sheffield.
1a/11 Herdings – City – Chapeltown: 1a to only run in the daytime and from Herdings will run via Blackstock Road. Route 11 to run Herdings-City via Heeley Green including in the evening.
6/83 City – Greystones – Millhouses: 83 is completely withdrawn with service via Greystones replaced by changes to route 6. This however is a daytime only service. Bus 83a will still run in the daytime, no contract yet awarded for an evening service.
8 Ecclesfield – Neepsend – City – Birley – Crystal Peaks: Ecclesfield end of the route to no longer operate in the evening with evening buses running City-Birley only. Daytime route to be split into two separate services with Crystal Peaks to Birley a different bus. Bus 7 will continue unchanged.
10/10a Manor Top – Nether Edge circular – South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority not yet awarded the contract to a new operator following Powell’s bus ceasing trading.
18 Hillsborough – Meadowhall – Norton Lees – City: A new timetable, First to only operate on weekdays with a contract to operate a Saturday service not yet awarded by SYMCA to any operator.
24 Woodhouse – City – Lowedges – Bradway: Route cut shorter to Lowedges, meaning no evening service to Bradway. Last buses slightly earlier than now (about 10pm). Bus 25 to still run to Bradway until 8pm.
27 Rotherham-Crystal Peaks: route withdrawn.
41 City-Frecheville: No contract yet awarded to operate a Sunday service.
44 Sheffield-Coal Aston-Dronfield-Chesterfield: change of route into Chesterfield
50/50a Sheffield-Eckington-Chesterfield: no longer limited stop
52a Woodhouse – Handsworth – Attercliffe – City – Crookes – Hillsborough – Wisewood/Loxley. Route cut back to Hillsborough. Last buses to be around 9pm. New bus 31 will replace section to Loxley in the daytime only. Bus 61/62 will still run as now and bus 52 will still run until late to a new timetable.
57/57a/58/59/SL1/SL1a Sheffield – Hillsborough – Middlewood – Oughtibridge – Stocksbridge: Buses SL1 and SL1a withdrawn replaced by changes to route 57/57a Stocksbridge Flyer which will run Sheffield to Stocksbridge all day every day (57 via Midlewood, 57a via Worrall. No contract yet awarded for route 59. No changes to bus 58.
61/62 Hillsborough – Bradfield circular: no contract awarded to operate a Sunday service as yet so will continue unchanged.
86 Lowedges – City – Chapeltown: All journeys to be operated by Stagecoach with some modest improvements to the evening service.
97/98 Hillsborough – City – Totley/Totley Brook: last buses slightly earlier at weekends.
120 Halfway – City – Fulwood: evening frequency reduced
135 Sheffield – Upperthorpe – Hillsborough – Grenoside – Chapeltown – Rotherham: Route reduced just to Rotherham-Chapeltown with no evening or Sunday service. Hillsborough-Sheffield replaced by new route 31 daytime only. Bus 86 will still operate through Grenoside.
137 Rotherham – Blackburn – Meadowhall – Sheffield: route extended to Sheffield. No evening or Sunday service.
M17 Dore-Jordanthorpe: contract not yet awarded to any operator
X5 Sheffield-Dinnington: some evening journeys withdrawn.
X55 Sheffield-Dinnington – route withdrawn
There are also timetable and/or operator changes on routes 9, 9a, 20, 25, 41, 51, 52, 56, 72, 72a, 73, 74a, 75, 76, 80, 81, 82, 83a,181, 208, 256/257/258, 271/272, X1, X10, X54, X74, X78.
Pub of the Month October 2022
Well here we are again, for the third time in as many months a pub I nominated for Pub of the Month has won – if any publicans wish to avail of this service my rates are very reasonable… 😉
As a big fan of the Rutland Arms (see Beer Matters 515) I had high hopes when Chris and Kate told me they were looking for a second pub. After exploring a couple of options they were successful in securing the former Crown Inn on Scotland St (more recently known as Sleep Hotel and before that a nightclub), in partnership with Sheffield pub legend Wendy Woodhouse, who previously reopened the Harlequin (the former Manchester Hotel) and later worked behind the bar at Shakespeares. The slightly shortened Crow Inn name comes from Kate and Chris being in no way monarchists, plus an incident some may remember at the Rutland where opening for the day was delayed by the ingress of a large crow. There does however remain a large Crown Inn sign embossed into the external brickwork and a mosaic floor inside the main entrance. The pub itself was built in the 19th century and has been the scene for Chartist plots as well as assassinations.
The pub has a traditional two-room layout, and is decorated with paintings of various members of the corvus family. The bar features five handpumps including one permanent beer from Abbeydale and four ever-changing guests, while six permanent keg lines are matched by eight guests from UK and beyond. Regular beer events are held such as tap takeovers and meet-the-brewers, and have included hosting Cantillon Zwanze Day, a Tilquin takeover and a Yonder meet-the-brewer. There is also a selection of cans and bottles in the fridge, an extensive range of malt whiskies and bourbons, a selection of ports and wines, as well as plenty of rums and gins. There is no kitchen but food is served in the form of Kevin’s Pies along with the usual (and sometimes unusual!) bar snacks.
As part of the refurbishment the bedrooms were also refitted, all being converted to en-suite as well as comfortable new beds – living in Sheffield I’ve not yet had cause to stay but friends who have speak highly of them. It is of course the ideal place to stay for a beery visit, with the Shakespeares and Bar Stewards round the corner and Kelham Island within a few minutes’ walk.
Dave Unpronounceable
Presentation is on Thursday 3 November, join us there for a beer from 8pm.
Peacock, Stannington
The Peacock pub in Stannington has recently been awarded Best Pub Food in Thwaites Hospitality Awards 2022. As area winner the Peacock beat off stiff competition from across the region.
Landlord Jamie said “since taking over the pub in late 2021 myself and the team have worked really hard to design and deliver a menu that provides pub classics and more at an affordable price. We are really pleased to have rolled out the two meals for £12 to all day, every day.
“We are all really proud of the recognition, from front of house who strive to give a warm welcome and consistently excellent service to the kitchen team who deliver the full menu day in day out, alongside our daily specials and Sunday roasts”.
The Peacock has three permanent ales, with Thwaites IPA, Thwaites Original and Wainwright always available, and hope to be offering a rotating LocAle from various Sheffield breweries soon.
Andy Stephens
Inn Brief
Another successful Gillyfest at the Sportsman Inn, Lodgemoor. It was a day live music and fun for all the family and raised £2,271.52 for St Luke’s Hospice.
Also at Lodgemoor there is a new landlady at the Shiny Sheff. Donna Davis is now running the pub which has wonderful views across Rivelin Valley towards Stannington. Sunday is games night, general knowledge quiz on Tuesday with karaoke on Thursday. Marston’s 61 Deep is the regular beer with other Marston’s beer rotating including Pedigree and Hobgoblin Gold.
The last day of trading as a Thornbridge/Brewkitchen venue for the Eagle and Graze Inn on Ecclesall Road was Saturday 3 September.
theSocial bar on Snig Hill introduced food from 12 September. A range of sandwiches, salads, savouries and cakes are on sale weekdays until 3pm. Food to go is available from 9am with the bar open from midday until 9pm.
The Green Room bar on Devonshire Street in Sheffield City Centre has had a bit of a refurbishment and general overhaul, relaunching on 15 September. We are told to expect a new line up of beers (including cask), pool table, beer pong, a “barcade” and of course, music.
Perch on Garden Street, the Dead Parrot Brewery tap, is hosting a northern soul all day music festival in the back yard on Saturday 8 October from 3pm until late. Tickets are required, £10 in advance or £15 on the door.
19 September saw Shakespeares on Gibraltar Street launch a new weekly open mic music night in the upstairs “Bards Bar” room. It takes place every Monday from 8pm, more details on the pub’s Facebook page.
The Peacock Inn in Stannington is offering CAMRA members 20p off a pint of cask ale.
The Boston Arms at Woodseats and Clubhouse on London Road both at the time of writing continue to offer pints of real ale at a bargain price on Mondays – check their social media for details. Talking of the Boston Arms, food is now available with Pellizco resident upstairs serving tacos and more. Table bookings available.
The JD Wetherspoons chain hold their regular real ale festival from 12-23 October. Branches in Sheffield include the Rawson Spring in Hillsborough, Bankers Draft, Sheffield Water Works Company and Benjamin Huntsman in the City Centre, Sheaf Island on Ecclesall Road, Woodseats Palace in Woodseats, Francis Newton in Broomhall, Wagon & Horses in Chapeltown, Steel Foundry in Meadowhall and Scarsdale Hundred at Beighton.
The Gardeners Rest is holding a mini beer festival from 30 September to 2 October featuring beer from the old 3 Ridings of Yorkshire.
Abbeydale Brewery
During October we’re, fingers crossed, having a new kettle installed! This will make our brewing processes more streamlined and more energy efficient too (definitely a bonus at the moment), however it does mean we’ll be unable to brew for a couple of weeks – so the below is all very much subject to change! Anyway. Assuming our shiny new kettle lands on our shores when we currently expect it to (it’s on a very big boat as I type), here’s what specials we’ll be releasing this month.
In cask only, we’ve got Purgatory – one of our classic 4.1% pale ales with Citra and Delta hops. Really refreshing with citrussy and tropical notes. Joining it is Damnation, which is 4.5% and lightly golden with Columbus and Chinook hops for a bold, spicy character and a long-lasting finish. And we’ve also got Through the Hopback – Opus coming up, a tasty 4.0% pale brewed with a new experimental English grown hop variety, which gives a fresh, floral and citrussy character. It’s the first beer we’ve brewed using Opus so we’re really looking forward to a pint of it!
Finally, making a comeback in time for the first frost of the year, it’s the ever popular Cryo Heathen! A 5.0% Mosaic hopped pale ale with absolutely bags of mangoey, juicy tastiness and a lovely bitter finish. This one’s going into cask, keg and can so plenty of opportunity to seek it out.
Hope to see lots of you at the Steel City Beer Festival, please do say hi if you spot any of Team Abbeydale!
Laura
Abbeydale Brewery
Call for support on brewers energy bills
Organisations representing the UK’s independent brewers and beer consumers have called for urgent action on energy and support for the sector.
The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have jointly signed a letter to the Chancellor highlighting the challenges which are putting the future of the UK beer industry at risk.
With brewers facing skyrocketing energy bills, frequent ingredient shortages and price hikes, and consumers unable to afford to support local pubs, the organisations are calling on Government to step in and tackle the issues. This includes an urgent cap on energy prices for small businesses as well as greater support to go green and reduce their energy needs through grants for renewable technology.
There are also concerns that the far reaching reforms to alcohol duty will be delayed from next year including to the game-changing Draught Duty Rate which gives a 5% reduction in duty for beer sold in pubs. The organisations have asked the Government to press ahead and prioritise these changes to help consumers, pubs and the brewing sector, but also expand the scheme to include the containers used by smaller breweries such as 20 and 30 litre casks and kegs.
Roy Allkin, Chairman of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) said:
“With energy bills soaring we are calling on Government to back British beer and help independent brewers with an energy price cap for small businesses, and to offer grants and incentives for the many businesses looking to brew with more green energy.
It is also vital that the Governments plan to tempt people back to the pub with a new discounted draught duty rate is extended to the smaller twenty and thirty litre containers used by small brewers, or risk Global lager brands being the only ones who benefit.”
Nik Antona, Chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said:
“Pubs goers and beer drinkers want to see urgent action from government to make sure that the UK’s best beers, brands and breweries can survive these unprecedented times of rocketing energy and ingredient costs and a dip in consumer confidence.
“With businesses having pulled out all the stops to make it through the pandemic, it would be a travesty if more of our local, small and independent breweries were forced to close for good now due to the crisis with the cost of energy, goods, and doing business.”
The organisations have also asked the Government to pause and reflect on new regulations such as the Deposit Return Schemes which will separate the UK’s internal market for beer.