The Dronfield Arms has just received planning permission to install a small brewery in the former restaurant area downstairs at the pub.  Initially they will be investing in a 4 brew barrel kit, aiming to brew a small core range with a larger array of more innovative takes on traditional styles as specials, to sell, not just at the pub itself, but also throughout the local area.  They aim to be up and running in the Autumn but have lined up some trial brews at a number of breweries in the meantime, so watch this space! Landlord, and soon to be head brewer Edd Entwistle has been running pubs in Sheffield for the past 6 years before making the move out to the Dronfield Arms and is keen to instil some of his passion and experience into the venture.

Steel City haven’t been back in the brewhouse since Troika, which should be doing the rounds now, but have been busy with collaborations. The Hopcraft collab is an Insult to History, being a white porter, and is named Midnight in Antarctica as it’s light when it should be dark! Next up was a three-way collab at Imperial brewery in Mexborough with Great Heck… or rather two three-way-collabs, as once again parti-gyling was used to create dark and pale versions. The Four Stooges is the pale versions, with hops including Magnum, Dana, Chinook and Citra. Incubus, named after a demon, is the dark side. Finally, the Shakespeare has a special and possibly incendiary cask of Molten Steel, a pin of Troika with added Scotch Bonnet and Naga chillies. Hopefully the chillies will give a lemony and peppery flavour as well as several thousand scovilles!

Elland Brewery Celebrate Their National Triumph

  Elland 1872 Porter was recently named ‘Champion Winter Beer of Britain’ for second time in three years and a few days ago Maureen and Neil at the Junction pub in Castleford found themselves hosting another award ceremony. As winner of CAMRA’s Supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2015 for 1872 Porter, Elland Brewery requested that their recent National CAMRA award be presented at the pub. CAMRA officials, headed by Nik Antona, Champion Winter Beer of Britain Director gathered with brewers, enthusiastic beer lovers and locals at the pub last Thursday. In presenting the certificate, Nik said: “Elland 1872 is a fantastic example of what a traditional porter should taste like and has been hugely popular for many years, particularly it seems with competition judges, who have named it Champion Winter Beer of Britain twice and overall Champion Beer of Britain once in the last three years – a huge achievement.” The winning 6.5% ABV beer is described in CAMRA’s 2015 Good Beer Guide as a “creamy, full-flavoured porter with rich liquorice flavours and a hint of chocolate from the roasted malt. A soft but satisfying after taste of bittersweet roast and malt.” Mike Hiscock, Elland Brewery Manager, commented: “It’s absolutely fabulous to win the Champion Winter Beer of Britain, though we certainly weren’t expecting this, it is amazing to get the hat trick and win this award for the third time. We know it is independently judged so for it to keep coming out on top is testament to the depth of flavour and complexity that we get into the beer. This really is fantastic news. We chose the Junction to host the event because Maureen and Neil are great supporters of our brewery, the Junction is the Wakefield CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year and because it provided the opportunity to drink our beers from the wood, notably the aged version of our Champion beer from a Bourbon cask.” Licensee Maureen Shaw said “Neil and I are both delighted and most honoured that Elland Brewery asked us to host such a prestigious National CAMRA event.” High quality beers served from Elland brewery in the wood are regularly found on the bar at the Junction. The 1872 Porter features frequently but never lasts long. We now know why!

April was a busy month for us at Blue Bee Brewery and May looks like it is set to continue that way. American 5 Hop Version II proved very popular so this month sees American 5 Hop Version III (4.3%) hitting bars across Sheffield and beyond. This time this pale ale has the fantastic combination of Mosaic, Citra, Chinook, Comet and Columbus hops, so expect plenty of citrus hop flavours and a dry bitter finish. Returning this month is one of our single hopped IPAs from last year: Simcoe IPA (5.0%). Expect a few slight tweaks to the recipe like the addition of hop pellets into the fermenter to enhance the pine and grapefruit aromas of this fantastic American hop even further. On top of this another special for May will be Real (4.7%) an American pale ale packed with one of our favourite hop varieties Sorachi Ace. This hop was developed in Japan but is now grown in American and imparts distinctive coconut and lime flavours. Finally the second May bank holiday is shaping up to be a great weekend to be drinking beer in Sheffield with Blue Bee beers featuring at two great events. Firstly Sheffield Food Festival in the City Centre where a group of great Sheffield breweries are showcasing their beers at the beer tent. Expect both American 5 Hop Version III and Simcoe IPA from us on top of beers from other Sheffield breweries. Secondly, the Closed Shop at Commonside is hosting a beer festival from Thursday 21^st to Sunday 24^th May featuring beers from ourselves and other quality breweries from across the UK.

Firstly, if you cannot wait for our Sunfest at the Rising Sun (9-12 July) we would be delighted to see you at the Sheffield Breweries Co-Operative tent at Sheffield Food Festival. Please see the entry regarding that elsewhere in this issue. We were honoured to have the opportunity to host the legendary Mr Dan Rodgers of Griffin Claw Brewing Company, Michigan, at the end of March, and the beer we came up with together should be on the bars around Sheffield as we speak! It’s a beast of a beer, an English and American hybrid that really packs a punch, coming in at 6.7%, GriffindAle is to be respected! You may or may not be aware there is some sort of election going on, so in true Abbeydale style we will make light of the situation and we are releasing two beers this month that poke fun at those in or wanting to be in Westminster! First up is Dr Morton’s Eurocrat, a 4.1% pale beer made with Low Colour Maris Otter malt. Crisp hop aromas and flavours with citrus and grapefruit predominating from the New Zealand and American hops. A lasting bitter finish to this very refreshing beer. Secondly we have the return of Corruption, a 4.7% deep golden ale with a malty biscuity aroma. Pleasant hoppy undertones from the late addition of Chinook and Summit hops to give a well rounded bitterness and a delicate citrus flavour. You will find this beer on at the Food Festival! Towards the end of the month should see the release of one of our new ‘Signature’ range of beers, and before you know it, we will be heading into the summer months!

It’s been a busy time here at Thornbridge with our new brew house expansion now completed  – nearly £500k invested with the aim of increasing production by 40%. Much needed as stocks have been a little tight around here for a while. However it’s not all been spanners and engineers we have found time to develop and launch a few new beers as we strive as ever to be never ordinary in what we brew. Bamberg 6% – This beer is golden brown in colour with an alluring aroma of sweet, smoked malt. The rich, charred maltiness carries through to the taste but is perfectly balanced by a long, cold maturation to produce a robust, intoxicating and unforgettable beer. Hops: Hallertau Malts: Weyermann Smoked Malt, Munich, Crystal. Bear State 7% – Bear State is a classic IPA brewed in the spirit of the West Coast of the USA. This is a massively hoppy beer, balanced perfectly with a touch of malt sweetness and an intensely citrus hop character to finish. Hops: Centennial, Cascade, Chinook. Malts: Maris Otter, Crystal. Jehanne Biere De Garde 7.4% – Jehanne pours a deep reddish bronze that hits you on the nose with a sweetness and hint of orange blossom. This is followed by a mouthfeel of smooth silk leading to a toasty caramel affability with a medium dry finish which leaves the palate longing for more. Hops: Goldings. Malts: Pale Ale, Munich, Crystal. JaipurX 10% – Jaipur IPA is seen by many as the first and most successful beer of the new craft revolution in British brewing. This imperial version has been brewed specially to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Thornbridge beers and of Jaipur’s first brew on 7th June 2005. Hops: Warrior, Chinook, Centennial. Malts: Maris Otter, Vienna.