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 21st to Sunday 24th 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%, GriffindAleis 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!
Daniel Thwaites PLC has exchanged contracts to sell the major part of its’ beer business to Marston’s PLC: the businesses that sell and wholesale beers to the independent free trade, national pub companies, wholesalers, supermarkets and export. It has also sold two beer brands, Wainwright Golden Ale and Lancaster Bomber. Thwaites’ distribution operation and free trade loan book will also be sold, and Marston’s will continue to brew some brands under license. Marston’s have been brewing Wainwright and Bomber since early 2014. The consideration is in the region of £25m, plus working capital.
The sale is subject to a consultation process and it is envisaged that approximately 150 employees will be transferring to Marston’s before the end of April. Thwaites has retained ownership of its’ ‘craft beer’ brands and other cask ale brands, including its seasonal ale range, which it will continue to brew and sell in its’ own properties.
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 State7% –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.
JaipurX10% –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.
One of the brewery’s popular brews from last year, the single hop session ale Mosaic makes a return for the next few months. Showcasing the single hop variety at its best, this beer has complex blend of floral, and tropical, fruity and earthy characteristics.
Exit 33 also brewed their Christmas special a few weeks ago. Sounds strange I know, but this is an imperial strength oat stout, which will be aged, in Speyside Whisky casks until December.
An old favourite brew is also being resurrected for late May/early June as Ginger Dazemakes a reappearance. This pale ale is brewed with copious quantities of fresh root ginger. This year the beer will be unfined and naturally hazy and so vegan friendly.
There will be six different Exit 33 beers available at this years Magna beer festival, which takes place 11th to 13th June.
A new brewing company has launched in our area, North Union Brewing, specialising in interesting craft beer styles sold mainly in bottles.
The brewer has previous experience at Kelham Island Brewery and is currently cuckoo brewing at Harthill.
Stancill’s latest beer is Stainless, a pale hoppy number late hopped with Cascade offering a bitter hit and a distinctive aftertaste that makes the beer great with spicy food – as customers at the Castle Inn’s curry night discovered to their pleasure!
There have also been some more public parties at the brewery with the Sheffield Beer Week closing party hosted on Sunday 22nd March and the brewery’s 1st anniversary party on Friday 27th.
First up, I’m sure the Beer Matters team were suitably red-faced when they realised they forgot our submission from last months issue! I’m sure we won’t remind you of it (much!) ;). You may have missed the news that Rob and Julie are to retire very shortly from The Rising Sun. We would once again like to place on record our thanks for all the hard work they have both done over the last eight years to make both the pub and SunFest what they are today.
Due to the print deadline, we aren’t able to announce just yet who is taking over, but keep your eyes peeled for the news!
More news on the pub, following the refurbishment of the side room, work will begin shortly on the planned expansion on the main room and beer garden. This is going to be a very large job, so we apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope to keep disruption to a minimum. We are creating a larger drinking area, putting in new toilets and a proper sized kitchen, as well as developing the beer garden area too. Don’t worry though folks, SunFest will still be going ahead as normal! Talking of SunFest, this year’s dates will be July 9th-12th 2015, get it in the diary NOW!
Onto the beer (finally!), by the time you are reading this, our Easter specials, Dr Morton’s Rabbit Punch4.1% and Chocolate Stout4.5% should be on the bar. The Rabbit punch is a golden ale with a good biscuit malt base and European hops for a balanced bitter finish. Look out for sumptuous dark chocolate, raisin and cherry flavours leading to a long rich cocoa finish in the stout.
Our final Easter/egg themed beer is the return of Exodus4.3%, a well hopped golden beer, with hops from around the globe to give lemon, lime and tropical fruit flavours with subtle malt to balance.
Dr Morton’s Safety Beer4.1% will be available towards the middle of the month and as the name suggests, we’ve played it safe. It’s our bread and butter, 4.1%, pale and hoppy. But to further protect to public, we won’t even allow you to know which hops have gone into it, just in case it blows your mind!
The end of the month will see the release of the latest beer in our Albion series of British hopped beers. Boadiceawill be a 4.0% pale session beer featuring the Boadicea hop. Expect a light floral aroma and a spicy feel on the palate.
Until next time, mine’s a pint!
Sheffield Brewery are known for their range of good quality, easy drinking session beers, however their new CAMRA Brewery Liaison Officer, Gavin Kieran, suggested they brewed a rather more hoppy IPA. Head brewer, Dr Tim Stillman, agreed to do it on the condition Gavin came down and help brew it – so he did. The result is called Siege IPA, brewed with a cocktail of five different hop varities – Chinook, Nugget, Summit, Cascade and Amarillo – bringing a fruity bitterness to the beer with aromas of orange and citrus flavours.
However, despite the explosion of flavours in this limited edition beer it does retain one Sheffield Brewery hallmark – at 4.5% ABV it is still quite session friendly! It also joins the Castle Porter from earlier this year in being a beer that is badged up in support of the Friends of Sheffield Castle.
Meanwhile those that have joined Sheffield Brewery’s Beer Club, the next members social night at the brewery will be 27th March with a home brew theme and as usual, live music, beer and food.
A couple of special beers for April;
St Georges Best 4.6% Deep golden/amber coloured beer with sweet roast malts, good bitterness levels and a delicate citrus aroma.
Wai-iti IPA5% 11th in our next range of IPA’s featuring New Zealand & Australian Hops. Rich Golden coloured ale with a smooth bitterness and an array of Citrus aromas mainly of Mandarin, Lemon and zesty Lime.
