Category: Breweries

We’re ploughing on with lots of new and exciting projects here at Welbeck. We have just extended the cold store here at the brewery so that we can make sure we keep sending out our wide range of top quality beers to your local pubs. We’ve made the most of the ground floor extension by turning the new space upstairs into a rather nice ‘industrial’ bar area. This means there is a permanent cosy bar area in which we are now able to host parties and brewery tours. It’s still a couple of months away but you’re probably planning your Christmas activities already, and let’s be honest, you’ll probably need some real ale over the festive season! We are able to sell you bottled beer and casks in either 36 pint disposable polypins, or 72 pint casks. Please contact Claire for details of brewery tours and beer sales on 01909 512539 or Claire@Welbeckabbeybrewery.co.uk. Did you know it’s Guide dogs week between the 4th and 12th October? We have produced a lovely Cascade hopped pale ale at 4.0% which was designed and brewed by the Mansfield branch of Guide Dogs. This citrussy creation is called Barley May, named after two of the active guide dogs in our region. For every pint we sell 10p will be donated to the charity and we will also be placing collection boxes in our regular pubs. The official launch of this beer will be on Wednesday 24th September, 6pm, at the Grey Horses Inn, Carlton in Lindrick. Please support this campaign and donate to the Guide Dogs charity – yes you may be able to help change a blind person’s life by simply drinking a pint of our beer! The last and probably one of the most exciting projects is a Pop-up pub at Cuckney House. This beautiful early 18th Century, Grade II listed country house is currently unoccupied, however we’ve been granted permission to use a few of the spectacular rooms for a pub during the six weeks that the village pub is closed for refurbishment. This will be open on Thursdays to Saturdays between 9th October and 15th November. The profit from this venture will be going to the local Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance charity. More details will be coming soon and we hope you are very much looking forward to it. That’s all for now, we’ve got to get brewing!

Don Valley Railway , the group behind plans to re-introduce passenger services to the remaining section of the Woodhead railway line on the East side of the Pennines between Stocksbridge and Sheffield,  wish to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the opening of Britain’s first electrified inter city main line between Manchester and Sheffield, which was officially opened on September 20^th  1954.

 We, The Sheffield Brewery Company, whose brewery is a few hundred yards from the line, are delighted to be brewing a hoppy light, zesty electrifying ale for Don Valley Railway in its memory. The Woodhead Railway built back in Victorian times was electrified in work starting before the war in 1938 and only completed in 1954, making it Britain’s first electrified inter-city railway line. DVR plans are being proposed to feature revolutionary new Light Rapid Transit vehicles that are low fuel, low cost, easy to run vehicles that could revolutionise the operation of rail branch lines from highly subsidized to break even, and the line to Stocksbridge could be at the start of this. Don Valley Railway head of publicity Chris Hyomes says: “Alas the government called time on the Woodhead Railway, but as well as a drink to the memory of its opening 60 years ago, we’d like to raise a toast to a new future for the route.” We’ll be selling the special direct to landlords so don’t delay in ordering this momentus ale!  

Two Steel City beers are currently doing the rounds. Firstly, He’s Not The Messiah is in the ‘usual’ Steel City style, ultra pale with 127IBU of US Magnum followed by loads of Centennial and Motueka after flame-out, and Citra & Chinook in the fermenter. Good enough for Jehovah himself! False beards not required. The second brew is a home collaboration with American brewer Ken Fisher of Grateful Deaf Brewing. The beer is a variation on Ken’s American Pale Ale recipe, though hardly pale by Steel City standards! The usual Maris Otter and Wheat malts were supplemented with Carared and Belgian Aromatic for both flavour and a light amber colour (Ken’s recipe called for crystal malt, which was substituted for obvious reasons!). A relatively restrained 70IBU of US Magnum followed by a rare (for Steel City) late boil addition, in this case Chinook. More Chinook post flame-out, and yet more Chinook in the fermenter, supplemented by Columbus. Supplies are limited, but look out for it in the Shakespeare, the Sheaf View and at Nottingham Beer Festival.

Firstly bad news to report,  after a hop shortage we have been unable to get hold of any Cascade hops which means we are having to let Nectar Pale take a back seat over the next couple of months. But not to worry we have the perfect replacement in Reet Pale (4.0%)  it is of a similar style to Nectar Pale just slightly more hoppy. Sticking with Admiral for bittering then the American pairing of Summit and Ahtanum to give a citrusy and floral aroma. We also tried something for the first time when we dry hopped the fermentor with Comet pellets to give even more great flavours and aromas. We are now constantly rolling out  5.0% specials which will be available to buy on some SIBA lists. First we had the Geek a single hopped Mosaic beer that flew out and next up is Simcoe IPA. Which you guessed is a single hopped beer with the US hop Simcoe used throughout including dry hopping in the fermentor. Simcoe is full of grapefruit and passion fruit flavours. On top of that we have brewed Kikorangi Red (4.5%) a red hoppy beer using Carared and Carafa malt along with three different varieties of New Zealand hops: Nelson Sauvin, Pacific Jade and Pacific Gem. Keep any eye out for further Blue Bee specials as we hope to brew a lot more, next in the pipe line will be a Black IPA and we will see what we can do with our Sorachi Ace hops.

 A returning classic and a brand new stout are on offer to Kelham fans in September. Wild Rider 5.5% Strong IPA. It’s Mad, it’s BAD & it’s BACK (again). Our strong full flavoured IPA makes its annual brief appearance this month. Brewed with a renegade blend of hops from the UK, USA, Germany and New Zealand for a massive, explosive hop aroma. Wickedly juicy, mouth watering & satisfyingly aromatic. Another of our American series is Old Blue Eyes 4.5% Blueberry Oatmeal Stout. Brewed from a quartet of toasted malts and malted oats for a full bodied black sweet stout. Bittered with British Admiral hops this beautiful stout is then complemented with the mouth-watering sweet refreshing flavour of blueberries for a full fruity fresh finish. A complex yet winning combination. We are all getting ready for the 40^th Steel City Beer Festival (Wed 29 October to Sat 1 November). This year’s venue, The Kelham Island Museum, is just a stone’s throw from the Kelham Brewery so we’ll be painting and weeding for the next month to get our place in tip top condition!

We all had Yellow Fever in July with the arrival of Le Tour De France in Sheffield. It was brilliant to see so many stretches of yellow banners, bunting and bicycles lining the streets of South Yorkshire, and to do our part we had limited edition bright yellow Cavendish T-shirts made. This was to promote our 5% blonde beer, Cavendish, in support one of our nation’s favourite athletes. The  Oughtibridge hub bar was serving pints of this thirst quenching brew, alongside our Red Feather and Kelham Island’s award winning beers. We hope you drank a pint of Cavendish joining in with the fun, and if not, then it’s never too late to reminisce! We were also pleased to be presented with two awards at Derby beer festival from the regional heats of the Champion Beer of Britain competition. Our Portland Black was awarded Gold in the Porters category, then overall  Champion Winter Beer for East Midlands. This means Portland Black is now in the national final for the Champion Winter Beer of Britain which will be judged next year. Thanks go to all who nominated us. The newest member of the team is Hannah, who has joined us from the other side of the bar at The Blake Hotel in Sheffield. Whilst she has thoroughly enjoyed working in the pub trade, she felt it was time to learn a new trade, and what could be more exciting than brewing!? We are pleased to have her as a full time delivery driver so make sure you give her a wave when you see her delivering beer. We are coming to the end of the building project here at Welbeck and would like to remind you that we are able to host your party or simply a brewery tour. If you’re interested please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Claire. Look out for our next specials too, in August we have Pilgrim, a 3.8% ABV honeyed pale and, and Aphrodite, a 5.2% New Zealand Pale ale. That’s all for now and we hope to see you soon!