Category: News

Beer Matters, as the newsletter of Sheffield & District branch of CAMRA, has throughout its life so far – all 466 issues across over 40 years – included the town of Dronfield and the surrounding villages in its area of coverage. However Dronfield now has its own CAMRA branch with its own local group of active volunteers as well as an absolutely booming good beer scene. Dronfield CAMRA will very soon be launching their very own quarterly magazine, Peel Ale. (For those that don’t get the pun, it is named after Dronfield’s Peel Monument) with coverage of pub, club and brewery news from the local area and information on what the branch is up to as well as interesting beer related articles and adverts from local businesses. For information on advertising in Peel Ale, please visit www.dronfieldcamra.org.uk. Once Peel Ale launches, it is anticpated that Beer Matters will only be distributed to certain key pubs in the Dronfield area with the cut in circulation in Dronfield allowing us enough copies to distribute to the growing number of real ale venues in Sheffield & District.

Annual Beer Census – Sat 3^rd September 2016 As many of you will be aware, Sheffield CAMRA organises an annual city-wide survey to collect information on which beers are available in the city on a particular day. We have been doing this for a few years now, and we are pleased to say that despite various claims from other cities such as Norwich, Derby and Nottingham, the information on the number of beers on sale usually shows that Sheffield can rightly claim to be Beer Capital of the UK. This claim was given further weight after the findings of the recent Beer Report, commissioned by Sheffield University and written by well-known beer writer Pete Brown. It is now time to undertake the census again, and we are looking to enlist more volunteers to help collect the information. There are several daytime crawls, starting in various suburbs and working into the centre, followed by a number of city centre crawls in the evening. Each crawl will be led by a designated leader who will have the survey forms and a planned route through the various pubs. Daytime crawls will start at 12 noon, and eventually arrive at the Red Deer on Pitt street by early evening to hand in the completed forms. Evening crawls then start from the Red Deer moving out through the center and regrouping in the Kelham Island area. The crawls are a sociable way to try different pubs and pubs from your usuals, as well as helping to further the beer scene in Sheffield. Mot of the routes will involve public transport t some point, but your route leader will have details and can advise on costs etc. If you would like to join on one of the crawls simply be at the start point for midday and look out for someone carrying survey forms, and a copy of Beer Matters. If you can’t make the start, simply email us at social@sheffieldcamra.org.uk and we will pass on the mobile number of the appropriate leader so you can arrange directly with them where you can meet up. If you are unable to join on a crawl , but would still like to help with collecting information, we will have an interactive survey section on the Sheffield CAMRA website where you will be able to enter details on the day. It will be updated in real time so you will be able to see which pubs still need surveying. We will need the name of the pub, and then for each cask ale on sale that day we need the name of the beer; the brewery; % strength; and price of a pint. There will be a Notes section where you can add if the pub serves real cider and keg beer. It would be great to see a few more faces on the crawls, and even better if we can prove yet again that Sheffield is unrivalled in it’s range and quality of beer on sale. Route A – Dore, Totley, Millhouses, Broadfield – Leader, Andy Cullen. Meet at Devonshire Arms, Dore (bus 81 or M17). Route B – Norton Lees, Woodseats, Heeley, London Rd – Leader, Matt Nedved. Meet at Cross Scythes, Derbyshire Lane (bus 18) Route C – Banner Cross, Hunters Bar, Ecclesall Rd – Leader, Patrick Johnson, Meet at Banner Cross Hotel, Ecclesall Rd Sth (bus 88) Route D – Deepcar, Wadsley, Hillsborough and Bradfield – Leader TBA. Meeting point Royal Oak (bus SL1 or 57) Route E – Chapeltown, Burncross, Meadowhall, Attercliffe – Leader TBA, Meeting Point TBA Route F – Walkley, Commonside, Crookes, Broomhill – Leader Paul Crofts. Meeting at Walkley Cottage (bus 95). Route G – Lodge Moor, Crosspool, Ranmoor – Leader John Beardshaw. Meet at Three Merry Lads (bus 51). Routes H, I, J – City Centre afternoon – Leaders John Bratley + others. Meet at Sheffield Tap Routes K, L, M – City Centre evening – Leaders TBA, Meet at Red Deer 7pm Paul Crofts

This annual survey helps us take the pulse of Sheffield’s real ale scene, recording the variety of beers out there on the City’s bars along with the prices charged. In the past we have used the results in terms of the number of different beers available to claim Sheffield as the Real Ale Capital of the UK, however it is useful campaigning data and is also an opportunity to pick up on pubs that need updating in whatpub.com. A number of other towns and cities do similar surveys with York and Leicester having completed theirs in the last month or so, we are doing ours on Saturday 3rd September and will be looking for volunteers to help on the day. More details in Beer Matters next month!

It is in Europe that much of what affects the UK beer drinker is determined. For instance, the Commission’s competition division is always interested in the tied house system, reform of the UK excise duty system will require EC approval, European legislation impacts on ingredients, labelling and other such issues. This is why CAMRA has linked up with 12 other beer organisations across Europe to form the European Beer Consumer Union (EBCU) which champions for better labelling, greater diversity of beer and lower prices across Europe. CAMRA is particularly concerned with the current EU Directive on Excise Duty for Alcohol, which has huge implications on how the Government can levy tax on alcohol products here in the UK.

On Wednesday 25^th May 2016 Professor Dunbar and his research team from Oxford University travelled to Parliament to present the findings of‘Friends on Tap’. The research reveals that people who have a local pub have more close friends, are happier and more trusting of others and feel more engaged with the wider community. The report was presented at the Parliamentary Beer Group AGM, which was attended by 19 MPs. Professor Dunbar discussed the premise for the research, his findings and how the report was conducted. He implored MPs to consider how a huge financial burden to the NHS and the economy could be alleviated if we had a happy and socially connected population, which he said was the key to the nation’s health. CAMRA Chief Executive Tim Page followed this by highlighting policy implications of the role of pubs as hubs to communities. He implored Members of Parliament to do more to support pubs from closing down to keep them as viable and well-used hubs of local communities. He argued that we need to do more to encourage people to go out and visit their local pub and alleviate the stigma against social drinking so that we have a balanced debate around alcohol consumption. He also asked MPs to do more to help struggling pubs stay open, arguing that this could be achieved by strengthening planning laws so that communities don’t need to go through the ACV process to protect pubs from closing. Attending MPs were very interested in the findings, asking questions about the role in pubs in improving mental health and wellbeing and how much money pubs end up raising for charities – quoting Pub Aid findings which found that £100 million has been raised for charity in pubs alone. The event was part of CAMRA’s Pubs & Wellbeing campaign, which you can visit here: http://www.camra.org.uk/pubs-wellbeing

Our next branch meeting is on Tuesday 12th July at the Barrack in Apperknowle. Voting for our Summer Pub of the Season is now underway, the form can be found online at www.dronfieldcamra.org.uk. Talking of awards, we are pleased to announce that our branch Pub of the Year – the Miners Arms in Hundall – has been judged the North Derbyshire Pub of the Year and is now being judged in the East Midlands regional competition. Some sad news – One of our founder members – Tim Johnson (also known in the pubs at pink Tim due to the colour of many of his shirts) – recently passed away after a short illness. His enthusiasm, commitment and sense of humour will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his family.

As many of you know, we recently held our AGM and elected a new committee for the year. With some old hands, and a few new faces, we are hoping to bring a new lease of life to the branch. Without further ado, let us introduce ourselves:

 Chair: Kate Major: I have been a real ale lover for a few years now, but was thrown in at the deep end last year when I took on my first CAMRA role as branch secretary. The learning curve was steep but rewarding, and I decided the logical progression was to challenge myself in the role of chair. I currently run a pub as my ‘day job’, so my love for ale and the licensed trade runs deep, and I’m so excited to be a small part of what makes Sheffield the world’s real ale capital!

 Vice Chair & Beer Fest Organiser: Louise Singleton: I became involved with Sheffield CAMRA when I volunteered to help at the 2011 AGM. Following that I volunteered at the festival at Ponds Forge, and was soon given the task of Staffing Officer. I became Chair of the Festival Organising Committee for the 41st festival, and again this year. I am not from a Beer Industry background as I work in Pensions Administration, and although working 60+ hours on the festival week I really enjoy it, though at times through the tiredness it doesn’t seem that way! It is a long 11 months organising the festival with many obstacles to overcome, but I do enjoy working with the other volunteers and am very proud of what we achieve together.

Secretary: Richard Short: I joined CAMRA while an archaeology student in York in the early 1990s. My subsequent archaeological work gave him access to pubs and a wide range of ales from around the UK. I am now a life member and an enthusiastic home brewer.

Treasurer: Tony Kennick: Having retained the Olympic cheese tasting gold for the third time in the row I retired to Sheffield to take up a life of dark beers and twice cooked chips.

Have own clown shoes.

Membership Secretary: Andy Cullen: I joined CAMRA at Sheffield’s Steel City Beer Festival when it was held at Hallam University Student Union’s Nelson Mandela Building (since demolished) and my first active role was on the national Young Members committee. Locally, I have held an number of branch committee positions including secretary, Membership Secretary and Chairman along with being editor of Beer Matters, having taken over from Paul Goddard when it was still a black and white publication where the master copy was printed on a photocopier and taken to the printers in hard copy – no PDF files uploaded in those days! I have also been involved with the Steel City Beer Festivals for a few years, generally as staffing officer but more recently as the person in charge of the beer order! I also volunteer on the Membership Stand at the Great British Beer Festival in London, and the Robin Hood Beer Festival in Nottingham, as well as being one of the organisers of the Three Valleys Festival in Dronfield.

Press Officer: Paul Crofts: Although a lifelong beer fan, I only joined the committee last year. I sells kitchen worktops for a living. I’m a huge music fan, particularly live music, and will talk endlessly about Mary-Chapin Carpenter given half a chance. And Sheffield Wednesday, Science Fiction, old Slot Machines, woodwork. In fact, I just generally talk endlessly. Probably best avoided.

Pubs Protection Officer: Dave Pickersgill: CAMRA member since the 1970’s, SCBF42 will be the 35th Sheffield CAMRA festival at which I’ve worked. I lead on Pub Heritage and ACV issues within the branch, and also have an e-book on the ‘Worksop and Retford Brewery’ which for a brief period was top of the Amazon Kindle charts in the ‘beer’ category!

Social Secretaries & Pub Officers: Mark Boardley, Patrick Johnson: I moved to Sheffield from Newcastle 4.5 years ago and straight into the Kelham Island area to partake of its many glorious pubs and their myriad pale ales. While I have been a CAMRA member for almost 10 years, this is the first time I have ever been ‘active’.

Cider Officer: Sarah Mills: Hi my name is Sarah Mills I have been a member of CAMRA for about six years. I was encouraged to join because I wanted to get involved with the beer festival. I joined at the time when cider was a small sideline and since I have been joint cider bar manager I have seen it go from strength to strength. I enjoy talking about the ciders we sell and like to encourage customers to try the new things we have on offer.

Young Members Contact: Matt Nedved: Hi I’m Matt, a keen lover of beers, ciders and pie. I have another 2 keen interests which are cricket and Geology.

I read the Sheffield Beer Report while on Eurostar en route for a few days with a ‘Podge’s Tour’ in LambicLand (Belgium). It generated considerable discussion with both colleagues on the tour and also a number of local Brewers. The initial Belgian reaction was ‘Sheffield?’  However, they were impressed by both the numbers and our enthusiasm. Despite their well-deserved international beer reputation, the Belgium top-seller is Jupiler, a 5.2% Pils brewed by international giant, Anheuser-Busch InBev (this lists maize as one of the main ingredients). This illustrates the variety of the Belgian beer scene: some unique, and excellent, practice, but also a high level of mediocrity. For example, we visited the internationally known, biannual lambic beer festival known as ‘The Night of the Great Thirst International Geuze and Kriek Festival of the Pajottenland’ at Itterbeek. This consisted of a marquee, about a dozen Brewers and 40 or so beers, mostly only available in bottles. There was no programme or tasting notes, prices were not low and abvs were only available by asking to look at the bottle label. All the Brewers were local with the single exception of Allagash from Maine (USA). The event needed more organisation and information. By contrast, the vast majority of CAMRA Beer Festivals have a larger beer choice and are a model of customer-friendly information and assistance. We were not impressed. This lack of information was also apparent in many bars. A chalkboard and/or printed menu often listed the beers available, in bottle and on tap, but the detail is lacking: style? Brewery? abv? One notable exception was the Molenhof Café in Oostvleteren which serves a selection of draught De Struise Brouwerij beers from the brewery across the road. Their chalkboard included both ABV and beer style. Sadly, this level of information seems to be the exception, not the rule. Many Sheffield pubs, by contrast, display such detail and often more.   We also visited the Brabanthal venue just outside Leuven for a visit to the Belgium equivalence of the GBBF, the Zythos Beer Festival with 88 brewers offering over 500 beers. This was a total contrast to the previous evening: lots of staff, a programme available in English, detailed information and even a free beer token for CAMRA members.  In short, an excellent event. The provision of free bread at each stand was welcomed, an innovation which UK festivals could take on.   Belgium has a large a number of fine long-established Brewers and blenders (many of which we visited, for example: Rodenbach, Oud Beersels) with excellent beers, including some world classics which simply could not be brewed elsewhere (think Lambic and Geuze). They also have a growing number of recently established innovative enterprises: for example, Urthel. Their impressive range now includes, ‘Bassets,’ a 24.4% abv freeze-distilled beer which was matured in oak barrels. The Sheffield Region also has its World classics, but focusses on a different style and market. The vast majority of beers from the Sheffield region are cask-conditioned and sold relatively locally whereas the bottled outputs from Belgium hit the export market, many breweries exporting over 50% of their production. The Sheffield region needs to up its game regarding exports – the potential is there, as Thornbridge have shown. The Sheffield Beer Report suggests that a local canning/bottling plant is an essential. Anyone care to invest? It’s also worth noting that at Itterbeek, we had a long beer-related conversation with the Flanders Region Minister of Culture. He expressed more interest in the Sheffield beer scene than seems to emanate from Sheffield Town Hall. The presence of such a high-ranking politician at a beer festival indicates the level of local political support for beer tourism. It would be positive to see similar political representation at both the forthcoming SCBF42 and SIBA BeerX 2017. In short, an excellent few days away – two contrasting beer scenes:

• LambicLand with a focus on exporting quality
• Sheffield, the unknown hub of beer tourism in the UK (and possibly, the world)

Each area has lessons to learn from the other. However, Sheffield is in the best place – an innovative, established, but growing beer scene contrasting with a, perhaps, complacent Belgian offering. Steel City is beer city. Brown, Pete (2016) Sheffield Beer Report University of Sheffield https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/about/city/news/beer-report-sheffield-real-ale-capital-1.569464 Podge’s Tours: http://www.podgebeer.co.uk/ Tour 81 Belgian Beer from the Wood Dave Pickersgill