Category: Opinion

In August, I was lucky enough to receive a press pass for CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival at the Kensington Olympia. Myself and Beer Matters editor Dom travelled down to London on Tuesday morning for the opening session of the festival. We had a great day and saw plenty of members from Sheffield & District branch as well as meeting new people from all around the country. As a keen tegestologist (beer mat collector!) it was great to meet people with similar interests, as well as handing out plenty of Steel City Festival beer mats. The day also saw the birth of a new family member for me, Georgie, so it was a great day all round. At the festival I tried many wonderful beers, so I thought I would have a go at writing Casks of the Month. Breaking with Dom’s tradition of choosing beers from around Sheffield, here are my top three from GBBF: What: Raspberry Citra IPA (4.2%) – Lacada (Portrush) This beer from Northern Ireland was a first for me from this brewery. The beer itself was hazy and had a slight pinkish tinge. It tasted distinctly of raspberries but had a good hoppy flavour similar to a double IPA. This hoppy and fruity offering was arguably my favourite beer of the festival – my biggest regret was not having a full pint of it! What: Phoenix Cherry Mild (4.5%) – Lenton Lane (Nottingham) Somewhat controversially, one of my favourite styles of beer is the mild. There were quite a few on offer at GBBF but the best for me was this cherry mild from Nottingham. The beer was extremely drinkable and had so much cherry flavour it almost tasted like fruit juice. As a fan of Belgian kriek beers, this was great and I could definitely see myself spending an evening drinking this one. What: Blueberry and Vanilla Stout (5.0%) – Tarn Hows (Ambleside) I went to stand B11 hoping to find Dave Pickersgill, however I was served by a lady who recommended this interesting-looking stout. I think one of the great things about festivals is that volunteers who genuinely love beer can share their passion. Stouts are not a style I typically go for, but this had a beautiful combination of flavours. Although I actually bought this for Dom, I ended up drinking it all myself! Poppy

I almost feel bad for saying it but I’m not the greatest fan of this hot weather we’ve been having recently. The fan has become a permanent fixture in our flat and we’ve had the air conditioning on every day at work. One good thing about it, however, is that it’s a great excuse to get out and try some cool, refreshing beers, although I will admit I’ve recently taken to having a glass of water alongside my pint – after all, it’s important to stay hydrated! There have been some great pale ales on around Sheffield over the last few weeks, perfect for the summer weather. Sunfest was a great success as always and had some fantastic beers on offer: Five Towns’ Always Crashing in the Same Car (rhubarb belgian tripel) and Steel City’s MPHIBUDDHNZNEIPA (mango and passionfruit IPA “soup”!) were two highlights for me. However, for this column I’ve stuck with tradition and gone for three hand-pulled beers from around the pubs of Sheffield, rather than festival beers. Here they are in no particular order: What: Nelson Sauvin Pale – Brewsmith (Ramsbottom) Where: Beer House, Ecclesall Road Nelson Sauvin is definitely a love-it-or-hate-it hop, but I have to say that I’m a fan of it. This pale wasn’t single-hopped (Gelana and Cascade also featured) but its presence was certainly notable, with hints of tropical fruits and grapefruit coming through alongside a more astringent vinous flavour. In the glass, this had the appearance of a classic pale ale, with a straw-coloured body and small but fairly creamy white head. On drinking, the light carbonation made it very pleasant and refreshing on a balmy evening. What: Rising Tide – Turning Point (Kirkbymoorside) Where: Cremorne, London Road This wasn’t the first time that I’d tried this sessionable pale ale, but this was the best condition I’ve had it in so far. Poured a slightly hazy light amber colour with a very thin head. The aroma was packed with citrus fruits and on tasting there was a nice level of bitterness balanced out by the biscuit-like flavours from the malt which were more prominent than I had expected. Very nice pint from this North Yorkshire brewery. What: Red Lion – Ashover Brewery (Ashover) Where: Railway Hotel, Bramall Lane This beer from the ever-reliable Ashover Brewery has been around before but this was the first time I’d seen it in a while and I think it’s been improved. This was a very interesting American red ale, with a vivid copper colour in the glass and a nice foamy head. An aroma of toffee and blackberries and floral hops delivered exactly what it promised on drinking, with a nice balance between the sweet caramel of the malt and the bitterness of the hops. Dominic Nelson

Nearly every month I offer the chance for somebody else to write in with their three favourite beers from the last month. Nobody has been in touch yet so I’m assuming people are happy to keep reading about mine – either that or nobody is reading at all! If you do fancy writing your own column for a month, get in touch at beermatters@sheffield.camra.org.uk. Anyway, I’ve not had too many opportunities this month to get out and about so I’ve not had too many beers to choose from. That said, whenever I have made it to the pub there’s been the usual high standard of real ales on offer. Here are my top three, as always in no particular order: What: Reaper #3 Rhubarb and Rosemary (5.4%) – Abbeydale (Sheffield) Where: Heeley City Farm Festival The latest offering in the Reaper series of wheat beers from Abbeydale’s Brewers Emporium range, this one featured the intriguing combination of tart rhubarb and herby rosemary. In the glass, this had a traditional wheat beer appearance with a hazy golden body and a very thin white head. Both the rhubarb and rosemary came through on the nose, but the latter dominated slightly on tasting. This might not be a beer you could drink all night, but you’d probably have fun trying. What: Liquorice Lads Stout (4.3%) – Great Newsome (Hull) Where: Dog & Partridge, Trippet Lane As promised, I didn’t to include any dark beers in my top three last month but old habits die hard. The Dog & Partridge doesn’t have the largest selection of ales, but what’s there is almost always top quality. This liquorice stout was no exception; with its deep black colour and creamy off-white head, it looked picture-perfect served in its pint tankard. The aroma of liqourice allsorts promised much and the beer certainly did not fail to deliver. What: Wisewood Four (5.0%) – Loxley (Sheffield) Where: Wisewood Inn, Loxley This was the first time I’d been able to get up to the Wisewood Inn to try a beer from the new Loxley Brewery at its source. This Citra-hopped IPA offered classic notes of grapefruit and hop bitterness and looked the part too with slightly hazy amber colour. This was a good example of a traditional style done well, and the fact I got to look round the brewery where it was made as I was drinking it was definitely a bonus! Dominic Nelson

In last month’s Beer Matters, I promised to make a special effort to break with tradition and try some of the paler offerings on Sheffield’s handpumps. The recent spell of decent weather has made it easier to do just that, with the golden ales, IPAs and wheat beers perfectly complimenting the longer, warmer days. How long either the British summer or my new-found affection for pale ales will last, who can say? Anyway, I’ll enjoy them both while they last! Here are three of my favourites from the last few weeks: What: Ellensberg (4.3%) – Harbour (Cornwall) Where: Ale House, Fraser Road This was my first visit to this community-owned pub which is somewhat off the beaten track, between Millhouses and Woodseats. I was pleasantly surprised with the great range of real ales on offer, but the best of the bunch was this session IPA. The beer poured a clear amber colour with a thin head and had a fantastic citrus aroma. Oranges were the predominant flavour rather than the usual hoppy bitterness of stronger IPAs. A great, smooth, drinkable beer that justified the decision to leave the car at home! What: Hildur (4.8%) – Neepsend (Sheffield) Where: Dorothy Pax, Victoria Quays A fleeting spell of good weather in the middle of April presented the perfect opportunity to head down to Victoria Quays. This rhubarb wheat beer provided some much-needed refreshment on a blisteringly hot day. I’ve always been a fan of Bavarian-style wheat beers and while this perhaps wasn’t quite in their league, it was a great homage with a Yorkshire twist. The beer had the traditional cloudy appearance, and the tartness of rhubarb was a great foil for the wheat beer yeast. The fact it was served at the perfect temperature was a bonus too! What: Ryed Like the Wind (4.0%) – Hopjacker (Dronfield) Where: White Lion, Heeley This makes two months in a row that a beer from the White Lion has made it into my Casks of the Month, a testament to the fantastic range of guest ales available there. This rye pale ale brewed with Chinook hops was unfined, giving it a distinctive hazy, golden look with a foamy, white head. On tasting, this was full of hop character with a slightly savoury flavour from the rye. A really nice sessionable pale. I’ll see you next month with three more of my favourite cask beers from the last few weeks (beer styles weather-dependent)! Dominic Nelson

Since the last time I wrote this column, we’ve been treated to a range of beer-focused events across Sheffield, not least Sheffield Beer Week, which once again was a great success. The various festivals and events have given me the opportunity to try a whole range of new and interesting beers from around the country (and rack up a few check-ins on my Untappd account)! As always, there’s been a great variety of well-kept and tasty real ales on offer, but three stood out above the rest for me. Here they are, in no particular order: What: Campania (5.0%) – Hopcraft (Pontyclun, South Wales) Where: Gardeners Rest, Neepsend The Gardeners Rest beer festival at the end of March showcased beers from a number of Welsh breweries, but the highlight for me was this Neapolitan ice cream-inspired milk stout from Hopcraft (whose brewer Gazza Prescott was, of course, previously with Steel City Brewing). In the glass, this had the classic stout appearance, black body with a creamy, tan head. The aroma had everything expected from Neapolitan ice cream, with chocolate, vanilla and strawberries all present. Upon tasting, the initial impression was sweet but this gave way to a pleasant roasted bitterness which balanced the flavours out perfectly. What: Liquorice (5.0%) – Ashover (near Chesterfield) Where: Dog & Partridge, Trippet Lane When we arrived on Good Friday, the Dog & Partridge was packed with folk dancers warming up for the Folk Sessions but we managed to find a seat in the corner. Another stout, this one was a little paler than the last but still looked appealing to the eye. Previously known as Liquorice Alesort, this beer is brewed with root liquorice in the boil and only gently hopped. The scent of liquorice was immediately apparent on the nose, along with the more traditional coffee aromas of this beer style. On the palate, it was very rich with the initial bitter flavours developing into the bitter-sweetness of dark chocolate. What: Caramel Stout (4.8%) – Grafton (Worksop) Where: White Lion, Heeley This pub visit might have been simply for a relaxing after-work pint rather than any special occasion, but the beer on offer was still worthy of celebration. Although this beer is a stout by name, its appearance was more akin to a brown ale. The caramel aroma was unmistakable, and hints of chocolate and malt were also present. As expected, this was sweeter than most stouts but the caramel flavour felt authentic, not artificial as many flavoured beers can be. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more beers from this brewery. Unintentional though it was, there was a definite theme in this month’s choices, so for next month’s edition I’m going to make a concerted effort to break with tradition and try some of the paler ales available on Sheffield’s handpumps. Find out next time how I got on! Dominic Nelson

The last few weeks have been especially busy for me, so I’ve not had as much time as usual to explore the pubs of Sheffield and try out all the delicious cask beers on offer. That said, when I have had the chance to sample an ale or two, they have all been up to the fantastic standard I have come to expect from the pubs of the Steel City. The recent spell of Siberian weather also didn’t help things, but did mean that whenever I could make it to the pub I was in the mood for something dark and comforting, so you might spot a running theme in this month’s selections.  Here are three of my favourites from the last few weeks: What: Salvation 7 – Rocky Road (5.2%) – Abbeydale (Sheffield) Where: Devonshire Cat The latest addition to the consistently good Salvation stouts, this one has been my favourite in the series so far. Brewed with raisins, cranberries, marshmallows and cacao nibs, this rather sweet stout was extremely smooth and easy to drink. A deep brown colour, with little head and an aroma of chocolate and malt, this was one of those beers that suited being served a little warmer from the cask to allow the flavours to fully reveal themselves. Looking forward to Salvation 8! What: Equinox (4.0%) – Dark Star (Horsham) Where: Rutland Arms I’ve noticed this Sussex-based brewery, recently bought out by London giants Fuller’s, popping up more frequently on the handpumps of Sheffield’s pubs lately. This particular beer was a great example of a dark mild, and proved that you don’t need masses of hops to make an excellent ale. The beer looked appealing in the glass, brown with a creamy pale head. On drinking, the taste was well-balanced, with the dark malt flavours complimented by hints of liquorice and a very slight hop bitterness. What: Milch Weisse (5.0%) – Eyes (Leeds) Where: Gardeners Rest An example of the now rare schöps style of beer (I have to admit, I’d never heard of it before coming across this), this is brewed to an old Polish recipe from more than 300 years ago. Eyes are the UK’s only wheat-focused brewery, and this ale contains no fewer than six types of wheat malts. The aroma was packed with the scent of roasted coffee and tobacco, with a slight discernible sweetness from the lactose sugars. Rich and creamy, this beer was very moreish – unfortunately I only had time for one! I will definitely be looking out for more brews from this Leeds-based outfit. I’ll be back next month, to bring you three more examples of the excellent beers on offer in Sheffield. By then we will have enjoyed Sheffield Beer Week, which should also give me a great opportunity (and excuse!) to sample a good range of beers from a little further afield. Dominic Nelson

After just about making it through Dry January, it’s been good to get back into the swing of things. The real ales on offer around Sheffield seem to have gone all exotic during my month off; since I’ve started drinking again, I’ve had beers with mint, salted caramel, mangoes, pork scratchings, raspberries and more. Some of them have turned out to be surprisingly delicious, while others were not quite to my taste. Nevertheless, it’s good to see so many interesting beers on offer alongside some of the more traditional fare. Anyway, here are my three favourite beers from the past few weeks: What: You Scratch My Back (5.5%) – Abbeydale (Sheffield) Where: Railway Hotel, Bramall Lane Brewed using pork scratchings from Sheffield-based pub snack producers SmoFo, this love-it-or-hate-it stout has certainly divided opinion since its release. Such strong flavours can easily overpower a beer but I was firmly in the love-it camp; the smokiness and saltiness perfectly complimented the rich, roasted stout flavours. The beer was visually pleasing too with its deep black colour and tan-coloured head. What: Betrayal (4.0%) – Wild Weather Ales (Reading) Where: Sheaf View This was the first beer I’d had from Wild Weather but if the quality of this one is anything to go by it certainly won’t be the last. A slightly cloudy-looking American pale ale (I presume it was unfined), the aroma was packed with tropical fruit. Upon drinking, mango and pineapple immediately came to the fore, before making way for more citrus-like Mosaic hop flavours. One I will definitely be looking out for again in future. What: Dry Minted Mojito Sour (5.3%) – Lost Industry/Steel City (Sheffield) Where: Shakespeares Another offering in the long list of collaborations between these two Sheffield microbreweries, this was one of the rare and interesting beers available at Shakespeares’ recent Stupidly Delicious Beers event. A traditional sour beer with fresh mint added at the end, the result was a hugely refreshing drink which, as the name suggests, was very reminiscent of a certain Cuban cocktail. Surprisingly good! Have you tried any interesting beers around Sheffield in the last few weeks? Get in touch with your three favourites (and a few words about each of them) and you could have your selections featured in next month’s Beer Matters. Dominic Nelson

It seems like a long time since I last wrote this column; Beer Matters‘ hiatus for Christmas has given me twice as long as usual to find the finest cask ales on offer around the pubs of Sheffield. As always, there was a fantastic variety on offer and it was especially difficult to narrow it down to just three, but here they are: What: Manifesto (6.0%) – Revolutions (Castleford) Where: Rutland Arms I have tried a few beers from this Castleford-based brewery in the past but this was their first offering that truly impressed me. A lovely, smooth stout with a deep black colour; creamy, full-bodied mouthfeel and a lasting tan-coloured head. Coffee dominated the aroma but was balanced out in drinking by the complex dark malt flavours and a final flourish of hoppy bitterness. Very moreish. What: Breakfast IPA Mk5 – Buck’s Fizz (5.1%) – Neepsend (Sheffield)/HopJacker (Dronfield) Where: Shakespeares The fifth offering in Neepsend Brewery’s Breakfast IPA series, this Buck’s Fizz IPA (brewed in collaboration with Dronfield’s HopJacker) was one of the delights on offer at Shakespeares’ Autumn Beer Festival. Made with champagne yeast, lots of Amarillo hops and plenty of Valencian oranges in the mash, this zesty and refreshing pale poured a pale straw colour, slightly hazy, and the aroma was packed with citrus notes. The taste was exactly as promised, a hit of oranges and slight champagne dryness making for a surprisingly enjoyable drink. What: #32 Create Those Moments (4.2%) – Sonnet 43 (Coxhoe, County Durham) Where: Stew & Oyster This was my first visit to this new Kelham Island bar, and feeling very much in the Christmas spirit I couldn’t resist this unique spiced pear and brandy porter. The beer poured a nice brown colour, perhaps slightly paler than expected, with a foamy white head. The unmistakable smells of Christmas spices such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg dominated the aroma, but on tasting these were well balanced with hints of malt, fruit and brandy. It even gave me the courage to try my first oyster (highly recommended)! Look out next month for three more of the most interesting beers on the pumps of Sheffield’s pubs. Dominic Nelson

As promised, this month I am bringing you three of my favourite cask ales from the recent Steel City Beer & Cider festival. I’m sure anybody who managed to make it down to Kelham Island will agree that it was a fantastic event, and the beer choice available was first-class, as ever. Here are my top three: Black Jesus (6.5%) – Great Heck (Goole) This black IPA, a style not too common in cask, was a great example of the genre. A mahogany-coloured beer with a thin white head, the aroma was unmistakably filled with masses of hops and roasted coffee. On drinking, the citrusy hops were perfectly balanced with the sweetness of the malt and the deep, roasted coffee flavour. Double Century IPA (7.2%) – Neepsend (Sheffield) Beers of this strength can often be a little overwhelming, but this double IPA celebrating Neepsend’s 200^th gyle was surprisingly easy to drink. Brewed with no fewer than six hop varieties, the beer poured an amber colour with very little head. Despite the powerful scent of hops dominating the aroma, the taste was more balanced, with a hint of sweetness to prevent the hops from being too bitter. A very good beer. Dark Masquerade (3.6%) – Half Moon (Ellerton, near York) In my opinion, milds are an often underrated beer style. This was a fine example of a dark mild, and proved that a beer doesn’t need to be packed full of hops and alcohol to be enjoyable. A dark ruby colour with a delicate sweet aroma, with some smokiness in the background. On drinking, flavours of dark chocolate and liquorice dominated the palate. Next month, I’ll be back to writing about my favourite cask ales found in pubs and bars around Sheffield. As always, you are invited to write in with your beers of the month too. Dominic Nelson

I’ve tried so many good real ales at the fine establishments of the Steel City this month that it was very difficult to pick just three! Like last month, my top three all come from breweries based in and around Sheffield, which goes to show the consistent quality of the local real ale scene. Here they are: What: Baize (5.5%) – Thornbridge (Ashford-in-the-Water) Where: Stag’s Head Those who read this column regularly probably won’t be too surprised to see a stout featured, but this mint chocolate version promised something a little different. A deep black colour with a frothy tan head, the aroma was fairly traditional with the roasted malt dominating the hints of mint and dark chocolate. The taste, however, bore more than a passing resemblance to After Eight chocolates, but without being overly sweet. A very nice pint. What: Wanderer #2 Gooseberry Saison (4.0%) – Abbeydale (Sheffield) Where: Old Queen’s Head I am a huge fan of sour Belgian style beers such as saisons, gueuzes and lambics, so I was very intrested in trying Abbeydale’s take on a saison, the latest in their Brewers Emporium range. The appearance was hazy (it’s an unfined beer) with a light straw colour and a small head. On drinking, the beer had a refreshing sourness and was slightly dry, with the gooseberry providing a delightful finish. What: Independent (4.0%) – Mitchell’s Hop House (Sheffield) Where: Itchy Pig Ale House This was the first cask ale I had tried from this microbrewery and I was pleasantly surprised. Brewed with lager malts, this take on a blonde beer was a very good example of a session ale. The beer poured a straw colour with a white head, and the aroma offered a nice balance of malt and hops. The taste was crisp, with the hops imparting subtle citrus notes that complemented the malt perfectly. Whether you agree with my choices or think I’ve got no idea what I’m on about, feel free to get in touch! Next month’s column will be a little different as I will be choosing my three favourite cask ales from the Steel City Beer & Cider Festival. Dominic Nelson