The Sheffield Brewery Co. Steel Inspired



Harry Brearley by Faunagraphic



A display cabinet stands proudly on the top floor of Sheffield Town Hall housing items under a ‘Made in Sheffield’ banner. Below the banner a bottle of beer and numerous stainless steel tools and cutlery items jostle for position providing a timely glimpse into two trades the city and its municipality are hugely proud of – beer and steel.

Peter & Tim from The Sheffield Brewery Co.

One mile north of the town hall lays Neepsend, an industrial part of the steel city since the 1800s and on Burton Road running through the suburb stands an imposing building called the Albyn Works. The building dates back to the mid-1800s and was built by Joseph Pickering, the son of a Sheffield silversmith. Pickerings produced numerous polishing pastes used in a variety of crafts including polish for the burgeoning cutlery trade. It seems fitting that The Sheffield Brewery Company have made their home in this historic building.

Peter Rawlinson, one of the brewery’s founders, invited me along to a recent open day to find out more about their new beer series which delves even deeper into the steel city connection commemorating its centennial mark. As you walk up to the brewery entrance casks mounted along the external wall provide a guiding nudge to the door and a glimpse into the workings of this 10 barrel micro-brewery. Once inside the mezzanine divided room houses an impressive traditional tower brewery. Head brewer Dr Tim Stillman was a bio chemist at Sheffield University for 25 years and his experience and brewing knowledge has guided this remarkable unison of natural gravity and brewing kit. The kit has so far produced 4 cask conditioned beers in the series – Stainless (4.5 per cent ale using Sheffield honey), Staybrite (4.3 per cent IPA), Rustless (4.5 per cent amber ale) and Riga IPA (4.5 per cent).

Riga India Pale Ale takes inspiration from its namesake town in Latvia where stainless steel originator Harry Brearley worked for Firth Brown Steels in the early 1900s. Harry Brearley’s influence still lives on through the charitable foundation Freshgate Trust which he set up before passing away in 1948 and has supported South Yorkshire charities with more than £2 million over the years.

A remarkable man commemorated brightly by The Sheffield Brewery Co’s new beer series.

The Sheffield Brewery Company’s beer can be found all over the city including their tap outlet The Gardeners Rest on Neepsend Lane. To find out about the next brewery tour and open day contact sales@SheffieldBrewery.com or visit @SheffieldBrewer via twitter.