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Showing posts from June, 2013

Your Local: The Greystones

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The Reader: Ros, Sheffield food blogger @Nibbly_Pig Why is this ‘Your Local’? “It’s just at the top of our road and has a good comedy night. They’re always changing and putting on new beers, like the Thornbridge and Sierra Nevada collaboration ‘Twin Peaks’. You can buy proper bar snacks like pork pies with Henderson’s relish too. ” Favourite tipple: Seaforth, a 5.9 per cent IPA from Thornbridge Brewery. The Local: ‘Music, Beer, Arts and Community’ as the pub sign proclaims are a genuine focus for this flagship Thornbridge brewery pub sitting in the residential nucleus of Greystones. There’s always been a musical heritage at the pub with many a Sheffield legend passing through the aptly named ‘Backroom’ music venue over the years. With a heavy focus on blues, jazz and folk, you’ll even find US leg-ends like Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Duane Eddy performing to the intimate backroom crowd. The traditional imposing detached pub has a weighty beer offerin

Wild Beer Blog-o-rama

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I relish my Sunday reading session, it used to involve a pile of newspapers bought from the cornershop but now I find myself spending a chunk of the time catching up on all the beer blogs and brewery news online. One I've been reading regularly is the Wild Beer Co blog. I like a good brewery blog which has a decent amount of updates and lets you into the their life. Wild Beer Co have been managing to tick these hypothetical boxes (if I had such boxes) since they launched (not so long ago) keeping the interest high with their experimental thinking and brewing style. Using wild yeasts and inspired by the UK and global beer scene their portfolio keeps growing, with beers such as: Spellbound – Complex wild golden ale Redwood – A blend of fruited, barrel aged beers Epic Saison – Hoppy Belgian farmhouse ale Fresh – American pale ale Madness IPA – West Coast IPA Bliss – Wild Saison with apricots & spices Scarlet Fever – Hoppy red ale Modus

Pete Brown does Cider

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One to add to your wish list.......soon come October for this hefty cider book from Pete Brown & Bill Bradshaw . Just in time for Camra Apple month celebrations. The book 'World's Best Cider' offers a comprehensive overview of the history and development of cider worldwide. Over 200 ciders are described in detail, with tasting notes, and illustrated with Bill Bradshaw's photographs. Or as the press release says....: " World's Best Ciders is the first book to showcase the world of cider, from its origins as a thirst-quencher for farm workers to its present as a rival to champagne. Travelling from the Old to the New World and teaching us not only how to taste it but how to cook with it, Pete Brown and Bill Bradshaw explore every aspect of this fascinating drink and the people who produce it. Here you'll discover what Johnny Appleseed really planted, find out what the Magners' effect is and learn why perry is a miracle dri

Making Booze Courses

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I usually just dive right in after a little bit of research and give things a go....which is maybe why my first batch of homebrew had a few lively bottles and I ended up cleaning  beer (a nice brown colour) off my kitchen ceiling. Yes, it was a rented property; so maybe not the most opportune moment to go experimenting with different fermenting sugars and amounts (because I wasn't sure the amount from the Internet recipe). After doing a few brews I've found my interest grow and actually to the point where I quite fancy seeing what other people say and finding out their tips. I've realised meeting people with experience and stories can join the dots and help you progress (and have a laugh along the way). Meeting other local homebrewers is one approach and if you're based up North try The Northern Craft Brewers  or more in the middle try  Midlands Craft Brewers . No matter what skill level you are I can guarantee if you've had a go, then you'll be welcom

Your Local: The Closed Shop

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The Reader : Sheffield based beer blogger WeeBeefy.  @WBeefy weebeefyspubblog.blogspot.co.uk Why is this ‘Your Local’? “The pub has a friendly atmosphere, making it somewhere nice to relax and enjoy a decent pint.” Favourite tipple: Two recent favourites have been the pale and hoppy Tangled Up IPA (6 per cent) from Blue Bee Brewery and Kelham Island Brewery ’s Gentleman Death, a 6 per cent Baltic porter. The Local: The team behind the Rutland Arms (Brown Street, city centre) have reinvigorated The Closed Shop after taking over the lease earlier this year. Bringing their beer expertise and affability to Crookes the venue now offers 6 hand pulls of ales (including a Blue Bee Brewery regular), craft cider, speciality whiskeys and continental beers such as Budvar and Hoegaarden. Crookes is now one hefty imbibing destination! The Closed Shop supposedly takes its name from the time it traded as a grocery shop and off licence, being

Kelham Island Brewery Open Day

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Kelham Island Brewery threw open their doors on the May Day Bank Holiday offering free brewery tours round the home of its famous Pale Rider ale. Who could resist? With a gloriously sunny back drop provided on the day from a long overdue burst of summer sun, over 100 people had supped a Mistress Flame (that’s the new ruby mild ale!) and toured the brewery by mid-afternoon. Thanks to head brewer Iain Kenny for providing a step by step guide through the brewing process. Iain Kenny, head brewer 23,000 pints are brewed each week on the Alma Street site and a light and airy new loft bar conversion has been added to the visitors centre. The ‘Loft Bar’ offers 3 hand pulls of Kelham Island beers and exhibits numerous prints from their artist collaborations with Martin Bedford and Pete McKee. Comic book inspired artist Jim Connolly has created the new print series for the rider beers. First in the line-up is a Wild West comic inspired take paying homage to flagsh

Ilkley Brewery Brews ‘THE GOOD STUFF’ for Great Yorkshire Beer Book

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Will be looking out for this book from  Leigh Linley, a member of the   British Guild of Beer Writers.  He's visited and interviewed a selection of Yorkshire’s breweries to tell their story and showcase their most successful beers (and it's Leigh's first book).  Ilkley brewery have supported the release via a beer entitled 'The Good Stuff'   named after Leigh’s  blog .   It's a   5% Witbier made with lemongrass and lime.  The  Great Yorkshire Beer  book launched last week  at The York Tap:  www.yorktap.com To find out more about Ilkley Brewery, visit:  www.ilkleybrewery.co.uk  or follow Ilkley Brewery on Twitter @Ilkleybrewery and Facebook  www.facebook.com/ilkley. brewery   Copies of Leigh’s book will be available to buy from Ilkley Brewery on Ashlands Road, Ilkley.