Sheffield Beery Happenings: Beer X, Magic Rock, Sierra Nevada

It's all happening this week, I know I bang on about Sheffield and the beery good things that go on here, but can you blame me really for feeling a little pleased about it. 

This week the Society of Independent Brewer's launch their annual get together and throw a 300+ beer festival each night. From Wednesday through to Saturday night - you can head up to IceSheffield, check out the beer list for what's  in store. I hear some rumblings a foot for good quality food offerings from street food vendors like Fish& and Diamond Dogs in the mix too. 

On Thursday - Magic Rock's head brewer Stuart wrestles Brewdog's newest bar to the ground and takes over the taps (ooooh la la monsieur). Sheffield isn't exactly a beer desert and Brewdog Sheffield may end up looking slightly dated in less than a week going by it's industrial 80s nightclub styling, but you know what, it'll still tempt you in now and again for some tasty keg treats. I visited Saturday night and tried Portland brewery Gigantic's TicWitTic. A sour Belgian style witbier collaboration with John Harris of Ecliptic; sour, tangy orange refreshment, too orangey for crows.   

Magic Rock's takeover includes 10 beers with a Tequila barrel aged version of Slapstick (India wit) and their new Vienna IPA Villainous (using experimental hop 366 and Citra). In addition to Highwire, Rapture, Cannonball, Bearded Lady, Salty Kiss, Circus of Sour, Punchline Porter and Slapstick. 

Just 15 minutes walk away is Thornbridge bar DaDa and on the same night Steve Grossman from Sierra Nevada is taking over their taps for the night. 
With Belgian Black, French style saison, Big Foot, Weizen Bock, Narwhal, Torpedo and Ruthless Rye on't taps. You can pick up the shuttle bus to Beer X from here, check Beer X twitter for times. 

Out in Crookes master brewer Alex Barlow and deli goodness Urban Pantry have organised a beer and cheese matching evening that same night (5 ales and 5 cheeses). 

Thursday night is living proof that good things always come in threes. Oops maybe that's four, but who's counting. Good luck deciding.