TheNoiseThatWeMade

I'm sitting in on day 2 of January 2015, it's Friday night, I've got the cat lying contentedly next to me and I've just cracked open Buxton's 'Come Again' sour pale to drink. After spending New Year's eve at the Picture House Social on Abbeydale Road and enjoying De Molen and Alesmith beers before and after 'the countdown', I realised how good and more widely available the choice is - in styles and breweries (from the UK and across the globe). Regardless of whether people think we've hit saturation point, as a beer lover, I feel utterly happy with the variety I have to choose from. I'm not in a hurry to try it all, I'm happy to take it at a steady pace, listen to friends recommendations - whether in person or via social media (and the blogosphere) and savour the experience along the way.  I hope it continues into 2015!  With this in mind it's always good to reflect on the year that was and pull out a few highlights -...

Brothers Arms, Heeley - you might find a ukulele or two Sheffield is a geographically diverse city, you geography students already know that and it’s probably one of the reasons you decided to move here. The city nestles in its own natural valley created by seven hills and the confluence of five rivers. With picturesque hillsides; part urban, part rural and part national park (sitting in the Peak District). Trees out number people four to one and beery hotspots are abundant. Sheffield started as a village dating back to early last millennium, growing in the 18 th century to a thriving market town whilst becoming known as the production heartland for knives and forks. As the cutlery industry expanded rapidly through the industrial revolution, so too did the people to work the machines and the population swelled. Sheffield’s villages may have morphed together into the districts you now know over this dynamic phase; nonetheless each area has kept its own distinctiven...

The Reader  Will Linford, proprietor  HopHideout , specialist beer shop Why is this ‘Your Local’?  “Situated just up the road from the shop this late night boozer has a curated bottled beer menu from us and pizzas, you can’t go wrong.” Favourite tipple: IPAs and Imperial stouts: Buxton Brewery’s Ace Edge 6.8% and Nogne Imperial Stout 9% The Local:  Fresh from renovation the Picture House Social is the new venture from the Gatsby owners, snuggled under the striking 1920s era Abbeydale Road cinema. Once a grand and luxurious picture house, the Grade II listed building had fallen into disrepair until the Friends of Abbeydale Picture House began to restore the building in 2003. Now privately owned by The Edge climbing wall’s Mr Robins, the Picture House Social is the first foray into bringing the building back into public use.   Working with Sheffield designers, musicians and neighbouring businesses such as Nick Deakin, Tesla St...

  The Reader : Paul Coupe, freelance web developer   Why is this ‘Your Local’? “There’s nowhere else like it in Sheffield. You’re always guaranteed to find something interesting on the bar. I went to Berlin last year and the atmosphere and decor reminds me of that city.” Favourite tipple: Brewdog’s 5am Saint 5% & Siren Brewery’s Limoncello IPA 9%   The Local: A new addition to Devonshire Street this year - Brewdog’s Sheffield branch, as the brewery’s mantra, focuses on flavoursome upfront hop forward beers. Showcased via its 20 draught keg lines and a glass walled keg chillin’ room; a viewing wonder. There’s usually a 50/50 split on the taps offering the likes of Brewdog core beers from Punk IPA (5.4%) to more extreme specials like their barley wine, Shipwrecker Circus, at a powerful 10.5% alongside guests from Magic Rock , Stone and Mikkeller .   The entire bar staff are Cicerone trained (a respected beer certification program) which ...

  The Reader : Mark Evans, solicitor & beer drinker Why is this ‘Your Local’?   “First and foremost I just like the variety of beer on the hand pulls and key kegs. Pretty much every time I’ve been in there’s different beers to try. The pub always has a relaxed vibe too.” Favourite tipple:   Porters and milds such as Thornbridge Brewery’s Pollards, a dark coffee milk stout 5% The Local:   Residing on Commonside in Crookesmoor this old coaching house continues to provide a resting stop for thirsty travellers and locals alike in the west of Sheffield. Its hook line - music, arts and community sits at the heart of its ethos. With 8 cask lines and multiple keg lines including 4 Thornbridge beers in addition to Pilsner Urquell and Leffe, the Hallamshire always has the newest Thornbridge keg offerings.   A recent stalwart, from their innovative brewing side, includes the taste bud exploder Cherry Brown. A brown ale with a massi...

Over the last few months, I have to admit, the blog has taken a bit of a back burner. I have a European Beer Bloggers blog (the irony) to finish writing ('Graft Brewing'), a trip to Huddersfield to share (HDM v The Grove), a load of Your Locals and more to post. HOWEVER I'm now focusing on organsing this beer festival as one of the Sheff Brew Fest members. So [finger taps] this may be the last update till after October! Hopefully see you at the beer festival below >  www.sheffbrewfest.com