Happy Brew Year: 12 Sheffield breweries you should know about
The Brewery of St Mars of the Desert (SMOD)
Head into a small courtyard just off Stevenson Road, Attercliffe, overlooked in true Sheffield fashion by a historic steel foundry, and there you’ll find The Brewery of St Mars of the Desert (SMOD) tucked away with a few benches parked out front for sunnier days. Inside the quaint taproom decorated invitingly with quirky artwork and bright colours you’ll meet Dann and Martha, former owners of beloved Boston brewery Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project, who after hearing about Sheffield’s UK-wide beer reputation decided to take a chance crossing the pond and opening a business here in 2018.
Next to the taproom you’ll find the brewing operation itself housing Yorkshire’s only coolship, a large bath-like vessel used for getting extra character out of hops. As such, they’ve kicked out some truly cosmic brews over the last couple of years – from juicy NEIPAs to rich and luxurious Imperial Stouts.
Triple Point Brewery
A city centre brewery and bar located on Shoreham Street, Triple Point Brewing Ltd is ran by father and son duo Mike and George Brook. Their award-winning brews are sold straight from tank to glass in a spacious industrial-chic setting, while the taproom also houses Sheffield’s famous delightfully dirty burger purveyors Twisted Burger.
When it comes to brews, Triple Point are impressive all-rounders in the game, catering nicely for lovers of quality lager, IPAs, DIPAs, stouts and porters. Situated a stones’ throw from Bramall Lane, their KOP Lager is a natural favourite with Blades fans, whereas they recently knocked up a few festive favourites including their Parkin Amber Ale, a baltic porter in collab with Bullion Chocolate; and 2020 special ‘Substantial Meal’, a Session IPA from which £1 of every can goes towards combating food poverty.
Lost Industry
A small but mighty brewery based in Wadsley Bridge, Lost Industry sell their avant-garde brews all over the UK and even Europe. In pre-Covid days, their mobile van would serve punters up and down the country at various festivals.
With pubs closed during lockdown, owners Lesley and Mick took the opportunity to launch a significant refurbishment of the brewery and have recently started working on a New Zealand-hopped IPA to counter the miserable UK winter weather. Hopefully by summer we’ll be seeing them back where they belong – in our favourite local bars and stockists across the city.
facebook.com/Lost-Industry-Brewing
Little Critters
This family-run Neepsend brewery pride themselves on using high quality grains and the finest hops from around the globe to create an exciting variety of top-notch ales. Much of their canned range has been decorated in colourful fashion by Sheffield illustrator Jim Connolly and are available for nationwide delivery along with clothing merch and glass sets.
If you’re looking for an IPA that packs a punch, the 6.5% C Monster unites American C hops, lime leaves and citrus peel for a refreshing brew bursting with flavour. Fancy some craft on draught? They also offer a variety of brews in 30L key kegs, while 9 and 18 gallon casks are available for their ale range.
Heist Brew Co.
Last year popular Derbyshire brewers Heist announced their move from Clowne to the heart of Sheffield’s beer capital Kelham Island, taking on a hugely exciting project that would see the renovation of a large factory space into a brewery bar hosting interactive tours, street food vendors, tastings and events. Of course, a worldwide pandemic has put these plans on hold somewhat, but you can keep up to date with the latest by following them on Facebook and Instagram.
If you’re looking to sample a drop, the Heist website shop contains their quad box deal (£24.95), which allows customers to try out four new beers (limited, small batch or collab) along with an optional virtual tasting session hosted by gaffers Adam and Dan.
Little Mesters Brewing
A recent addition to the Steel City brewing scene, the Little Mesters brewery and taproom was established in 2020 and situated next to and above the famous Sheffield booze shop Mitchell’s Wine Merchants.
Their locally brewed, carefully crafted selection currently includes the Little Mester Originals – a session lager (4%) and traditional bitter (3.9%) – as well as a hazy unfiltered IPA (5.5%). There are also a couple of wintertime specials (Christmas pudding stout, anyone?) available to purchase online, all of which are discounted for Tryanuary. Plenty of big plans are underway for brewery in 2021, so sling them a follow on socials and keep an eye out for any new brews heading your way.
Crosspool Ale Makers Society
Originally Hopscotch Craft Brewers, this exciting microbrewery has been producing beer under Crosspool Ale Makers Society since 2019. Recently, their ‘Straight Outta Crosspool’ West Coast IPA (5.6%) has been a huge hit; throw in their traditional lager-pils ‘He Ain’t Heavy’ (4%) and smoky treacle stout ‘Mount Zion’ (4%) and you’ve got a trio of delicious Steel City brews to get acquainted with.
PS: They do free ‘Thirsty Thursdays’ deliveries on all orders over £30 for S1-20 and S32.
crosspool-ale-makers-society.com
Steel City Brewing
Forged in Sheffield since 2009, Steel City Brewing is something of a nomadic brewing company, or a “cuckoo brewery” as they are known in Europe, where brewers move around different premises to borrow equipment to work with. They first began at Brew Company, before a move to Little Ale Cart, then to Toolmakers Brewery, and finally moving again to Lost Industry in 2016.
They’re all about creating big hoppy beers and regularly collaborate with other independent brewers. Last month Steel City linked up with Spanish brewers Reptilian Brewery, releasing a 12% Panettone Imperial Stout and 6.3% Pineapple Sour, if either of those tickle your fancy? Keep up to date with what else they’ve got going on their open Facebook group below.
Neepsend Brew Co.
Perhaps best known for their easy-supping, steady away Neepsend Blonde (4%), this zero airs and graces outfit have been quietly and consistently brewing enjoyable beers since 2015. The original brewery was housed next to the River Don, just up from the historic Ball Street Bridge, until last year it moved around the corner to join a host of other independent businesses at 92 Burton Road – not to mention providing fresh tank beer for the recently opened Factory Floor bar.
They’ve branched out from their core beer with a broad range of additions, the latest of which are feature a 4.3% dry hopped sour, 5.4% hopfenwizen (or wheat beer) and 9% tonka, cocoa and vanilla stout. Certainly no resting on laurels here, and once the pubs are back open – *crosses fingers* – you’ll be guaranteed to spot some of their brews on the bar at traditional alehouses like The Sheaf View, The Wellington and The Blake Hotel.
Tapped Brew Co.
Nestled inside the decadent surroundings of railway hops haven The Sheffield Tap, the gleaming copper clad vats of Tapped Brew Co. have produced eight tasty brews thus far: Sheaf Street Pale, Mojo Session Pale, Toha New Zealand Pale, Jericho West Coast Pale, Ale Best Bitter, Sorsby Stout, Station Yard Golden Ale, and Station Porter.
As well as being responsible for a welcome hoppy aroma floating around the venue, an on-site brewery ensures some of the freshest beer in the city and allows for handy instantaneous feedback from customers to brewers. The key ethos overlaps nicely with that of the venue itself: a deep-founded respect for tradition and heritage coupled with a modern touch.
Exit 33 Brewing
This independent micro brewer is currently taking a break due to Covid-19 disruption, but hopefully we’ll see them back in production and on the taps at their spiritual home of The Harlequin soon.
Distinctive flavoursome beers are the name of the game at Exit 33, and the S2 brewery have pumped out everything from hop-heavy real ales to floral IPAs, silky stouts and even a chocolate cookie flavoured porter. Om nom nom nom.
Fuggle Bunny Brew House
This family-run brewery in Rother Valley focuses on one thing: serving up a ‘proper pint’ of real ale. Headed by award-winning Master Brewer Dave Steeple, who boasts over 37 years of experience in the industry, Fuggle Bunny pride themselves in crafting full-flavoured, full-bodied real ale and so far four out their first nine brews have bagged awards. No messin’ about.
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