Steel City Beer & Cider Festival 2016

[Andy C 86]

The Steel City Beer & Cider Festival is organised and staffed entirely by volunteers from Sheffield & District CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) and this year is the 42nd annual event.

 

It is coming up next month.....

 

Wednesday 19th to Saturday 22nd October 2016 at Kelham Island Industrial Musuem

 

open Wednesday 5pm-11pm; Thursday and Friday 12pm-11pm; Saturday 12pm-10pm.

 

All beer and cider goes on sale Wednesday (subject to any quality control issues) and when its gone its gone (therefore a reduced choice on Saturday should be expected).

 

Each year at the current venue the festival has become more popular so for this year yet again more beer and more capacity has been added!

 

This year the festival features:

- Several different rooms including upper gallery hall, marquee and Millowners pub

- over 240 real ales on cask, served either on gravity or via handpump

- selection of international bottled beer

- craft keg bar (showcasing real ales dispensed in a modern manner)

- Gluten free beer choices

- Large range of traditional cider and perry

- Street food traders serving hot snacks in the Victorian courtyard

- stalls selling chocolates, crisps etc.

- Old fashioned pub games and tombola

- CAMRA merchandise and membership stands

- Live music Thur/Fri/Sat evening plus Loxley Silver Band Sat afternoon.

- Saturday afternoon charity quiz

- Souvenier glass and programme

 

As this is the 42nd festival, in a tenuous link via the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, there is a sci-fi theme to fancy dress and special beers this year.

 

More information at http://www.steelcitybeerfestival.co.uk.

 

There are still sponsorship opportunities available and also there is still time for CAMRA members to sign up as volunteer staff.

Edited September 21, 2016 by Andy C

[DnAuK 10]

The Steel City Beer & Cider Festival is organised and staffed entirely by volunteers from Sheffield & District CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) and this year is the 42nd annual event.

 

It is coming up next month.....

 

Wednesday 19th to Saturday 22nd October 2016 at Kelham Island Industrial Musuem

 

open Wednesday 5pm-11pm; Thursday and Friday 12pm-11pm; Saturday 12pm-10pm.

 

All beer and cider goes on sale Wednesday (subject to any quality control issues) and when its gone its gone (therefore a reduced choice on Saturday should be expected).

 

Each year at the current venue the festival has become more popular so for this year yet again more beer and more capacity has been added!

 

This year the festival features:

- Several different rooms including upper gallery hall, marquee and Millowners pub

- over 240 real ales on cask, served either on gravity or via handpump

- selection of international bottled beer

- craft keg bar (showcasing real ales dispensed in a modern manner)

- Gluten free beer choices

- Large range of traditional cider and perry

- Street food traders serving hot snacks in the Victorian courtyard

- stalls selling chocolates, crisps etc.

- Old fashioned pub games and tombola

- CAMRA merchandise and membership stands

- Live music Thur/Fri/Sat evening plus Loxley Silver Band Sat afternoon.

- Saturday afternoon charity quiz

- Souvenier glass and programme

 

As this is the 42nd festival, in a tenuous link via the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, there is a sci-fi theme to fancy dress and special beers this year.

 

More information at http://www.steelcitybeerfestival.co.uk.

 

There are still sponsorship opportunities available and also there is still time for CAMRA members to sign up as volunteer staff.

 

Sounds like a much bigger event this year Andy - Well done for pulling together. Looking forward to it.

 

On a side note, do you know if the rumours to be believed that Magna is back next March?

[taxman 12]

Had this in my diary months ago. Will be there Wednesday night glass in hand.

 

Cannot believe why people would want to go Friday and Saturday to queue for one in one out and pay for the pleasure....nuts. Then they moan that some beers have run out.....that's because sensible people drunk them all on Wednesday night. When it was free to get in.

[DnAuK 10]

Had this in my diary months ago. Will be there Wednesday night glass in hand.

 

Cannot believe why people would want to go Friday and Saturday to queue for one in one out and pay for the pleasure....nuts. Then they moan that some beers have run out.....that's because sensible people drunk them all on Wednesday night. When it was free to get in.

 

Well not all of us can get there midweek sadly as we don't live in town. But I'm gonna try for Thursday night and maybe go back Saturday if it looks like there is enough left. If not I'll do the crawl round Kelham Island.

[lola516 10]

Gluten free!!!

[belperite 11]

Well not all of us can get there midweek sadly as we don't live in town. But I'm gonna try for Thursday night and maybe go back Saturday if it looks like there is enough left. If not I'll do the crawl round Kelham Island.

 

Indeed, and for various reasons not all of us drink on schoolnights. I'll try and get there on Fri.

[SpiderPete 10]

Well not all of us can get there midweek sadly as we don't live in town. But I'm gonna try for Thursday night and maybe go back Saturday if it looks like there is enough left. If not I'll do the crawl round Kelham Island.

 

I have booked the week off, I shall be down Wed to Friday, as its was packed last year and the best ones went in no time.

 

If Saturday is like last year I wouldn't bother, more than half ales were gone and all was left was pale ales, loads came in, walked into the tent, had a look and walked out to upstairs, it was embarrassing for Sheffield as a beer capital (supposedly).

 

A friend came Saturday to try stouts, porter and none on.

[DnAuK 10]

I have booked the week off, I shall be down Wed to Friday, as its was packed last year and the best ones went in no time.

 

If Saturday is like last year I wouldn't bother, more than half ales were gone and all was left was pale ales, loads came in, walked into the tent, had a look and walked out to upstairs, it was embarrassing for Sheffield as a beer capital (supposedly).

 

A friend came Saturday to try stouts, porter and none on.

 

Yeah I have that problem, Pete. Friends from out of town can only get in at the weekend. I didn't do the weekend myself last year as I was away so didn't witness it, but the year before we were turned away due to lack of beer at 4pm on Saturday.

 

That said, according to Mr C, there seems to be significantly more beers on this year. Can't blame them for underestimating popularity after the dwindling numbers at Ponds Forge I guess. So we may be pleasantly surprised this year. Hope so anyway. Will see you there on the Thursday at least!

 

Weekend before is Nottingham btw. You going to that one?

[taxman 12]

Indeed, and for various reasons not all of us drink on schoolnights. I'll try and get there on Fri.

 

Some of us have jobs where it doesn't matter if you are pished to buggery the day after a beer fest

[Andy C 86]

Yeah I have that problem, Pete. Friends from out of town can only get in at the weekend. I didn't do the weekend myself last year as I was away so didn't witness it, but the year before we were turned away due to lack of beer at 4pm on Saturday.

 

That said, according to Mr C, there seems to be significantly more beers on this year. Can't blame them for underestimating popularity after the dwindling numbers at Ponds Forge I guess. So we may be pleasantly surprised this year. Hope so anyway. Will see you there on the Thursday at least!

 

Weekend before is Nottingham btw. You going to that one?

 

Unfortunately the nature of the beast with a temporary event is the choice will be reduced on the final day (Saturday) as anything left after that goes down the drain. The ideal would be the last pint of every beer is sold at exactly 1 minute before closing time but it doesn't work that way!

 

The festival since moving to Kelham Island Industrial Museum has just got more and more popular each year and as a result the following year we have increased venue capacity and increased the amount of beer on the bar. Despite that each year we have had to rush extra beer in Friday night for the Saturday session and limit admissions to ensure the bar doesn't run dry.

 

Anyway, We've increased the beer order this year and added another room to the festival so we will see what happens...

 

Usual policy applies - all beers go on sale opening time Wednesday (subject to any quality control issues with individual beers) and when they are gone they are gone.

 

It isn't me ordering the beer this year, I've handed that baton on so cannot comment in too much detail as I haven't seen a list as yet myself, however I'm sure it should have something for pretty much everyone.

 

---------- Post added 25-09-2016 at 12:21 ----------

 

Gluten free!!!

 

yes, new initiative following a number of requests, there should be about 5 or 6 gluten free beers, it is currently being discussed whether to have them on a dedicated specialist bar or mix them in with the other beers, either way they should be marked in the programme and on the website once the beer list is announced. The cider & perry also of course provide gluten free options if tastes stretch to apple and pear based beverages.

 

---------- Post added 25-09-2016 at 12:25 ----------

 

Sounds like a much bigger event this year Andy - Well done for pulling together. Looking forward to it.

 

On a side note, do you know if the rumours to be believed that Magna is back next March?

 

A little bigger each year - we've upped the beer range and added a new room, should be a good do but I can't really claim that much credit myself this year, theres a whole team of organisers led by Louise.

 

I can confirm Magna will be back in 2017 in its traditional date at the start of March. Before then there is also the smaller Rotherham CAMRA festival at the college, end of October.

 

I believe they are desperate for volunteers to staff both events incidentally.

Rotherham College beer festival details: http://www.rotherhamcamra.org.uk/new-york-beer-festival

Edited September 25, 2016 by Andy C

[DnAuK 10]

Cheers Andy. The festival is MUCH better out at Kelham Island and looking forward to seeing what the new room is.

 

Really glad Magna is back as well. Was always a highlight for me. Kicks the year of festivals off nicely. Even if it's bleeding cold!

[PeteM01 10]

Some of us have jobs where it doesn't matter if you are pished to buggery the day after a beer fest

 

Perhaps you could give us a clue as to your occupation? We might wish to avoid dates around beer-festivals when arranging certain activities, e.g. neurosurgery or long-haul flights.