Kelham Island Brewery was one of the main sponsors at this year seventh annual atmospheric Barrow hill Rail Ale Festival.
With over 120 Ales available this festival it is an extremely popular annual event that attracts real ale lovers and train enthusiasts. As you sample the wide range of ales available you can tour the last remaining operational Roundhouse in Great Britain. They also feature a range of Steam and diesel locomotives.
As you can see from our picture – the bar which featured our ales was in front of the famous Blue Peter train.
We were happy to sponsor the event this year for the second year and were delighted to be awarded the accolade of fastest selling sponsor of the weekend.
Featured
on the picture from Left to Right
Dave
Wickett-Owner of Kelham Island Brewery
Stuart
Basford- Sales Representative at Kelham Island Brewery
Kelham Produce Beer for the Chesnut Troop
Soldiers who served in Iraq were welcomed ba to Sheffield on the 29th February 2008 by crowds who watched them parade through the city. The Chesnut Troop, 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery had just completed a 7 month tour.
We were asked by the Lord Mayors Office to create a bottled beer in their honour and each soldier would recieve a bottle after the parade.
We were delighted to be asked to do this and proud to be involved.
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Pale Rider wins Gold at the annual Rotherham Oakwood Beer Festival 2008!!
At the recent Rotherham CAMRA OAKWOOD beer festival we were pleased to be awarded Gold in the strong ales Category with Pale Rider. The Oakwood festival is an extremely popular annual event that combines real ale and music to produce a great festival. With over 250 real ales available and varied music throughout - this event is unmissable.It is always a pleasure to recieve praise and recognition from our local area and we thank you to all the members who took part.
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Back after popular demand!!
Kelham Island Beer Cheese Now Available
Kelham Bitter 3.8% and Pale Rider 5.2% Cheese
The cheese is made from Cheese Curds washed in real ale and has been produced by the Staffordshire Cheese Company.
Buy the Cheese at The Fat Cat whilst stocks last!!!
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Kelham Island Brewery win a SIBA Business Award!
On the evening of October 15, members of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), plus various supporters, sponsors, including Lloyds TSB and the Morning Advertiser, and assorted media, gathered in the plush surroundings of the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, to toast the winners of the second SIBA Local Brewing Business Awards. We were delighted to win the award for Best PR initiative.
Taken from the SIBA website- Here are the reasons why we were awarded this truly great accolade.
When the floods hit Sheffield in June 2007, we were left with a devastated brewery and no beer!!!! Brewing could not recommence for some time, and the potential loss of customers threatened longer-term commercial repercussions. But a hastily conceived and truly brilliant PR response enabled the company to rise above the water and turn disaster into a marketing opportunity. A press release targeted every media avenue within two days and customers were kept informed of developments via a newsletter and the brewery’s database. The PR campaign was rewarded with national and local TV, radio and newspaper coverage. A special beer and a beer festival including local flood-hit pubs maintained the interest and consolidated the success of the company’s initiative.
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Easy Rider wins Gold at the annual Sheffield Beer Festival 2007!!
At the recent Sheffield CAMRA beer festival we were pleased to be awarded Gold in the Premium Ales Category with Easy Rider. We also achieved second place overall in the competiton. It is always a pleasure to recieve praise and recognition from our local area and we thank you to all the members who took part.
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Pale Rider wins Gold at the annual Peterborough Beer Festival 2007!!
Pale Rider has won Gold in the premium ales category and bronze overall at the annual Peterborough beer festival 2007. It’s a great achievement for us and a great award to win as Peterborough is one of the largest CAMRA beer festivals in the country.
This year we faced stiff competition from a range of over 350+ different beers that were on offer at the festival. As usual the festival was a success .It attracted over 37,000 visitors, We are extremely proud of our latest award and continue to be pleased with the continued success of our champion award winning Pale Rider!!!
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THE FLOOD
5th July 2007
Sir Bob Kerslake and Jan Wilson visit Kelham Island Brewery
Sir Bob Kerslake(Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council) and Jan Wilson (Leader of Sheffield City Council) paid Kelham Island Brewery a visit after the flood.
(Pictured from left Stephen Fearn, Sir Bob Kerslake, Jan Wilson, David Wickett, Dominic Flynn,Micael Williams)
THE FLOOD
25TH JUNE 2007
Monday 25th June started much like any other day. It rained all day, and it was hard rain, but nobody sensed that it was going to be anything other than a wet day.
(Image courtesy of Atkinson and Walker)
At around 2pm one of the staff said that the River Don appeared to be high. By 2.30 it was clearly rising fast. Around 3.30 water started to fill the car park and it rose at an alarming rate. Three of us worked trying to fill bags with sand. At first it lapped around our ankles within fifteen minutes it was up to our knees. At that point I got all of the staff to leave the premises. At 4.45pm the River Don burst its banks and a wave swept down the street. I just managed to get my car away, later on it would have been totally submerged.
Both The Fat Cat and the Kelham Island Brewery had extensive flooding.Remarkably the flood waters had gone by the following morning. We were left with a six inch layer of contaminated, stinking sludge which is proving very difficult to remove.
Cleaning out the cellar of The Fat Cat on Wednesday we had numerous helpers and well-wishers including the Professor of Human Resources from the University of Sheffield. He remarked that it made a change from the work he should have been doing. One of the buckets of sludge he lifted out from the cellar contained a live fish. We’ve kept him and called him nemo. He deserved to escape.
Soon we were inundated with reporters. Radio 4 and Radio 5 did live broadcasts form the brewery and I was pleased to see that on the Wednesday BBC TV News covered Tony Blair leaving Downing Street followed by the flood at the brewery including an interview with the brewer. BBC news 24 carried it every hour. The BBC obviously thought that the loss of 40,000 pints of beer was almost a big a story as the loss of a Prime Minister!
Stuart, who names our guests beers in the brewery and who is a massive Springsteen fan has already decided our first brew at the brewery when we are back will be named after a Springsteen song “After The Flood”
Attached are some photos taken when it was still possible to walk around.
Thanks to the dedication fo the hardworking staff - the Brewery started brewing on Monday- exactly a week later since the flood began.
We would like to express our appreciation for all the wishes of support we have recieved.
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Kelham
Island Brewery Produces Special Ale for Big Lad!!
9th
May 2007
He's
on the pull................for a greener Sheffield
Who are we talking about? Big Lad of Course!! Big Lad is a six year old
shire horse that has been a familiar sight around the Sheffield Manor
Estate. He is part of the Green Estate who are a social enterprise created
to turn the neglected open spaces of the Manor into Valued Space. Big
Lad along with his minder Rob Cains plough the land and mow the grass.
How are Kelham Island Brewery Involved ?
Kelham Island Brewery Director Dave Wickett saw an article about Big Lad
in the Sheffield Star in the Diary section dated 13/02/07. After reading
he was keen to be involved in the Green Estate and arranged a meeting.
Big Lad- The Dray Horse!!
One great idea that we are now actively pursuing is purchasing a dray
so that we can use Big Lad in Brewery events as a Dray Horse. In the 1800s
Shirehorse drawn drays were the only way beer could be transported. Sadly
this practice has declined and nowdays they are a rare site. Therefore
we have decided to purchase a dray and use it for Public relations purposes
and special events as a way to promote the shirehorses role in brewery
history.
Big Lad Beer
To promote Big Lad and the great work that he and the Green Estate do
we have decided to produce a special ale in his honour. It is titled BIG
LAD. Its 4.8% abv and will be sold in cask around various Sheffield Pubs.
We are selling into the pubs during the week beginning 07/05/07.It will
hopefully be in the pubs for sale on the 12th May which times with the
event that the Manor Lodge is having to celebrate VE DAY.
Outlets
The Following Pubs will be selling Big Lad Beer
Fat Cat - Sheffield
The Milestone- Sheffield
The Psalter - Sheffield
Bankers Draft - Sheffield
Devonshire Cat - Sheffield
The Sheaf View - Sheffield
The Rhinocerous- Wetherspoons Rotherham
The Bluecoat- Wetherspoons Rotherham
The Commercial- Sheffield
Old Harrow - Sheffield
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Deans Deliverance!!!
24th January 2007
Today we welcomed a very special visitor to the brewery - The Very Revd Peter Bradley, Dean of Sheffield!!!
The
Dean Mashing In
The Dean was helping our brewers mash in and prepare a special brew called Deans Deliverance!!
Look
North were here too!!!
We are producing the ale to mark the opening of Sheffield Cathedrals new community resources Centre by HRH the Princess Royal on 6th March 2007.
Dave
and The Dean enjoying the sampling!
Deans Deliverance will be available in bottles and will be given out as commemorative gifts to all the generous donors to the project as a thank you for their support on the 6th March at the presentation day. It will also be available in cask form around the same time.
The
Dean behind the Fat Cat Bar
Trial versions were also available today at The Fat Cat to sample which the Dean judged to be "Absolutely Delicious"!!
Look
our for it in march!!!!
More about the project
The Cathedral Community Resource Centre is almost complete. It will house the Cathedral Archer project and will allow Sheffield Cathedral to develop it ministry to serve the poor, homeless and vulnerable of Sheffield It will also offer space for mission through the arts, music, and education, and will be a valuable resource for the city and region. Kelham Island Brewery is proud to support such a vital and worthwhile project!!
See
www.sheffield-cathedral.co.uk for more information
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A New Head Brewer
We would like to take the opportunity to congratulate and introduce Dominic Flynn - Our new Head Brewer. Dominic joined Kelham Island Brewery in February 2005 as the assistant brewer and has recently been promoted to Head Brewer in December 2006. He is extremely passionate about brewing and we look forward to Dominic carrying on the success with our regular beers but also making his mark and creating some exciting new brews in 2007!!!
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Its a girl!!!!!
We would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Cat and Stuart on the birth of their beautiful baby girl Jessica Rachel Ross.
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Kelham Island On The TV!!!
Kelham Island Brewery was on BBC Look North on Wednesday 8th November. The piece was part of a 6 Part cooking series that Yorkshire Chef Richard Fox is hosting. The subjest is matching great beer with great food. And what better place to start than our very own Kelham Island Brewery!!!!
Dave Wickett -the owner of Kelham Island Brewery was on hand to help Richard and provide advice on the beers.With so much great beer to choose from Richard decided after great deliberation to use Brooklyn Smoked Porter 6.5% with a Venison Dish that he prepared using Venison sourced from The Round Green Farm Venison Company in Barnsley.
.Take a look at the pictures below that we took on the day!!
The
Camera Crew Set up for the Day in the Visitors Centre
Richard
doesnt know which one to choose!!
Dave
and Richard discussing which beer goes best with the Venison
Brooklyn Smoked Porter is available in Bottles from
-
The Fat Cat
-
Archer Road Beer Stop
-
Dram Shop
For More Information on Richard Fox please visit
www.foxfoodandbeer.co.uk
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After the resounding success of last years event. Kelham Island and Rafters Resaurant are teaming up once again to host an evening of
Award Winning Beer Complementing Award Winning Food
Thursday 7th September 2006
On Arrival
Canapes
Vegetarian Canapes
Served With Kelham Island Pale Rider 5.2%
To Start
Tian of white crab meat,avacado and marinated tiger prawn with Japanese Watercress and shellfish oil
Tartin of Baked Goats Cheese and slow roast Garlic tomatoes with Kalamata Tapenade and a Balsamic Asparagus Salad
Complemented by Kelham Island Angel Laughter 3.5%
-
Vanilla Beer Sorbet
Churned with Kelham Island Vanilla Beer
Main Course
Pan Fried Fillet of Angus Beef with Gruyere Cheese and Potato Gratin, Wild Mushroom and Shiraz sauce
A Pastry box of Glazed Summer Vegetables with buttered Asparagus and a Shallot and Parsley sauce
Complemented by Kelham Island Night Rider 5.2%
Dessert
Flavours of Valrhona Chocolate
Milk-Bitter-White
Complemented by Kelham Island Seven Seeds of Rye 4.8%
-
Plates of Yorkshire Cheeses with Nuts, Fruit and Date Bread
Yorkshire Blue-Swaledale-Braffords Goats
Complemented by Kelham Island IPA 5.5%
£36.50
Vegetarian Option in Italics
Please contact Rafters on 0114 2304819 to book a table.
The event is very popular so early booking is advisable!
Hope to see you there!!!
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Kelham Island Wins Again!
We are pleased to announce that our new beer Brooklyn Smoked Porter that was brewed in conjunction with the American Brewmaster Garrett Oliver scooped the overall BEER OF THE FESTIVAL 2006 award at the recent Bradford CAMRA beer festival. We also came first in The Strong Ales category with Brooklyn Smoked Porter .Our head brewer Stuart Ross was at the presentation evening to collect our award. Whilst there he also collected an award on behalf of our sister Brewery - Thornbridge who won in the Extra Strong Ales Category with St Petersburg Imperial Stout 7.7%!
Stuart
Ross collecting our Award 
Stuart
holding our own awards and Thornbridge. Also pictured is a brewer from
Millstone brewery who won in the category for beer abv 3.5%-4%
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Kelham Island Launches New Charity Beer!!!!
Hop Metal is an exciting new beer that has been created by Kelham Island and it is especially for charity! We have produced it in conjunction with Siemens who are taking part in the Halliwells corporate challenge.
What is the Cavendish Centre?
It is a sheffield based charity that has been there for thousands of yorkshire people and their families since it opened in 1992. It provides help and support to cancer patients in their times of Hardship and distress.
What is the Halliwells Cavendish Corporate Challenge?
Halliwells Solicitors have donated £5000 and are challenging 100 businesses in Yorkshire to show off their entrepreneurial spirit by turning their own dreams into reality - and hard cash for the Cavendish Centre!! These organisations will be given £50 and 3 months to grow it by as much as is legally possible.
How is Kelham Island Brewery Involved?
The SIEMENS team approached us and asked us if we would help them . They came up with the name of the beer( Hop Metal) and we are selling it and donating part of the profit to the Cavendish Centre. They are also selling special Cavendish Pale Ale in bottles brewed by us which will be on sale at the End Of May.
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World Famous Brewmaster Brews at Kelham Island!
On Wednesday 25th January 2006 Kelham Island welcomed a very special guest visitor- The esteemed American Brewmaster Garrett Oliver. Garrett was over in the UK to speak at a brewing conference on Monday. As a good friend of the brewery owner- David Wickett, Garrett agreed to brew a beer for us using one of his own special recipies.
In the Brewery From
Left To Right- Stuart
Ross (Head Brewer), Dr Alan Wood, Garrett Oliver, Lady Mayoress, David
Wickett and The Lord Mayor Roger Davidson.
The beer that was brewed was Brooklyn Smoked Porter and is 6.8%. This is a first for Kelham Island as we have never brewed a smoked porter before.
Visiting Kelham Island did however serve another purpose. The area around the brewery is being redeveloped. Within this rejuvination, a one tenth scale model of The Brooklyn Bridge is to be built linking Kelham Island to the mainland. After five years of planning it is hoped to commence construction later this year. So Garrett brought a Proclamation of Friendship from The President of the Borough of Brooklyn which was presented to Sheffield's Lord Mayor, Roger Davison at a ceremony that was held at the site where the bridge is to be built.
Garrett
and The Lord Mayor holding the proclamation.
It was Garrett Oliver's first visit to the City of Sheffield although his association with David Wickett goes back some 15 years.It began when David's bar in Rochester, New York (The Old Toad) started to purchase real ale from the Manhattan Brewery, where Garrett started as assistant Brewmaster in 1989.Garrett then went on to become Brewmaster in 1993 before moving to Brooklyn Brewery a year later.
In
the Fat Cat, Sheffield 
More
details on Sheffield's Brooklyn Bridge can be obtained from Kelham Island
Brewery.
Also visit www.garrettoliver.com
