Following the successful tutored tasting led by Roger Protz at the previous Steel City Beer Festival (SCBF), the 2022 event staged three tastings plus two talks.

Mike Pomranz from the Cider Hole led participants through four ciders. These included Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry, Flakey Bark S.V.P. 2020 (6.4 per cent) and Sheffield-made Exemption Ciderhouse, Steel City Spontaneous Speed Run (5.8 per cent). The latter involved apples which were on the tree just a few weeks earlier. Mike also told of his experiences across the Atlantic.

Julia Gray, owner of Hop Hideout and the driving force behind Sheffield Beer Week, led two tutored beer tastings, each concentrating on a different set of five beers, with a mix of cask and key-keg. Skilfully weaving her story and comments about beer history and production, Julia led us on an exploration of beer styles. A bonus was the unscheduled inputs from Dan and Martha (Saint Mars of the Desert Brewery) who provided a potted history of their experiences in brewing and talked us through one of their beers. 

There was also a talk about Sheffield’s heritage and pubs. One of the volunteer staff team who fetched and served the various beers and ciders described his Friday afternoon as different, eye-opening and to be repeated.

Sheffield CAMRA intends to host similar events at SCBF47, and at the forthcoming Members’ Weekend.

Pictured: Steel City beer tutored tasting (photo: Dave Pickersgill)