Sheffield, the host for the 2023 Members’ Weekend, AGM and Conference has more than 20 brewing companies, more per head of population than any other UK city. These vary from the long-established: Abbeydale, Blue Bee, Bradfield and Steel City to the relatively new: brewSocial, Grizzly Grains, HQ Brew, Lost Industry and Saint Mars of the Desert (SMOD). The oldest brewery, Abbeydale, continues to produce Moonshine, the top-selling cask beer in the city while simultaneously developing its experimental nano-batch Funk Dungeon project.

Relative newcomer, SMOD was recently included in the RateBeer top 10 list of the world’s best new breweries. Also, within the branch area, in the Peak District National Park, are Eyam and Intrepid.

True North won the 2022 Champion Beer of Sheffield Award. Sponsored by city-centre beer shop, Beer Central, this award was hosted and judged at the Sheffield Steel City Beer and Cider Festival. Devika IPA (5.2 per cent) was the winner followed by Stancil Barnsley Bitter (3.8 per cent) and Neepsend Myron Pale (4.2 per cent).

In 2021, when the planned Sheffield Members' Weekend was cancelled, as part of the web-based substitution, an online tutored beer tasting was hosted. Initially, there was the unenviable problem of finding a representative selection of six beers from the hundreds available. At a time when several breweries were mothballed, the occasion demanded award winners, geographical spread, a mix of new and well-established breweries, a diverse range of beer styles/strengths and commitment to supply 500 beers to a tight deadline.

The event was a sell-out. The CAMRA warehouse despatched the beer 10 days in advance, protected by biodegradable maize starch peanuts. The evening then smashed the world record for simultaneous beer tasting as more than 350 participants, using 266 Zoom accounts took part. European Beer Consumers Union beer judge and former GBBF organiser Christine Cryne hosted the event. Five brewers: Ben Millner (Intrepid), Bruce Woodcock (Bradfield), Gavin Martin (Neepsend), George Brook (Triple Point) and Jim Rangeley (Abbeydale) participated, commenting on their beer and responding to questions.

Companies House states the occupation of Ben as “brewer and speleological interpreter”. He is the only UK brewer with such a job title. This unique split of his working life obviously works, as one participant described the Intrepid beer as, “one of the best stouts I've tasted from a bottle... can’t believe the amount of body at such a low ABV”.

There were also complimentary comments about the brewers’ input: “Absolutely super event, wonderfully produced, great host and contributors and the sense of the CAMRA community, and great beer!” The brewers also had an enjoyable evening, as Gavin stated, via Twitter: “Was really good fun and hopefully we’ll be able to meet some of you in the flesh in Sheffield one day.”

That day has arrived with MW23. Across the city, many breweries are hosting an open event on the Friday (21 April). For example, the Neepsend brewery trail is a must-see attraction. The derelict ex-William Stones brewery forms the centre of a compact area which in addition to a range of bars and pubs, includes several producers: Blue Bee, Cider Hole, Heist, Little Critters, Neepsend, Stancill and Toolmakers. Later in the day, and on Saturday, there will be several formal trips. Detailed directions, including transport, will be available online and via the MW handbook.

There are also two local cider producers. At Woodthorpe Hall, the home of Dick Shepley and his family, locally sourced apples are hand-picked and then pressed using a 17th-century cider press, without additives or phosphates. In September 2021, Mike Pomranz opened the Cider Hole, an inner-city microcidery, bar and bottle shop, where he makes and serves his own Exemption Ciderhouse cider along with more than 60 other hand-selected canned and bottled ciders.

Suffice to say, over a weekend, it is impossible to visit or sample products from all the excellent breweries in, or close to, the city. As Boak and Bailey put it in a recent blog: “Or maybe we should move to Sheffield and be done.”

For more information about accommodation, and the weekend itself (including attending and volunteering) visit: https://camra.org.uk/beer-festivals-events/members-weekend/ 

When and Where

Friday 21 – Sunday 23 April 2023

Members’ Weekend, AGM & Conference 2023: Octagon Centre, University of Sheffield, Western Bank S10 2TG

Dave Pickersgill is chair of the MW23 local organising committee