Sheffield’s upcoming Steel City Beer Festival will include a guided walk for the first time.

The tour, dubbed Sheffield’s Little Chicago Quarter in 1925, will explore streets that feature in Sheffield 1925: Gang Wars and Wembley Glory by John Stocks, who will lead the walk. The book explains how Sheffield briefly became the most turbulent city in Britain due to an escalating gang war involving the Park Brigade, Mooney Gang, Gas Tank Gang and many others. Stocks will explore the social and Industrial heritage of the area examining the myths and reality of a tumultuous year in Sheffield history, before finishing at the festival. 

Other festival events include Dave Pickersgill, editor of Sheffield’s Real Heritage Pubs, giving an illustrated presentation plus there will be three tastings (pictured): Bridging the Gap between Beer and Cider, Cask is Craft? and From Europe to Mars.

Mike Pomranz will compare two beers and two ciders: two single variety and two others before sampling the single box of a 2023 mixed-variety Sheffield grown and made cider from his Exemption Ciderhouse. 

Julia Gray will introduce four contrasting beers: two cask (gravity and handpull), one key-keg and one from a small pack. An experienced beer trade professional with almost 20 years in the field, she aims to showcase, “the variety and quality of beer currently available in the UK”.

Dann Paquette and Martha Holley from local brewery Saint Mars of the Desert (SMOD), will introduce two European favourites and the beers they have inspired. SMOD draws its brewing inspiration from many sources, from traditional 19th-century recipes to the bright, vibrantly hoppy beers of New England. Its greatest influence is possibly the Belgian monastic style. 

The 47th Sheffield Steel City Beer Festival will be held at Kelham Island Museum from 18-21 October. Advance tickets for all events are available: https://sheffield.camra.org.uk/2023/07/tours-talks-tastings/

Picture: Dave Pickersgill