#ISBFHeroes13 - Evolution of A Sheffield Standard
To those who know me (Jim), it will be no surprise that I’m a lover of Session Strength beers - that said, I’ve always said that EVERY beer is a Session Beer. It’s the length of the session that changes! But give me a beer between 3% & 4.5% and I’m in my liquid element
My first “Beer Crush” was Allgates Brewery (now Wigan Brewhouse). Their “lane” was session strength. That was what sold in Wigan, so it was what they made to be served in their pubs. Beers such as “California”, “Pretoria” & “All Black” were like catnip to me.
I soon became aware of what I regarded as a Sheffield Analogue of Allgates. Abbeydale Brewery, strangely enough, via Allgates pubs. “Moonshine”, “Deception” & “Dr Morton’s” were right up my street. If I saw an Abbeydale beer, I’d drink it. Hoppy, thirst quenching, they did the job. And did it well.
Moving this story forward….To June 2015. As a beer blogger who had just started a Beer Event (ISBF), I was invited to be a judge for a North West Homebrew competition. The judges included Duncan Barton (The much lamented Tickety Brew), a Greek brewer from Ellon named Andreas and I met two people from Blue Monkey Brewery that afternoon. Names of Jim & Laura Rangeley.
The competition was fierce, the judges all knew WAY more than me. And I destroyed my sense of smell by sampling ALL 91 beers (after beer 60, I gave everything top marks for Aroma!). We chatted. We got on. Seemed to have a lot in common - and not just beer.
2 years later, Jim & Laura were at Abbeydale. And playing with fermentation. Taking Abbeydale in a whole new funkier direction. And looking to display their wares.
All Photos : Mark Newton Photography
“Come to St Sebastian’s” says I! It was ISBF 4 - the final one at the Community Centre as it happens - and what Jim & Laura brought was - to many, including me - revelatory. That was the moment when I first really started to enjoy the funkier side of beer. Prior to that, my experience of UK Sours was enamel stripping sourness at IMBC. Acidity with no upside.
Here, in these unreleased and unlabelled bottles was complexity, subtlety of flavour, yeasts up front.
I still get approached, even now, by people who were at that little fringe event in the tiny back room at St Sebs. About how that was their first experience of funk and sours. How MUCH they enjoyed that experience. I know that I did.
So yes. #ISBFHeroes13 features Abbeydale - with Jim & Laura. Two of the nicest of beer people. Knowledgeable, forthright but with twinkle of eye and a love of good beer.
All Photos : Mark Newton Photography
Yes, Abbeydale brew good beer. Damn good beer. But, in the last 5 years or so, that beer range has been evolving as more playful beer emerges from the Funk Dungeon. Saisons, Sours, Clintonesque levels of Funk, focusing on yeasts rather than hops. Producing some absolutely banging beers.
To my immense shame, I’ve still never been to their Funk Fest event. An aberration that I will address next time it’s announced!
All Photos : Mark Newton Photography
It’s safe to say that, from that little event in a tiny room in a Salford Community Centre, things have certainly changed in the S8 postal district!
So. It’s #ISBFHeroes13. What have we got for you?
Well. As usual, 12. Tasty. Beers. A mixture of styles from Session Pales, through IPA, through (Beautiful) Darkness, something funkier leading to something big and hoppy! In order…..
2 x Moonshine (Session Pale) 4.3%
2 x Heathen (American Pale) 4.1%
2 x Salvation (Oatmeal Stout) 4.5%
2 x Obsession (Ekuanot IPA) 5.7%
2 x Gothic Country (Barrel Aged Heritage Saison) 5.6%
1 x Deliverance (Rye DIPA) 8.5%
1 x Deliverance (Intercontinental Hopped DIPA) 8.5%
All THAT - Inc Delivery - AND £5 goes to our pot for our charity partner START Inspiring Minds! BARGAIN!
So. On Friday, 12th August, at 19:30, we’re gonna have a little Zoom chat, with Jim, Laura and some of the guys from around the brewery, chat all things Abbeydale, Beer and all sorts of other stuff. Maybe even the Rangeley love of loud music! There is also - as usual - a specially curated Spotify Playlist based around selections from Jim & Laura and with general linkage to Abbeydale beers. (The playlist is absolutely banging! Apart from the abomination of a final track that the otherwise lovely Mike put in to Boil My Piss - you can guess the song title…..) (Links for the Zoom & Playlist to be sent to you the week of the event)
We’ll have a chat around tasting 3 or 4 of the beers…….Which will be…
Moonshine
Obsession
Gothic Country
We have fun. It’s what we do.
Fancy joining us? Click this link, grab a case and jump in! And remember, While you are drinking good beer, you’re doing good at the same time. It’s the way to be.