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A local trip out taking advantage of Northern Rails £1 ticket offer. Started in the Banner Cross area of Sheffield visiting The Dark Horse and The Itchy Pig, a walk down to Nether Edge starting with Two Thirds Beer Co, Broadfield, Turner’s Bottle & Tap and The Bear. Woodseats area next visiting The Boston Arms, Mesters Tap and Guzzle Micropub, before heading down to Ecclesall Road and visiting The Beer House, Ecclesall Ale Club, Craft & Berry and Portland House. Dropped into The Beer Engine, Rutland Arms and Sheffield Tap on my way back into Sheffield.
I visited Sheffield in 2023 working around Hillsborough, Walkley and a few brewery taps. CLICK HERE to read this blog.
The Dark Horse
The first area of Sheffield I headed out to today was Banner Cross. A short jump on the 88 bus from Arundel Gate. The Dark Horse opened in January 2022 in a former Lloyds Bank building (hence the name of the pub). A really modern style inside with booths to one side and open plan seating. Food is offered by Slap & Pickle.
A really good choice of beers both cask and keg using local breweries – Thornbridge and Abbeydale. A choice of 3 cask beers, the third being “Dark Horse Blonde”. This is brewed by Westgate Brewery as their house beer. A really easy drinking refreshing blonde beer.
The Itchy Pig
A short walk a few doors up brings me to my second calling point of the day, “The Itchy Pig”. This is the sister pub to the original Itchy Pig in the Broomhill area of Sheffield. A very traditional layout on entering the pub, with the bar on the right hand side and seating around it., along with outdoor seating at the front.
A large range o beers both on cask and keg. 4 Cask beers and a cider along with 12 keg choices. I went with “Electric Works” from Tapped Brew Co in Sheffield, a really easy drinking extra pale ale. The beer was named after the building opposite where in brewery is housed at The Sheffield Tap – “The Electric Works”.
Two Thirds Beer Co
A bit of a walk to the next pub, around 25 minutes but all downhill. My next calling point is to “Two Thirds Beer Co”. Described as a Neighbourhood Craft Beer Bar. Food is served here by Holy Schnitz, specialising in German dogs, Schnitz Burgers and topped fries. A great modern feel upon entering with the bar to the left and food seating area to the right.
A huge lineup on beers on the bar in here. 14 keg lines alongside 2 cask lines – one for a beer and the other for a cider. So lots to choose from. A large selection of cans and bottles also here to choose from. I went with “Winnies Wag”, a classic American Pale ale from Sheffield based Little Critters Brewery.
Broadfield
A short walk from Two Thirds Beer Co brings me to “Broadfield”. This has been operated by local brewery “True North Brew Company” since 2011, with the pub itself dating from 1896. It has a good reputation for its food offering, serving a range of bar snacks alongside meals such as hearty pies (the smell is amazing as you walk in). A really classic original feel in here with the bar and seating areas all beautifully done out in wood.
A great selection of around 9 cask beers here alongside a number of keg beers to choose from. You have to explore around the bar to see all of the cask choices. I went with “Reet Pale” from Sheffield based Blue Bee Brewery. A delicious pale hoppy beer.
Turner’s Bottle & Tap
A short 5 minutes walk brings me to my next calling point of the day, “Turner’s Bottle & Tap”. A welcoming and cosy bottle and can shop with the addition of serving draught keg beers to drink in or growler fills to takeaway. The front half upon entering was full of bottles, cans and spirits to buy with the bar to the right. The rear half was a really cosy seating area.
A great choice of beer on keg with 8 taps to choose from ranging in styles from Sour, Lager, IPAs, Pale Ales and Stouts. I went with “Soma Centre”, a fruited gose with Blackcurrant, Lemon and Sea Salt from Pollys Brewery.
The Bear
Another 6/7 minute walk up the road again brings me to “The Bear”. Another warm welcome in here, described as a Beer Emporium which features a massive selection of cans and bottles to drink in or takeaway, alongside a bar serving a number of keg beers.
The Bear was one of the limited number of venues in the UK chosen to launch “Putty 2024” from Verdant Brewery. Described by Verdant as “Putty has been an annual release in January, and of course, we’ve stuck to the original recipe for this Double IPA. It features a malt base of Golden Promise, a higher-than-normal proportion of wheat malt, along with generous amounts of oats and flaked wheat to provide a well-rounded flavor. The water profile is delicately soft, and we employ substantial whirlpool additions of Galaxy, Mosaic, and Azacca hops. This is followed by an extensive dry hop, with equal parts Mosaic/Galaxy and slightly less Azacca”.
The Boston Arms
A jump on the 76 bus next heading towards Woodseats for my next 3 pubs to visit. The first being “The Boston Arms”. This opened in May 2022 and effectively runs as two businesses. A Coffee Shop/Bakehouse during the day and a micropub later on. A really relaxing seating area with wooden tables and chairs.
A good choice of beers on the bar, 3 cask beers from local breweries Abbeydale and Nailmaker, along with 8 keg beers to choice from ranging in styles. I went with “Moonshine” from Abbeydale Brewery which is located very near. This is the brewery’s flagship pale ale and their most famous.
Mesters Tap
A short walk up the road brings me to “Mesters Tap”. A new micropub and taproom which opened in September 2023. This acts as the taproom for Little Mesters Brewing who started brewing in 2020. Described by the brewery as “The name and logo are a nod to the Little Mesters who were undoubtedly the backbone of Sheffield’s cutlery and tool making industries of days gone by. They made a vast contribution to the variety of products which were produced in Sheffield. We decided to use the name to honour these fine gents who helped to put Sheffield on the map. Their reputation of skilled work and producing quality products, sums up exactly how we feel about making beer.”
A great line up of beers on the bar with 8 to choose from, a number of which are from Little Mesters Brewing. A large selection of cans are also available in the fridge. I went with “Proper Fruity”, a really refreshing and fruity pale ale from their own brewery.
Guzzle Micropub
Over the road to my final stop in Woodseats, this time to “Guzzle Micropub”, this being the first micropub in the area. Upon entering a seating area on the same level with the bar slightly raised up with more seating to the rear. A clean look throughout with wooden seating, walls and floors.
A selection of 5 cask beers, all being from local breweries – Fuggle Bunny, Chantry, Stancill and Little Critters. Alongside 4 keg beers. I went with “Chapter 3 – Orchard Gold” from Sheffield based Fuggle Bunny Brewery. A blonde ale with some sweet honey flavours.
Heading to the Ecclesall Road area of Sheffield next, so a 25 bus back into town for an 88 back out.
The Beer House
Onto Sheffield’s first Micropub now, “The Beer House”. which opened in 2014 and was previously a cigarette shop. A really busy popular venue tonight so not much chance to take many photos inside. Great outdoor seating areas at both the front and rear of the pub.
A choice of 6 cask beers, alongside 6 keg beers with 3 of them changing. I went with “Holmes Stead” from Lancaster based Farm Yard Brew Co. A tasty and traditional English Bitter.
Ecclesall Ale Club
A short walk down the road brings me to “Ecclesall Ale Club” run by Brew Foundation. This is a micropub with the addition of a number of fridges selling bottles and cans to drink in or takeaway. Another really popular busy venue on this road.
A fantastic line up of beers to choose from in here, 5 cask beers, 8 keg beers and 2 ciders so lots of choice. I went with “Sir Phillip” from Cheshire based Wincle Brew Co. Another tasty English Bitter.
Craft & Berry
Another short walk down the road again, this time to “Craft & Berry”. This opened in November 2019. A busy bar which acts as both a bar and a shop selling cans, bottles and spirits. A really warm welcome in here and enjoyed chatting about some of the local breweries that are stocked.
6 keg lines to choose from in here, one of which stood out to me. “Kirsch Choc Liqueur” from Somerset based Yonder Brewing. Described as being booze soaked cherries with a hint of almond, bursting from a dark chocolate shell. It certainly tastes like this.
Portland House
The last pub in this area is “Portland House”. This was originally opened in February 2015 by Welbeck Abbey Brewery before being taken over in December 2017. A really modern warm feel to the pub on entering, and a great outdoor seating area at the front.
A choice of 2 cask ales on the bar, alongside a number of keg beer options. I went with “Wild Places” from Bristol based Wiper & True brewery. A light and refreshing American Pale Ale.
The Beer Engine
A steady walk back towards the city centre brings me to “The Beer Engine”, a pub which was refurbished and reopened in 2015. A really busy lively venue with lots of small seating areas dotted around the pub, alongside a large outdoor beer garden.
A great range of beers showcasing a lot of local breweries. 6 cask beers and 11 keg beers to choose from, including a wide range of styles. Went with a sour beer from Edinburgh based Vault City Brewing. “Cherry Limeade”, described as Zingy Limeade with a Cherry on top. Delicious!.
Rutland Arms
The next pub I headed to is a favourite of mine and one ive been to numerous times in the past. The “Rutland Arms”, was once a traditional pub which has been transformed into a one roomed pub. The outside of the pub and the windows are a throwback to the now closed Duncan Gilmour Brewery. Serves a wide range of home cooked delicious food which ive tasted several times in the past.
A huge range of beers and ciders available in here. A choice of 7 cask beers, mostly from local breweries alongside a few others, 2 ciders and 12 keg beers to choose from. A really wide range of styles and strengths.
I started with “6 Year Anniversary Smoothie Sour Ale” from Latvian based Arpus Brewing Co. A fruity smoothie style sour beer packed full of Pineapple, Mango, Passion Fruit and Vanilla. Delicious!
Went onto the Project Excess Trio of Beers. Project Excess is about livening up a drab Jan by brewing THREE very silly & highly unnecessary beers. 3 amazing tasting beers from 3 great breweries.
Sheffield Tap
A short 10 minute walk back to Sheffield Train Station and a quick call into The Sheffield Tap before my train was due. I have covered the “Sheffield Tap” in my last Sheffield blog. CLICK HERE to read it.
I went for a sour beer to finish the day off from Middlesbrough based Play Brew Co. “Jelly Baby Sour”, a beer designed to match the flavour of a Blackcurrant Jelly Baby which it did, with added sourness.
Micropub Adventures 
Excellent you really covered some ground there. You narrowly missed Triple Point Brewery, Industry Tap and Sidney & Matilda on your way to Rutland Arms but you nailed most of my favourites 🙂 Itchy Pig and the Bear are particularly good places to chat to staff and locals.
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Triple Point ive visited before anyway and included in a blog post
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