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Great British Beer Festival Winter 2025: A Celebration of Beers
The Draughtsman Alehouse, opened in April 2017, is located on Platform 3b and honours the late Barry Thompson, a draughtsman for train engines. The pub features charming décor, a great selection of locally sourced beers and spirits, and delicious pork pies. The Great British Beer Festival Winter 2025 was hosted at Magna Science Adventure Centre, showcasing a rich steel history and various breweries. Gorilla Brewing Co. opened in 2020, with a spacious taproom and a lovely beer garden. The Imperial Music Venue, home to Imperial Brewery, offers music events and a quirky atmosphere. The Mallard pub, opened in May 2023, celebrates local history in a revived railway station setting.
The Draughtsman Alehouse
My first call is the day is to The Draughtsman Alehouse, a place I’ve been to many times before and now opens at 9am on a Saturday morning. This opened on 26th April 2017 on Platform 3b, and it took over the old Victorian Buffet Bar, which had been empty for 18 years. The name “Draughtsman” pays tribute to Russ Thompson’s late dad, Barry Melvin Godfrey Thompson, who was a draughtsman for train engines at Doncaster station before he sadly passed away in 1978. This family tie to railway history is a big part of what makes the pub special. Inside, you’ll find memorabilia linked to his father’s work, along with touches that highlight the area’s rich history.
They have an awesome selection of cask and keg beers, plus a fridge full of cans and bottles, along with a good mix of spirits most of which are locally sourced, soft drinks, and hot drinks. You can also find some delicious pork pies from local producers. Today a choice of 3 cask ales alongside the keg lines, one of which included a 17% beer.
The inside has a really high ceiling, and those Victorian wall tiles add a lot to the place’s character. You’ll also find cool illustrations of steam trains on the walls. The design features cosy leatherette seating, tall tables with stools, and big windows that let in plenty of natural light, highlighting the stunning ceramic tiles on the walls. It’s a perfect, cosy spot to grab a drink while you wait for your next train, so don’t miss out on it.
I tried a couple of the new Neon Raptor Cheesecake beers: “Dream Maker,” which is a super sour and fruity strawberry cheesecake flavour, and “Heart Breaker,” a sweet and zesty lemon vanilla cheesecake pale. I also had to check out “No Oven Required” from The Bruery in the US. It’s a hefty 17.7% Imperial Stout, aged in bourbon barrels with peaches, cinnamon, and vanilla beans. It was absolutely amazing!
Great British Beer Festival Winter 2025
The CAMRA Great British Beer Festival Winter 2025 took place this year at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham. Magna has a rich history tied to the steel industry, originally being the site of the Steel, Peech and Tozer steelworks, often called “Steelos.” During World War I, there was a steel shortage for shell production, which led to the establishment of the Templeborough Steelworks, finished in 1916. This massive facility spanned a mile on either side of the road, and people navigated by using landmarks. Steelmaking began at the ‘Sheffield End’ and wrapped up at the ‘Rotherham End.’ Unfortunately, it shut down in 1993 due to various reasons.
Now, Magna operates as a museum and educational centre, where guests can explore the history of steelmaking through exhibits like “The Big Melt,” which brings the steel production process to life with sound and light. It opened to the public in 2001.
At the festival, the space was divided into several rooms, featuring a Discovery Bar hosted by Sheffield’s Abbeydale Brewery. There were also rooms dedicated to cask and keg beers, an international bar, and a large hall at the end with a central cask and cider bar surrounded by various brewery bars, including Thornbridge Brewery Abbeydale Brewery Tatton Brewery Brew York Chantry Brewery Theakston Brewery and Radio City Beer Works.
I got to try a bunch of different beers, including selections from Winter’s Brewery, Merlin Brewing Company Ltd, Abbeydale, Thornbridge, Radio City Beer Works, Brew York, and more.
Gorilla Beer Hall
Gorilla Brewing Co. Ltd t/a Mad Ape Beer kicked off in 2020 and is based in Mexborough, taking over the spot where Don Valley Brewery Ltd used to be, which gives it a cool historical vibe.
The duo behind Gorilla Brewing, Jason and Phil, have some solid backgrounds that really help their brewing journey. Phil has spent over 20 years running his own plumbing business, while Jason has a wealth of experience in commercial finance, having worked with both high street and challenger banks for more than 20 years. Their friendship blossomed in 2016 when they found out they both loved craft beer, especially after a memorable trip to Barcelona in 2019. They originally went with the name Gorilla Brewing Company Ltd, but switched it to Mad Ape Ales in the summer of 2021.
Gorilla Brewing boasts a taproom called Gorilla Beer Hall which opened in July 2022. It’s right by the Mexborough – Doncaster Navigational Canal, which the founders affectionately call the “Meccie Riviera.” The beer garden offers a lovely view, perfect for those sunny days.
Inside, there’s a spacious area with a stage on one side and a bar on the other, featuring five cask ales and a variety of keg beers, catering to different tastes and strengths. They also serve up some tasty street food like burgers and chicken, along with a selection of sides and sauces. Plus, they host live music events most weekends. Wayne gave a super friendly welcome this afternoon! My beer choice was “Ape-X”, a delicious, easy drinking and tasty tropical IPA.
Imperial Music Venue
Just a short walk away is the Imperial Music Venue, which is also home to Imperial Brewery. They kicked off their brewing journey back in February 2011. This spot used to be called “The Imperial Club” until it shut down in April 2010, but it made a comeback as Imperial Brewery.
Inside, the venue has a fun and quirky vibe, hosting a variety of music events on weekends and open mic nights throughout the week. The spacious interior is divided into three unique rooms, and the tables are decorated with different paintings and stickers, giving it a special touch. There’s also a nice outdoor area in the front for some extra drinking space.
At the bar, you can find a selection of five cask ales, four brewed in-house and one guest ale. My choice here was “Something Decent”, a delicious, refreshing and juicy tropical pale ale, packed full of flavour.
The Mallard
The Mallard on Moorthorpe Station is a pub that kicked off in May 2023, thanks to Jolly Boys Brewery. This station has a fascinating backstory, having been part of the Midland Railway network since the mid-1800s. It played a crucial role in transporting coal from local mines, helping fuel the industrial boom in the area.
However, as coal mining dwindled in the late 20th century, the station saw fewer passengers and the station buildings eventually closed. Over the years, the buildings fell into disrepair, mirroring the struggles of many former mining towns in Yorkshire. In 2012, the South Kirkby and Moorthorpe Town Council stepped in to restore the station buildings, aiming to keep its historical charm while making it useful for today.
Fast forward to May 2023, The Mallard opened its doors in the revamped station. It’s all about honouring local history while embracing modern brewing vibes. The pub boasts a main bar and cosy spots for community hangouts, including a “Pullman Lounge,” a “First Class Lounge,” and a lovely seating area with views of the platforms. Plus, you’ll find some cool memorabilia and photos showcasing the station’s past.
Jack gave a warm welcome this evening, and they had a nice selection of three cask ales from their own brewery. I sampled two of them this evening, starting with “Jolly Yorkshire Bitter”, a great tasting and easy drinking traditional English Bitter. Secondly I went with “Jolly ?PA”, a super tasty, light and delicious pale ale.
Micropub Adventures 