The first Thursday of every November is International Stout Day, and this year we’re celebrating by…well…heading into a national lockdown. These arent *ideal* circumstances, but there’s no reason to not get involved. The dropping of the temperature, the dark nights and crisp weather make this time of year the perfect time of year for a pint of the dark stuff.
Since we can’t get out and about, we thought we’d ask around a few Sheffield experts and Sheffield beer lovers to recommend some of their favourite stouts. Make sure to support your local craft beer shops and bars as they pivot to selling for take out and delivery. It’s always worth spending a little more to help out a local, and to get some bloody good beer in the process.
Recommendations from the Locals
Turners Bottle Shop, Abbeydale Road
Turners is a bottle shop and bar on Abbeydale Road where you can drink what you find on their craft beer laden shelves or even sample some of what they’ve got on tap. They also welcome dogs!
You can still shop with Turners Bottle Shop to order your beers through lockdown. Their shop remains open, you can find out more over at: https://turnersbottleandtap.co.uk/
Here are their recommendations:
Ozzy – Wander Beyond – 11%
An imperial stout that hits you with liqorice and aniseed, giving way to smooth dark chocolate and vanilla with that 11% punch making itself known. Plus we had to give it a big thumbs up for the can design. It’s also vegan friendly.
Nutty Ambassador – Little Critters – 6%
A combination of hazelnut, coffee and chocolate combined to create a sweet, smooth milk stout.
Hop Hideout, Inside Kommune, Sheffield City Centre
Hop Hideout are the craft beer specialists inside Kommune Sheffield. Kommune is totally dog friendly, so you can visit them when lockdown is over.
You can still get your lockdown orders in from Hop Hideouts online store, head to: https://www.hophideout.co.uk/
Here’s what they recommend:
Soft Top – Howling Hops – 6.5%
Sabro hopped stout from London’s Howling Hops, delivering a gentle coconut hit to this easy-drinking stout.
Babalu – Saint Mars of the Desert – 10%
Rich, dark strong stout. Nothing added just the core ingredients shinning through – malt, hops, water and yeast!
Industry Tap, Sheffield City Centre
Industry tap is a craft beer drinker’s paradise (they’re also dog friendly) down near Decathlon in Sheffield city centre. They often have a number of ever-changing taps featuring beers from around the country. They’re still planning to make beer available from the bar for take out, so head to their website to find out more. Check them out on Untappd for the full range. https://industrytap.co.uk/
Here are their recommendations
Bad for Education – Boutilliers – 10%
A chocolate double tonka imperial stout. Thick, smooth, rich and pure luxury. Made by a great brewery down in Kent.
Good King Henry – Old Chimneys – 10%
A highly acclaimed straight up no nonsense imperial stout with it’s own cult status.
Walkley Beer Co.
Walkley Beer Co. are a craft beer shop and bar up in Walkley with plenty on offer to tempt you in. You can still off sales beers up from them during lockdown, so make sure you check them out. https://www.walkleybeer.co.uk/ Oh and guess what, they’re dog friendly!
Here are their recommendations:
Cocoa Morello – PILOT Brewery – 7.1%
A chocolate milk stout with Morello cherries. Infused with roasted cocoa nibs and fermented on a bed of sour morello cherries. TYhink liquid black forest gateux. Need I say more?
Lost Souls – Abbeydale Brewery – 10.5%
The most recent iteration of Abbeydale’s renowned Russian imperial stout which this time has been fermented with ludicrous amounts of honeycake. Worth snuggling up with on a cold night with the dog and enjoy the decadence and probably drift off to sleep.
Sheffield Ale Pubs
Sheffieldalepubs.co.uk is a local beer blog with a focus on Sheffield’s fantastic ale pubs. Often out and about in Sheffield sampling the latest beers on the bars, so you know he knows his stuff.
Here are his recommendations:
Nutty Ambassador – Little Critters – 6%
Another vote for local brewers Little Critters. A lovely hazelnut taste to this milk stout with hints of roasted coffee and chocolate. At 6% it’s also very drinkable, and who can turn down the Little Critters can designs?
Fudge Brownie Stout – North Riding – 7.4%
“One of my favourites which you can sometimes find on cask and tastes of fudge brownies. A drink that also tastes the % … I could just do with one now
Pints of Sheffield
You’ll find Pints of Sheffield over on Instagram (@PintsSheffield) as they travel around Sheffield searching for great beers. They always give their own write up on where they’ve been and what they think to the beer, well worth a follow for beer lovers.
Here are their recommendations:
Salvation #4 Ginger Cake Stout – Abbeydale Brewery – 5.5%
Ideal for international stout day AND bonfire night. It;’s full of warming ginger and spices but stays just sweet enough and full-bodied. Everything you could want from a stout on a cold November evening.
Babayaga – Saint Mars of the Desert – 5.6%
A slightly smokey sylvan stout. Definitely one of the best stouts tried in recent times. Saint Mars doesnt seem to make bad beers, but this one stood out. Full, rich and really well balanced with just a hint of smoke and the most wonderful silky quality.