Sheffield Hopcast

Yep this coming Friday *should* be the start of Peakender 2020, the three-day beer and music festival at Bakewell Showground organised by Thornbridge Brewery.

Of course, it isn't happening, so instead we have our own petit Peakender art home. Indoors of course (it was raining heavily!)

We're joined by Alice Batham from the Thornbridge brewing team as we reminisce about previous years and find out how things have been at the brewery over lockdown.

Not forgetting sharing a beer each as well, themed around Peakender.

You can have your very own Peakender at Home with Thornbridge's rather nifty box here: https://shop.thornbridgebrewery.co.uk/products/peakender-case

We celebrate Yorkshire Day in the only way we know how - with beers from Yorkshire breweries of course.

And eeeh bah gum there's some reyt crackers.

And we add a Yorkshire BREWER into the mix too as Josh from Blue Bee joins us. There's plenty of chat about his other venture too, at Kelham Island Tavern.

Yup we're all going vegan.

It's a bit of a reduced team with just James, Adam and Sean on hand to compare notes on their vegan beer choices.

Plus a good natter about what's happening with pubs now and plenty more.

We've been talking about it for ages - now we have finally gotten round to a gluten-free episode of the Hopcast. We're joined by Matt, who runs Gluten Free Pint, to talk about the range of choice available nowadays - and of course we all crack open a GF beer.

Plus there's plenty to talk about it, with pubs now open again - and one of the Hopcasters actually made their way to one on the day they reopened.

We reflect on the sad news that the Devonshire Cat won't be reopening, and we discuss the ill-thought-out Sheffield Council tweet warning people 'Coronavirus will be waiting for them' in pubs.

Fancy joining us on a future episode? Email [email protected]

Relive the fourth and final session from this year’s Sheffield Hopfest - our first virtual beer festival.

Sean was the host with a theme of Stout Sunday.

This is the full raw session, which you can also watch back on YouTube channel.

Thanks to everyone who took part in the first Hopfest, we had a fantastic weekend!

Relive the third session from this year’s Sheffield Hopfest - our first virtual beer festival.

Adam was the host with a theme of 6% and up beers.

This is the full raw session, which you can also watch back on YouTube channel.

Thanks to everyone who took part in the first Hopfest, we had a fantastic weekend!

Relive the second session from this year’s Sheffield Hopfest - our first virtual beer festival.

Laura was the host with a theme of Sours and Mixed Fermentation beers.

This is the full raw session, which you can also watch back on YouTube channel.

Thanks to everyone who took part in the first Hopfest, we had a fantastic weekend!

Relive the first session from this year’s Sheffield Hopfest - our first virtual beer festival.

James was the host with a theme of Loud & Proud beers.

This is the full raw session, which you can also watch back on YouTube channel.

Thanks to everyone who took part in the first Hopfest, we had a fantastic weekend!

No guest this week - the four of us take the chance to catch up and share a beer ahead of next weekend's bumper Hopfest.

With shops reopening we reflect on our lockdown experiences so far.

Our key point of conversation is the Black Lives Matter movement, and particularly the representation of black and ethnic minority people in the beer world. We've looked at a few different ways of tackling this subject during the week before deciding the best thing to do is just to have a real honest and open chat.

We welcome your feedback: email [email protected] or drop us DM via Twitter.

If you haven't already be quick to reserve your place for next weekend's Hopfest: sheffieldhopcast.eventbrite.com

Stay safe.

Luci from Shakespeares in Kelham Island is our guest, so we take the opportunity to celebrate women in beer on this week's episode.

Sean tells the longest story ever to introduce his beer selection, but it's worth it.

PLUS - we have details of the Sheffield Hopfest coming up in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS! We've got the dates, the details of the sessions and most importantly the info on how you can get involved. Please come along and join for a beer as we all help each other get through these tough times.

Safe safe, and stay brilliant.