Oktoberfest Extravaganza at Heist Brew Co

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Oktoberfest 2023 at heist poster

Since our inaugural Oktoberfest celebration in 2017, Heist Brew Co. has become the go-to spot for authentic Bavarian festivities in Sheffield. Over the years, our Oktoberfest parties have garnered legendary status – and this year promises to be no different!

Oktoberfest 2021 celebrations at heist brew co’s new taproom

Dress to impress in your finest Lederhosen or Dirndl, and immerse yourself in the heart of Bavarian culture right here in Sheffield. Every pour from a Stein feels like a toast to tradition, as we proudly serve a variety of Bavarian inspired brews by some of the UK’s most innovative breweries to satisfy every palate.

Take a trip down memory lane – at Heist, we’ve always believed in full-throttle celebrations. This year, we’re thrilled to once again feature the foot-stomping tunes of the Yorkshire Umpah Band, who have amped up our parties for the past seven years. Pair their infectious melodies with a tantalising beer selection and delectable German-inspired dishes courtesy of our culinary wizards at Slap and Pickle, and you're in for a night to remember.

Oktoberfest celebrations 2022!

Our diverse drink menu boasts everything from classic two-pint Steins filled with your preferred Bavarian brew, to wines, spirits, soft drinks and more. Here's a sneak peek at the beers we’re serving:

- Paulaner Oktoberfest

- Verdant Festbier

- Newbarns Festbier

- Cloudwater Festbier

- Donzoko Festbier

- Heist Big Bock Energy (Dopplebock)

- Heist Pilsner

- Heist Helles

- Heist Dead Storage (Kolsch)

- Heist Festbier

Mark your calendar for 22nd September 2023! No tickets needed. Simply leave a £5 deposit for a Stein – redeemable upon return or keep the Stein as a memento. Opt for our standard glasses at no extra charge.

Slap and Pickle at heist. Img Credit Slap and Pickle

Join us for a night of revelry, dance, and unforgettable memories. Here's to Oktoberfest at Heist!

**Prost!**

Beer Battle of Nations: England vs Scotland Showdown at Heist Brew Co with The Hanging Bat

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Yo, beer lovers! Mark your calendars for Friday, 5th May and get ready for an epic England vs Scotland showdown at Heist Brew Co! The Hanging Bat, the coolest craft beer spot in Edinburgh, is bringing 6 awesome Scottish beers to challenge some seriously insane English breweries.

Here's a bit about The Hanging Bat from the manager:

“Edinburgh’s original craft beer haven established in 2012. Since then it has become the major place in the city to try out an eclectic mix of craft beers. Recently celebrating our 10th Birthday we pride ourselves on having one of the largest selections of beers in Scotland, over 200 rotating bottled beers, ales and ciders from all over Scotland, the rest of the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. With 14 keg lines and 6 cask lines ranging nearly every style, the only complaints from customers are no Tennents?! and no pints?! We have our own on site brewery making some of the freshest beer in the country from fermenter to tap after conditioning. Producing thousands of litres of experimental beer every year, we have hosted many breweries across the UK wanting to pilot recipes or to collaborate with our projects.”

Expect an awesome night with friendly competition, as you rep your team in the England v Scotland shuffleboard face-off. Plus, we've got your food covered with tasty Scottish-inspired bites from Slap and Pickle.

Event Details:

1.     6 Scottish craft beers from The Hanging Bat + top-notch English brews

2.   England v Scotland shuffleboard – game on!

3.   Special Scottish eats by Slap and Pickle

4.   Hang out with the cool team from The Hanging Bat

Round up your crew and come on down for a night of beer, food, and good times. Let's see who'll come out on top in this epic beer battle of nations! Cheers! 🍻 CHECK OUT LIVE EVENT DETAILS HERE

 

Discover the Ultimate Sheffield Bottomless Brunch Experience in Kelham Island

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Are you searching for the perfect Sheffield Bottomless Brunch experience, one that caters to craft beer enthusiasts and foodies alike? Look no further than our unique and delightful bottomless brunch in Kelham Island, Sheffield's vibrant, up-and-coming district.

Since 2021, we've been hosting the best bottomless brunch in Sheffield every weekend, combining our passion for craft beer with delicious burgers from the renowned Slap and Pickle. It's the perfect way to kick off (or wrap up) your weekend with friends and family!

SELECTED HEIST DRAUGHT BEER ON DRAUGHT

Available every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, our bottomless brunch at Kelham Island offers something for everyone, with an emphasis on satisfying the most discerning beer lovers. Upon purchasing a ticket, you'll be granted two hours of unlimited access to a mouthwatering selection of beverages, starting from 12:00 PM:

  • Heist Draught Beer

  • Prosecco

  • Mimosas

  • Cider

  • Soft Drinks

  • Non-alcoholic Options

As if that weren't enticing enough, you'll also be treated to a mouthwatering burger and side dish from Slap and Pickle*, one of Sheffield's most beloved eateries. Indulge in these culinary delights as you soak up the lively early afternoon atmosphere in our trendy taproom – a true bottomless brunch paradise in the heart of Sheffield!

ENJOY A BURGER AND A SIDE FROM SLAP AND PICKLE

Booking your unforgettable Sheffield Bottomless Brunch experience at Heist Brew Co is a breeze. Simply use the form provided below to secure your tickets for your chosen date. Once you've booked, all that's left to do is show up and enjoy everything our taproom has to offer, including all the free drinks you can savour during your two-hour stay!

Don't miss out on this exceptional opportunity to experience the best bottomless brunch Sheffield has to offer. With a winning combination of craft beer, scrumptious food, and a vibrant atmosphere, our Kelham Island bottomless brunch is sure to become your new weekend tradition. Gather your friends and family, and get ready to create unforgettable memories at the ultimate Sheffield Bottomless Brunch destination.

*Selected Slap and Pickle Burger and Side

Troika Series; The Best Things Come In Threes

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The world of craft beer is filled with innovation, experimentation, and collaboration. This time, Heist Brew Co. has joined forces with two renowned Bulgarian breweries, Meltum (Lovech) and White Stork (Sofia), to create a truly unique and vibrant beer release. The result is Troika, a three-beer series that celebrates the finest hop varieties - Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe - in a flavor-packed extravaganza that will leave you craving more.

Troika V1 – Celebration of Citra:

troika v1 - celebration of citra

The first beer in the Troika series, Troika V1, is a love letter to Citra hops. Combining Cryo Citra, Citra Spectrum, and Citra T90, this brew showcases soft floral and citrusy notes that harmonize with tropical passionfruit and lychee flavors. A hint of Simcoe brings in layers of complexity, introducing berries and pine to the mix. Get ready to embark on a wild ride to flavour town with Troika V1!

Troika V2 – Celebration of Mosaic:

troika v3 - celebration of mosaic

Troika V2 is a glorious tribute to the bold and versatile Mosaic hop. Employing Cryo Mosaic, Mosaic Spectrum, and Mosaic T90, this beer captures the essence of Mosaic's blueberry, tropical fruit, citrus, and dank pine flavors. A touch of Cryopop during active fermentation ties everything together, making Troika V2 a beer that will challenge your palate and make you wonder if you can hold the reins on this flavor-packed stallion.

Troika V3 – Celebration of Simcoe:

Troika v3 - celebration of simcoe

Last but not least, Troika V3 is a powerful testament to the iconic Simcoe hop. Although only two types of Simcoe (Cryo and T90) are used, their sheer quantity delivers a wallop of intense flavor. Often referred to as "Cascade on steroids," Simcoe offers potent grapefruit, passion fruit, pine, and berry notes. The addition of Cryopop and Citra Spectrum propels Troika V3 on a surefooted gallop towards Tastyville, and you're invited to join the ride.

Launch and Availability:

The Troika series is now live on Heist Brew Co's online store and will be launching at 22 nationwide venues on the 7th of April. Don't miss this incredible cross-continental collaboration that showcases the art of brewing and the magic that can happen when passionate brewers come together to create something truly extraordinary. Cheers to Troika, and see you in Tastyville!

UK LAUNCH VENUES!

Journey of a Lifetime: Bangers and Cash 2023

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This year, Heist Brew Co is gearing up for their second Bangers and Cash event, supporting Sheffield's Roundabout charity, which assists young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The event was organised by local artist Matt Cockayne, whose artwork you might remember from our previous venue!

Back in 2018, we joined other teams in a thrilling venture across Europe, travelling from Sheffield to Monaco in a banger worth no more than £600. We collaborated with local artist Trik09, who painted the car and accompanied us on our journey from Sheffield to the south of France, via Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Italy.

Throughout the drive, we faced multiple challenges, though our biggest challenge was the car itself! Generously donated by Belgrave Motors in Sheffield, our Jaguar X-Type looked impressive but had a persistent issue - the turbo kept cutting in and out, causing some incredibly slow stretches in the journey.

We began our adventure at Meadowhall, amidst a massive send-off. All the cars, painted by their partnered artists, were photographed before we set off one by one towards the Eurotunnel. Day one involved an eight-hour drive to Brussels, where a hotel was booked.

Naturally, we spent the evening sampling the local beer and food before getting a good night's sleep. On day two, we headed to Lucerne, passing through Luxembourg and Strasbourg. In Strasbourg, we stumbled upon a surprise beer festival - a delightful find! We continued on to Lucerne and spent the night at an exclusive rooftop bar, where, despite the pricey drinks, we enjoyed laughs with the entire convoy.

Day three took us to Milan via the coveted St. Gotthard Pass, one of the best driving roads in the world. By this time, our turbo had almost given up, making the ascent to the top arduous in our heavy 2-litre diesel car. We were so slow that we not only frustrated hundreds of supercar drivers but were also outpaced by a Robin Reliant from our convoy. Fortunately, the mechanics on the trip figured out the problem and saved us! The descent was spectacular, and we eagerly continued to Milan.

From Milan, we reached our final destination, Monaco, a haven for exclusive supercars and millionaires. Our convoy's arrival at Casino Square turned more heads than any other vehicle. We made it, and it felt fantastic! We concluded the day with a celebratory party in Nice, knowing that between all the teams, over £100,000 was raised for the charity, enabling them to support young people in Sheffield.

This year, after a few delays due to COVID, we're going again! We're looking for more sponsors to help us raise as much money as possible for the charity. As before, we're accepting corporate and individual sponsors. Want your name or your business's logo on the car? No problem! Prefer to donate to a fantastic charity? Our GoFundMe page is linked below!

Thank you for your ongoing support. Let's make 2023 a monumental year for fundraising and help Roundabout in their quest to eradicate youth homelessness!

Celebrating Six Years of Craft Beer, Challenges, and Growth

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As our sixth birthday rapidly approaches, we at Heist Brew Co. feel it's a good time to look back on our journey so far.

In 2016, Adam and Dan were working in call centre management and had become disenchanted with their current career paths. Although carving out a business from scratch seemed daunting, the growth of the craft beer industry in the UK presented an opportunity for a niche to form, and plans began to take shape.

heist brew co clowne venue

Construction began in 2017 on our first venue in Clowne, Derbyshire, with the initial goal of opening a bar in a growing village that specialized in craft beer, filling a gap in the market for a premium offering. On April 7th, 2017, after months of construction, we opened to the public and received an enthusiastic local response, quickly becoming one of the busiest venues in the area.

From the outset, we had a vision to bring production on-site, and in November 2018, we brewed our first commercial beer, Pirate Material, a 6% milk stout that became part of our initial core range. Over the next 12 months, we worked tirelessly to perfect our product offering, leading to the realisation that we needed to expand beyond our current premises. The search for a second venue began.

In August 2019, we signed the contract to take on our current home at 107 Neepsend Lane. Although the building was in disrepair, we knew it would provide the space and potential to grow the brand and future-proof our plans. Little did we know what was about to happen next.

work begins at 107 neepsend lane

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the UK went into its first lockdown. The week before, the roof had been taken off our new site to install the new cladding, halting all work and leaving the venue open to the elements until November 2020, when work resumed. Our plan to open in time for Euro 2020 was thwarted by delays, including a flood risk assessment that was a sticking point due to our proximity to the River Don. During this period, we were unable to operate and brewed only on our 60l pilot kit while hosting online events.

airtight and watertight; making progress

Despite these challenges, we continued to push forward. In June 2021, we expanded our team from two owners and two part-time staff to a bar manager, seven taproom staff, and three brewing staff. Since our opening in August 2021, our brewing operations have tripled, and sales have grown significantly thanks to the wonderful people of Sheffield as well as our domestic and export customers. Although we've faced challenges, the future looks bright, and we're currently making plans to expand our brewhouse to 30HL (from 8HL) to grow the business and fulfil our export commitments, which we've had to dial back due to domestic growth.

heist brew co. sheffield launch

In 2023, we're anticipating further growth with more exciting products (not all beer-related!), community-focused events, and great times down at the taproom!

heist sixth birthday lineup

 Fancy joining us for our sixth birthday celebrations? We are launching a three beer release (Troika) in collaboration with Meltum (Bulgaria) and White Stork (Bulgaria), as well as an after hours party (free tickets below) and a US tap takeover, featuring beers from Hudson Valley, Finback, Hidden Springs, Other Half and more!

Exploring the Brewing Scenes of New York, Colorado, and Florida

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Exploring the Brewing Scenes of New York, Colorado, and Florida

Our recent trip across the United States allowed us to dive into the brewing scenes of three incredible locations: New York City, Colorado, and Florida. From small homebrew operations to massive global breweries, we had the privilege of meeting passionate, innovative, and dedicated people who are crafting some of the world's finest beers, meads, and ciders. In this post, we'll take you through our journey, sharing the highlights and the amazing people we met along the way.

NYC’s Christler building

New York City: A Brewing Metropolis

Our trip began in the bustling city of New York, a place known for its vastness and the unique personalities that call it home. The brewing scene in this city is equally diverse, stretching from Manhattan to Queens and Brooklyn. We encountered a range of breweries, from small hobbyists to major players in the global market.

We were honored to visit Finback Brewery, where Kevin and Dan treated us to a fantastic experience. We're excited to bring a collaboration brew back to the UK with us. We also owe a huge thank you to Julio at LIC Beer Project, who was a gracious host despite our unexpected arrival.

Finback, brooklyn, ny

Colorado: The Rocky State's Brewing Scene

Leaving the city behind, we ventured into the rocky landscapes of Colorado. The change of pace and temperature were noticeable, but so was the vibrant brewing scene. Small homebrew operations like Mountain Sun Pub and major players like San Miguel-owned Avery Brewing showcased the state's diversity in the brewing world.

One of the highlights of our time in Colorado was our visit to the fiercely independent Left Hand Brewing. The team at Left Hand has built a business centered around beer, treating their staff like family. Our time in Denver was laid-back, culminating in the highly anticipated Nitro Fest.

the heist team in sunny (but cold!) bouler, co

A special thank you goes to Chris at Left Hand, who was a fantastic host, and to Zach, Woody, and the team at Mockery Brewing for welcoming us. We hope to bring some of the collaboration brews back to the UK as well.

nitrofest, denver co at mission ballroom

Florida: A Beer Lover's Paradise

Our final stop was the sunny state of Florida, where we discovered a thriving brewing scene, particularly in Tampa and St. Petersburg. With craft breweries on nearly every corner, we were blown away by the variety and quality of IPAs, sours, pastry sours, and imperial stouts being produced.

YBOR CITY, tampa. main strip.

A huge thank you goes to Josh and his family at Hidden Springs Ale Works for their invitation and hospitality. We're looking forward to bringing their collaboration brew to our taproom in the UK in a couple of months.

Heist x hidden springs, collab launching soon!

Closing Thoughts

Our journey through the United States' brewing scenes was an eye opening experience, and we're grateful for the incredible people we met along the way. From the breweries and taprooms to the Uber drivers who entertained us daily, we were met with warmth and enthusiasm at every turn. We can't wait to share the fruits of our collaborations with our friends back home, and we look forward to future adventures in the world of brewing. Cheers!

2022: A year in review

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Wrapping up 2022, it was a challenging year for the industry with various factors affecting small brewers and independent venues. At Heist Brew Co, we reflect on the year that was.

2022 marked the first full year of operation at our Neepsend brewery and taproom in Sheffield, and after two years of struggle due to the pandemic, we were optimistic for a strong rebound. Despite the lingering impacts of the pandemic and the inflation caused by the illegal invasion of Ukraine, we remained positive and focused on our mission.

Our business model involves selling on-site as well as distributing nationwide and into Europe. This provides a permanent outlet for our beers, enabling us to maintain complete control over quality assurance and to receive face-to-face feedback from our customers. Despite the need for increased capacity, we held off on expanding our brew kit, knowing that the industry would see casualties from the restrictions. Instead, we added fermentation space to the current setup and brewed more frequently to meet the demand.

In the summer of 2022, we invested in a canning line to reach a new market segment. The investment not only saved us money but allowed us to can more of our beers and reach areas where we were previously unable to establish a presence.

The year also saw a change in our brewing team, with founding brewer Rachel moving on to Buxton Brewery and Luke joining us from Verdant, bringing new skills and expertise to the table. Our bar manager, Danny, was promoted to a sales role, which resulted in a 300% increase in off-site sales in just a few months. We have exciting plans for 2023 and are aiming for another 100% growth in the brewing arm of the business, while considering the cost of new equipment to reach our full potential.

We’ve been all over the country and into Europe too, festivals hosted in Sheffield, Leeds, London, Derby, Nottingham, Sofia (Bulgaria), Budapest (Hungary), Caminha Artbeerfest (Portugal) and more, working alongside other brewers that we look up to and feeling that we are holding our own in a crowded marketplace with innovative and creative beers that excite. 2023 is even bigger with European festivals already lined up, as well as two in the USA early 2023; watch this space!