Blue Christmas [A Taste of Tradition with Sheffield's Bradfield Brewery]

After seeing a decline in milk sales from local customers and being hit hard by supermarket pricing, the Sheffield born and bred Gill family looked for an alternative to dairy farming, including furniture making. In an epiphany moment, they decided to take their love of beer, sell their cattle and, in 2005, with help of government funding, start Bradfield Brewery. Since then, Bradfield Brewery has become a much loved institution both in Sheffield and regions reaching up the North coast and down into the heart of the midlands. Their beers may not be dry hopped within an inch of their life, you can guarantee that you’ll be served a crystal clear pint of traditional cask ale with a thick creamy head that displays beautiful lacing all the way down the glass; as appealing to the eye as it is to the pallet when you return for a third of fourth pint. Around the festive season every year, Belgium Blue - a traditional bitter infused with elderberries - has become one of Sheffield’s most consumed beers. Deliciously velvety in colour with a slight residual sweetness balanced beautifully with fruity tartness, the beer - named after a breed of cow - is now one of the hallmarks to kick start the festive season. And while their beers may not appeal to the Untappd massive, they’ve won countless awards over the years and continue to dominate tap handles in both metropolitan and country pubs. We recently caught up with Jon Gill and Jackie Helliwell from the brewery to talk all about what makes the taste of tradition a success in today’s beer market. --- Today's episode is sponsored by Ecokeg - the strongest, most versatile and eco –friendly one way keg on the market today. Ecokegs can be racked just like a cask or counter pressure filled like any traditional steel kegs. Made in the UK using 70% recycled materials and fully recyclable to industrial recyclers, they can be 100% recycled by Ecokeg themselves into new kegs, they also offer free collection for empty Ecokegs. Used extensively across the brewing industry by cask brewers looking to access the keg market without needing any expensive equipment, as well as macro/micro brewers distributing across the UK and throughout the rest of the world, particularly because they are available in not only Sankey valves but Grundy, A and D type also. For more information you can speak directly to Lewis on 01656 725799 or email [email protected], or visit ecokeg.com