Sheffield-based Abbeydale Brewery is opening up its brewery doors for an exclusive ticket-only event for the very first time in their twenty one year history, hosting a party on the premises on Saturday 6 May as the initial step of their crowdfunding journey.
All jokes about organising a “p*ss up in a brewery” aside, the one day festival, running across two sessions, will feature live music curated by Now Then Magazine, street food stalls from local favourites The BBQ Collective and Proove Pizza, and a large selection of cask and keg beer from Abbeydale and carefully chosen guest breweries, including exclusive offerings only available at the event.
Abbeydale is arguably Sheffield’s most secret yet well-known brewery, having previously stayed out of the limelight and never before having opened to the public. Director Dan Baxter says of the event, “Great beer, that’s a given, but it’s also about the experience: the sights, the smells, the sounds and most importantly the people you are with. It’s the people who drink our beer who have got us this far, and we want to warmly invite them to join us in the brewery for the very first time and experience the heart of what we’re all about here at Abbeydale. Whether you’re a true beer geek who wants to sample something brand new and take a selfie with our stainless steel tanks, or if you just want to have a pint of Moonshine where you never have done before, this is the event for you”.
Drawing on their experience from running ten years of the Sunfest festival held at The Rising Sun in Nether Green, every July, the whole brewery team will be involved to ensure that the event runs smoothly and has a real community feel. Several of the brewery staff will also be sharing their expertise by hosting special tasting sessions during the event, including hop pairings and the very first opportunity to sample releases from Abbeydale’s new barrel souring project – the “Funk Dungeon”.
The brewery plans to build on the momentum gained by running this event and launch a larger campaign later in the year to raise funds to go directly towards building a new brewery. All profits raised from the event will also go towards this project, which has already attracted support from over 100 backers.
For tickets and further information (including ways to support the project if you aren’t able to attend on the day itself) head to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/abbeydalebrewery.
