Kelham Island Brewery

Commissioner in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Associated Venue: Fat Cat (Kelham Island)

Established in 1990

Contact
Unit 1A, 2 Kelham Square, Sheffield, S3 8SD, England
Description
Kelham Island Brewery was built in 1990 in the Beer Garden of the Fat Cat in Alma Street. The first brew was in September, making Kelham Island Brewery the first new independent brewery in Sheffield in almost 100 years. Using equipment purchased from the recently closed Oxford Brewery this allowed for full mash brewing of around 10 brewers barrels every week. As demand increased the decision was taken to move to new premises and a purpose built brewery was constructed a short distance from the original brewhouse. The original brewhouse was converted to a visitors centre and in March 1999 the new brewery opened with a five fold increase in capacity to 50 brewers barrels.

In Spring 2022 the brewery was on the verge of being closed. But Sheffield’s oldest independent brewery, has been saved from closure by a group from Sheffield.

The brewery’s rescue is a collaboration between Tramlines co-founder and Sheffield venue owner James O’Hara, his brother and financial analyst Tom O’Hara, Simon Webster and Jim Harrison of renowned Thornbridge Brewery, Peter Donohoe, founder of Sheffield based creative studio Peter and Paul and Ben Rymer marketing manager from beer festival organisers, We Are Beer.

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6.5

Yes Smokey almost ham like. Some chocolate malt.

Tried from Cask at Cardinals Hat on 10 Jan 2026 at 14:46


7
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Very pale straw yellow with a soft lemony cereal malt aroma. Light bodied, mellow lemon biscuits flavour, some floral hops with a dry bitter finish.

Tried from Cask at Salopian Bar on 03 Jan 2026 at 13:15


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7
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Very dark coloured, smoothish smoked porter, although the grittiness of its smokiness does negate the former to an extent. It's a good smokiness though, mild ham notes, open-fire inhalation comparisons. Interesting without a wow factor. .

Tried from Cask at Smithfield Market Tavern (Blackjack) on 20 Dec 2025 at 13:30


7.1
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5

500ml bottle from The Offie in Leicester. Pours clear pale golden with a white foamy head. Aromas & tastes of tangy orange, citrus, raisins, hops & malt. Medium body. Smooth light bitter finish.

Tried from Bottle on 02 Oct 2025 at 07:30


7.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Cask at The Haymarket, some time back now, so a memory banks rate for sure. Poured clear gold, foamy white head. Light aromas of tropical fruit, light dusty pale malt. Taste was light bitter, more fruit, bitter finish. Very enjoyable, hope to see it again.

Re-rate at Ryrie's 2025. Although I think it's brewed somewhere else now? Better than I remembered. +0.3

Tried from Cask on 18 Aug 2025 at 23:00


8

Magus, linnaseline, puuviljane, suhkrune, nats mõrudust, kerge alks, aga ei miskit hullu. Hea.

Tried from Cask on 08 Aug 2025 at 15:28


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7.3
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Bottle from the Thornbridge online shop. Nose is lemon marmalade, clementine, apricot jam, grapefruit. Taste is all of the above. Quite dry. Zesty bitter citrus led finish.

Tried from Bottle at Thornbridge Brewery Tap on 26 May 2025 at 16:02


6.9
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Cask at the Sutton arms, a pale golden orange coloured pour with a fine white head. Aroma is semi sweet orange rind, tangerine, juicy. Palate is semi sweet, melow carbonation. Flavour is composed of semi sweet, bready grains, nutty earthy, straw,. Juicy oranre and mango. Not bad.

Tried on 21 May 2025 at 21:50


7

Tried from Cask at The Colmore on 20 Mar 2025 at 16:57


6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

From the cask at the Flowerpot on my Derby visit in Dec 2019. Pours dark brown with a white head. Aromas & tastes of hazelnuts, chocolate, ginger, coffee & malt. Moderate body. Sweet nutty finish

Tried from Cask on 19 Feb 2025 at 21:10