The Beer Engine, Sheffield

Recently revamped from its previous incarnation and sporting six cask pumps and 12 keg taps in an interior which is clean and a modern interpretation of the traditional; all fresh and shiny. As described below, with my Black Jack Bramling Cross at a very acceptable £1.60 a half and very good it was too. Worth a visit for the beer but possibly not one for the fan of the more traditional pub.

Both myself and Ms CAMRA liked this one. Well described below by fellow PuG crawlers. Friendly barmaid and a pleasant beer garden adds to the attractions. We'll try and incorporate this one in a crawl of the area next timer we're in Sheffield.

This pub loudly presents its credentials with a sign proclaiming it to be a craft beer bar where a normal pub sign should be and is the epitome of why I do not have any problem with the modern craft beer revolution. In place of a pub that you would not have looked at once, let alone twice for a visit when in Sheffield it’s now up there as a venue providing an eclectic beer offering. Yes this is mainly provided by the 12 keg taps which were dispensing craft ales from the likes of Harbour Brewing, Black Jack, Fierce Beer, Boundary, Wilde Child, Duration, Brew York and Brew By Numbers and included a range of styles from a 4.1% Pale Ale at £3.90 a pint to a 7.4% Banoffee milk stout at £7.00 a pint and an 8% Imperial Double IPA for £8.40 a pint, but the seven ale pump’s were also offering a decent cask selection from Wilde Child, Neepsend and Blackjack as described in the review below. I went for the Black Jack Bramling Cross which was a lovely brown bitter. But what I also liked is that this is a proper pub. A modern but still largely traditional three roomed interior with the large main bare floor bar area with its wooden stalls and fireplace and two smaller carpeted separate rooms with chunky wooden butchers block tables and chairs all in the easy on the eye green and cream colour scheme. And then an equally pleasant courtyard garden area out back which we managed to utilise on a fine weather lunchtime. Yes, the target demographic for this one is closer to the millennials and it is true to say the Pubs Galore crawl crowd did increase the maturity of the assembled punters by a country mile, but I enjoyed it here and would not hesitate to return when next in town. I did notice the almost apologetic comment on the guest beer chalk board that it was £5 minimum for credit card transactions. Well that would not be a problem if you were on pints of most of the craft beers, but I will remember to bring a few coins with me for next time so that I can enjoy a £2.30 third of the Banoffee Milkshake stout.

Located in a side street just beyond the ring road but still not far from the city centre, this pub features a mix of traditional and modern elements that blend quite well. The counter on the left-hand side dominates the scene, with a long line of pumps and founts of almost every description, and the spirit bottles on the illuminated bar-back provide plenty of colour. The main decorative theme is the green and white patterned wood-panelling in the main bar area and the two small side rooms. Also has a patio beer garden at the back. Interesting range of real ales - Blonde and Triton from Neepsend, Encore Pale and Bramling Cross (£3.20) from Blackjack, and Distressing the Disturbed and Gimme S'More from Wild Child - plus Lilley's Mango cider available from the seven handpumps.