The 46th Steel City Beer and Cider Festival returned yesterday evening at Kelham Island Museum for the first time since the pandemic.

There are over 300 beers and ciders to choose from at the festival, along with talks and live music.

One of the festival organisers, Elliot Green, said: “In 2021 the plan was to have the beer festival back again for October. But obviously, COVID picked up again, and everything went a bit downhill.

“So, we had the beer festival on tour, where we had different pubs get involved around Sheffield and do their own thing, but to have it back at Kelham Island Museum and have it back to how it was, it’s beautiful, it’s fantastic.”

The festival is open every evening from Wednesday to Saturday this week.

He continued: “We thought the brewery had closed down forever, but there’s been a collective effort to bring it back, and I’m so excited.”

The number of people going to pubs is reportedly still down from pre-pandemic levels.

Green said: “I mean, people are obviously worried, that’s fair enough. We have planned a lot of COVID measures, extra washing sanitation stations etc.

“We wanted to ease people back into it, but at the same time are still trying to have the same atmosphere.”

The atmosphere was certainly buzzing last night, as the Champion Beer of Sheffield was announced.

The competition consisted of twenty-two beers from around Sheffield, with first prize going to Devika IPA from True North Brewery.

Throughout the week, the event is staffed by over 200 volunteers.

Customers were certainly happy with the festival’s re-opening.

Jonathan Sheridan, 27, said: “It’s great to have it back after all this time. I’d personally recommend anything from Rat brewery in Huddersfield.

“Their White Rat Pale Ale is particularly good.”

The festival stocks every beer imaginable, from traditional Bitters and Stouts, to modern IPAs and Sours.

There are even 20 gluten-free beer options, as well as plenty of ciders and Perrys.

A first-timer to the festival, Aniyra Chan, 21, said: “I’m really enjoying it. I didn’t know about it until my friend told me about it yesterday, and I’m glad that they did.

“I’m definitely coming back next year.”

For more information on the festival, visit their website here.