Rollergirls get their skates on to brew new real ale!
By: JimOldfield
March 28th, 2012
New Sheffield brewery, Blue Bee, was buzzing with activity this week – as a swarm of roller-skating Roller-Derby queens descended to brew a special version of its top selling ale.
Brewer Richard Hough welcomed around 20 honorary workers bees into his hive, to assist with Amber’s
Nectar – a variation on his Nectar Pale Ale – to help promote their Sheffield Steel Rollergirls team.
The girls – and few guys from their men’s team, The Inhuman League, left their skates at home for a busy brew day as they pitched-in with everything – from starting the mash to emptying the fermenter.
Roller Derby aces (from left) Erica “She-rarr” Mitchell-Packington, Nick “Justin-Tolerable” Savage, Lindsay ‘Violet’ Farrell, Pauline Go-Go Chalmers, Louise Broddle, Emily Cheetham, Anna “Skate Crasher” Baker, Mickey Conn, Emma King, Adam Voyse, Becky Shriek Abey, Caroline “Savage Steel” and Steve Turner at the Blue Bee Brewery, watched over by brewer Rich Hough.
And despite their fearsome on-rink reputations – where they do battle at high-speed under names such as Eva Von Gorier and Mia Malice – they were perfect workers when they made a beeline for the brewery!
Violet Death, an All-Star player and spokesman for the group, said: “To be able to shovel hops and learn all there is to know about the art of beer making from the pros at Blue Bee was such a great experience!
The team, which now attracts crowds of over 600 for their violent inter-city bouts , approached Blue Bee after seeing the success of the brewery’s last local collaboration ale – Techmophobeer – which raised cash for a prostate cancer awareness charity.
The new four per cent pale ale will be available at selected Sheffield freehouses throughout April.
The girls’ next home game is at the city’s Ponds Forge complex, when they take on the Lincolnshire Bombers.
