Sentinel Brewing Co founder and head brewer, Alex Barlow, with Sheffield United legend and club ambassador Tony Currie. Picture: Glenn Ashley
Sheffield United has become the first major English league football club to have its own artisan lager brewed.
Kop (4.1% ABV) has been created by Sentinel Brewing Co, based just a goal kick away from United’s Brammell Lane ground.
The first brew was mashed-in earlier this month by Blades legend and club ambassador Tony Currie, marking his very first time in a brewhouse.
Sentinel founder and head brewer, Alex Barlow, said Kop was developed to appeal to mainstream lager drinkers.
He said: “We are the club’s local brewery. United’s Kop backs onto Shoreham Street, where we’re based. We’re as passionate about The Beautiful Game as the many fans who come in on match days, and believe they are as passionate as us about beautiful beer.
“Football supporters represent a real cross-section of society, and by the laws of economics a big proportion of the 28,000 supporters who turn out to a United game will appreciate a specially crafted beer, too.
“So we’re giving United fans a first in major English Football League history — a locally brewed, hand-crafted alternative,” added Alex, who has previously brewed Carling and Staropramen lagers, among others.
The beer is available at the Kop on draught, while there are also cans featuring a picture of Kop favourite Billy Sharp in post-goal celebration, plus tasting notes claiming “this crisp and refreshing lager scores every time”. There are food-matching tips, too (Kop is said to be the perfect accompaniment for snacks, pizzas… and a greasy chip butty).
