Beer-brewing WI raise funds

The Sheffield brewery invited Seven Hills WI to create their own beer - a lemon and earl grey tea-flavoured pale ale named ‘Not Just Jam’ - which has been sold in pubs across Sheffield and the rest of the UK throughout the summer.

Abbeydale donated 10p from the sale of every pint of the beer - which was also the signature ale at Abbeydale’s Sunfest Beer Festival at the Rising Sun pub in Fulwood - to Seven Hill’s WI charity of the year, Light Sheffield. The WI group raised £1,277 in total to support Light Sheffield’s work with Sheffield families affected by perinatal mental health illnesses, including post natal depression and anxiety.

Grace Escott-Tebbutt, president of Seven Hills WI, said: “We had so much fun brewing the beer and zesting 100 lemons by hand for the special recipe.

“I’m so pleased we could raise so much money for Light Sheffield to support the incredible work they do and we’re very grateful to Abbeydale Brewery for the opportunity and for their generosity.”

The pale ale was created using 20kg of earl grey tea, from local Birdhouse Tea Company.

WI member Kirst Bowen added: “Far from the stereotypical image of the WI, our group has lots of members who love beer, so this was a great opportunity.”

Sue Morton, director of Abbeydale Brewery, said: “We’re absolutely delighted the beer was a success - it was definitely one of my favourite ales we’ve brewed this year.

“It’s fantastic that we could help raise so much money for a worthwhile cause.”

Seven Hills WI was established in the city in 2009.