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Happy Birthday CAMRA In this Special Issue, we say a very Happy Birthday to our friends at CAMRA as the organisation marks its 50th anniversary. Founded in 1971, just three years after Club Mirror came into existence, the Campaign for Real Ale – AKA CAMRA – has become one of the most successful consumer organisations across Europe. Today it represent UK pubs and clubgoers in a quest to promote quality real ale, cider and perry, building business along the way. This issue revisits coverage in Club Mirror over the years, replicating a number of original pages. Maybe start with pages 6-10 where you’ll find a photo-gallery of CAMRA’s 40th birthday as covered in Club Mirror back in April 2010. That was also the year that proved pivotal for both parties. It was the year that we first formally teamed up with CAMRA in a joint search to find the finest Real Ale clubs in the land. Since then, Real Ale Club of the Year Super Round Winners have been announced each year by CAMRA HQ at our Club Awards. You’ll find profiles of just some of the winning clubs in this issue, all worthy winners, earning their place in the Good Beer Guide. We also look back at our own trade shows and beer festivals, run in association with CAMRA, before heading over to Manchester for a rewind-visit to the Great Northern Beer Festival. Happy days! Then, in the hope that we’ll all be able to enjoy such festivals again in the Summer, we’ve included a back-to-basics ‘how to host a beer festival’ article, based on a CAMRA-run festival which took place close to our base in Windsor. In relation to that and a slight aside, we were lucky enough to be appointed as pro-bono publishers of our local CAMRA Angle magazine in 2018 which provided great insights into how well the organisation operates at grass roots level. And great fun as well of course. Finally, in this milestone year, CAMRA is rolling out activities and merchandise, including Celebratory Beer Boxes and a 50th anniversary tasting glass. Members and volunteers are invited to share their memories on social media via #CheersToCAMRA, a 50th anniversary book has been launched, and 50 of CAMRA’s campaigning milestones will be shared over the coming months. Should be an exciting year. Talking about exciting years, we’re looking forward to welcoming our CAMRA colleagues, readers, suppliers and supporters to the first ever Festival of Clubs this November. Keep an eye out for updates via your Club Bulletin and/or Sports Club Bulletin, social media and at www.clubmirror.com. Can’t wait!
Caroline Scoular Editor, Club Mirror
Editor Caroline Scoular Design David Foster Events Jill Slingsby, Karen Foreman, Guy Brennan Display Advertising Margaret Doherty Sales and Marketing Manager Leigh-Ann Ogilvie Circulation Jon Hardy Accounts Andrew Soles Publishing Director Sean Ferris
Club Mirror is published by Alchemy Contract Publishing Ltd, Gainsborough House, 59/60 Thames Street, Windsor SW4 1TX. Tel: 01753 272022. Fax: 01753 272 021 Email: caroline@clubmirror.com; sean@clubmirror.com; leigh-ann@alchemymedia.co.uk; info@clubmirror.com ACP Gainsborough House 59/60 Thames Street Windsor Berkshire SL4 1TX UK t. +44 (0)1753 272022 f. +44 (0)1753 272021 e.info@alchemycontractpublishing.co.uk www.alchemycontractpublishing.co.uk The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the publisher. Club Mirror does not verify the claims made by advertisers regarding their products. CLUB MIRROR 3
2021 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY
CAMRAnews
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It’s a busy time at CAMRA HQ as it rolls out activities across social media to celebrate its 50th year.
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2010 – HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY
40 years in the life of the
Campaign for Real Ale In 1971 the Campaign for Real Ale – or CAMRA – was born. Here it tells its story in pictures. CAMRA was formed in 1971 by four founding members – Michael Hardman, Graham Lees, Jim Makin and Bill Mellor whilst visiting a pub on holiday in Ireland. Since those early days, CAMRA has grown from four members to 130,000 and energetically campaigns on behalf of its members. ‘Forty years of campaigning, and the key issues apparent when forming the Campaign in 1971 – striving for quality and choice in the beer market, protecting the voice of the consumer – remain to this day,” says Colin Valentine, CAMRA National Chairman.
CAMRA’s founde rs celebrate the organisation’s 10 th birthday in th e early 80’s...
Ale at its Club Mirror’s rs u po A R M A C al. Ale Beer Festiv 2010 Hail the
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present day, unders in the fo 4 ’s A R M A C nal AMRA Natio with current C (centre). e n ti in Valen ol C , an m ir ha C
As CAMR A turns 4 0, the organisati on takes o n new tools to pro mote good beer...
reat The G Beer h Britis , al v i t F es A’s R M CA ip flagsh in event, earlier .. days.
would have r Festival: who ee B sh ti ri B ys (above) the Great these early da om fr at th d 000 real ales, guesse w to see over 1, ro g ld ou w al Festiv ow? ign beers on sh ciders and fore
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2010 – HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY
CAMRA even get on the telly, on BBC
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’s Eggheads in 2009...!
The Great British Beer Festival as
it stands today – a 65,000 people
crowd puller
From four fou nding membe rs to 130,000 years! Signin in 40 g up a new m ember at Club Hail the Ale B Mirror’s eer Festival.
CAMRA and Cask Marque presented Somers Sports and Social Club with Club Mirror’s Cask Club of the Year in 2010. This year, CAMRA will announce the shortlist for the Real Ale Club of the Year at the Club Awards on November 10.
Year win Club of the l a on ti a N rrent , Kinver... CAMRA’s cu tional Club u it st on C the Kinver
40 years on, and with wholesale closures of pubs and clubs in the current climate, CAMRA still has much campaigning to be doing...
ners,
s toasts ranche b r e t s e ch ’s Man !... AMRA ampaigning C f o e c On d r rs of ha 40 yea
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2019 – CLUB AWARDS
Celebrating Clubs REAL ALE CLUB OF THE YEAR
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The Club Awards, now in their 28th Year, are proud to have worked with CAMRA for the last 10 years, seeking out the finest Real Ale clubs in the land – and having a lot of fun along the way.
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2019 – CLUB AWARDS
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CLUB MIRROR 13
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2016 – REAL ALE CLUB OF THE YEAR
Clubs recognised for real ale offering The CAMRA Real Ale Club of the Year competition is run in conjunction with Club Mirror. Four Super Round contenders were announced at the magazine’s 2017 Club Awards, all of whom were then visited and judged by a team from CAMRA and from Club Mirror. And the Super Round winners are...
T
he Real Ale Club of the Year aims to locate and identify clubs with the greatest commitment to quality real ale, offering a fantastic atmosphere, welcoming surroundings and of course most importantly, top quality real ale served in great condition. Participating clubs are nominated by CAMRA branches across the country and by direct entry into the Club Awards. They are then judged by a panel of volunteers throughout the year. The best four clubs in the country were announced at the Club Awards in Doncaster on November 30, chosen from 16 hot contenders. The four Super Round winners and finalist included two Royal Air Force Association (RAFA) clubs – the Albatross Club in Bexhill-on-Sea and the Real Ale Farm in Bargoed, Wales. The Albatross was a finalist last year and took home the national title in 2016. It boasts an interesting collection of RAF memorabilia and regularly holds beer festivals and social events. The Real Ale Farm is housed in the oldest surviving building in Bargoed, dating back to the 17th century. It offers the best range of quality beers for miles around, selected for flavour and interest and sourced from breweries both near and far. It hosts numerous charity events throughout the year. Like its Albatross counterpart, RAF memorabilia can be found in the bar at the club which maintains a keen eye to the future as well as celebrating its past. Also in the running was the Appleton Thorn Village Hall in Warrington, a former school that has previously taken home the Real Ale Club of the Year title for its agricultural-themed interior and local beer range. The club has recently introduced a new gin bar, which is also proving to be very popular with members. Finally, the Flixton Conservative Club in Manchester was a hot contender after a recent transformation has seen an even wider range of real ales and ciders brought in. The club runs monthly brewery nights and a number of sports team and quiz events. Keith Spencer, Real Ale Club of the Year Co-ordinator, said: “All four clubs demonstrate a first-class commitment to real ale and a dedication to the
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respective communities they each serve, making them all absolutely vital to their local areas.” Sean Ferris, Publisher and Managing Director of Club Mirror, said: “Now, more than ever, clubs are proving to be at the heart of the community and we’re proud to have been working with them to secure this position for the past 50 years. As always it's been a great pleasure to work with CAMRA on this unique Award and congratulations to all contenders."
Albatross Club in Bexhill-on-Sea yet again proved an impressive contender.
Flixton Conservative Club in Manchester proves that there's nothing conservative about their range of ales.
Appleton Thorn’s signage – the club in a nutshell.
Real Ale Farm, Bargoed, proudly show their credentials.
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2017 – REAL ALE CLUB OF THE YEAR
The road to success Each year Club Mirror and CAMRA scour the country to find the UK’s finest real ale clubs. This year’s winner is no stranger to the title. Congratulations to Cheltenham Motor Club. n 2010 Club Mirror and CAMRA joined forces in the quest to find the best real ale clubs in the land with Super Round winners announced at Club Mirror’s annual Awards. “Judging the final four clubs is always an extremely difficult task,” said Club Mirror’s Sean Ferris. “The professionalism of real ale clubs and the quality of serve is immensely impressive. There’s no doubt that Cheltenham is a worthy winner.” The club can trace its passion for real ale back to 1998. It began its real ale journey with Goffs Jouster,
I
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gradually building up to the six real ales and three real ciders on tap that it serves today. There is also a new bottled beer bar, a Belgian draught beer and two beer festivals held each year. Club Manager Neil Way says: “As a long time member of CAMRA I am totally overwhelmed and honoured to win Real Club of the Year for a second time. I am lucky to have a very supportive wife, a supportive committee along with a very hard working, motivated and loyal bar team. The locals are tremendous too. “Winning Real Ale Club of the Year in 2013 was a huge achievement for Cheltenham Motor Club
and it generated a jump in trade from which we have been able to build and capitalise on. We could not have afforded to renovate the clubhouse if it hadn’t been for the increase in business that winning the Club of the Year previously generated.”
STOP PRESS... WANT TO BE WINNER? Contact us. e.info@clubmirror.com t. 01753 272022
REAL ALE CLUB OF THE YEAR – THE COUNTDOWN Sixteen clubs were invited to Club Mirror’s Annual Club Awards having already undergone exacting mystery judging to become the top 16 Regional Winners. Only four of them could go through as Super Round Winners. The contestants were… • • • • • • • •
Albatross RAFA Club Appleton Thorn Village Hall Burbage & District Constitutional Club Cheltenham Motor Club Darlington Snooker Club Dartford Working Men’s Club Flixton Conservative Club Garnock Community Social Club
• • • • • • • •
Kinver Constitutional Club Leyton Orient Supporters Club Marlow RBL Millom RFC Ouse Amateur Sailing Club Poole Ex Servicemens (RBL) Club The Real Ale Farm Wortley Mens Club
And the Super Round Winners are...? • • • •
Albatross RAFA Club Cheltenham Motor Club Dartford Working Men’s Club Leyton Orient Supporters Club
CHELTENHAM MOTOR CLUB
FAST FACTS Founded: 1906 Members: c.500 Background: One of the oldest active Motor Clubs in the United Kingdom and one of a handful to own its own Clubhouse. Clubhouse opening hours: Monday - Thursday 6.00pm – Midnight Friday 6:00pm - 01:00 Saturday Midday - 01:00 Sunday 7.00pm - Midnight Look out for: Wheel Ale beer festival, Club Quizess, BBQs, Pool and Darts leagues. Extended opening for some international sporting events. Magic Bus trips to breweries.
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2015 – REAL ALE CLUB OF THE YEAR
Real Ale Club of the Year
Andthewinneris... Club Mirror magazine and CAMRA joined forces in the quest to find the best Real Ale clubs in the country. A tough job – but somebody has to do it! And the winner is... Wortley Men’s Club!
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ortley Men’s Club, South Yorkshire, has beaten off competition from over 28,000 clubs nationwide to win the Real Ale Club of the Year Award The Real Ale Club of the Year Award is a partnership which sees the campaigning consumer group CAMRA and club industry stalwart Club Mirror come together to seek out the finest real ale clubs in the UK. Each year Regional Winners are invited to Club Mirror’s Club Awards where they are honed down to four Super Round Winners who are welcomed on stage to receive a trophy. These four clubs are then visited by four judges before the ultimate winner is announced. Sean Ferris, competition judge and Publishing Director of Club Mirror said: “The quality of real ale served in our Super Round winning clubs made it extremely challenging to decide on an overall winner. But what a happy position to be in. All serve top quality ale served in great condition – and all against the backdrop of a great atmosphere and welcoming surroundings. Ultimately though, there can be only one winner, and congratulations to Wortley Men’s Club.” The club was presented with its Award on 17 March
at the club, with local BBC TV, radio and media in attendance. CAMRA’s John Holland said: “Not only is it a
The founding of Wortley Men’s Club Wortley Hall It was an enlightened Earl from Wortley Hall who can be thanked for the stunning premises enjoyed by Wortley Men’s Club. The Hall became the seat of the Montagu family in 1670 and remained in the family for the next 280 years. Come the Second World War the Hall was being used as a base by the British Army. It was the then Earl who gave over his Library in Reading Room Lane to the village and Wortley Men’s club came into being. The Hall itself fell into disrepair and in the 1950s, a group of local trade union activists bought the hall, opening it as an educational and holiday centre. The Hall, which is now also a licensed venue for wedding and civil partnership ceremonies, featured in BBC2’s Great British Railway Journeys (series six, episode 12) with Michael Portillo who stayed at the venue and met with the general manager.
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Ever doubted the value of entering Awards? A glance at Wortley Men’s Club’s facebook page could change your mind! Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/WortleyMensClub. Wortley Mens Club March 18 at 8:17pm If you want to visit the CAMRA National Club of the Year we have a date for your diary. Friday 17th of July is the start of our Beer Festival. Running over the weekend we will have 40 beers,10 Scrumpys, food stalls, live music, kids entertainers and a surprise or two all held in our car park. Further details will be posted as they are confirmed. Why not follow us then you don’t miss out... Wortley Mens Club March 16 at 9:18pm National Club of the Year Presentation in the Club tomorrow at 2pm! Fantastic way to kick off your St Patrick’s day celebrations! Wortley Mens Club March 16 at 9:01pm At Last we can shout it from the rooftops !!!! WORTLEY MEN’S CLUB has been chosen as CAMRA “NATIONAL “ CLUB OF THE YEAR !!! this is a fantastic effort from all involved with the club – Staff, Committee and most importantly Members. A Massive Thank You to Barnsley CAMRA and all officials that visited us. We are lucky to be surrounded by some excellent breweries and deal with other larger national companies. They all have the same standard of excellence and pride in their product. Where would we be without their hard work and commitment. THANK YOU.
beautiful period building, but the Steward’s commitment to quality real ale and the welcome you receive really is second to none. The club is free to visit for CAMRA members, but I think you would think yourself extremely lucky to have this as your local club, and I can see why it remains as popular as ever with members as well proving a hit with competition judges.” Wortley Men’s Club is described in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2015 as being ‘In the heart of this pretty village, surrounded by open countryside, the outside of the building is impressive, with traditional timber framing and a small beer garden. The opulent interior has ornate ceilings, a small bar area, a plush
lounge and a large games room. The guest ale comes from a local brewery and a guest draught cider is always kept.’ Club Steward Nigel Pickering said: “We are overjoyed at receiving this award; it is beyond our expectations. We introduced cask beer in 1997 with one pump and we now have four pumps and one real cider available. This year we will be holding our third annual Beer Festival, which will offer 40 beers and 10 ciders. We try to be active in the local community. We are part of a small village and hold events in conjunction with the local businesses and church – most recently a Brass Band Competition – and we have also raised money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance through our Beer Festival.” The club has also achieved Cask Marque accreditation which was announced in March. • Congratulations also to the other Super Round winners and Finalists – Appleton Thorn Village Hall, Cheltenham Motor Club and Poole Ex-Servicemans (RBL) Club.
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2012 – REAL ALE CLUB OF THE YEAR
Announcing the 2012 Real Ale Club of the Year Last November, four clubs were called up on-stage at Club Mirror’s Awards to collect trophies as Super Round winners in the CAMRA Real Ale Club of the Year, run in association with Club Mirror. But there could be only one winner. Congratulations to The Questors Grapevine Club, London.
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n March 15, Club Mirror and CAMRA headed over to The Questors Grapevine club at Ealing’s Questors Theatre, London, to celebrate its announcement as CAMRA’s Real Ale Club of the Year 2012 in association with Club Mirror. The club was founded in 1959 by members of The Questors Theatre to act as a social centre, as well as a revenue raiser, to support the theatre’s activities. Club Mirror’s Sean Ferris was one of a panel of judges who travelled the country mystery-visiting clubs. “It was a hard-fought competition and the standard of ales throughout the clubs we visited was impressive. Congratulations to them all,” he said. With considerable help in the cellars from nearby brewery Fuller’s, Chiswick, the Club places a big emphasis on sourcing locally, with breweries such as Twickenham, Windsor & Eton and Rebellion also regularly featuring at the bar. The club has won local CAMRA awards on numerous occasions, and finished as a National Finalist in the competition in 2006.
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WINNER The bar’s 13-strong committee of volunteers were delighted with their win. Jon Webster, Chairman of The Questors Grapevine Club, said: “This award is a fantastic achievement. We are a small group of volunteers, most of whom have full time jobs, and we run the club in our spare time. We are dedicated to providing a good service and are particularly proud of our reputation for selling good quality, well-kept real ale. “We are thrilled to receive this prestigious award and are lucky to enjoy the support of our customers and our families, without whom this success would not have been possible.” The club beat off fierce competition from the three other super-round winners: • Colliton Club, Dorchester, Dorset • Rushden Historical Transport Society, Rushden, Northamptonshire • Ravenswood Club (Royal British Legion), Banchory, Aberdeenshire John Holland, CAMRA Clubs Committee Chairman, heaped praise on the quality of the over-
The Questors Grapevine Club, 12 Mattock Lane, Ealing, London, W5 5BQ
FINALISTS Colliton Club, Colliton House, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ t: 01305 224503 Rushden Historical Transport Society, Station Approach, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 0AW t: 01933 318988 Ravenswood Club (Royal British Legion), 25 Ramsay Road, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, AB31 5TS t: 01330 822347 all winner. He said: “The success of The Grapevine stems from a group of dedicated people committed to supporting choice, and to offering an environment whereby people can learn more about the delights of good beer. It is very rare for a club of this nature to offer such a range of quality real ales, but there again such quality epitomises the level of detail seen throughout the venue, which is evident as soon as you walk through the doors.”
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2011 – BEER FESTIVAL TOP TIPS
Keeping it real Looking for a point of difference? Then what about a Beer Festival? With National Cask Ale Week 2011 starting on October 1, maybe now’s the time to get planning.
B
eer festivals are pushing their way into club calendars as the growing interest in cask ale comes to a head. Like any event, however, careful organisation and planning is necessary; an unthought-out profit generating idea can soon turn into a costly exercise.
•
• • • •
Items to be considered include: Date – make the most of the summer and your beer garden. How long should the beer festival last? Do you need any special licence? How large is the event – how many beers? How many people are expected? Who is your target market? Are you attracting families etc? What equipment do you need for dispense and cooling?
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• Do you need to provide any catering and entertainment? • What are your staff requirements? • Set up an action plan with deadlines. • Budget for sales and costs. How many beers are you going to put on sale? This is crucial given that any unsold beers will be costly. Eight beers mean you have to sell 576 pints. At two pints per person, that means you need to cater for over 200 people over the duration of the festival. Can you accommodate them? Enlist the support of members in promoting the festival to guests. Inform your local paper and CAMRA branch of the activity. This will encourage local interest – a useful tool if you’re recruiting for new members. Where possible, sell tickets in advance. If an
How many beers are you going to put on sale? This is crucial given that any unsold beers will be costly. Eight beers mean you have to sell 576 pints.
TOP TIPS 1. Check legal requirements Contact the local licensing officer and arrange alternative alcohol and music licenses where applicable. 2. Decide on the date Try to tie in with other suitable dates e.g. bank holidays, The Ashes Series, Rugby Six Nations, local carnivals or national holidays. If it’s inside how will this impact on your existing trade? If outside will it rain and get muddy? Think of electrical supplies, lighting, tents, noise, and security, 3. Book your equipment in plenty of time 4. Choose your beers Ask your locals for their favourites and try to get as wide a range as possible. This is your chance to educate people. 5. Offer food Keep it simple or go wild, either way this adds to profit and fills empty tummies. 6. Involve everyone – not just ale fans Cater for all tastes, soft drinks and snacks for the kids, wine and lager for non-beer lovers. 7. Arrange a competition Have a vote on the beer of the festival. It’s fun and gives people a sense of ownership. 8. Offer free taster sessions This encourages sales; non-beer drinkers will try before they buy. Have some tasting notes; ask people to add their own.
entry fee isn’t appropriate (or possible, due to club rules) look at a discounted redemption price per pint. Ask members which beers they would like to be included. Your suppliers will be an important part of your success. Having your beers stillaged correctly is vital, and most importantly in the summer, serving the beers cool at between 11°C and 13°C (i.e. cellar temperature) is a must. Invite local brewers to host ‘slots’ where they can present their own beers, explain their provenance and do tutored tastings. Food available? On the day, ensure staff are well briefed with the information on all the beers and run a beer competition to involve members. Although you are focusing on beer, ensure there’s plenty of food available; beer creates a good appetite and another opportunity to sell. After the event, have a review meeting. Did you achieve what you set out to do? Have you made the profit you envisaged? What could you do better next time? Canvas the opinion of your members. You can bet they’ll offer their honest opinions!
9. Advertise your event Get hold of the local paper; this is a newsworthy event! Get a taxi firm to sponsor it and offer cheap lifts home. Posters, word of mouth, web site announcements, any way you can think of get the whole community involved and create a real buzz. 10. Enjoy the event This is a great chance to increase sales and show off to the neighbourhood. Get it right and you will be the toast of the town. Next year could be bigger and better.
CONTACT INFORMATION • CAMRA – www.camra.org.uk Tel: 01727 867 201 Email: camra@camra.org.uk • Cask Marque – www.cask-marque.co.uk Tel: 01206 752212. Email: paul@nunny.fsbusiness.co.uk; annabel@cask-marque.co.uk
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2014 – GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL
Let there be beer The Great British Beer Festival threw open its doors in August, welcoming thousands of ale afficianados keen to test out their taste buds.
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ver 900 real ales, ciders, perries and international beers were set up for sampling at the 2014 Great British Beer Festival (GBBF), London. CAMRA’s annual extravaganza is a broad church, attracting real ale protagonists as well as those yet to be convinced. And if there’s a place to convert nonale fans then surely this is it. (And for clubs pondering how to attract in the youngsters, it’s worth noting that 58% of all cask drinkers tried it for the first time when they were under 25 years old.) Expert advice for clubs and bars was on hand from Cask Marque and the Beer Academy, while tutored tastings provided in-depth understanding of the products. Tastings of award-winning brews were held by beer writer Roger Protz, and cider tastings were pre-
An action-packed entertainment schedule saw guests tapping feet to everything from legendary acoustic guitarist Gordon Giltrap to The Bad Shepherds. 24 CLUB MIRROR
sented by enthusiasts Ian White and Chris Rouse. Sessions were also held on Belgian Beers (Tim Webb – author of The Good Beer Guide Belgium), American Style Beers (Justin Hawke – owner and head brewer at Moor Beer Company), British Bottled Beers (Jane Peyton – Britain’s Beer Sommelier of the Year) and Chocolate and Beer (Christine Cryne – CAMRA’s National Director). To ensure that guests extended their stay as long as possible – and in true beer festival style – an action-packed entertainment schedule saw guests tapping feet to everything from the Irish folk/blues songsters Marc O’Reilly and legendary acoustic guitarist Gordon Giltrap to The Bad Shepherds playing punk songs on folk instruments (with Adrian Edmondson on mandolin; pictured below left).
BREWERY BARS
THE WINNERS
A regular feature of GBBF are the brewery bars. This year’s show included the following:
Overall winners Gold: Timothy Taylors, Boltmaker
Brains Brains’ beers are brewed at The Cardiff Brewery and are to be found predominantly in Wales and the West of England. As well as producing traditional cask beers such as SA, SA Gold and Brains Bitter, they have a 15 barrel craft brewery, brewing a range of beers including Crowded Hops and Farmer Walloon. • www.sabrain.com Fuller, Smith and Turner PLC Based at the historic Griffin Brewery in Chiswick, London, Fuller, Smith and Turner PLC brews London Pride, as well as a award-winning ales such as Chiswick Bitter, ESB and 1845. Three of Fuller’s beers – London Pride, ESB and Chiswick Bitter – have previously been named as CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain. In June last year, the company acquired Cornish Orchards, a craft cider maker producing a range of award-winning ciders and premium soft drinks. • www.fullers.co.uk Greene King Based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, Greene King’s award winning ales include Greene King IPA, the official beer of England Rugby. • www.greeneking.co.uk Harveys Brewing at the Bridge Wharf Brewery in Lewes since 1790, Harveys’ range of award winning cask ales can be found mainly in its heartland of Sussex, Surrey and Kent. With the 7th generation
at the helm, Best Bitter is complemented by a range of 17 other cask ales. In 2012 they were named ‘Supreme Champions’ at the International Beer Challenge in London as well as. ‘Best Sussex Beer’ at CAMRA’s Sussex Beer Festival. • www.harveys.org.uk
Silver: Oakham, Citra Bronze: Salopian, Darwin’s Origin
Mild category Gold: Bank Top, Dark Mild Silver: Branscombe Vale, Mild
Hogs Back Hogs Back is a small craft brewery based in Surrey and has been brewing since 1992. Today they brew over 200 brewers’ barrels (57,600 pints) per week which include their flagship beer Traditional English Ale (T.E.A) and Hogs Back Bitter (HBB). • www.hogsback.co.uk Shepherd Neame Shepherd Neame is Britain’s oldest brewer. Based in Kent the Garden of England the brewer still uses the same water that it used in 1698. Master Brew is the brewery’s flagship brand, referred to as the ‘Local Hero’. • www.shepherdneame.co.uk
Bronze: Castle Rock, Black Gold
Bitters category Gold: Timothy Taylor, Boltmaker Silver: Mighty Oak, Captain Bob Joint Bronze: Flowerpots, Flowerpots Bitter and Sambrook’s Wandle Ale
Best Bitters Gold: Salopian, Darwin’s Origin Silver: Red Willow, Directionless Joint Bronze: Purity, Mad Goose & Langton, Inclined plain bitter
Golden Ales Gold: Oakham, Citra Silver: Hawkshead, Cumbrian Five Hop
Society of Independent Brewers The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) was formed in 1980 as the Small Independent Brewers’ Association, to represent the interests of the emerging new wave of microbrewers. SIBA has come to represent the broad spectrum of the independent brewing sector, renamed SIBA in 1995. • www.siba.co.uk
Bronze: Salopian, Hop Twister
Strong Bitters Gold: Church End, Fallen Angel Silver: Blue Monkey, Ape Ale Bronze: Loch Ness, HoppyNESS
Speciality Beers Gold: Saltaire, Triple Chocoholic Silver: Offbeat, Way Out Wheat Bronze: Peak Ales, Chatsworth Gold
Champion Winter Beer of Britain (from category winners announced in January 2014) Cairngorm, Black Gold (Stouts Category) Dunham Massey, Dunham Porter (Porter Category) Exe Valley, Winter Glow (Old Ales & Strong Milds) Kinver, Over the Edge (Barley Wines & Strong Old Ales)
Champion Bottled Beer of Britain winners Gold: Marble, Chocolate Marble Silver: St Austell, Proper Job Bronze: Spire, Prince Igor Imperial Russian Stout
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2010 – GREAT NORTHERN BEER FESTIVAL
Beer with sparklers All the beers served at SIBA’s Great Northern Beer Festival at the Palace Hotel in Manchester, were dispensed in the traditional northern manner using sparklers – but that didn’t stop southerners Matthew Moggridge and Sean Ferris from enjoying the best the north could offer in terms of real ale.
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hy are beer festivals so often left to consumers to organise? It’s a question that must have been asked by the Small Independent Brewers Association (SIBA) prior to setting up the Great Northern Beer Festival, held at the end of October at Manchester’s Palace Hotel, home of this year’s Club Awards. Back in August, the Great British Beer Festival in London’s Earls Court had CAMRA written it all over, and why not? One of the biggest consumer associations in the country, the Campaign for Real Ale has, for some time, been championing the cause of quality real ale in this country and long may it continue. But there is a view that the brewers should take responsibility for exhibiting their own products, and bearing in mind that SIBA is a new and growing force in the world of cask ale - and represents the UK’s growing number of microbreweries - what better organisation to grab the bull by the horns and get something organised? Why Manchester? Why that word ‘northern’? Well, SIBA’s biggest region is the north so it seemed the most appropriate place to start the revolution.
Ales Festival, were keeping things afloat by dispensing beer to the masses and looking after the huge cellar. This was an event produced in association with the Campaign for Real Ale and the Palace Hotel, Manchester. The festival organiser was none other than Alex Brodie, a key member of SIBA and, of course, the managing director of Hawkshead Brewery, one of the many microbreweries exhibiting its beers at the event. Like all good beer festivals, there was a beer competition thrown in for good measure; it involved the blind tasting of 300 cask ales and over 100 bottled ales entered into eight cask and five bottled beer categories and here are details of some of the winning brewers and their products. CAMRA’s Graham Donning The event took place in the Palace Hotel’s Grand Ballroom, a huge space with a long bar specially erected for the purpose. In total there were 283 beers available to real ale lovers along with 120 bottled varieties. Behind the scenes (and behind the bar) members of CAMRA, overseen by Graham Donning, organiser of CAMRA’s National Winter
All Gates Brewery, Greater Manchester Mad Monk (7.1 per cent abv) is a great name for a beer and this one, from All Gates Brewery in Wigan, took Gold in the Strong Ales
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2010 – GREAT NORTHERN BEER FESTIVAL category, beating Peerless and The Ilkley Brewery who > were awarded silver and bronze respectively for Full Whack (6 per cent abv) and Lotus IPA (5.6 per cent abv). All Gates owns and runs six traditional pubs in and around the North West of England. The brewery was established in 2006. Located in a Grade ll listed building that has been restored by the brewery, All Gates produces a range of seven permanent ales starting with All Black (3.6 per cent abv) and finishing with Yankee Pale Ale (5 per cent abv). In between there are beers with great names like Twitter & Busted (4 per cent abv) and Caskablanca (4.1 per cent abv). • For further information on All Gates Brewery, log on to www.allgatesbrewery.co.uk Bank Top Brewery, Lancashire Bolton, Lancs-based Bank Top Brewery won bronze in the Porters and Strong Milds category, losing out to Elland Brewery and Bradfield Brewery, but still managing to achieve recognition for its Leprechaun Stout (6 per cent abv). Bank Top offers a range of different strength beers from 3.6 to 3.8 per cent abv up to five per cent and above. • For further information on Bank Top Brewery, log on to www.banktopbrewery.com The Beartown Brewery, Cheshire The Beartown Brewery in Congleton, Cheshire, won silver for its Peach Melbear beer (4.4 per cent abv). The brewery’s beers range in strength from 4 per cent to 5 per cent abv and includes an interesting Ginger Bear beer (4 per cent abv). • For further information on The Beartown Brewery, log on to www.beartownbrewery.co.uk The Bowland Beer Company, Lancashire The Bowland Beer Company, based in Bashall Town near Clitheroe in Lancashire, took the top prize, that of Overall Champion of the Competition, with its Admiral of the Blues beer (4.4 per cent abv). The company’s Dragon beer (4.2 per cent abv) took Silver in the Best Bitters category, but was pipped at the post by Admiral of the Blues in the same category. Based in the picturesque Forest of Bowland, The Bowland Beer Company has been producing real ales since 2003. Its products are available direct from the brewery in the North West of England and via wholesalers outside of that catchment area. Richard Baker, who runs The Bowland Beer Company, has seen his business rise by 20 per cent over the past four years, despite the recession, and believes that microbreweries, as a sector of the cask ale industry, are growing to meet consumer demand for quality, local products. The Bowland Beer Company now supplies Michelin starred restaurants with Champagne beer, produced using the same process employed in French vineyards. There is a healthy selection of
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eight core beers (ranging from the 3.5 per cent abv Pheasant Plucker to the award-winning Admiral (4.4 per cent abv) and an even healthier selection of seasonal ales. As with most microbrewers, The Bowland Beer Company offers bottled ales too and all of them carry an abv of 4.5 per cent. There are three core bottled products (Headless Pig, Sky Dancer and Cromwell Stout) plus a regularly changing range of seasonal ales. • For further information on The Bowland Beer Company, log on to www.bowlandbrewery.com Bradfield Brewery, Peak District Farmers Stout (4.5 per cent abv) from the Peak District, farm-based Bradfield Brewery took silver in the Porters, Strong Milds, Old Ales and Stouts category. There are five regularly brewed beers, all of which come under the Farmer’s brand name: Farmer’s Bitter, Stout, Pale Ale, Brown Cow and Blonde; and then there are ‘special brews’, and seasonal ales, not forgetting bottled versions of the regular products and mini kegs too. • For further information on Bradfield Brewery, log on to www.bradfieldbrewery.com Coach House Brewing Company, Cheshire In the speciality beers section, the Coach House Brewing Company won Gold for its Treacle Stout (5 per cent abv), beating the Daleside Brewery and Cumbrian Legendary Ales who won silver and bronze respectively. Coach House Brewing Company, based in Warrington, Cheshire, was established in 1991 after the closure of the Greenall Whitley Brewery in the
area and supplies beer direct in the local area, but via wholesalers and national distributors on a wider basis. The Coach House Brewing Company offers 11 permanent beers and a range of seasonal and special beers, including an extensive range of fruit and stout beers. • For further information on Coach House Brewery, log on to www.coach-house-brewing.co.uk Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Cumbria Croglin Vampire from Cumbrian Legendary Ales was definitely one of the best ale names at the festival. The beer won bronze in the Bottled Beers category of the competition and carries a formidable 8 per cent abv. Cumbrian Legendary Ales also offers Loweswater Gold (4.3 per cent abv); Dickie Doodle (3.9 per cent abv); Grasmoor Dark Ale (4.3 per cent abv); Melbreak (3.7 per cent abv) and Langdale (4 per cent abv). The brewery is located in a group of traditional barns near Hawkshead in the Lake District and was established in 2006 by David and Liz Newham along with partners David and Gill Frost. Croglin Vampire is a ‘doppelbock’, a traditional beer of Munich, Germany. • For further information on Cumbrian Legendary Ales, log on to www.cumbrianlegendaryales.com The Daleside Brewery, North Yorkshire Monkey Wrench (5.3 per cent) from the Daleside Brewery took bronze. The brewery is based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and adheres to the philosophy of promoting excellence in brewing. It was established in the mid-80s but moved to larger
“The festival organiser was none other than Alex Brodie, a key member of SIBA and, of course, the managing director of Hawkshead Brewery”
only one winner: the Frodsham Brewery with its Devil’s Garden (3.9 per cent abv). Founded in 2004 by Barrie Davidson and his wife Hazel, Frodsham offers a wide range of beers, starting with 1st Lite (3.8 per cent) and ending with Wintafest (5.5 per cent abv). Buzzin’ (4.3 per cent abv) won bronze in the 2007 Great British Beer Festival in London. • For further information on Frodsham Brewery, log on to www.frodshambrewery.co.uk
Beer lovers from the region enjoyed the festival...
The Ilkley Brewery, West Yorkshire. Ilkley Brewery Co’s Ilkley Pale (4.2 per cent abv) took bronze in the Best Bitters (4.1 to 4.5 per cent category) and its Lotus IPA (5.6 per cent abv) won bronze in the Strong Ales category. The company went home with bronze in the milds (up to 4 per cent category) with Ilkley Black (3.7 per cent). Ilkley Brewery’s joint owner Stewart Ross said that he was delighted to win bronze for three different beers. “There is nothing better than receiving the accolade from fellow brewers and beer enthusiasts,” he said. Head brewer Chris Ives said that the hat-trick has given the brewery confidence to continue developing its beers. While Chris Ives and Stewart Ross set up the company in May last year, the original brewery, called The Ilkley Brewery and Aerated Water Company, existed back in 1873 selling Olicanabranded brews. Olicana is the Roman name for Ilkley. There is a healthy range of cask ales with simplistic titles all of which feature the word ‘Ilkley’. So, Ilkley Original, Best, Gold, Black and Pale, not forgetting the odd one out, Mary Jane - all of which are available in bottles. The beers are distributed across Yorkshire and the North of England. • For further information, log on to www.ilkleybrewery.co.uk
... and so did Oz Clarke and comedian Hugh Dennis.
premises in 1992. Head brewer Craig Witty joined the brewery in 1991 and is responsible for Daleside’s range of cask and bottled ales, which are supplied to free trade accounts in the UK as well as leading supermarkets in addition to a growing export market to the USA, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Sweden and Spain. Daleside has won many local, regional, national and international awards for its beers, which include (in bottles) St George’s Ale, Pride of England, Daleside Bitter and Special Bitter, Blonde Ale, Old Leg Over and Duff. Ripon Jewel, Crack Shot Ale and Moroccan Ale are also part of the Daleside bottled stable alongside Greengrass Old Rogue. Daleside Bitter, Special and Blonde, Greengrass Old Rogue, Monkey Wrench, St George’s Ales and Pride of England are all available on cask. Strengths vary but those available at the beer festival were Daleside Blonde (3.9 per cent abv); Old Legover (4.1 per cent abv); Bobek Export (5 per cent
abv); and Monkey Wrench (5.3 per cent abv). The Bobek Export is a dark golden beer made with Bobek hops, and the Monkey Wrench is a nut brown strong ale. • For further information on The Daleside Brewery, log on to www.dalesidebrewery.com Elland Brewery, West Yorkshire Elland Brewery won Gold for its 1872 Porter (6.5 per cent abv), but offers a wide variety of brews including a healthy range of regular beers and a beer named after Ozzie Osbourne’s hit, Bark at the Moon (5.6 per cent abv). The brewery was originally Eastwood & Sanders, formed in 2002, but in 2006 it was renamed after the West Yorkshire town near Huddersfield. • For further information on Elland Brewery, log on to www.ellandbrewery.co.uk Frodsham Brewery, Cheshire In the bottled beers up to 4.9 per cent abv, there was
Kelham Island Brewery, South Yorkshire Kelham Island’s Pale Rider (5.2 per cent abv) took bronze in the strong bitters category. The Sheffieldbased brewer tends to produce beers with a rock and roll theme. Album titles and band names, such as Parklife and Ten Years After are typical offerings from the seasonal range, but permanents include Riders on the Storm (4.5 per cent abv); Pale Rider (5.2 per cent); and Easy Rider (4.3 per cent abv). Admittedly there are some less rock and roll titles, like Pride of Sheffield (4 per cent abv) and Kelham Best Bitter (3.8 per cent abv). • For further information on Kelham Island Brewery, log on to www.kelhambrewery.co.uk The Millstone Brewery, Lancashire A former Small Brewer of the Month in Club Mirror, the Millstone Brewery took silver in the Overall Champion of the Competition category with its True Grit beer (5 per cent abv). Based in Mossley in Lancashire, the Millstone Brewery’s beers are described as ‘full-bodied, typically pale in colour, heavily late-hopped for aromas, and offer a range of balanced bitterness to suit a variety of palates’. The brewery launched with just two beers,
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2010 – GREAT NORTHERN BEER FESTIVAL cent abv); Hilbre Gold (4.5 per cent abv); Storr (4.8 per cent); Red Rocks (5 per cent abv); and Triple Blond (5 per cent abv). • For further information on Peerless Brewery Company, log on to www.peerlessbrewing.co.uk
The beer was looked after properly by keen enthusiasts.
Prospect Brewery, Greater Manchester The milds section of the competition saw the Prospect Brewery win Gold for its Nutty Slack, (3.9 per cent abv). Hopefully, the Wigan-based Prospect Brewery will update the news section of its website with the good news. The brewer’s core ales have mining and prospecting themes and range in strength from 3.6 per cent abv (Open Cask, a golden ale) through to 6.5 per cent for Propped Up, a strong, dark beer. Prospect’s website lists 20 different beers. • For further information on Prospect Brewery, log on to www.prospectbrewery.org.uk but now has four regular products and a range of seasonal offerings too. In addition to True Grit, there is Three Shires Bitter and Tiger Rut (both 4 per cent abv) and Grain Storm (4.2 per cent). Millstone’s Vale Mill (3.9 per cent abv) took Gold in the Bitters and Pale Ales (up to 4 per cent abv) category where Hawkshead Brewery’s Windemere Pale (3.5 per cent) won silver and the York Brewery’s Guzzler (3.6 per cent) took bronze. Established in 2003, the Millstone Brewery is the brainchild of Nick Boughton and Jon Hunt and has a potential capacity of 15 barrels per week. • For further information on The Millstone Brewery, log on to www.millstonebrewery.co.uk The Ossett Brewery, West Yorkshire While Malt Shovel Mild (3.8 per cent abv) won silver for the West Yorkshire-based Ossett Fernandes Brewery, there were plenty of gold medals in the bottled beer category where the brewer won best overall bottled beer with Treacle Stout (5 per cent abv) and best bottled gold beer with Yorkshire Blonde Premium (4.5 per cent abv). It also took gold for its Treacle Stout (5 per cent abv) in the bottled porters, milds, old ales and stouts category. The Ossett Brewery is really three breweries in one as the main brewery, Ossett, operates two micro breweries in Wakefield and Marsden (near Huddersfield). The beers produced at the Fernandes Brewery Tap and the Riverhead Brewery Tap are described as being completely different from those brewed by Ossett, which was founded in 1997 by Bob Lawson.
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Rooster’s Brewery, North Yorkshire Based in Knaresborough in North Yorkshire, Roosters Brewery took bronze in the speciality category with Honey Beer (5 per cent abv). Rooster’s full range includes YPA (4.3 per cent abv); Leghorn (4.3 per cent abv); Yankee (4.3 per cent abv); Farmhouse Ale (3.7 per cent abv); and Wild Mule (3.9 per cent abv). There are a number of seasonal ales available including Mocha Stout (4.7 per cent abv). • For further information, log on to www.roosters.co.uk
Ossett’s permanent beers include Excelsior (5.2 per cent abv); Silver King (4.3 per cent abv); Yorkshire Blonde (3.9 per cent abv); Big Red (4 per cent abv); and Pale Gold (3.8 per cent). • For further information, log on to www.ossett-brewery.com Peerless Brewing Company, Merseyside Full Whack (6 per cent abv) from Peerless took Silver in the Strong Ales over 5.6 per cent category. The brewer, from Birkenhead on the Wirral, produces six ales and Full Whack is described a strong, pale ale. The name is derived from the days when sailors on Merseyside would demand full rations. Other Peerless brands include Dark Arts (4.1 per
The York Brewery, North Yorkshire The York Brewery is not only a working brewery but also a tourist attraction. Located within the historic city walls, it was established in 1996 and supplies five of its own pubs in York and Leeds. In addition to a range of seasonal ales, York Brewery offers five core products, predominantly with a low abv; they are Guzzler and Yorkshire Terrier (both 3.6 per cent); Constantine (3.9 per cent); and Centurion’s Ghost Ale (5.4 per cent). • For further information on The York Brewery, log on to www.york-brewery.co.uk Beers worthy of mention There were some very interesting beers that kept out of the limelight. Club Mirror enjoyed a couple of pints of Wharfebank Brewery’s Nightshade (4.9 per cent abv) and thought that Saltaire’s Triple Chocoholic stout was an excellent pint – enjoyed best, maybe, with a large chunk of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk, perhaps. We also enjoyed Hawkshead’s Damson and Vanilla Stout (4.5 per cent abv).
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