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All-ne w mag azine!
No:1 Spring 2014 All the latest news, views and essential information from Castle Rock Brewery
More on page 4
! e z a M e h t s k c o Jake Bugg r See page 3
Willowbrook takes shape Turn to page 2
www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk
Welcome Welcome to the first edition of our reinvigorated Castle Rock magazine.
In Focus
The Willowbrook
The all new Castle Rock Quarter, as the name suggests, will be produced quarterly and will tie in with the seasons. So what better time than Spring to bring you this fresh approach and to inform you of everything you need to know about being ‘out and about’ in Castle Rock pubs. It has only been six months since what proved to be the final edition of the Castle Rock Times. As the following pages will reveal, so much has already happened and it didn’t make sense to keep it ‘under a bushel’ for a further six months. We wanted to share all our exciting news and updates with you and we were sure you’d want to know about them: so the Castle Rock Quarter was born! The CRQ team will be working hard to fill these pages with much more relevant and up-to-date news, ideas and information that will help you make the most of your visits to Castle Rock pubs. There will be breaking stories, interesting insights, topical opinions and plenty of useful information about what is forthcoming. We will also save space for some fun too! We hope you enjoy the new format of CRQ and with the lighter nights now upon us and less of a chill in the air (well hopefully!) we have plenty going on and we hope you choose to spend your precious time with us and enjoy what we have to offer down at your Castle Rock local. Thank you for your continued custom and loyalty. We promise we will continue to work hard to deserve it!
Cheers
Colin Wilde
Castle Rock Brewery Queensbridge Road, Nottingham NG2 1NB
Tel: 0115 985 1615 General enquiries: admin@castlerockbrewery.co.uk Sales enquiries: scott.ryder@castlerockbrewery.co.uk Recruitment: sarah.halpin@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
is produced by freerbutler limited www.freerbutler-gds.co.uk
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Hi, my name is Pete Hopwell and I’m the General Manager for the newly purchased and soon-to-be completely refurbished Willowbrook in Gedling. I started in the business back in 1989 working for Ansells Brewery in a community pub in Alvaston, Derby as a wet-behind-the-ears barman who fell in love with what I did. From there I worked my way up through the ranks and moved around to extend my knowledge of running bars from small independents to high street brands, working all over the country for the next 23 years. In 2013 I was given a fantastic opportunity to get back to my roots and run a community pub using all the skills I had learnt over the years. The fact this was with Castle Rock, who brew quality beers and have a great reputation, made it a very special project on which to work - exciting times! We took over the Willowbrook Club on the 22nd November 2013, with the plan to run the pub as usual through the Christmas
period, in order to honour bookings and events that had been organised prior to Castle Rock taking over. As time went by we realised that the Gedling community and surrounding areas were more than pleased with the transition the Willowbrook had made. We decided to undertake the refurbishment while staying open as much as we could for the enjoyment of the regular trade who could see the changes we were making bit-by-bit. I have inherited a great team of staff and since I’ve been here have got to know all the regulars, making the transition very smooth and all great fun. The Willowbrook refurbishment has been coming on in leaps and bounds, including making a new ground floor cellar so we can go from the already increased seven real ales to a possible fourteen, with craft beers and a good range of lagers. This will also include a fine selection of world beers, spirits, wines
Hot News
photograph by Angelo Panzera
The Maze gets the Bugg!
He might have already played to thousands of screaming, bopping and boogying Nottinghamians, but the city’s music lovechild Jake Bugg is still the humble boy who stepped onto the BBC’s Introducing Stage aged just seventeen. Jake played a secret gig at The Maze in November 2013, ending a year of performing to colossal crowds on big stages, by going back to the venue where he started out.
The exclusive gig was attended by those lucky enough to win a ticket through his website, where the crowd was invited to make donations to Cancer Research UK. Jake is pictured above with Ben (left) and Gaz (right) of the Maze - they are old friends and the main reason Jake came back to play the venue. The Maze was the ideal intimate venue to showcase songs from ‘Shangri La’, Jake’s second album, which debuted later that month.
Wise after the event! Above: Pete Hopwell, the General Manager at Castle Rock’s newly- acquired ‘The Willowbrook’ in Gedling, Nottingham. and ciders, as well as NewBrew, LocAle, and other drinks offers from Castle Rock Brewery. We are also in the process of extending the kitchen so that the menu we have introduced can be enhanced to provide more variation for the discerning customer. We will be able to cater for bigger bookings and functions on a regular basis for meetings, birthdays, weddings, Christmas and private parties. We have adjusted the main bar by taking down a separating wall to create one big room, with new toilets in two areas, great new décor and furnishings to make it the ideal place for drinking, dining and socialising. Keep a look out for wine, food and beer tasting evenings, cocktail master classes, band nights, beer festivals and much more.
Midnight Owl, our black India Pale Ale, took home gold in the Old Ale/Strong Mild category in the East Midlands regional beer competition held during the National Winter Ale Festival in Derby in February. In the final panel, consisting of the winners from all five categories, Midnight Owl was awarded second place. Our brewer, Jon Edger is pictured right (on left) being toasted on the win by leading beer writer and campaigner, Roger Protz (right) and Les Baynton in his role as Derby Beer King.
Other News Castle Rock Brewery has been shortlisted to win ‘Best Drinks Offer’ at the Publican Awards 2014. Attributed for innovation with the ‘Discover World Beers’ initiative, we join four other contenders in the finals. We collected the “Highly Commended” award for Best Marketing and Communication for our Nottinghamian Celebration Ales range at SIBA Beer X. The Maze has been listed as a ‘venue that changed music history’ by Gigwise, alongside the world-famous Cavern Club in Liverpool where the Beatles first performed. Visit Gigwise.com to read the full story. Castle Rock Brewery is now accredited by the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping). Courses begin with Personal Licence training in April of this year. The Poppy & Pint was runner-up in the Pub Of The Year awards from Nottingham CAMRA. Congratulations to James and his team. This year Castle Rock beers will be ‘back in brown’ bottles! More to come soon…
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News focus
Autogrill Catering UK’s John Lobley (left) and Kate Cochrane (second right) with Castle Rock Brewery managing director, Colin Wilde, and chairman Geoff Newton (right)
Come Fly With Me Castle Rock Brewery taps into East Midlands Airport In February we were delighted to announce the launch of the Castle Rock Tap & Kitchen in the first floor departure lounge at East Midlands Airport. Many months were spent in the planning stages when Autogrill approached us last year. We insisted that key members of our team were fully involved, especially when approaching fitting out the cellar. Our extensive experience of working real ale held us in good stead and our skills were certainly used to their maximum potential. By working closely with the Autogrill team (the site operators) we have the confidence that the Harvest Pale on sale at EMA will be of the highest possible quality and this was always our primary concern. The project went remarkably smoothly with everything running on time, which means the airport now has a brand new and exceptional facility in which travellers can re-fuel and relax. The design is a blend between modern and traditional and provides a bright, fresh and exciting showcase for Castle Rock Brewery and its beers in a high profile location. Autogrill is a large Italian business that operates bars and restaurants in airports and similar environments around the world.
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Having won the East Midlands Airport contract, Autogrill wanted to act locally and work with smaller businesses. Local food suppliers have also been included in the offering at EMA but Castle Rock was deemed top of their list on the beer front; so our reputation definitely preceded us on this one! Both parties were surprised and delighted that our values were so closely connected, which allowed Castle Rock and Autogrill to make this project happen. The Castle Rock Tap and Kitchen raises the bar well above the standard airport fayre of yesteryear and what can be better for passengers than being able to sample fantastic quality local beer? Access is perhaps a bit limited; you’ll need to be going on a flight to visit the Castle Rock Tap & Kitchen, so if you haven’t been X-rayed and your name is not on the list then you are definitely not coming in! Perhaps also for those who have an early flight a pint of Harvest Pale at 6am with your breakfast may not be your usual cup of tea either (please note however that Harvest Pale is a great food match for a full English Breakfast so it is well worth a try). All-in-all this was an opportunity we couldn’t refuse and when leaving the country we’d
Above: Early visitors appreciate the decor and ambience of the Castle Rock Tap Room & Kitchen at East Midlands Airport encourage passengers to take some Harvest Pale with them into Europe! So enjoy your holiday and when you return make sure you tell us how much you enjoyed your Harvest Pale at the airport.
Send us a selfie! Barely had the opening signs gone up at the Tap Room & Kitchen when we received our first selfie from the venue. So if you’re passing through EMA and off somewhere exotic, don’t forget to tweet us a selfie @CRBrewery - you may well find yourself printed in the next edition of CRQ.
Drinks in Focus
Discover World Beers Wayne Harvey, world beer buyer and craft connoisseur, shares his favourites from the ‘Discover World Beer’ range. Discover World Beers focuses on sourcing and offering you the best beers from around the globe. The most prestigious bottles and craft keg beers are fleeting, so hop on down to your DWB local and follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date. You can currently discover impressive and imaginative world beers at the Hop Loft, the Lincolnshire Poacher, the Kean’s Head and the Canalhouse. More Castle Rock Brewery pubs to follow soon! Stone Brewing Co. – Sublimely Self Righteous Ale, 8.7% This beer was at the forefront of the ‘Black IPA’ trend. For those not familiar, a ‘Black IPA’ is essentially an IPA with a touch of dark malt. Yes the ‘Black IPA’ moniker is a bit of an oxymoron but let’s roll with it. S.S.R is intensely hoppy, a mix of fresh pine and tropical fruit dominate the aroma. The black malt adds a little roast flavour into the mix; the hops and malt come together in complete harmony to create this delicious ale. Bear Republic – Racer 5 IPA, 7.0% Racer 5 is a fine example of an American IPA – there’s loads of big citrus fruit and floral aromas from Chinook, Cascade, Centennial
and Columbus hops. The grain bill includes crystal malt so there is a sweet, malty backbone to balance out all those pungent American hops. STOP PRESS – Due to California’s water crisis, production of Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA has been suspended for six months. Availability is limited! Augustiner – Helles, 5.2% Don’t think you like lager? Augustiner is the oldest brewery in Munich, tracing their history all the way back to 1328. This fresh, crisp beer has a bit of a cult following in Germany, popular with students and partygoers. Nevertheless the floral aroma and sparkling carbonation will make you reconsider your preconceptions of this classic beer style. Duvel – Tripel Hop, 9.5% Duvel’s annual hop-forward release is genuinely brilliant. 2012’s Citra variant was full of gooseberry and tropical fruit flavours whilst 2013’s Sorachi Ace tasted herbal with loads of fresh lemon. This year’s version has been made with Mosaic hops – look out for it in our bars, it promises to be excellent!
THURSDAY 17TH APRIL Beer Tasting: by Palm Brewery Group Pre-booking recommended Hop Loft, 7.30pm, £10 per person Email hoploft@castlerockbrewery.co.uk MONDAY 12TH- SUNDAY 18TH MAY American Craft Beer Week Celebrated in many of our pubs, with the best of best US beers and all-American dishes to match Follow/contact your favourite Castle Rock pub to find out more THURSDAY 15TH MAY Beer Tasting: Wheat Style Beer by Discover World Beers Pre-booking recommended Hop Loft, 7.30pm, £10 per person Email hoploft@castlerockbrewery.co.uk SUNDAY 1ST- SATURDAY 8TH JUNE Hudd Week Celebrating Huddersfield, the brewing Capital of Yorkshire. Hudd beers Cask and Tap takeover, paired with Yorkshire inspired dishes! Kean’s Head. THURSDAY 19TH JUNE Beer Tasting: Pale Ale Style by Discover World Beers Pre-booking recommended Hop Loft, 7.30pm, £10 per person Email hoploft@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
Cider The resurgence of interest in real cider has been a great boon over the last few years and 2013’s hot weather and sunshine was perfect for both growing apples and for sitting in a pub garden and enjoying them; but only once they have been fermented of course! Castle Rock has sold real cider since we opened our first pub but it is only in recent years that we have been able to ‘press’ forwards and bring you a wide choice. The resurgence stems back to the ‘Magner’s Summer of 2006’ when cold cider on ice whet the thirsts of the masses. In response the whole cider industry reinvented itself, including smaller producers. Apple trees were planted across the land in their thousands and continue to be so today.
This is great news when compared to the prevalence of the scrubbing of orchards in the 80s and 90s. Back then French, Spanish and Chinese apple concentrates were deemed cost-effective substitutes to growing our own apples in the UK. The mass market ciders may be criticised by some for not being the Real McCoy but their existence has provided a bridge for more and more people to try real cider. Castle Rock has supported the CAMRA Cider & Perry month of October for the last two years and has sold over 100 different real ciders through our pub network during that month alone. We are seeking to further develop this in the years to come but we will also look to extend availability during all of the summer months.
Watch out for these ciders in our pubs, especially those from some of the fabulous local cider makers that are on our doorstep; they use only local apples and adhere strictly to the published CAMRA cider-making guidelines. So here’s to another long hot summer and, on those balmy nights, why not add a glass of cider or two to your repertoire. Don’t forget to tell us which ones are your favourites; we’ll be adding a cider category to the next annual Castle Rock Beer of the Year Awards. If you’d like to learn more about real cider the CAMRA website gives plenty more information, try www.camra.org.uk/CIDER
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In Focus
The Derby Tup Acquired by Castle Rock in 1990, the Derby Tup in Chesterfield has recently received a rare honour from Chesterfield and District CAMRA. Tenant landlord Brendan McConville is your authentic British publican; knowledgeable, chatty and kind-hearted. When we last visited ‘The Tup’ on 20th February, it was under an exceptional circumstance, one which brought Brendan’s locals, a hoard of Chesterfield CAMRA members, local press and beer writer and journalist Roger Protz, to swarm the pub for the evening. “I feel marvellous,” Brendan grins. He’s not talking about all these people, here to honour his achievements; he’s talking about his tan after a week visiting his sister in South Africa. It was a well-deserved break, and one which made Brendan particularly photogenic for his night as the centre of everyone’s attention. The Derby Tup, as of 2014, has been included in The Good Beer Guide for a consecutive thirty years. It is as Roger Protz said, a “remarkable achievement. The Tup joins a decreasing number of pubs with this long and enviable record.” The Good Beer
Above: Derby Tup landlord Brendan McConville (left) and Roger Protz, editor of the Good Beer Guide Bottom of page: Regulars enjoy the celebrations Guide is considered the campaign’s best seller, one that is compiled by CAMRA members and charges no fee for inclusion. Roger Protz presented Brendan with a certificate along with a signed copy of the Good Beer Guide. For a landlord, this is one of the highest achievements possible. So what is it about the Derby Tup, thirty years on, that keeps CAMRA coming back? Well of course the quality of the cask ale is exceptional. And the overall drinks offering is welcoming, with ten real ales to choose from, supported by traditional ciders and a respectable selection of whisky.
Additionally and most predominantly, the Tup is a classic ‘local’; a quiet space to shelter from the world outside. Roger Protz previously described the Tup as a ‘down-toearth, much-loved boozer’, and on this night placed the Tup amongst the remaining venues considered the ‘backbone of Britain’s traditional pub stock’. It’s the charming, untouched tradition of the pub, with the interior kept much the same, the ‘snug’ in which you can’t help doze off and the open fires, that make the Tup so commendable. No airs and graces, a true British pub of which very few remain. In making his presentation, Protz thanked Castle Rock and Brendan for not attempting to unnecessarily change or ‘update’ the pub. Messages of congratulations on Brendan’s success are met with a modest nod. “When I first came to the Tup, this was the only real ale pub in Chesterfield and there are now about twenty-five to thirty of them.” All the more credit to you, Brendan.
In the next issue we feature…the Eagle at Boston, Lincolnshire
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Castle Rock Awards
Beer of the Year 2013/14 After months of votes flowing in from our customers, this year’s Beer of the Year awards was held in the function room of the Canalhouse on the evening of 25th February.
We slipped into our smart-casual glad rags, nattered with our friends from breweries and businesses alike, and tasted the ‘mystery beers’.
place Beer of the Year for their premium bitter, Belgian Blue. Distinguished by its remarkable purple colour, Belgian Blue was the subject of curiosity and debate before its unveiling.
This year, Castle Rock selected Small Beer Ltd as Supplier of the Year 2013-14. Colin Wilde explained: “We have worked with Small Beer for as long as I can remember and their wide range has always been at the heart of what we do. In the past year the innovation of supply they have offered us from a wide category base has been exceptional and one highlight in particular is how they are helping us develop our Discover World Beer concept. They are worthy winners of this award.”
By quite the “landslide vote”, Newby Wyke’s Orsino was awarded First Place, Beer of the Year 2013-14. This golden ale at 4.0% is a sessionable and flavourful delight, with citrus aromas and a hoppy bite to finish. Christine March beamed, “It feels like we are part of a big family,” and thanked Castle Rock and everyone who voted. Brewer Robert March was unable to attend because (you guessed it) he was up brewing the next morning. All of us at Castle Rock would like to send our congratulations to you, Robert.
LocAle Brewer of the Year was awarded to Black Iris; winners of New Brewer of the Year in 2012-13. Learn more about Black Iris in our LocAle feature on page 11. MòR Brewing was awarded New Brewer of the Year 2013-14, a well-deserved honour for the Scottish pair, Jim and Ross, who not only made the six-hour drive down to Nottingham but brought two barrels of delicious beer with them.
Brewer of the Year was awarded to Fuller, Smith & Turner plc. Fullers has worked hard bringing new beers to market in the last year and these have struck a chord with our customers. Their exciting and fresh approach, whilst retaining all what was previously exemplary, makes them deserving winners of our Brewer of the Year Award.
Third place Beer of the Year, as voted for by Castle Rock customers, went to last year’s winner - Titanic Plum Porter. Still a favourite with many, this naturally plum-flavoured porter is a sumptuous treat, and one enjoyed by customers across the CRB estate.
Thank you to our customers for voting and to our friends and colleagues for attending, and most importantly, thank you and well done to all the superb brewers and suppliers that continue to strengthen this complex industry.
Family-run Bradfield Brewery, based on a farm in the Peak District, took home Second
Don’t miss your chance to vote next January!
Castle Rock Brewery colleagues and award winners gather at the Canalhouse for a celebratory photo-call
Parliamentary motion for Mòr: Graeme Dey, a Member of the Scottish Parliament, wrote a personal letter to Jim and Ross of MòR Brewing, congratulating the pair on their ‘New Brewer of the Year’ award. A parliamentary motion was lodged to highlight the achievement, noting that MòR was the ‘first-ever Scottish entrant to be nominated for the prestigious title, hosted by Castle Rock Brewery in Nottingham’. Castle Rock’s Managing Director Colin Wilde asks, “Are we the first - and so far only English brewer to get a mention in the Scottish Parliament?”
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In Focus
The Vat & Fiddle Jane Chadwick talks about her new role as manager of the Vat & Fiddle, Castle Rock’s brewery tap… I'm so happy to be back in Nottingham, after being away for four and a half years (since leaving The Chestnut Tree in Sherwood in August 2009). I've spent that time working in Cheltenham and Bath, for some of the ‘PubCo’ big boys, but was always looking for that ‘special’ place in Nottingham to become available… and it has! I’m really thrilled to be given this opportunity to manage the Vat & Fiddle and endeavour to make it Nottingham’s not-sobest-kept secret. Castle Rock has firmly established itself as the premium independent brewer in Nottingham and after spending a day observing how hard everyone works at the brewery, the least we can do at ‘The Vat’ is to make sure each pint we serve is in top condition. Our customers, as varied as they are here, from regulars to visitors to our four-legged friends, deserve to be welcomed into our home and given the best hospitality we have to offer. Drinks, food and the odd bowl of water, should never seem to be served as a chore and if it ever does we’re not doing our job properly.
This may sound very clichéd, but I want our patrons to look forward to visiting the Vat, to tell their friends and family what a great pub it is and to spread the word throughout the county and beyond. No business can afford to stand still; we have to keep moving forward, so in the next few months there will be a few changes.
A new menu is being planned right now, which will combine value for money and a few new dishes to tempt. The brewery tours and visitor centre is an area we will improve and hopefully increase footfall. We are of course not changing everything. We are still running our free quiz every Tuesday evening from 8pm as well as hosting as a good selection of live music. On the first Sunday of the month we still have Swingologie and the second Sunday of the month continues as a traditional folk band jam session. There are also monthly live music nights, with the next one being on Friday 5th April, when we have ‘Devil’s Advocate’ playing. This is part of The Vat & Fiddle’s birthday celebration week, so if you’re free why not come down and say hello!”
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Up & Coming Brews As Nottingham’s most prolific brewer, there is always something exciting available alongside our core range of classics. Whether it be our monthly beer in support of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, quarterly beer to celebrate Nottingham’s great heroes and heroines, specials to commemorate the First World War, or our one-off and seasonal range. APRIL
MAY
APRIL DINGY SKIPPER • No. 107b Pale beer with some malt sweetness counterbalanced with a fruity hop character.
MAY
RATTY • No. 84b Light brown mild ale.
JUNE
JUNE
RED ADMIRAL • No. 1b Traditional East Midlands balanced best bitter.
Brewed in memory of ‘Nottingham’s first black entrepreneur’ George Africanus. At the age of just three, he arrived in England as the slave of a family in Wolverhampton. After being apprenticed a brass founder in Wolverhampton, George moved to Nottingham a free man in the 1780s, where he became a successful businessman. Although we do not know much about George’s life, his story is that of overcoming the odds and we are very proud to brew a beer in his honour.
APRIL - JUNE
Can you tell us more about George Africanus?
Also look out for our seasonal classic, Hemlock Bitter... “A sometimes overused term but Hemlock is the epitome of a ‘traditional bitter’ where the earthy bitterness of the Fuggles and Goldings hops is enhanced by the nutty bite of crystal and black malts.” – Adrian Redgrove, Head Brewer, Castle Rock Brewery. The full flavoured and very popular ‘Hemlock Bitter’ is available from
MAY - JULY
This year marks the centenary of the start of the First World War. In commemoration, we are brewing a special range of twelve beers over the next five years. With donations to Combat Stress
The first beer will be available in June, so raise a glass in respect.
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My favourite Castle Rock beer TOP COMMENTS Thanks for all your tweets, retweets, follows, likes, and lovely comments. Keep them coming! “Post work cheeky pint of @CRBrewery Red Hart at the @canalhousebar and they’re playing Pearl Jam’s ‘Even Flow’. Good call!” (@GastroChap) “Just been filming at @NottmCastle and now at @CRBrewery for a brewery tour - a tough life for #Nottingham’s Official #RobinHood! #LoveNotts” (@RobinHoodTim) “Back for another visit from just up the M1... this sublime beer from @CRBrewery. Champion Beer of Britain in 2010. pic.twitter.com/XjeCXT6t2V” (@Bullsheadblaby)
“@CRBrewery RED HART rich chocolate oatmeal stout going down a treat pic. twitter.com/nJyB5tfxO0” (@HollyBushBEER) “Wishing Castle Rock Brewery a very happy 37th birthday! Making Ale Real since 1977” (R Whitbread)
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Screech Owl We love to hear your feedback about our beers, and even more so when there is a story behind it! We’re on a quest over the next few issues to find out what our customers’ favourite Castle Rock tipples are – and why!
Name: Mike Higgins Local: Stratford Haven Favourite Beer: Screech Owl “There's only one SCRE ECH OWL! I was first introduced to th is Emperor of India (Pale Ale) by my da ughter on my return to Nottingha m in 2010 at the Bread and Bitter. I have tasted beers fr om all over the World and th is is by far my favourite . The montage (right) is entitled “The Brief But Beautiful Life of a Sc reech Owl” taken in the summer of 2011 at The Stratford Haven.”
Screech Owl is our superbly balanced India Pale Ale at 5.5%. Brewed with two American hops, this citrussy beer is offset by a smooth malt character.
Double up at CBoN 2014 Nottingham CAMRA again chose the Canalhouse to host CBoN, its annual Champion Beer of Nottinghamshire competition where ales from all parts of Nottingham and the county battle it out for the coveted title. In all 49 beers were judged, double the number in the first event last year. And after much supping and discussing,
the judges from regional branches and businesses gave top honour to Lincoln Green Brewery's Tuck, a full bodied porter. After the competition, all the beers plus an additional seven ales, five ciders and a perry, were made available to the public who flocked in record numbers to see if (in their opinion) the judges got it right.
Cuisine
What’s Cooking at Castle Rock pubs ‘One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well’ - Virginia Woolf What to choose- a Mediterranean meze to inspire conversation or a traditional British roast to subdue it? The choices are plentiful in Castle Rock pubs.
Whether you’re after crisp light bites on warm afternoons, hearty home-made goodness on chilly evenings, easy and breezy flying visits at lunchtime, gratifying gourmet to treat your better half or, let’s be honest, some impromptu grub after a long hard day and a few too many; you should taste it here first. We’re an environmentally responsible brewery and this “green” ethic filters right down to the dish on your plate. Wherever possible our ingredients are locally sourced, freshly prepared and our dishes home-made. That means your meal tastes better and is better for you. We don’t stop there though; some of our most inspired chefs like to share their recipes so you can re-create the dish at home. Manager of the Kean’s Head in Nottingham’s Lace Market, Sam Skinner-Watts, has shared his ‘Harvest Pale Ice Cream’ recipe on our website. Yes, that’s beer ice-cream… impeccable. At the Kean’s Head you can hide away in the cobbled streets of history and enjoy antipasto, melanzane and homemade fondant in a cosy atmosphere. Food lovers may ponder which dish to pair with their pint, but we have pairings and suggestions ready for you, so your taste buds are poised on perfection. The Bread and Bitter in Mapperley is renowned for its excellent range of cask ale, always stored and poured to exceptional standards, and now it’s used in the cooking too. ‘The Bread’ has just launched a new
menu consisting of fabulous homemade dishes such as Devilled Mushrooms, Kedgeree and Eggs Royale. Those slightly peckish can opt for the smaller portions and still taste the divine flavours of these new creations.
MONDAY 12TH - SUNDAY 18TH MAY British Sandwich Week #stratsandwichweek Suggest the sub of your dreams in-house or online Stratford Haven
Vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free diets are catered for wherever possible, in all Castle Rock pubs. And traditional foodies have no fear: the Castle Rock clan will never say goodbye to the classics that make British pubs so great.
MONDAY 12TH JUNE - SUNDAY 13TH JULY World Cup Burger Challenge Will you make the leader board? Quickest time wins a gallon of Castle Rock ale! Fox & Crown MONDAY 23RD JUNE - SUNDAY 6TH JULY Wimbledon the British Way Enjoy Pimms and Cream Tea in Castle Rock Pubs
LocAle
Black Iris The CAMRA LocAle Scheme promotes pubs stocking locally brewed real ale. Castle Rock is committed to supporting the scheme, offering diversity in our guest beer range and giving small breweries a route to the consumer market. At Beer of the Year 2011-12, these Derby based youngsters took home our New Brewer of the Year award just seven months after setting up their brewery. Back then Black Iris were overwhelmed by the support they received from esteemed brewers and Castle Rock customers. This year the Directors of Castle Rock awarded Black Iris LocAle Brewer of the Year 2013-14, and Nick and Alex looked like experts stepping up to collect their trophy. Nick Folkard (left) and Alex Wilson (right) began brewing as ‘Black Iris’ in 2011, using a six-barrel plant based behind the Flowerpot pub in Derby. The boys were learning on the job, working on perfecting basic recipes and learning how different hop varieties affect the end product.
The progress made by Black Iris is commendable: with inclusion by CAMRA into the 2014 Good Beer Guide, their status in the brewing industry is growing fast. Additionally, Alex’s nifty facial hair combined with pump clip artwork from a local tattoo artist, shows real ale can be cool. Most significantly of course is the great quality of beers produced by Black Iris. Just two days after carrying home their Castle Rock award and still determined to gain as much knowledge and experience possible, Black Iris headed to Murphy & Son Ltd to spend the day learning about yeast management. It seems these guys will explore every avenue to ensure they brew brilliant products. The result of course, is that we get to follow what Black Iris do next, and with their capacity to absorb information and improve at an extraordinary rate, it’s no doubt this year is set to be another wondrous journey.
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Editor’s Picks
Upcoming Events April 2014
Full listings on our website updated daily
SATURDAY 3RD – SUNDAY 4TH
TUESDAY 24TH
Star Wars Weekend
‘Troupers’ from Mikron Theatre Company
TUESDAY 8TH
‘May the 4th be with you’ (get it?)
Movie Night: Fast & Furious 3 Golden Eagle, 8pm, Free Admission
Movies, nibbles and all things Star Warsian Golden Eagle and the Poppy & Pint
TUESDAY 8TH
SUNDAY 4TH
Salopian Brewery Night & the Golden Troubadours
Comedy Club
THURSDAY 26TH - SUNDAY 29TH
Rob Rouse rings in the 5th anniversary New Barrack Tavern, 8pm, £5
Golden Eagle Beer Festival
Bread & Bitter, Music from 9pm, Free Admission
Set in 1914, a little-told story of the Great War Poppy & Pint, 7:30pm
With Live Music and BBQ Golden Eagle, 6pm, Free Admission
THURSDAY 22ND- MONDAY 26TH
Bank Holiday ‘Best of the Best’ Beer Fest & BBQ
MONDAY 30TH Bread & Bitter, 5pm, £1
THURSDAY 17TH-MONDAY 21ST
BBQ available all festival Satnam’s Tash go Electric on Thu 22nd Bread & Bitter, Free Admission
Bank Holiday Beer Festival
THURSDAY 29TH
TUESDAY 15TH
Movie Night: Fast & Furious 4 Golden Eagle, 8pm, Free Admission
All beers voted for by you! Lincolnshire Poacher, Free Admission SUNDAY 20TH
Easter Garden Party All welcome! BBQ, bouncy castle and Easter egg hunt Golden Eagle, 2pm, Free Admission TUESDAY 22ND Wine Night hosted by Big Wines Enjoy an evening of good wine & good food! Poppy & Pint, 7:30pm, £25
Cheese & Wine Night hosted by Big Wines Celebrating British Cheese Week Willowbrook, Call for details and to book SATURDAY 31ST
Opening the Garden Party All welcome! BBQ, bottled beer festival, bouncy castle and live music Golden Eagle, 2pm, Free Admission
Stratford Haven, 8.30pm, Free WEDNESDAY 23RD
St. George’s Day Party
June 2014 THURSDAY 5TH
THURSDAY 1ST TO SATURDAY 31ST
Mild in May Display Learn all about Mild at the Castle Rock Brewery Tap in celebration of the CAMRA Mild in May Trail Vat & Fiddle, all month
Classic Bike Concourse All welcome! Contact us for more information. Golden Eagle, 6pm, Free Admission
Campers Carry-out Offer Thirsty ‘Le Tour Yorkshire’ campers can carry out a polypin of delicious Castle Rock beer! New Barrack Tavern, ask for pricings TUESDAY 8TH
Movie Night: Drop Dead Fred Golden Eagle, 8pm, Free Admission
The renowned summer benefit fest. is back for 2014 with three stages of live music, the biggest World Beer selection in Nottingham and hundreds of happy people dancing by the canal side Canalhouse, Like on Facebook to find out more: The Nottingham Waterfront Festival
TUESDAY 10TH
Movie Night: The Italian Job Golden Eagle, 8pm, Free Admission
OPEN MIC NIGHT– Last Friday of every month at The Hop Loft, from 8:30pm, Free Admission
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SATURDAY 5TH - SUNDAY 6TH
Waterfront Festival
Witty Fools Shakespeare Quiz
May 2014
July 2014
SATURDAY 12TH
WEDNESDAY 23RD
With Dr. Comfort & The Lurid Revelations Bread & Bitter, 5pm, Free Admission
Armed Forces Charity Quiz
VISIT www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk for a full listing of forthcoming events.
ACOUSTIC SESSIONS – Every Thursday at the Canalhouse, from 6:30pm, Free Admission
www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk
Merchandise
The Castle Rock look We offer a great range of merchandise, from fleeces and beanie hats to shorts and t-shirts! There are three ways to buy merchandise from us: • Order at your local Castle Rock pub • Visit and order from our eBay shop “Castle_Rock_Brewery_Nottingham” or just Google “Castle Rock Brewery eBay shop” • Email merchandise@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
Brewery Tours Join Robin and his merry men (and women!) Tours of Castle Rock Brewery are fun and informative; where possible you will be shown around the brewery by Nottingham’s very own Robin Hood. Afterwards you will be taken to the brewery tap Visitors’ Centre where you can sample some of our beers. Tours are available throughout the week, and on Saturdays (subject to availability). You can book in three ways: • Email tours@castlerockbrewery.co.uk with preferred dates and times • Fill in our online booking form at www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk • Ask at the bar in your Castle Rock local Tours last 30-40 minutes and cost £12 per person. Hot and cold food options are available for before or after the tour. Please note a minimum of ten people are required (although you may be able to join another tour). Tours are for over 18’s only.
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Social Media
Follow Us There’s always something happening in the Castle Rock estate, and you can get even more involved, learn of upcoming events and benefit from offers just by following our social media feeds! Simply search for the below accounts on Facebook or Twitter and click “Like”, “Follow” or “Add Friend”
Alexandra Hotel Bread Bitter Canal House The Derby Tup The Eagle The Maze The Fox & Crown, Newark The Golden Eagle Free House The Hop Loft Kean’s Head Lincolnshire Poacher New Barrack Tavern The Newshouse Poppy & Pint Stratford Haven Swan Rushes Vat Fiddle The Wetmore Whistle The Willowbrook Castle Rock Brewery
@Alex_Pub_Derby @breadandbitter @canalhousebar @TheDerbyTup @EagleBoston @themazenotts @TheFoxandCrown @GoldenEaglePub @TheHopLoft @keanshead @lincpoacher @NewBarrack @NewshouseNotts @PoppyandPint @stratfordhaven @swanrushes @VatandFiddle @wetmorewhistle1 @WillowbrookCRB @CRBrewery
Our beers talk too! Elsie Mo Sheriff Tipple Screech Owl
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@Elsiemocrb @SheriffTipple @ScreechOwlCRB
Join the Club! Castle Rock Club Hop Loft Club Show your support for Castle Rock Brewery and join the Castle Rock Club! Membership is free and all who join will receive a unique membership card, discounts and offers, event updates, a special pin badge and half-filled loyalty card, as a ‘thank you’ from us. All members of the Castle Rock Club receive a discount of 25% off brewery tours and 10% off all merchandise! To join, simply fill in an application form at your local Castle Rock pub. Your membership items will arrive at the pub within two weeks of the office receiving your form.
Castle Rock’s new world beer bar, the Hop Loft is situated upstairs at the Swan in the Rushes, Loughborough. It’s at the forefront of the world and craft beer scene, and is instrumental in our “Discover World Beers” initiative, offering over 150 bottled beers and five craft keg lines. If you love world or craft beer, join the Hop Loft Club. Membership is free and all who join will receive a unique membership card entitling them to 10% off all world and craft beer at the Hop Loft! To join, simply fill in an application form at the Hop Loft. Your membership items will arrive at the Hop Loft within two weeks of the office receiving your form.
At Castle Rock we like to experiment and our recently acquired five-barrel fermenting vessel has unlocked many opportunities. In addition to our dynamic range of monthly, quarterly and seasonal beers, we are also releasing a range of small brews designed to challenge a few conventions! Each recipe has been carefully considered to produce an interesting, unique or even extreme tasting beer- with the added idiosyncrasy of being unfined (cloudy). We brewed our first one ”Stereotype” in March, which was an extra bitter, dry hopped West Coast IPA at 5.9%. It certainly got people talking and there are many other recipes and brews to come, of varying flavours and characters. These beers are intended to push a few boundaries, and we would love to hear your feedback. Please Facebook, Tweet or email us with your thoughts. Each Traffic Street Special brew is very limited in amount, but will be coming thick and fast this year, so if you spot one be sure to give it a try!
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Castle Rock Pubs ALEXANDRA HOTEL
BREAD AND BITTER
CANALHOUSE
e-mail: alexandrahotel@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: breadandbitter@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: canalhouse@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
203 Siddals Road, Derby DE1 2QE
Tel: 01332 293993
153-155 Woodthorpe Dr, Mapperley, NG3 5JL
Tel: 0115 960 7541
48-52 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7EH
Tel: 0115 955 5060
DERBY TUP
EAGLE
FOREST TAVERN/MAZE
e-mail: derbytup@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: eagle@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
email: info@themazerocks.com • web: www.themazerocks.com
387 Sheffield Rd, Chesterfield S41 8LS
Tel: 01246 454316
144 West Street, Boston, Lincs PE21 8RE
Tel: 01205 361116
257 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FT
Tel: 0115 947 5650
FOX AND CROWN
GOLDEN EAGLE
HOP LOFT
e-mail: foxandcrown@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: goldeneagle@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: hoploft@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
4-6 Appletongate, Newark, Notts NG24 1JY
Tel: 01636 605820
21 High Street, Lincoln LN5 8BD
21 The Rushes, Loughborough, LE11 5BE
Tel: 01522 521058
Tel: 01509 217014
KEAN’S HEAD
LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER
NEW BARRACK TAVERN
e-mail: keanshead@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: lincolnshirepoacher@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: newbarracktavern@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
46 St. Mary’s Gate, Nottingham NG1 1QA
Tel: 0115 947 4052
161-163 Mansfield Road, Nott’m NG1 3FR
Tel: 0115 941 1584
601 Penistone Road, Sheffield S6 2GA
Tel: 0114 234 9148
NEWSHOUSE
POPPY AND PINT
ROOK AND GASKILL
e-mail: newshouse@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: poppyandpint@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: rookandgaskill@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
123 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7HB
Tel: 0115 952 3061
Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay, Notts NG2 5DX
Tel: 0115 981 9995
12 Lawrence Street, York YO10 3WP
Tel: 01904 655450
(The Brewery Tap)
STRATFORD HAVEN
SWAN IN THE RUSHES
VAT AND FIDDLE
e-mail: stratfordhaven@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: swanintherushes@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: vatandfiddle@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
2 Stratford Rd, W. Bridgford, Nott’m NG2 6BA
Tel: 0115 982 5981
21 The Rushes, Loughborough LE11 5BE
Tel: 01509 217014
12-14 Queensbridge Rd, Nottingham NG2 1NB
Tel: 0115 985 0611
VICTORIA HOTEL
WETMORE WHISTLE
WILLOWBROOK
e-mail: vichotel@btconnect.com
e-mail: wetmorewhistle@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: willowbrook@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
Dovecote Lane, Beeston, Nott’m NG9 1JG
Tel: 0115 925 4049
93 Wetmore Road, Burton on Trent, DE14 1SH
Tel: 01283 541064
13 Main Rd, Gedling, Nottingham NG4 3HQ
Tel: 0115 987 8596
Core Castle Rock Beers 3.8%
3.8%
3.4%
4.4%
4.7%
5.5%
Brewed to be a traditional A national award-winning A well balanced, awardA full-bodied premium bitter Blonde and beautiful single A national champion. Strong session ale with a malty bitter golden beer. American hops winning dark mild with some India Pale Ale. Lots of of typical East Midlands malt golden ale refreshing on the palate. taste. give a refreshingly crisp, bitterness. Full-bodied but everything so proceed with character. Perfect bittercitrus finish. caution. not overly sweet. sweet balance.
Next issue.... ‘The Great War - A Call to Arms’ JULY
16
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
JULY - SEPTEMBER
AUGUST
5.2%
Our Craft Keg beer A golden IPA, with all American hops and dry hopped again at the end with Chinook