Welcome Welcome to the latest Castle Rock Quarter magazine, a publication which we’re incredibly proud of. Thanks to the whole team who work tirelessly to hit the deadlines and bring it to you every quarter. So, it’s spring again and with the lighter nights now waxing we have lots to look forward to in the coming months! After the success of our 40th anniversary celebrations in the brewery yard last year, we’ve decided to make it a signature event. This year our yard party will be held on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th of May. You’ll find plenty more details on the next page, but needless to say you’ll find some great entertainment and some great beers to enjoy. Get the date in your diary, come along, and let’s celebrate the brewers’ art! I promise it will make for another fabulous occasion. Don’t leave it too long to arrange your tickets though, they are limited and (if last year is anything to go by) they’ll sell out quickly. On that note – we have more good news. We’re planning to arrange more seasonable, stand-alone events at the brewery to make the most of the space we have. Keep your eyes peeled for more information. I’d also like to use this introduction column to say congratulations to our Employee of the Year winners, voted for by their own colleagues. The awards were presented at our annual staff day held at the brewery in early January, when all our staff got to let their hair down after the high demands of the festive period. We have a long list of worthy winners who contribute greatly to Castle Rock, making your customer experience as enjoyable and rewarding as possible. Flick to page 9 to find out who won what. For 2018, we have several projects on the drawing board. It won’t be a whirlwind like last year, when we added three new pubs to the family, but more of a continued upgrade of the pubs we already have. Among which, you’ll see further improvements at the Stratford Haven, and we’ll be upgrading the facilities at the Vat and Fiddle by giving some TLC to our old cold store. This will make a good-sized space (with brewery charm) available for special events and private parties. If you want to challenge yourself and prove to others that you can in fact organise a *proverbial* in a brewery, then we’ll help you make it happen! I hope you enjoy our quarterly update and hope to see you in our pubs in the months to come. Thanks for your continued support and enthusiasm. Cheers
Colin Wilde Managing Director @SheriffTipple colin.wilde@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
Queensbridge Road, Nottingham NG2 1NB
Telephone: 0115 985 1615 www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk
General enquiries: admin@castlerockbrewery.co.uk Sales enquiries: lotte.sefton@castlerockbrewery.co.uk Recruitment: sarah.halpin@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
CRQ is edited by Liv Auckland and designed & produced by freerbutler limited • www.freerbutler-gds.co.uk
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Castle Rock Yard Party
THE YARD PARTY RETURNS
The tickets are flying out, the bands are getting booked, and the beer list is merrily taking shape. Put Friday 18th and Saturday 19th May in your diary already! In 2017, we threw a colossal party in our brewery yard to celebrate our 40th year. An expansion of the brewery warehouses a few years ago meant our former cold store sat empty, and we had gained a big ol’ yard of typical industrial fashion. It was a bit of an experiment to see how the space would work for a big event, and the Yard Party was by far the biggest event we’ve ever thrown. Over 1200 of you walked through our cold store shutters to enjoy over 100+ different beers, live music, street food and a Family Fun Day. It was overwhelming to see so many people take the time to join us in our celebrations, and we want to thank everyone who supported the event. The feedback from last year was so good that we promised to throw another Yard Party this year – and this time we have no reason aside from good old-fashioned fun. 2018’s offering is a little more condensed, but we’ve kept (or ramped up) the things that worked well. Those that joined us last year know that we laid on some fantastic beers, with Castle Rock’s Session IPA flying out, and firm favourites being found in Tiny Rebel’s Clwb
Here’s what you can expect:
l Live music, curated by Steph and Gaz at the Maze l 40 keg beers (20 at a time) from the UK, Europe and the US l Up to 20 cask beers, including classics and modern trailblazers l Two fantastic local street food offerings including Smoqued, part of the Nottingham Street Food Club l Fresh cobs and snacks from the Vat and Fiddle l Abbeydale Meet the Brewer & Tap Takeover at the Vat and Fiddle l Imperial cask beer at Castle Rock Brewery Visitors’ Centre l Bouncy castle, DJ and mascots for the kids on Saturday (12pm-4pm) l FREE brewery tours each day l and a few little surprises!
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Tropicana, Cloudwater’s NW DIPA Citra, and Founder’s Kentucky Breakfast Stout. There will be more fantastic craft brewers represented this year, including some rarities and some absolute no-brainers. Plus, there’ll be some brand-new Castle Rock 2.0 beers for you try. Carrying on the trend from last year, Castle Rock’s 2018 Yard Party will be a celebration of beer, brewing, music and food, and we really hope you can join us. Ticket releases are staggered with bigger savings the earlier you book. Entry for children is free, but make sure you add their ticket to your order to help us prepare! You can find all the information you’ll need, including live music announcements and beer lists, on our website and Facebook, so make sure you join the event. Not only will you get regular updates, but we’ll be asking you to help us curate the beer list! Grab your tickets and support the local and international brewing scene, local musicians and street food vendors, and help us make this a regular event and a vital date in any beer lover’s diary! See below and opposite for full details.
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Castle Rock Beers Nottinghamian
HELEN WATTS Nottinghamian Celebration Ale number 31 is brewed to celebrate the life of Helen Watts, a Nottingham-raised women’s activist and suffragette. We’ve had our eye on Helen Watts for the Nottinghamian Celebration Ales range for quite some time, and the centenary year seemed the perfect time to celebrate the life of this fascinating woman. February 6th 2018 marked 100 years since the Representation of the People Act, when the suffragettes pushed a bill through parliament that granted the first women the right to vote. The right was given to women over thirty, who held a degree from a British university, and met specific property requirements. Though it was another ten years before women were given the same voting rights as men, the success – albeit limited – was a seminal change in British history.
HELEN WATTS
4.2% ABV April 2018 - June 2018 See: Chestnut-brown Smell: Juniper berries, resinous, piney, citrus Taste: Subtle-sweet malt, delicate English berries, juniper berries Bitterness 2/5 Sweetness 2/5 Hops: Bramling Cross (UK), Northdown (UK)
arrests show the network of friendship which was the foundation of the activist group, and the support of the Watts family. She was reportedly met with a heroine’s welcome on her return to Nottingham following her London arrest, and went on to speak at meetings and events, raising debates on many issues including low wages and insurance and pension rights.
We always work hard to ensure that the beer brewed is reflective of the person we are celebrating. As fate would have it, Helen’s nephew Gerry was a brewer at Higson’s Though multiple forces were at play, the law change was Brewery in Liverpool, while her great-great-nephew Joseph fundamentally driven by the Suffrage Movement, and years is project manager for Wiper and True in Bristol. He drew of suffragists and suffragettes our attention to a fruitful suffragette “Votes for wo devoting their lives to the cause. which Helen took part in: m en will not act Helen Watts was one of those tree-planting at Eagle House, where be won by dra women. Not an especially famous wing-room activists went to recuperate and rest chatter…it ha name, but a woman on the imprisonment. In 1911, s got to be following ground, who used her privileges, Helen planted a juniper tree in the fought for in th resources and practical mind to grounds. She returned to Eagle House e demand change. in 1962, to pluck a sprig from the market-places , and same tree. Helen Kirkpatrick Watts moved to if we don’t fig ht for it, Nottingham in 1893, when her And so, with the help of Helen’s family, no one else w father became the Vicar of Holy we settled on a recipe: a juniper mild ill.” Trinity in Lenton. She joined the delicately hopped with English hops, Women’s Social and Political Union after hearing a speech giving berry-like notes against a subtle-sweet malt from Christabel Pankhurst and became a key figure in backdrop. The juniper berries come to the fore, giving a establishing the Nottingham branch. In 1909, Watts was resinous, pine-like character. imprisoned in Holloway following her involvement in a To create Helen’s pump clip, we reached out to Bath in demonstration outside the House of Commons. She declined Time, who hold the rights to the portrait featured. They the option to pay a fine to avoid imprisonment. Later that noted that requests for images of suffragettes had poured year, Watts was arrested in Leicester while attending a in this year, but ours was by far the strangest. We’ll take demonstration outside a meeting where Winston Churchill that... was due to speak. She refused to wear prison clothes and went on a hunger strike. Unlike many of her fellow activists, Keep your eye out for this special one-off brew, use your it is believed that she managed to avoid being force-fed. supping time to learn more about the life of Helen Watts, and remember the vigour and strength of those who gave In the 1980s, an abandoned trunk in Bristol was found, so much for our civil rights and democracy. containing the archives of Helen’s life. Letters from her
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Castle Rock Beers
BEERS OF SPRING Fool’s Gold
April 2018
2018 brought with it a brand new special for lovers of pale ale. Fool’s Gold is about showcasing two beautiful hop varieties: Citra and Idaho 7. Citra took over a decade of breeding and, arguably, no other hop has taken the modern brewing world quite like it. Idaho 7, with a sensory profile similar to that of Mosaic, has a high oil content that makes it ideal for dry hopping, where it can best deliver its complex character. Multiple dry hop charges of both gives front-end aromas of tropical fruit and peaches. Fool’s Gold is tasty and refreshing, with a pale malt backdrop, providing a great canvas for the fruity hops to come to the fore. It’s your last chance to try Fool’s Gold! But fear not, its spiritual successor will be out soon… ABV: 4.5% Appearance: Golden Aroma: Peach, mango, pine resin Taste: Tropical fruit flavours, subtle caramel malt Bitterness 4 | Sweetness 2
Brian Clough
Hemlock Bitter
April-May 2018
Spring brings with it the return of our beloved Hemlock Bitter. This full-flavoured traditional bitter is mid-brown in colour and perfect with a classic pub snack, like a pork pie. Brewed with two UK hop varieties, Fuggles and Goldings, Hemlock has a distinctive, traditional hop aroma and a dry, long finish. The artwork on the pump clip shows the Hemlock Stone in Stapleford Hill, Bramcote. This inselberg is an isolated pillar of 200-million-year-old New Red Sandstone, consisting of two stratified layers of different native bedrock laid down during the Triassic Period. The mushroom-like shape of the stone has been caused by a process called “differential erosion”, meaning the two layers have eroded away at different rates. See, you learn something new every day. ABV: 4.0% Appearance: Mid-brown Aroma: Distinctive traditional hop Taste: Dry, bitter, long aftertaste Bitterness 4 | Sweetness 2
May 2018
Originally brewed in 2015 as a Nottinghamian Celebration Ale, demand for Brian Clough was so high that we brought the beer back in 2016, and it’s been a seasonal favourite ever since. This pilsner-style pale ale is brewed with Czech Saaz, one of the original Noble hops, and German hop Tettnang, which brings a soft spiciness and a subtle floral and herbal aroma. Available from May, Clough is brewed in perfect time for the World Cup and ideally enjoyed in front of the big screen. Pair it with a beef or veggie burger for optimum enjoyment, or take some home and make your own beer batter. ABV: 4.2% Appearance: Plain gold Aroma: Floral, herby Taste: Clean, grainy, vanilla Bitterness 3 | Sweetness 2
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Castle Rock Beers
ELSIE MO A homage to the ATA women We kicked off 2018 with a re-badge of Elsie Mo, a golden ale brewed with Low Colour Maris Otter malt (LCMO). Castle Rock’s Liv Auckland explains more about the history which inspired the new image, and how the design process went. It was a really exciting moment to see the new Elsie Mo pump clip, proudly sitting on the bar for the first time. One of the things I love about Castle Rock is the determination to do good. What we do is simple and humble at its core. But we look outward. We are fascinated by the people who came before us, and by the people around us now who are making great changes for the future. You can see this in our work with the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, our friendship and fundraising with the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, and our Nottinghamian Celebration Ales which celebrate the spectacular sons and daughters of Nottingham. If you look closer, you can see it in our continued work to reduce our ecological footprint, in the Commemoration Collection range of beers which raises money for those facing warfare, and – now – in the pump clip for Elsie Mo. In many ways, re-designing beer artwork is a simpler process than starting from scratch. We knew we wanted to retain the colours which made the pump clip so instantly recognisable (that rich pinkish-red of the text on the silver-toned backdrop), the vintage war-inspired style of the artwork, and of course Elsie herself. But we wanted Elsie to be the one commanding the plane, and that drew our research towards the women pilots of the second world war. The women of the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) are unsung heroes in our history, heroes that some (it soon transpired) had never heard about before. Though not allowed into combat, the ATA women took to the skies in Spitfires, Lancasters and Hurricanes, to deliver battle-ready planes to the front lines. The act of flying a plane as a woman was already a daring one in society; even the RAF didn’t consider women physically or temperamentally capable to fly. It took two years before they were allowed in fighters, and another five before they could fly them to Europe. It was 1942 before a shortage of male pilots meant they were finally accepted by the pioneers. They were nicknamed the “Always Terrified Airwomen”. We should let that sink in, while we remember that their flights were made incognito, without radios, and at the mercy of the weather and enemy aircraft.
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It was photographs of these women which truly inspired the new Elsie Mo pump clip. They were captured checking over their planes, proudly standing beside them, climbing aboard, looking confident, steadfast, happy. We created a mood board, toyed with the composition, and struck gold when we saw a photograph of First Officer Maureen Dunlop sitting in the cockpit of a spitfire in 1944, giving a “thumbs up”. The composition was perfect for the shield-shape of our pump clips, allowing us to give Elsie and the plane equal importance. The simple hand gesture shows she’s ready to take to the skies. We were lucky enough to work with designer Nick Pettit, who brought our vision for Elsie to life. Nick is a brand specialist in the brewing industry and, as luck would have it, studied imagery and propaganda of the World Wars for his art school thesis. We were all very invested in the project, and I think the result shows that. There were a few areas where artistic license came into play, as is usually the case with artwork. The plane for example would have most likely been camo, but we didn’t want to lose that lovely silver colour I mentioned earlier. Instead, a couple of camo-coloured Spitfires can be seen flying in the background. A pilot’s hair would have been safely tucked away for flight, but some blonde tendrils can be seen escaping from the sides of Elsie’s aviator hat because it is, after all, a golden ale. It was an honour to learn more about the ATA during this process, and to see their bravery and resilience captured in Elsie. If you’d like to learn more about the ATA women, I’d recommend Giles Whittell’s book Spitfire Women of World War II. It’s a chunky novel-esque book which takes a close look at the colourful lives of these daring women and their skilful, resourceful work. Clear for take-off…
CASTLE ROCKIANS CELEBRATE On Monday 8th January, Castle Rock closed all managed pubs for a companywide staff day. Think belated Christmas party, NY celebration, awards ceremony and mini funfair, chucked together and bursting forth from a confetti machine… Thanks to the efforts of an amazing team, our cold store was decked out with a “help yourself” bar, a DJ booth and dance floor, a stage, giant inflatable twister, and a suggestions board for staff to air their concerns or share their ideas. Managing director Colin Wilde thanked the crowd of 250+ for their hard work, and an awards ceremony followed, presented by operations director Vicki Saxby. Employee of the Year awards were presented to a staff member from each pub and/or department, voted for by their peers. MD’s Merits were awarded to Helen Tidy, who has been working at Castle Rock’s head office for seventeen years, and Stratford Haven manager Tom Eccles. Tom also took home the Chris Holmes Award for manager of the year, as voted by his fellow pub managers. His double whammy came just two days after the birth of his first child, Ruairi, so it’s reasonable to say the crowd went a tad wild in celebration. (Ruairi is the latest in a long line of Castle Rockian babies – his mum Shannon works at the Canalhouse.)
Once any formalities were out the way, the party-goers spilled into the brewery yard for a lunch of pulled pork cobs and a mini funfair, featuring inflatable basketball and a Helter Skelter, a giant buzz wire, archery and a candy floss stand. The afternoon flew by in a flurry of games, with archery proving appropriately popular for the land of Robin Hood. In preparation for the party, staff members had been split into five teams. Points for each team could be collected throughout the day for hitting the bullseye, correctly guessing types of hops and malt, and taking a go at a Castle Rock themed quiz. Congrats to the silver team, headed up by brewery operations manager Jon Edger, who took 1st place. While the clean-up job the following morning was a long one, it was completely worth it. Thank you to our lovely customers for surviving a day without your Castle Rock local, and for all the messages of support and thanks. Here’s to the future, may it be filled with even more shenanigans!
Big congratulations to all the winners: Chris Holmes Award Tom Eccles, Stratford Haven MD’s Merit Helen Tidy, Head Office MD’s Merit Tom Eccles, Stratford Haven Employee of the Year awards Martin Palmer John McGuire Adam Hands Maude Green-Barwell Giles Cooke Kayleigh Palmer Danni Neil Ben Lutzuver Bethany Rendall Michael Purchase Darren Maffucci Warren Lindsay Leah Chaplin Connor March Christian Newman Edith Perry Molly Green-Barwell Jessica Smith Charlotte Bakewell
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Guest Writer
GENERATION EXPERIENCE: YOUNG PUB-GOERS Rosie Bateson, assistant manager of the Fox and Crown Pub and Bottle Shop, on welcoming younger generations of drinkers into the UK’s unique pub scene. My first legal drink was a strawberry daiquiri, a mere twenty minutes into my 18th birthday. It’s a far cry from the dry hopped pales, tangy sours, and rich porters and stouts that I enjoy these days! I have Castle Rock to thank for my beer drinking preferences, as well as my position as a resolute pub-goer, as these habits have been cemented during my time with the company. I pulled my first pint of real ale at the Fox and Crown while I was studying for my A-Levels. Seven years on and I’ve never lost my passion for pubs. In fact, I’ve spent countless hours of the last decade in them, and a good many of those were as one of the youngest patrons in the pub.
One of the greatest aspects of a pub is the way that it brings people of all ages and backgrounds together in a comfortable environment. Pubs are a social hub for all adults – from students enjoying a pint after classes to retirees having a morning coffee mulling over the newspaper – and this must be utilised. Today’s young generation of pub-shunners are unlikely to wake up in their fifties and decide to embrace pubs after decades of life without them. Unless we can bridge this gap, there may no longer be a thriving pub culture for them to integrate to.
Although the media is fond of portraying young Brits as binge drinkers, the new reality is that more than a quarter of 16-24-year-olds are in fact teetotal. Those that do choose to drink are far more likely to do so at home, with just 52% of alcohol sold “on-trade”. Most young punters that I know seem to have fallen in love with pub culture the same way I did: it started behind the bar. This is in stark contrast to the “first pint” stories I hear fondly remembered by older drinkers, which mostly begin with their Dad taking them down the local.
However, the positive news is that we may well be on the brink of a young drinker’s revival of sorts, in the form of the ongoing craft beer revolution. Today’s young drinkers have grown up in a world of 24-hour supermarkets with 24-hour licenses, complete with 24 pack crates of lager for £10. Millennials are becoming well known as “generation experience”, so if we want them to spend their money on beer, it’s important to offer them something which cannot be created at home.
Of course I support that underage drinking is no longer tolerated. However, once a person turns 18 they should be welcomed into the pub and valued as much as any other drinker. All too often, under-25s are asked to hand over ID before they have even been greeted properly. Worse still, they can then be subjected to unwelcome assumptions over their drink of choice. From personal experience as a young (and female) drinker, I have often been typecast as someone who wouldn’t choose to drink ale, or that the only pub I would frequent would be a fast-paced venue with more focus on offers than flavours. Of course, I have spent time and money in bars and pubs that fit that description, however I and many others my age have found that we want and expect more from an evening out. I don’t believe for a moment that traditional pubs have nothing to offer young people, just that it’s getting harder and harder to entice them inside in the first place…unless they have been hired! Most pub regulars may be older (1 in 5 over 55s visit the pub at least weekly), but the reality is that this won’t continue on its own.
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Castle Rock has played a part in paving the way for these new drinkers, with increasingly experimental brews over the last few years, from the Traffic St Special’s 10% Little Bitch right through to the forthcoming beers from the 2.0 range. These are the beers which will hopefully see our pubs fill with a wave of fresh-faced drinkers. Let’s start to “Think 25” in a whole new way, to welcome another generation of drinkers into the UK’s unique pub culture.
Goings On
BARLEY TWIST OPENS When we wrote the last Castle Rock Quarter, work was underway in the Barley Twist. A few months on and our wine cellar and craft beer bar is open and trading. Located near the train station and in the heart of the Broadmarsh gateway into the city, the Barley Twist is just a hop, skip and a jump away from the Canalhouse and a short stroll from the brewery and Vat and Fiddle. The former sweet shop caught our eye quite a while back, with a hopeful article even appearing in the spring edition of the Quarter last year. We set our hearts on opening a micro-pub-meets-shop, inspired by Nottingham City Council’s plans to regenerate the area. So, stripped back and kitted out, the Barley Twist was re-born. First and foremost, the Barley Twist is about quality product. Manager Yvette Marshall says the beer range is focussed on celebrating local and national breweries, with emphasis on the best craft beers from around Britain. You can take your pick from three fridges of bottles and cans, a 10-line keg wall, and a rotating cask hand-pull featuring Castle Rock’s latest creation. If you’re visiting for the vine, the exquisite wine list features over 75 wines from all over the world. You’ll also find premium spirits, soft drinks, locally roasted coffee and a range of speciality teas on the menu. As well as being a great stop-off for a drink, the full range of Castle Rock merchandise is available to buy at the Barley Twist, from gin-flavoured sticks of rock to embroidered t-shirts. Cans and bottles are also discounted by 30% if you’d like to take some away. Other offers include a wine of the month for £9.95, and “Wine Down” with 10% off carafes between 4-8pm. On the ground floor of the Barley Twist, you’ll find a one-room bar featuring original brick work walls, high ceilings and seating. Head down the new staircase to find a large cellar, stripped back to black and red brick, with atmospheric lighting. It’s the perfect hideout from the bustle of Carrington Street. The building itself (Portland Hotel) was a temperance house, built by the Hicking family who were wine merchants by trade. Restored as part of the Carrington Street Heritage Scheme, we have worked to uncover and restore the site’s Edwardian features, including returning the shop front to its original layout. If you haven’t done yet, pop by to meet Yvette and the team, and be sure to keep an eye on special events in the secret wine cellar…
BREAKTHROUGHS FOR JOHN VAN GEEST RESEARCH CENTRE We’ve been supporting the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre since 2015. Towards the end of 2017, the centre has had two major breakthroughs, one for prostate cancer and the other for breast cancer. John van Geest, in conjunction with University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust, has developed a blood test that could reduce the number of prostate biopsies by 70%. Breast cancer patients can also be spared unnecessary treatments as a protein discovered can indicate whether a patient will react well to a certain treatment or not. We encourage you all to check out John van Geest and see how you can help them Crack the Cancer Code.
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The Goings On NOTTINGHAM TRENT STUDENTS TEACH US A LESSON
KIMBERLEY CRICKET CLUB BOWLED OVER BY EXTENDED SPONSORSHIP Our portfolio of local businesses and events that we sponsor is ever increasing. Ranging from Carlton Town Football Club to the Nottingham Comedy Festival, we always do whatever we can to help. As part of this continued support for the community around us, we are pleased to announce that our sponsorship of Kimberley Cricket Club has continued, and we’re delighted to be sponsoring them, once again, for the 2018 season. If you find yourself in and around Kimberley, be sure to check out the Cricketers Rest on Chapel Street.
Over 75 Students from Nottingham Trent University have produced a series of reports for each of the managed Castle Rock pubs. The project was overseen by NTU’s Ella McManus and Castle Rock’s Pete McWilliam, who said the work produced by the students was ‘fantastic’ with a great number of innovative suggestions that could be implemented throughout the business. ‘We thoroughly enjoy working with the students at the university and help develop each of them towards their professional careers,’ Pete added. Pictured above: Jordan Lack presents his project.
PUB AWARDS GALORE
IRREPLACEABLE LANDLADY RIDES OFF INTO THE SUNSET Karen, the former landlady at the Stag Inn in Kimberley, is set to retire after over 35 years in the industry. Having run the pub for 24 of those years, Karen has been a stockist of Castle Rock beers for countless years and we’re sad to see her leave. We wish her all the best in her retirement and hope you’ll raise a glass as a thank you for her work in this wonderful industry.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
We’re super proud to announce three whopping great awards for three great pubs. The Horse and Plough has been named Nottingham Branch Pub of the Year in the Belvoir CAMRA, the Canalhouse was honoured with an award for the best bar for beer in Nottingham from RateBeer, and the Fox and Crown took home the award of Newark CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year. Huge congratulations to you all of you for your hard work and major talents.
WE’RE OFF TO THE RACES Castle Rock is pleased to announce that we have partnered with Nottingham Racecourse to provide our delicious beer at several events throughout the year. This includes the ‘Castle Rock Brewery Beer Festival Raceday’ on Friday 11th May. Here you’ll find a huge marque fully stocked with all beer you could dream of. There’s plenty more planned throughout the year so watch this space for all the updates. A trip to the races is definitely in order.
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Back in January we launched Nottinghamian number 30, Dennis McCarthy, a London-style coffee porter. During the early stages of the brewing process, we had a visit from Dennis' children Tara and Owen ‘Digger’ McCarthy. They were on hand to learn more about the brewing process, and to help with the addition of a key ingredient: Colombian coffee beans! Pictured above are Tara McCarthy, Owen ‘Digger’ McCarthy and Castle Rock’s Dan Mason.
Castle Rock On Tour
Beavering down to Tottenham Hale Being a brewery and a pub group puts us in a unique position, where we have the opportunity to support other breweries and see how they develop and progress in the modern beer market. Lewis Townsend writes Anyone who has followed Castle Rock over the years knows that we enjoy showcasing new and old breweries from near and far. We’re lucky to have very proactive people in our pubs, who are always on the lookout for exciting beers and breweries. When Beavertown first became available, our folk were quick to jump on it and put the beer on the bar. Fast forward to now, and Beavertown has made great leaps in this wonderful industry. At Castle Rock, we’re trying to bridge the gap between the traditional and the modern, and at the moment we’re putting a lot of resource, thought and effort into developing beers using modern techniques. Recently, we were offered the opportunity to visit Beavertown’s brewery in Tottenham Hale, and we of course jumped at the chance to check out how they do things, particularly from a brewing perspective. Bright and early on a Wednesday morning, we assembled. Our group consisted of four brewers (Adrian, Dan G, Dan M and Matt), head chef (Leah), managing director (Colin), operations director (Vicki), BDM (Pete), pub manager (Wayne), member of pub staff (Giles), and head of marketing (Lewis). Together we made the journey from Notts to North London. We were shown around Beavertown’s 30bbl brewhouse, which was lined with fermenters. We saw their
centrifuge (which was just finishing its cycle), and visited their souring and ageing plant (their “Tempus” project). Then, while peering through the window into the brewery and pointing at things all afternoon like a band of beer geeks, we sampled their beers and chatted to one of the brewers and other members of Beavertown’s staff about their brewery, beer, the industry and their potential plans for the future. After a visit to a pub or two, we made our way back to Nottingham. We all knew we’d learn a few things to bring back with us, and we did. Being critical and being open to developments in technology are at the forefront of approaching modern brewing, and this is underpinned by a desire to improve every time. Perhaps most importantly, modern brewing is about having a good time and enjoying the process of producing new, idiosyncratic beers. It was affirming that although Castle Rock and Beavertown likely differ on a number of things, there are also multiple crossovers. Most significantly: everything comes down to the product. We have great respect for what Beavertown has achieved with their quality beers, and – with concurrent expansions (and another one in the pipeline) – it’s clear that beer drinkers in the UK do, too. They’ve also nailed it with their branding – surely some of the most recognisable beer branding in the modern UK brewing scene. So, we thank taproom and hospitality manager Harry and brewer Ollie for showing us around and letting us chew their ears off about all things beer. At Castle Rock, now more than ever, we are proud to be part of this beer revival in the UK which has seen some great breweries emerge. We’re proud to able to showcase these breweries in our pubs, and equally proud to be experimenting and innovating in this modern scene. It’s high on our agenda to bring some new, fresh and interesting beers to the table and we’ve already invested in equipment that’ll allow us to really ramp up our hopping and fruit additions. It’ll take time to get some experimenting done with it but watch this space as we continue our journey.
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Castle Rock Pubs in Focus
CANALHOUSE It’s been nearly four years since we last put the Canalhouse in focus for the Castle Rock Quarter. Suffice to say a lot has changed since then, including a new manager, two bar extensions, and a “Best Bar for Beer in Nottinghamshire” award from ratebeer.com The Canalhouse is one of Nottingham’s most beloved pubs: integral to the local craft beer scene, situated on the canal-side with a big beer garden for sunny days, and featuring an internal canal basin which – after thirteen years in the Castle Rock family – people still can’t get over (figuratively). 2017 saw the pub come under the wing of a new manager, receive a Trip Advisor certificate of excellence, and take home the coveted “Best Bar for Beer in Nottinghamshire” award from ratebeer.com. Time to catch up with manager Wayne Harvey, a familiar name for readers of the CRQ for his beer expertise. Hi Wayne. Can you describe the Canalhouse for our readers who’ve never been? It’s a characterful Grade II listed pub on the canal-side. We’re a destination venue with a big beer offering, and we focus on premium products across the board. How did it all begin for you at Castle Rock? I graduated from Nottingham Trent in 2011 and got hired at the Canalhouse as bar staff. A few months later, I was trained up as a supervisor and the role developed to include beer buying for Castle Rock’s Discover World Beers initiative. I moved up to assistant manager a while later, then deputy, now manager. Tell our readers more about the beer buying. That’s a dreamy job title to have. Being a manager of the Canalhouse and beer buying go hand-in-hand. It’s about trying to stay ahead of the curve, trying to find new suppliers in the changing beer market. We extended the bar twice to house more fridges of bottles and cans – we’ve got four full-height fridges now. We’ve got the beers that everyone knows and loves and we’re also working to bring in beer from breweries that are setting the tone for modern UK brewing. The range is changing all the time as more breweries pop up and more imports come available. We’re bringing in more sour and wild beer - from modern UK breweries like Burning Sky to traditional Belgian Lambic beers, like Drie Fonteinen and Hanssens. We offer 33% off takeaway beer too, so more and more people are coming in to stock up on bottles and cans for home. What do you predict will be the next style with a resurgence? I think there will be a trend for low ABV
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beers, non-alcoholic beers, and gluten free beers. The emphasis will be on making craft beer accessible to everybody. If you could only drink one beer for the rest of your life, what would it be? [A few minutes later] The Kernel Export Stout London 1890. There are no frills to it, it’s not a beer that people hype up. It’s just really good, well-made beer. Thanks for answering that question Wayne, it can’t have been easy. Let’s turn back to the Canalhouse. You’ve just brought out your new menu. What can people expect? We’re a big pub and we’re packed in summertime, so we want to offer people as much variety as we can. New on the menu are a few pleasant surprises: Gyozas which are crispy Asian dumplings, a Mac and Cheese burger, and cinnamon waffles served with maple syrup and white chocolate ice-cream. Everyone shouts about the canal basin and the beer. What else is there at the Canalhouse that people might not know about? We’ve got a really great function room that is very popular. It’s a big rustic space which is hired out for all sorts, from weddings to performing arts shows. It has a private bar and toilets, sound system…everything you need. We’re happy to show people around and talk them through everything we can offer, just give us a ring and we’ll book it in. What about your calendar? What’s big for you guys this year? Nottingham Craft Beer Week is coming up [9th-16th June] which is always packed with events, talks and tap takeovers. Waterfront Festival is back [18th August]. It’s really popular and definitely the biggest day in our calendar. And summer in general. We have to prepare ourselves for that… Thanks Wayne. The Canalhouse regularly holds tap takeovers and meet the brewer nights, featuring some of the best breweries in the UK and beyond. Be sure to follow Wayne and the team on social media to stay in the loop. Twitter: @canalhousebar Instagram: @canalhousebar Facebook: Canalhouse Bar
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Discover World Beers
Advertorial
DUVEL ON TAP The Duvel team explain what makes Duvel on Tap so special…
The original and still the reference among Belgian Golden Strong Ales, Duvel was first brewed nearly 100 years ago. Described by a local shoemaker as “a real devil” (or “Duvel” in Flemish), when he was caught off guard by the beer’s deceptive strength, the name stuck and Duvel has been surprising and delighting beer drinkers ever since. Duvel’s distinct flavour derives from its 90-day brewing process that is unique worldwide. After brewing, the beer re-ferments in the bottle, spending two weeks at warm temperatures, followed by a six week conditioning period at cool temperatures. Patience is key, as this extended maturation contributes to Duvel’s refined flavour and pure taste. It also contributes to Duvel’s above-average carbonation levels, a characteristic the beer has come to be known for. The high carbonation gives Duvel a beautiful roundness in the mouth, keeps the body light (despite Duvel’s strength), and gives Duvel its iconic look – a rich white head with fine bubbles. The only downside? It made Duvel impossible to serve on draught. The high carbonation on a normal draught dispense system would have left customers with a glass full of foam. So, bottles it was. While Duvel has earned its place in the fridges of many quality pubs, bars, and restaurants, 9 of every 10 beers sold here in the UK are served on draught, so we wanted to give Duvel it’s chance to be on the front of the bar. Our master brewer, Olav Blancquert, developed a unique dispense technique system just for Duvel that accomodates its high carbonation – finally enabling us to serve Duvel on Tap.
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As you may imagine, a good deal of technical precision is required to ensure the perfect serve with a brand new draught dispense technique, so we knew we could only put this beer in trusted hands. Who did we turn to? None other than the bar that led the way for world beers in Nottingham – the Canalhouse. As the first site in the UK, the Canalhouse has been pouring Duvel on Tap since the beginning of February. General manager, Wayne Harvey shared his excitement about the install early on. ‘We’ve had bottles of Duvel in the fridges here since well before my time and I started nearly seven years ago. I’d asked in the past about serving bottled Duvel on draught and was told then it just wasn’t possible. Having that context, it felt like quite a big deal when we were approached about Duvel on Tap. We had to say yes.’ Staff and customers have been pleased, as well. Canalhouse customers who have tried Duvel on Tap have reported they find it a touch sweeter than bottled Duvel, making it even more enjoyable. Come re-discover Duvel in the home of world beer discovery, the Canalhouse.
Real Cider
SPRING CIDER PICKS
For this edition, cider guru Rachel Hopwell has selected three of her top picks for cider drinkers this spring, paired with delicious dishes from our pubs for optimum drinking and dining pleasure! Westons Rosie’s Pig - Raspberry Roller 4% Rosie’s Pig was one of the first delivery trucks Westons Cider ever owned. ‘A pig to start, and a pig to drive’ was how the saying went. Rosie’s Pig still lives in the yard next to Old Rosie, the steam roller, and is the name given to Westons refreshing, flavoured and easy drinking cloudy ciders. A lovely delicate pinky colour, this cider has a wellbalanced flavour of apples and raspberries with just a hint of cucumber. It also has a lovely fresh aroma to it. Pair it with cheese! There’s nothing like the taste of a decent cheese and apples. Why not get yourself over to the Fox & Grapes in Sneinton Market and order yourself a baked Camembert, served with warm bread rolls and apple. If you’re near Newark, the Fox and Crown Pub and Bottle Shop also serves up a baked Camembert, served with ciabatta bread, caramelised onions and Branston pickle – yum!
Sheppy’s - Farmhouse Draught Cider (Dry) 6% Sheppy’s Cider has been at Bradford-on-Tone since the family moved there in 1917. The name and location have been a fixed point in the lives of local people ever since. Sheppy’s pride themselves on fermenting their ciders using the naturally occurring wild yeast from the apples and maturing some of them in oak vats – many of which have been in the family for almost 100 years.
David Sheppy’s skills have developed over a number of years and he has mastered the art of blending desert apples with different cider varieties. Farmhouse Draught is a thirst-quenching blend of traditional cider and dessert apples, with a light, crisp and refreshing taste. Cider at its finest, made from a variety of home grown apples fermented in wood. Pair Sheppy’s Farmhouse Draught with a pub classic: Fish and Chips. Many of our pubs serve up Fish and Chips - on their specials board if not their main menu. The refreshing acidity of the Farmhouse Draught will help to cleanse the palate when eating fried fish.
Millwhites - Apples & Pears 5% Millwhites in Hertfordshire has created a pretty easydrinking, enjoyable cider with Apples & Pears. The fruit comes through and is very prominent in this golden tipple. The taste starts sweet and turns into a more tart and acidic bite, before the pear takes over. Pair it with pizza! Cider and pizza are both essentially quite simple: cider is basically made from one ingredient (apples) and pizza, at its core, is just sauce, dough, and cheese. Both aim to balance richness and lightness to make for an enjoyable mouthful. The balance is delicate, so you don't have much of a margin of error when you bring them together. Pizzas are available at the Bread and Bitter, the Embankment, the Fox & Grapes, Fox and Crown Pub and Bottle Shop, the Horse and Plough, the Poppy and Pint, the Swan in the Rushes, and the Willowbrook.
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Opinion
CAMRA National Executive It’s timely for Castle Rock to throw its hat into the ring on the discussions of CAMRA, its planned “revitalisation” and the National Executive shake-up, and the changes in the beer industry. Colin Wilde and Lewis Townsend write. Those who have been following Castle Rock through the years will know that our roots are deeply entrenched within CAMRA. When Chris Holmes formed Castle Rock (as “Tynemill”) in 1977, and opened the Old King’s Arms in Newark, he was already National CAMRA Chairman. Many of the issues Chris identified were aligned with the reasons CAMRA was set up, in response to the state of the industry. As many of our customers and readers will know, the beer scene in the 1970s was fairly joyless. The industry was dominated by a small amount of vertically integrated brewers, which severely restricted choice. The captive market meant that pubs were primarily owned and tied to large breweries, which were locking these pubs in with mass-produced, low-quality, boring keg beers, and low-quality but expensive lagers. On the fringes of this gloomy landscape was an uprising of individuals who were concerned about the future of cask, and the future of the industry. Their aim was to preserve a traditional, long-standing form of dispense in cask conditioned beer, and to fight back against bland, mass-produced beer. Furthermore, they wanted to encourage pubs to serve cask and customers to drink it. They achieved this by helping to educate the industry, and campaigning for new legislation. This idea became concrete. It became CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. Over the following years and decades, various shifts took place in the industry that saw the monopolistic brewers begin to lose their power to the pubco. We saw cask ale (or real ale, as coined by CAMRA at its inception) increase in popularity. Choice and quality increased. Campaigns ran to give brewers and consumers a fairer deal. Competitions were introduced, encouraging brewers to step up. Eventually, years of brewery consolidation was overturned in the noughties, when the number of breweries started to rapidly increase. The UK now has over 2,000 breweries – the most we’ve had since the 30s. The industry can’t deny that thanks to CAMRA’s campaigning and passion, the beer landscape is a lot better today. We’re proud to have our roots in such an organisation. So, why are CAMRA taking a hard look at
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themselves via the revitalisation project? CAMRA has been on the receiving end of a barrage of criticism from a changing industry. To name a few: an ageing membership and lack of appeal to young people, old fashioned attitudes towards beer, refusing to nationally support independent brewers of non-cask ale, and a membership base that is decreasingly active and increasingly focusses on getting discounts. In 2017, the Great British Beer Festival was accused of stagnating, and came under the most criticism it has in many years. Those who have followed the revitalisation project will know it’s been fraught with uncertainty, unreliability and, really, has been quite disorganised. The big questions are: Where does CAMRA go now? Where does it take its campaigning efforts? Does it re-define itself to support and encourage products beyond real ale, like good quality keg beer? But first, we must answer another question: Has CAMRA’s job been done? We don’t think so, and we think that CAMRA can mobilise and direct their efforts on creating more change. Detailed on the opposite page are some things we’d like them to focus on. It is going to be difficult to get all members on board with supporting and embracing craft beer in keg. For some members, the very idea seems too far removed from the original concept of CAMRA. However, if you take CAMRA’s inception as – in part – a response to boring and mass-produced beer, then there are clear parallels with the keg/craft revolution today. For CAMRA to get behind the keg market, it’s important for members to understand the benefits of keg dispense in today’s context. Get to know the brewers using those techniques. Get to understand the associated costings and how a thriving independent craft beer industry – in both forms of dispense – can be great news for all of us. It’s not about CAMRA belatedly charging in to steer the craft beer ship, it’s about championing the journey. With the national executive shake-up (including a solid, logical and passionate application by Brad from Tiny Rebel), as well as the revitalisation, things look uncertain as they stand. But this industry still needs passionate campaigners and advocates. Above all else, there’s still loads of work to be done!
Here are the areas we think CAMRA should focus on: l Continue to develop and increase knowledge of brewing and its process, as well as cellar skills. The result being that CAMRA can help increase the quality of cask ale served in pubs which remains variable. l Overturn the unfair, unviable price pressure on cask beer that is not only causing financial strain to small and medium-sized brewers but resulted in some brewers ceasing cask production. If this pressure remains, innovation in cask will not occur. Overturn this by putting pressure on large pubcos and wholesalers and helping to educate pubs and consumers. Liaise with brewers to encourage a mutual transparency. l Continue to campaign to overturn unfair duty differentials. Small brewers’ relief is fantastic, but the duty on medium-sized brewers is a threat and provides no incentive for expansion. (We’ve seen several brewers downsize as a direct result of this – so in this case, beer duty is not stimulating a healthy brewing economy.) l Re-assess the “young members” section of CAMRA, which divides the campaign and could be seen as patronising to young people. Age-related discounts up to
the age of 25 would still be appropriate, but these members must be recognised as the future of the organisation. l Accept that high mark ups on lager prices and mass lager drinking subsidised the cost of real ale for a long time. However, young drinkers are being converted (partly down to CAMRA’s own successes) and sales of “Big Lager” are no longer big enough to allow such flexibility on the price of ale. l And here’s a thought: call for age 25 and over CAMRA members to pay a premium instead of pursuing discounts and vouchers. Members volunteering to pay 20p more for a pint if the beer is good (costing them an extra 80p on an average night out) would be directly supporting the “Great British Pub” and the quality brewing industry. In turn, pubs would be able to invest much more in people, premises and processes, and pubs could commit to better service. After all, compared to a footie match or a trip to the cinema, or even a monthly SKY TV subscription, a trip to the pub is still a very cost-effective night out indeed. If cask ale is to be recognised as the “Pinnacle of the Brewers’ Art” it needs to be worth investing back into.
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Wo/Man’s Best Friend
Meet our Castle Rock dogs! Our favourite four-legged friends are back again in this edition of the Castle Rock Quarter. We'd like to introduce you to the latest pooch star and her owners, Ben and Sarah, who usually follow behind with pork scratchings at the ready. We met for a chat at the Stratford Haven, where Janet chilled out on Sarah’s lap for the duration of our visit.
Name: Janet Breed: Basset Hound Age: 6 Favourite Drink of Choice: [Sarah] Ben is a religious Harvest Pale drinker, which I enjoy as well. However, someone has to chauffeur Janet about in the car, so a soft drink will do nicely. Castle Rock local: [Ben] We visit the Stratford Haven regularly, with Janet too of course. We love that it’s dog-friendly and the atmosphere is really relaxed. Janet I taught some of the staff at school, and they’re always welcoming and make our trips even better. Plus, the food is delicious. Tell us about your pub dog: With a packet of pork scratchings from behind the bar Janet is pretty content to sit and enjoy her time at the pub. All the extra fuss, cuddles and attention is just an added bonus, and believe us she gets a lot of them! Janet is such a fan that if she walks anywhere nearby we often get dragged towards the Strat. Only occasionally do we have to put our foot down.
Remember to share pictures of your Castle Rock pooch using #CastleRockDogs Thank you so much to everyone who got in touch about Wo/Man’s Best Friend! The response was so overwhelming that this is the fourth edition of the Castle Rock Quarter to feature our four-legged friends! If you’d like to tell us more about you, your dog and your Castle Rock local, drop an email with some photos to admin@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
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Dear customer, Nobody likes to leave their dog at home, especially when a cosy pub with pats and cuddles aplenty awaits. We love being a dog-friendly pub group. We even have a pub dog, Harvey, who is the star of the show over at the Golden Eagle in Lincoln. That said, we wanted to reach out to our dog-owning customers to request that a few rules are followed. l Make sure your dog is clean, smelling fresh and well-behaved l Check with bar staff about which areas of the pub are dog-friendly l Don’t allow your dog to sit on any furniture, or paw the tables l Ensure your dog is kept on a lead, and that the lead isn’t a trip hazard l Be aware of other punters and of staff – keep walkways, entrances and exits clear l Take your dog for regular bathroom breaks. If they’re a wee pup, we ask that you bring training pads with you or sit outside in our lovely beer gardens Please note that these rules are not only for the safety and happiness of our staff and your fellow punters, but for the safety of your beloved dogs. Thank you.
Upcoming Events
WHAT’S ON FOR SPRING Check out what’s happening in our pubs from April to June and get into the flow of 2018. Full listings can be found at www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/event
April MAKERS MARKET AND AFTERNOON TEA Sunday 15th April 11am – 3pm, free @ Embankment Celebrating all things local, the Embankment is showcasing numerous independent craft businesses. Held upstairs in the Trent Room, there will be plenty of variety on show ranging from jewellery makers to artists. The Embankment team will also be highlighting their brand-new afternoon tea menu and of course there will be fizz on arrival.
ST. GEORGE’S DAY Monday 23rd April @ Golden Eagle | Poppy and Pint We’re celebrating St. George’s Day with a number of special beers on the bar at the Golden Eagle. At the Poppy and Pint, the team is upping the number of English real ales on the bar, served alongside some classic English food dishes. Check out the specials board to see what’s being cooked up. The Rook & Gaskill, as part of their 200th birthday (!) celebrations, are hosting a Nottingham tap takeover with Castle Rock, Black Iris and Totally Brewed taking over the taps.
May FRESH OUT OF THE OVEN Friday 4th May (and Friday 1st June) 10pm-midnight @ Yarn Fresh to Nottingham’s spoken word scene is Fresh Out of the Oven – a hip hop, spoken word, open mic night with DJ sets. Hosted by MC Juga Naut and DJ Dan Rattomatic, Fresh Out of the Oven brings the storytelling of the streets to Yarn, nestled in the creative hub of the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall. If you can’t make the first one, fear not – it’s a regular thing.
AMERICAN CRAFT BEER WEEK
THE STRAT TURNS 19
Monday 14th – Sunday 20th May @ Canalhouse | The Embankment The Fox and Crown Pub and Bottle Shop | Fox & Grapes | Horse and Plough |The Lincolnshire Poacher Stratford Haven | The Swan in the Rushes American Craft Beer Week returns once again to your Castle Rock local. Back for its 13th year, a once small event has turned into a big one, and we’re proud to be part of it! Plenty of your favourite beers once had a limited availability and thanks to events like this, the great beer from across the pond keeps on coming! The Canalhouse, a haven for world beer, is featuring US beers on tap all week long, as are the Fox & Grapes, Lincolnshire Poacher and the Strat. The Fox and Crown and the Embankment are offering American beer and food specials all week, and the Horse and Plough has a whopping 20% off all American craft beer. Finally, the Swan has daily discounts on a variety of breweries. Y’all better be ready for this!
Friday 18th May @ Stratford Haven The Stratford Haven turns 19 this year. Like most 19-year-olds, the Strat is celebrating with beer, and lots of it! They’ll be hosting a Castle Rock tap takeover and hope you’ll join them to celebrate. You’re also more than welcome to bring the staff cake…so we’ve been told?!
VEGETARIAN STREET FOOD MARKET Friday 11th and Saturday 12th May @ Vat and Fiddle The Vat and Fiddle kicks off veggie week with a Vegetarian Street Food Market in the old cold store, featuring five food stalls and a pop-up bar. Plus, there will be increased veggie and vegan dishes in the pub. The perfect chance to try an exciting range of food, washed down with a drink or two.
NATIONAL VEGETARIAN WEEK Monday 14th – Sunday 20th May @ Bread and Bitter | Kean’s Head Poppy and Pint | Stratford Haven Vat and Fiddle | Willowbrook Throughout veggie week, all the above pubs will have an extended range of vegetarian and vegan options. You’ll find two starters and four mains at the Kean’s Head, a specially created vegetarian menu at the Willowbrook, and plenty of extra veggie specials at the Bread, the Poppy and the Vat.
CASTLE ROCK YARD PARTY Friday 18th and Saturday 19th May @ Castle Rock Brewery Flip back to page 4 if you haven’t already read it. Tickets are available at gigantic.com and selling fast, so make sure you don’t miss out!
HAMBURGER DAY Monday 28th May @ Bread and Bitter | Canalhouse Kean’s Head To celebrate the mighty burger, the Bread is creating a spectacular ‘Bread and Bitter Burger’ for the specials board. The Kean’s Head is offering more than eight different burgers, with toppings ranging from simple cheese to Mexican, to blue cheese and buffalo sauce. Finally, buy any burger at the Canalhouse and a drink is included – T&Cs apply.
June NATIONAL FISH AND CHIP DAY Friday 1st June @ Fox and Crown Pub and Bottle Shop Kean’s Head | Poppy and Pint Stratford Haven | Willowbrook | Yarn Is there anything more British than fish and chips? Well, on National Fish and Chips day head down to your Castle Rock local to celebrate. There’s plenty of choice at the Kean’s Head with a special menu, two meals for £15 at the Willowbrook, and posh fish and chips at the Strat. Over at the Fox and Crown, you can tuck into a special fish dish with a drink, for just £7.95 – T&Cs apply, and at Yarn, a whole host of mouth-watering fish dishes have been specially created and are available to eat in or take away.
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June GET WELL SOON Thursday 7th June 7:30pm @ Poppy and Pint Touring theatre group Mikron are back in Nottingham and bringing their superb new show to the Poppy: Get Well Soon. All is not well at St Monica’s Hospital…they’re on life support, facing bugs, bed-blockers and a battle to save A&E. With tunes, transfusions and titters, join Mikron as they make a surgical strike on the state of our NHS. A cash collection takes place at the end of the show.
THE POACHER TURNS 29 Friday 8th – Sunday 10th June @ Lincolnshire Poacher The Poacher opened in 1989, making it older than some of the staff who keep it running day after day! To celebrate the Poacher’s 29th birthday, there will be a weekend of celebrations held in the pub. You, as our loyal patrons, can vote for the beers you’d like to see available over the weekend. On Sunday 10th June, there will be live music, £1 off all Castle Rock beers and plenty of free cake on the bar. Because really, what’s a birthday without cake?
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NOTTINGHAM CRAFT BEER WEEK
FIFA WORLD CUP
Saturday 9th – Saturday 16th June Nottingham Craft Beer Week is back again and this year it is bigger and better than ever. We’re just ironing out the details, but we have some guests from the industry and some fantastic events planned across a number of Castle Rock pubs in Nottingham. Make sure you keep up-to-date on our website for the full list of events taking place.
Thursday 14th June – Sunday 15th July @ Bread and Bitter | Golden Eagle Poppy and Pint | Stratford Haven Swan in the Rushes | Willowbrook It’s that time again, where we all come together in faith and hope that this might be THE year! Then we crash back to reality and England lose on penalties in the quarter-finals. No matter how well England perform, you’ll be able to catch all the games shown live at the pubs above. The Willowbrook is offering 4-pint pitchers for £11, there’s a sweepstake at the Stratford Haven (just don’t draw, England) and food available at the Bread and Golden Eagle during the matches. C’mon England!
WORLD GIN DAY Saturday 9th June @ Canalhouse | Cricketers Rest The Embankment | Fox & Grapes Kean’s Head | Lincolnshire Poacher Poppy and Pint | Swan in the Rushes Vat and Fiddle | Willowbrook In the UK, we bought 47 million bottles of gin last year. It’s official: we are a nation that loves gin! You’ll be able to get special gin cocktails at the Canalhouse, £1 off gin at the Willowbrook, and 10% off gins at the Cricketers Rest. The Vat and Fiddle, Lincolnshire Poacher and Swan in the Rushes will be offering free tonic for any gin purchased, and the Fox & Grapes is hosting a special gin tasting evening with a local distiller from Redsmith Distillery. The Embankment team love gin so much, they’ve extended their offers for a week, bringing you a gin and tonic of the day for just £4. That 47 million might increase this year…
FATHER’S DAY Sunday 17th June @ Barley Twist | Bread and Bitter The Embankment | Poppy and Pint Stratford Haven | Willowbrook There are plenty of ways to spoil Dad this Father’s Day. Treat him to a meal out at the Embankment or the Willowbrook, and his pint is on us. You’ll also get the same deal for the old man if you pre-book at the Strat or the Bread. T&Cs apply. Don’t forget you can pick up a gift from the Barley Twist, which stocks the full range of Castle Rock merchandise, from sticks of rocks to sweatshirts to gift packs – heavenly.
These are just a handful of our regular events. For full listings, visit our website.
*T&Cs apply
MONDAY:
Bread and Bitter Curry & Quiz Night A curry and a drink* for £8.95, followed by the infamous quiz Kean’s Head Pie & Pint Night Pie night at the Kean's Head is every Monday with a pie and a pint* for £10.95, served 5pm-9pm The Swan in the Rushes Quiz The super-competitive 'lounge versus bar' quiz takes place every Monday, from 9pm Barley Twist Wine Down Enjoy 10% off carafes of wine* between 4-8pm, Monday-Thursday
TUESDAY:
Cricketers Rest Quiz Night The Cricks quiz kicks off at 8pm, with plenty of prizes to be won Fox & Grapes Live Music Night From 8pm, showcasing local musicians, bands and singer-song-writers Stratford Haven Pie & Pint Night Every Tuesday enjoy a pie and a drink* for £9.95, served 5-9pm Vat and Fiddle Curry Night Enjoy a curry and a pint* at our brewery tap for £8.25, available 5-8pm
WEDNESDAY:
Canalhouse £1 Comedy Nights Every two weeks the award-winning £1 comedy night from NCF leaves the crowd in stitches. Visit the website for the next dates. Not one to be missed… Lincolnshire Poacher Pie & Pint Night From 5-9pm enjoy a pie and drink* for £8.95, followed by live music Poppy & Pint Burger Night Tuck into a burger and a drink* for £9.95, served 5-9pm
THURSDAY:
The Embankment Steak Night Two steak dinners and a bottle of wine* for £25, 5-9pm Golden Eagle Open Mic Night Every other Thursday kick back for open mic night (or perform). Check the website for more details
FRIDAY:
Willowbrook Fish Friday Every Friday the Willowbrook get fishy with two large fish and chips for £15
SUNDAY:
Fox and Crown [Pub and BottleShop] Quiz Day Just turn up at any point on Sunday to be in with a chance of winning £25 at the bar Horse and Plough Sunday Roast Enjoy a delicious Sunday roast and a drink* for £9.95
Castle Rock Tenanted pubs Alexandra Hotel
Derby Tup
Eagle
Tel: 01332 293993
Tel: 01246 269835
Tel: 01205 361116
203 Siddals Road, Derby DE1 2QE
387 Sheffield Rd, Chesterfield S41 8LS
144 West Street, Boston PE21 8RE
e-mail: alexandrahotel@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: Alexandra Hotel T: @Alex_Pub_Derby
e-mail: derbytup@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: The Derby Tup T: @TheDerbyTup
e-mail: eagle@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: The Eagle T: @TheEagleBoston
Forest Tavern/Maze
New Barrack Tavern
Newshouse
Tel: 0115 874 7792
Tel: 0114 232 4225
257 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FT
601 Penistone Road, Sheffield S6 2GA
e-mail: info@themazerocks.com web: www.themazerocks.com F: The Maze T: @themazenotts themazenotts
e-mail: newbarracktavern@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: New Barrack Tavern T: @NewBarrack new_barrack_tavern
Rook and Gaskill
Yarn
12 Lawrence Street, York YO10 3WP
Tel: 01904 655450
e-mail: rookandgaskill@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: The Rook and Gaskill T: @RookGaskillYork
In partnership with CGC Event Caterers and the Theatre Royal & Concert Hall
Theatre Square Nottingham NG1 5ND Tel: 0115 989 5569
e-mail: yarn@castlerockbrewery.co.uk web: www.yarnbar.co.uk F: Yarn bar T: @Yarn_Bar @yarnbarnottingham
123 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7HB Tel: 0115 952 3061
e-mail: newshouse@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: The Newshouse T: @NewshouseNotts
Castle Rock Tap Room and Kitchen First Floor Departure Lounge, East Midlands Airport
Operated by Autogrill
All of our pubs follow the latest allergen legislation. Further details are available in each establishment. Lady Bay Inns: operators of the Poppy and Pint / The Beer Consortium Ltd.: operators of the Barley Twist, Cricketers Rest, the Embankment, Fox & Grapes and Horse and Plough / Breakthrough Point Ltd.: operators of the Canalhouse.
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Castle Rock Managed pubs Barley Twist
Bread and Bitter
Canalhouse
Cricketers Rest
e-mail: barleytwist@ Barley Twist @barley_twist @barley_twist
e-mail: breadandbitter@ F: Bread Bitter T: @breadandbitter breadandbitter
e-mail: canalhouse@ F: Canal House @canalhousebar canalhousebar
e-mail: cricketersrest@ F: Cricketers Rest @cricketersrest Cricketersrest
91 Carrington Street, Nottingham NG1 7FE Tel: 0115 950 5456
153-155 Woodthorpe Dr, Mapperley,Nott. NG3 5JL Tel: 0115 960 7541
48-52 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7EH Tel: 0115 955 5060
4 Chapel Street, Kimberley, Notts NG16 2NP Tel: 0115 938 3105
The Embankment
Fox Pub and Bottle Shop Fox & Grapes
Golden Eagle
e-mail: goldeneagle@ F: The Golden Eagle Free House @goldeneagle001 goldeneaglepub
282-284 Arkwright St, Nottingham NG2 2GR Tel: 0115 986 4502
e-mail: embankment@ F: Embankment Pub & Kitchen @EmbankmentNottm embankment pub
4-6 Appletongate, Newark, Notts NG24 1JY Tel: 01636 605820
e-mail: foxandcrown@ F: The Fox Pub & Bottle Shop @TheFoxandCrown foxandcrown
21 Southwell Road, Sneinton, Nottingham, NG1 1DL Tel: 0115 841 8970
Horse and Plough
Kean’s Head
Lincolnshire Poacher Poppy and Pint
e-mail: horseandplough@ F: Horse and Plough @HorseandPlough horseandplough
e-mail: keanshead@ F: Kean’s Head @keanshead keanshead
e-mail: lincolnshirepoacher@ F: Lincolnshire Poacher @lincpoacher lincolnshirepoacher
25 Long Acre, Bingham, Notts NG13 8AF Tel: 01949 839313
Stratford Haven
2 Stratford Rd, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 6BA Tel: 0115 982 5981
e-mail: stratfordhaven@ F: Stratford Haven @stratfordhaven stratfordhaven
46 St. Mary’s Gate, Nottingham NG1 1QA Tel: 0115 947 4052
e-mail: foxgrapes@ F: Fox & Grapes @FoxandGrapesCRB FoxandGrapes_Notts
161-163 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FR Tel: 0115 941 1584
The Swan in the Rushes Vat and Fiddle
21 The Rushes, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 5BE Tel: 01509 217014
e-mail: swanintherushes@ F: Swan InThe Rushes @SwanRushes swanintherushes
12-14 Queensbridge Rd, Nottingham NG2 1NB Tel: 0115 985 0611
(The Brewery Tap)
e-mail: vatandfiddle@ F: Vat and Fiddle @VatandFiddle vatfiddle
21 High Street, Lincoln LN5 8BD Tel: 01522 521058
Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay, Notts NG2 5DX Tel: 0115 981 9995
e-mail: poppyandpint@ F: Poppy & Pint @PoppyandPint poppyandpint
Willowbrook
13 Main Rd, Gedling, Nottingham NG4 3HQ Tel: 0115 987 8596
e-mail: willowbrook@ F: The Willowbrook @WillowbrookCRB willowbrookpub
email addresses - pubname@castlerockbrewery.co.uk All of our pubs follow the latest allergen legislation. Further details are available in each establishment.