All the latest news, views and essential information from Castle Rock Brewery
No:3 Autumn 2014
New beer, new livery See Page 2
www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk
Welcome
New branding
Welcome for a third time to our Castle Rock Quarter, an aide memoire to what we’ve been up to and also a great chance for us to let you know what’s coming up next.
Castle Rock: Always
This autumn is certainly packed full of exciting initiatives and ideas that our managers, tenants and brewers have been working on to serve you, to excite you and to titillate your taste buds as the nights draw in. In this issue you’ll find news about our Discover World Beers collector passport and the inside story on our Traffic Street Specials project from Castle Rock’s brewing alchemist himself. We’ll give you a peek at the recent upgrades at the world-renowned Lincolnshire Poacher, and we travel out to the Eagle in Boston (Lincs) to give you a view into the world of our tenanted pubs.
As a company we’ve always taken pride in being progressive and engendering passion in all that we do, from the drinks and food we serve in our pubs to the beer we brew. Without abandoning the tried and trusted, we strive to be a little bit better every day.
So, earlier on this year, we decided the time was right to evolve our image, and it is just another part of the Castle Rock journey that you, our customers, are very much involved with. We believe our new livery is strong, vibrant and contemporary while retaining nods to our heritage. If you are wondering why we decided to re-craft our look, the simple answer is that we always want to be the best at what we do. Hundreds of breweries have opened since we redesigned our logo back in 2008, and we wanted to make a statement that we are here to stay, and just as prolific and innovative as always.
So with Hallowe’en, Movember, Christmas menus, merchandise gift ideas, brewery tours, takeaway beer deals and more, we think we have everything this side of 2015 covered for you! The next issue of CRQ is not out until January 2015 so, although it may seem a bit premature at my time of writing, this may be my only proper chance... I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and thank you for your support in 2014.
Cheers
Colin Wilde Managing Director
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 Castle Rock
is designed by freerbutler limited www.freerbutler-gds.co.uk
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Who is Red Riding Hood? Launching our new image is an ideal time to try some new things on the beer front too. In line with our improved designs, at the 2014 Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival we will launch a new beer which will sit alongside our six classic beers. The American-style red ale is called “Red Riding Hood.” Brewed with Dark Crystal malt, plus El Dorado and Kohatu hops, the beer is sure to be popular amongst beer lovers, with a robust malt body, balanced bitterness and a fruity aroma of apricot and peaches. We wanted fierce and mysterious imagery to accompany the beer, and no, we will not be giving away the identity of the hooded figure!
Skilfully Crafted There is never a dull moment at Castle Rock! Though it is essential to produce consistently high quality and diverse beers, and to ensure our pubs are proving a friendly environment while serving perfectly-kept drinks, we also care immensely about how we present our products, people and premises.
Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival 2014
We hope our new look demonstrates this, and you enjoy everything that is ‘skilfully crafted’ by Castle Rock.
Dates: Thursday October 9th to Sunday October 12th Venue: Nottingham Castle As with every year, all of us at Castle Rock are hugely excited about one of the biggest events on the brewing calendar: the Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival, taking place between the 8th and 11th October at Nottingham Castle.
Colin Wilde, Managing Director says, “Red Riding Hood began as part of our Notts WLT Natural Selection series as ‘Lincoln Red’. The brew was so popular that we wanted to offer it permanently to our customers, while avoiding any confusion with our friends over at Lincoln Green brewery! Red Riding Hood perfectly links to the red colour of the brew, gives reference to the medieval history of Nottingham, and is very visual. We immediately knew what we wanted with our artwork to capture all these elements.” Red Riding Hood will be available from the beer festival onwards, look out for it at the Castle Rock Tavern and let us know your verdict!
It is there we are officially revealing our new livery, which includes our new logo and pump clips, and as mentioned, our latest core beer, Red Riding Hood. Castle Rock will once again be showcasing our beers in the main tent and also in our very own covered marquee called the Castle Rock Tavern (right next to the bandstand). The beers available across both areas will include: Harvest Pale (3.8%), Sheriff’s Tipple (3.4%), Preservation (4.4%) Black Gold (3.8%), Screech Owl (5.5%), Elsie Mo (4.7%) , Red Riding Hood (4.3%), Hedgehog (3.8%), Carl Froch (4.2%), Most Haunted (4.4%), Midnight Owl (5.5%), Tommy Atkins: A Call to Arms (4.2%), and some specials from the Traffic Street range. We look forward to seeing you all there!
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Hot News
Events
Lots of Earache!
Hockley Hustle is back for 2014
The 16th beer in our Nottinghamian range, Digby Pearson, was launched at a special event held at the Maze. The collaboration with Earache Records (established by Pearson in 1985) saw a hot summer night filled with hardcore and grindcore metal, and finished with many pints of the special brew. Pictured below are Savage Messiah performing at the Maze (copyright Earache Records).
Day festival the Hockley Hustle is back for 2014, and this time, the Kean’s Head is in on the fun!” On 19th October, the Kean’s Head will be one of 40+ venues, showcasing 400+ acts, where one wristband gets you entry into the entire Hustle. Between 2006-2010, the event raised over £65,000 for charitable causes, and this year is set to be the best yet. Brought to Nottingham by ‘I’m Not From London’, the same team behind the legendary Waterfront Festival, the Hockley Hustle is jam-packed with the best music in the East Midlands. We are sponsoring the event with a specially brewed beer, so you can sup on the Hockley Hustle brew while enjoying the bustle! Tickets are only £10 for the day, with all proceeds donated to charity. Learn more and buy yours now at www.hockleyhustle.co.uk
Other News We’ve chosen our latest ‘Employees of the Quarter’, selected for their outstanding performance in such a challenging and competitive industry! Congratulations to Dan Gilliland in the brewery for his work on Traffic Street Specials; to Damian Brandon at the Vat & Fiddle for his continued hard work and support, and to Adam Hands for his enthusiasm and work in the Bread & Bitter kitchen. Derby’s 2014 City Charter Beer Festival has once again acclaimed Castle Rock for our delicious brews. Back in July we took home four major regional and local CAMRA awards: two golds and two silvers! Thank you to Derby CAMRA for your continued support and positive feedback. We wanted to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt ‘Farewell & Good Luck’ to Sam Skinner-Watts, who has left his position as manager at the Kean’s Head to begin a new adventure. Sam was the spark behind Discover World Beers, with an incredible passion for beer, whisky and food, and ran a fantastic team at the Kean’s. You’ll be missed by us all Sam, but luckily our favourite Lace Market hideaway will now be nurtured by Nick Orton! Meet Nick on page 11. Castle Rock provided the beer to our good friends at Fraser Brown for a very special golf day. In memory of Claire Lowe, the event raised over £5,000 for MacMillan and Breakthrough Breast Cancer. We were honoured to be part of the day. Derby CAMRA recently celebrated forty years since it was founded, within the walls of Castle Rock’s Alexandra Hotel in Derby. Back in 1974, our former MD Chris Holmes was chairman of Nottingham CAMRA when the inaugural meeting took place.
BREAKING NEWS: You know when someone tells you they have really exciting news but they can’t tell you what it is? We’re that someone right now. All we can say is there are plans in the pipeline for a small but exciting project, in close proximity to the brewery, which of course involves beer! Hopefully by the next edition we can reveal all!
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Castle Rock & the Festival Fringe Saturday 4th October- Sunday 19th October Known as the ‘triple F’, the CAMRA Festival Fringe Fortnight edges the Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival in weeks of celebration. With a focus on Fine Ale & Fine Food, Castle Rock pubs have (of course) met the criteria to be included in the festival. The Bread & Bitter, the Canalhouse, the Kean’s Head, the Lincolnshire Poacher, the Poppy & Pint, the Stratford Haven, the Vat & Fiddle and the Willowbrook will all be joining in the festivities. They will be putting on two weeks of mouth-watering dishes cooked with real ale and cider, offering taster trays from just £6.50 and pairing their menus with beer so you can experience the ultimate taste sensation. Our brewery tap the Vat & Fiddle will have up to 10 real ciders or perries available at any one time, offering taster trays at just £7.50. As the weather cools enjoy Autumnal stews and soups, cooked using cider, beer or brandy, and served with beer baked bread. Alongside fine ale and fine food, you can enjoy various events including live music and quiz nights. There will be so much going on in those two weeks that we can’t possibly list it all here, but we can certainly wet your taste buds… visit www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/FFF to see the full listing of events. We hope to see you down at a Castle Rock pub for the FFF, whether it’s to soak up the many pints consumed at the Robin Hood Beer Festival with homemade dishes, or to try some incredible beer in a slightly calmer setting!
Drinks in Focus
Discover World Beers @DiscoverWBeers Follow us to stay in loop with offers, events and news World beer buyer, Wayne Harvey, selects his favourites this quarter from the Discover World Beers range. Orval Orval is a Trappist ale but is remarkably different to the Dubbels and Tripels from the likes of Westmalle and Chimay. The beer is dry-hopped during conditioning so it has a brilliant floral aroma with a good deal of bitterness. The most interesting aspect of Orval is that it is bottle conditioned with Brettanomyces – a yeast strain that over time creates earthy, dry and slightly tart flavours. This beer is perfect for ageing, the dry-hop aroma dials back as it ages with complex Brett characteristics coming to the fore. This essentially means Orval is almost a completely different beer by the time it gets to a year old. Check the bottling date on the label to see how old your Orval is!
Victory – DirtWolf Double IPA Victory released this beer around this time last year in the U.S. and recently it has made its way to our shores. It’s a very modern, bold IPA brewed with 4 great American hop varieties - Chinook, Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe. All these hop varieties combine to create pungent citrus fruit, floral and pine aromas. The beer rocks in at 8.7% so there is a bit of warmth from the alcohol but it belies its ABV. It’s extremely drinkable and despite the intense hop bitterness there is a little malt sweetness to balance it out. Anchor – Old Foghorn Old Foghorn was the first modern barley wine to be brewed in the U.S. all the way back in 1975. It has now come to define the style,
not only for American brewers but also worldwide. This beer is based on the traditional British style but is given an American twist by the addition of Cascade hops. There are flavours of dark fruit, caramel and some slight booziness. Anchor say it is ‘to beer what port is to wine’ – fairly decadent, refined and definitely a sipper. Erdinger - Pikantus Pikantus is a ‘Weizenbock’ that is brewed to be enjoyed during the colder months. It’s dark, strong and complex. Expect flavours of spice (nutmeg, clove), toffee, raisins, stone fruit and banana. It’s slightly sweet but not cloying, the effervescence lifts the beer off your tongue to create quite a smooth mouth feel. This is a rich beer so it pairs well with equally rich dishes venison, mature cheeses and Christmas pudding being good examples.
Discover World Beers Festival 2014…continues! This summer has been an exciting time for Discover World Beers, with our first-ever festival. Discover World Beers Fest 2014 ran for four weeks over three venues, with special menus, discounts, never-beforestocked beers and tap takeovers aplenty. Missed out on the fun? No need to feel disheartened, read on for the best of the best news…
The DWBFest2014 ‘Passport’, however, was the most popular and enjoyable part of the festival. Customers were invited to ‘explore’ the beer world via a special loyalty booklet called the passport, trying various beers from each venue in order to receive a stamp.
From 20th July to 17th August three of our Nottingham pubs put on the first ever DWB Festival. The Canalhouse, the Kean’s Head and the Lincolnshire Poacher offered world beer lovers four weeks of beer related offers, events and food. The festival kicked off with Belgian week, offering speciality dishes like Moules and Stooflvees alongside beers from the likes of Brazzerie de la Senne and Dupont. Other focuses included Scandinavian week, the Brits Do It Best and American beers & burgers galore.
Once full, the passport was redeemed for an exclusive t-shirt & tulip shaped glass. This element, the DWBFest2014 Passport, we are super-excited to announce, will be continuing throughout 2014! Following great feedback from our customers, we’ve decided to extend this offer until 31st December 2014. Ignore the original end date, you’ve got months left!
For those of you that haven’t given it a go, pop down to one of the three pubs to collect your passport: it’s time to get exploring! For those of you who have already completed and redeemed your first passport, take a second hop aboard to achieve the ‘DWBFest2014 Gold Badge’. Simply complete a second passport and wear your t-shirt when you claim your badge.
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In Focus
The Eagle On a sunny day in late August, Castle Rock’s Lewis Townsend went to the historic Lincolnshire market town of Boston to visit the group’s most easterly outpost, the Eagle, which sits just a minute’s walk from the railway and bus station on West Street. I could instantly tell that the pub was relaxed and friendly; people were dotted around and the atmosphere was punctuated by the chatter of customers. I was greeted by our tenant, Jackie, who has now been working at the Eagle for almost three years and lives on-site. Immediately obvious is the great relationship Jackie has with her customers: the perfect combination of banter, laughter and mutual respect. The Eagle is a pub steeped in history; opening for business in 1855 as “The Eagle Hotel” and attracting locals and travellers on the Great Northern Railway. A large sepia document in the lounge area states “Though most nineteenth century public houses brewed their own beer, the Eagle Hotel did not. A wide choice of ale was available from some 18 common local brewers. Prices keen, quality good; very different from unskilled retail brewers who’s product, usually a dark mild, varied considerably from brew to brew”. This notion has clearly not changed for the Eagle, or indeed Castle Rock.
Fast forwarding over 150 years and many different licensees brings us to now. The pub has a delightful airiness to it; bright and characterful – full of photos, vintage bottles of beer and various trinkets and ornaments. Recently, customers from the pub took part in the Boston Dragon Boat race, raising money for Cancer Research, proving that The Eagle is a staple community pub as well as one that welcomes visitors and newcomers.
On September 5th 2014, our malt and hop store manager, Al Smith, retired after five years with Castle Rock.
The more we chat the more it becomes clear that something is always going on at the Eagle. On Thursdays, the notorious Quiz Night takes place. But this isn’t just a pub quiz, this is university challenge style. Jackie explains “it’s the hardest quiz in town. I did it the other day and spilled my drink on question 46, because I actually knew the answer!” Between the various pub games and quiz leagues the pub is usually busy at tea-time with those popping in for a drink or two from work. It’s comforting that the tradition of going to the pub when you ‘clock off’ is still very much alive.
Al is a strong character, and worked extremely hard to ensure traceability of the malt and hops we use in our beer to help identify disparities and also ensure consistency in our brews: “’if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well’” says managing director Colin Wilde “To me that short phrase describes Al’s approach to his work, and he can hang up his boots knowing he’s made a difference at Castle Rock. I’d like to thank him on behalf of the company and wish him a long and happy retirement.”
The Boston area has a strong CAMRA presence (Fenland), and the Eagle features in the Good Beer Guide 2014 for its well-kept and diverse range of beer. Talking about her range, Jackie told me that when she (rarely) gets out to other pubs, she often finds the beer offerings repetitive and dull: “I like to get beers that no-one else has. Of course, there isn’t too much Castle Rock around here so that’s great.”
Adrian Redgrove, head brewer at Castle Rock says that Al has been a valued member of the brew staff for the last five years, and adds, “After humble beginnings, Al worked his way to the top of his field to become Hopmeister Extraordinaire and Chief Executive Malt Officer, a role in which he has excelled. He will be sadly missed.”
Just an hour and a half train ride from Nottingham and Newark alike, make sure to visit the Eagle and find out why it continues to be so popular
Al is, as most of us are, a big fan of “proper” beer, so a special ale was brewed to say thanks for all his efforts with Castle Rock – and we all wish him a wonderful retirement and are confident he will fill it with lots of travelling, catching up with friends and family - and beer of course!
In the next issue we feature the Victoria Hotel
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Al Smith retires
Events Things take a Spooky Turn It might be considered a very ‘Americanised’ tradition these days but at Castle Rock we use any excuse to have a party, hang up our high-vis dungarees/office attire/staff wear and hit the dance floor Okay, okay, we don’t often hit the dance floor, we’re pub lovers of course, but we like to have a good time. That’s why this year we are throwing ourselves into all things Hallowe’en. Last year we introduced our delectable ‘Most Haunted’, a dark and mysterious porter at 4.4% ABV, with aromas of chocolate and spice, particularly nutmeg and pumpkin, with a rich and smooth finish. After festival-goers drank us dry of
Most Haunted at RHBCF 2013, we’ve brought it back again as a seasonal special. Perfectly matched for fruity puddings such as blackberry and apple crumble, as well as pumpkin pies, the ale also cooks well in homemade dishes such as game casserole and seasonal pie. It’s all very Autumnal, which means no Hallowe’en event is complete without a pint of Most Haunted in hand! Our pubs will be getting in the spooky
spirit, and considering Hallowe’en falls on a Friday this year, there’s no reason to not come down and celebrate with Castle Rock. Visit our website at www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/halloween to find out what your favourite CRB local is up to. Be warned, there could be fancy dress, eerie music, creepy quizzes, ghoulish treats, chilling cocktails and great beer in abundance (alongside, of course, pumpkin carving competitions and trick or treat)!
Meet the brewer of Traffic Street Specials Meet Dan Gilliland, brewer at Castle Rock and the man behind the Traffic Street Specials range “We’ve already brewed three beers, but the TSS range is still embryonic. These beers are designed to shake things up a bit from the traditional long-standing styles, and I feel privileged to have been given the exciting opportunity to get involved; Castle Rock’s brief for this project was pretty much “do what you want – as long as you mix it up!”.” The changes in the industry mean it’s an exciting time for beer geeks, and it’s great to be producing something more experimental, influenced by all the amazing beers we’ve seen from the USA. This has essentially inspired a worldwide shake up of what I used to think of as tried, tested, decided and approved beer styles. A few years ago, I started brewing at home and then occasionally on a friend’s six-barrel plant. I loved the process and unlocking the secrets of brewing. I take a great deal of pleasure in gathering more and more information about anything to do with beer. One of the best things about this scene is its powerfully ability to stir the
industry to wake up and pay attention. Much of the market in which we operate yearns for new, exciting developments and won’t accept stagnation. It has a feeling of a rebel alliance backed by small furry creatures bringing the empire to its knees. That is why this emerging scene is often referred to as a revolution. Castle Rock Brewery, while one of the largest breweries in Nottingham, is still a small fish in a big pond in a craft beer sense. The range started out with #1 Stereotype a strong hoppy American style IPA stacked with 80 IBUs. This was followed by #2 Concrete Jungle - a herbal infused pale ale, and Double Barrel – a dandelion and burdock flavoured red ale, brewed with German malt. I’m really looking forward to the next beer a full-bodied and full-flavoured imperial stout which will crack 10% ABV and will be launched at the Robin Hood Beer Festival in October. From there on it’s onwards to as many exciting possibilities as we can imagine. You can follow the Traffic Street Specials on Twitter and keep up to date with the progress of the range @Traffic_Street
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In Focus
The Lincolnshire Poacher In 2012, 23-year-old Ollie Eddison was promoted to Manager of the Lincolnshire Poacher in Nottingham. Over two years on, we chat to Ollie about taking on a pub with such a strong reputation, and coping with the pub’s refurbishment this summer. Ollie was working at the Bread & Bitter when Castle Rock offered him a once-in-alifetime opportunity - to manage his own pub. Steve Bramley, then operations director, recalls, “Although relatively new to the company, Ollie had a huge passion for beer in all its forms and enough ‘bonhomie’ for two landlords! I knew he would be perfect at the Poacher.” The Poacher, previously the Old Grey Nags Head which was closed by Shipstone’s, was then re-opened by Castle Rock and George Bateman & Sons. With a sturdy position in Nottingham’s real ale drinking scene, the Poacher is renowned for its quality and varied choice of ale. This element remains as robust as ever; where customers are welcomed by a single line of 13 hand pulls, and a mindblowing offering of 70 whiskies.
A pub with a strong heritage and reputation would be a challenge to an experienced manager. Ollie is our youngest ever manager since Andy Hambleton who ran the Swan in the Rushes at 20. He admits the prospect was terrifying…” “It was hell. I wasn’t confident in what I was doing and felt disorientated. But as soon as I got chatting to the regulars I felt better.” When we ask what the biggest learning curve was, he stalls a few times before explaining. “Realising I was the boss, the doorman, the one that everyone comes to when there’s an issue. But it’s great, I love it. There are a lot of personalities in this place.” Probably the biggest change to take place at the Poacher since Ollie’s arrival is the recent refurbishment. The front half of the pub remains much the same because, as Ollie words it, “It’s the Poacher isn’t it?” Retaining what everyone loves about the pub was paramount in the refurbishment, and the character is still there in abundance. The dramatic change comes when you walk through to the conservatory, where tiles have been replaced with smart wooden flooring, and wooden tables and chairs swapped for tartan reupholstered seating. It’s light, comfy, and the perfect place to get a view of the new garden.
Cricket Commentator David Lloyd, known as ‘Bumble’, is a regular of the Poacher. Ollie gloats ‘Bumble loves the place. He came in last Friday for some booze and we hung out.’ Ollie also notes that ‘David seems to know quite a lot about ale too.’ Both are pictured (right)
Garden Launch Party, Monday 6th October from 7pm
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The walled-in garden is undoubtedly an oasis in the city. With wooden booths, sheltered decking, and even beach huts to hang out in, the space has become usable, characterful, and perfect for any time of year. Ollie grins. “I appreciate it’s a massive change but it’s definitely a good one. I can’t wait for the winter so we can deck the place in lights, huddle inside the beach huts and watch the snow fall.” Okay, so he’s still a bit of a kid, but we can envision it too…
Up & Coming Brews 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, seasonal and Traffic Street Special ranges.
OCTOBER
3.8% abv
4.2% abv
Bonfire bitter with a reddish tint given by adding caramel to the copper
Dark ‘lager style’ cask ale. Dedicated to Nottingham’s World Champion boxer.
4.4% abv
4.3% abv
Dark and mysterious American-style red ale porter; essential brewed with dark for any Hallowe'en crystal malt, plus event. El Dorado and Kohatu hops.A robust malt body, balanced bitterness and a fruity aroma of apricot and peaches.
5.5% abv Rich, warming winter ale with a distinctive hop & caramel finish.
NOVEMBER
4.4% abv
4.2% abv
Black stout with Dark ‘lager style’ aromas of roasted cask ale. malt and chocolate; Dedicated to roasted start leading Nottingham’s World to coffee leaving a Champion boxer. lingering toasty note
4.0% abv
4.2% abv
5.5% abv
Amber beer with gentle bitterness, which gives way to a long zesty finish. Dedicated to men’s health.
A very well-balanced beer; smooth to drink with wide customer appeal.
Rich, warming winter ale with a distinctive hop & caramel finish.
4.5% abv
4.2% abv
5.5% abv
DECEMBER
5.2% abv Dark, strong & fruity pudding ale
4.2% abv
Dark ‘lager style’ Chocolate orange stout A very well-balanced Rich, warming winter cask ale. beer; smooth to ale with a distinctive Dedicated to drink with wide hop & caramel finish. Nottingham’s World customer appeal. Champion boxer.
Also look out for... 4.4% abv
Light brown fireside bitter with festive fruit flavours.
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Drinks in Focus Commemorative Street Party We kicked off five years of dedicated fundraising in commemoration of the Great War with a colourful, carnival feast. The Peace Celebration Street Party, held on our new grounds beside the brewery, raised £742.07 for charity. Back in June, we launched the Commemoration Collection, a new and limited-edition range of twelve beers to be brewed between June 2014 and June 2019, to honour the Centenary of the First World War. An estimated 20p from each pint will be donated to charity, so next time you are at the bar, take a moment to remember and absorb that the beer not only tastes good, it does good too!
Liv, who is the project leader for the Commemoration Collection and related events, said; “The atmosphere was just as we’d hoped, friendly, fun and peaceful. Now we have seen the potential with our new grounds, we’ve decided to book in another street party for 2015!
The range however is not just significant historically, but important in the present and for the future of two great charities. Beer sales and related events will see five years of fundraising, with donations being made to the Royal British Legion and Amnesty International UK. The two charities, along with guests and real ale enthusiasts, joined Castle Rock on Saturday 9th August, where the Street Party kept the Vintage Party-goers rain at bay (for one day only…)
“Next time it will be bigger and better, but for now, we’re over the moon. Our thanks go to everyone who volunteered, performed, and supported the charities. Especially to Ben Brettell and the team at the Maze, and to the wonderful charities.”
Above: Royal British Legion chat to partygoers
This event is the first of many various fundraising activities, big and small, that will be taking place over the next five years. Keep an eye on the ‘What’s On’ page of our website to join us at our next fundraiser.
“Christmas Truce’, the 3rd beer from the Commemoration Collection, is available in December.
The afternoon was filled with festivities, real ale, remembrance and music. Carlton Brass Band graced partygoers with classics like ‘Jerusalem’, ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and First World War classic ‘Pack up your Troubles’. Comedy act The Raymond and Mr Timpkins Revue had the crowd in a heap of giggles (including our MD Colin Wilde) with a show of cheeky slapstick, and renowned Nottingham DJ ‘Swingbox’ filled the afternoon with an eclectic array of swing and electronica. Nottingham born-and-bred Alexa Hawksworth calmed the crowd with dreamy melodies and dragged Castle Rock’s Liv Auckland on stage to sing. More fun and frolics came from Stunt Girl Productions, who buzzed about the crowd in multi-coloured fancy dress, entertaining children and adults alike, and Creature Caboodle, a pet display specialising in exotic animals. Always however, was the reminder of what the Street Party was about, from the approachable and informative stalls of the charities, to the ‘writing wall’ where messages, poems and letters were written and displayed.
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LocAle
We believe no other brewer supports the local brewing scene more than Castle Rock
Totally Brewed 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. .
diverse range developing over time. Robert Witt, an ex-landscape gardener set up Totally Brewed after 6 years of homebrewing. With an MA in microbiology and a trained beer taster, Rob describes his beers as ‘modern, hop forward and not shy on the ingredients’. Rob is also a father to, at the time of writing, a 7-week-old boy named Enzo Hendrix, making him all the more an inspiring brewer.
If you’ve been spending time in Castle Rock pubs this summer, it’s unlikely you’ve missed the waves created by ‘Totally Brewed’. With eclectic, colourful pump clip artwork, they are certainly some of the most eyecatching designs on our bars this year. Throw into the mix some bold and comical names such as ‘Punch in the Face IPA’, ‘Captain Hop Beard’ and (our favourite) ‘Papa Jangles Voodoo Stout’, and there are few who can resist trying a pint.
Elin Callow, Castle Rock’s Customer Service & Procurement Manager explains, ‘We featured them as our May NewBrew, and the pubs have been ordering ever since as part of the LocAle scheme. I think they will definitely be a contender for taking home a trophy at the Castle Rock Beer of the Year Awards 2014-2015.’
Totally Brewed beer has become immensely popular, with artfully-crafted flavours and a
Watch this space, we think Totally Brewed are set for big things!
The most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner Whether you like to wrap yourself in twinkly lights and tinsel, scrooge your way through all things Christmas, or spend hours dedicated to (avoiding) the high street, there’s no denying the one thing we LOVE about this time of year. Yep, it’s all about stuffing yourself like a turkey and washing it down with a beverage! Each of our pubs offers a unique Christmas menu, in a unique venue. Castle Rock pubs are once again offering delicious Chrismas menus, and getting well and truly into the festive spirit, with a variety of events such as quizzes, live music, carol singing and more.
Welcome Nick and Jordan
You can view the pubs’ menus, opening hours and Christmas & New Year plans at www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/christmas
We thought we’d take this chance to introduce you to our newest (and at 23 our youngest) Manager, Nick Orton.
The Kean’s Head Christmas Menu Take a look at this delicious menu (above), and call 0115 947 4052 to book your Christmas Party at the Kean’s Head, Lace Market, Nottingham. Visit www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/christmas for more information about our other pubs.
Formerly Assistant Manager at the Lincolnshire Poacher, Nick has recently taken over the Kean’s Head in the Lace Market. With an amazing team, especially Head Chef Jordan Spencer, the Kean’s Head is all set for festive fun.
Pair your Christmas dinner with a festive beer Castle Rock is also bringing you a range of festive and seasonal beers to enjoy. ‘Mistletoe’, our December brew for the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, is a dark, strong and fruity pudding ale. For pale ale lovers. try ‘Snowhite’ (available
November-February), a distinctively hoppy and refreshing malt beer. Our cheeky fireside bitter ‘First Mo-El’ is back by popular demand, and two very special brews are in the pipeline: Traffic Street Specials will bring you a unique take on Christmas brews, and
‘Christmas Truce’, an indulgent chocolate orange stout, will be available in December, with 20p per pint donated to charity. For more information about these beers, see the panel on the right of Page 9 of this issue of Castle Rock Quarter.
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Editor’s Picks
Upcoming Events October 2014
November 2014
Full listings on our website updated daily
December 2014
13th-19th October
3rd-9th November
2nd December
National Curry Week Many of our pubs will be offering special curry menus and dining offers. At the Fox & Crown enjoy a curry with a pint for just £9.95, and at the Poppy & Pint your curry will be matched with an IPA for maximum flavour and enjoyment. The Kean’s Head will once again be sharing their amazing homemade dishes with a Thali Platter at only £12.
Sausage Week
Bread & Bitter Birthday
Who doesn’t love a hotdog, a bratwurst, a chorizo or even a Snorker?! The Canalhouse do Sausage week with a twist, offering a range of unique sausages for you to enjoy. At the Fox & Crown, wolf down sausage & mash with a pint for just £9.95, and the Kean’s Head commission Barnsdales to make sausages using their local beer. Smoked Porter & Stilton anyone?
Celebrate the Bread’s birthday with Meet the Brewer, double stamps on loyalty cards, Movember shave off and live music Bread & Bitter, 5pm, free
14th October
“Lest We Forget” 9th November
North Italian Wine Tasting
Remembrance Sunday
Roger Halfpenny of Big Wines brings you an evening of North Italian Wine Tasting paired with Italian dishes. Poppy & Pint 7:30pm, £25
Take the time to remember with a special 2 and 3 course menu, with a free bottle of wine for parties of 4 or more. Stratford Haven, from Midday
16th-19th October
“Lest We Forget” 10th November
LocAle Weekend
Poppy Appeal Quiz
As part of Festival Fringe Fortnight, the Bread brings you a LocAle weekend showcasing the best of beer brewed locally, kicking things off with live music on Thursday night. Bread & Bitter 5pm, free
Raising funds for the Legion’s annual Poppy Appeal.Join the Bread for a charity quiz with prizes including beer, food & cash! The Bread & Bitter 6pm
18th October
New Barrack Birthday The New Barrack celebrates its 11th year under the Castle Rock banner, and will be joined by 7-piece blues and soul band (with a twinge of funk) ‘Highway Child’. Join in the birthday fun for free! New Barrack Tavern 6pm 23rd October
The Swan Challenge The Guinness Book of Records Day will raise money for local charity Students come along, take part & try to break world records at up to 6 stations Swan in the Rushes 2pm, £1 30th October
Halloween at the Vat Come down the brewery tap for goulish drinks & devilish burgers Bloody Mary relish and mouldy cheese? mmm! Vat & Fiddle, 6pm, free Visit our website What’s On page for full Halloween Listings
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Poppy & Pint 30th November
St. Andrew’s Day Celebrating in Scottish style, the Poacher offers Haggis (plus a Scottish veggie dish) and deals on their selection of 70 whiskies The Lincolnshire Poacher
21st December
Kid’s Christmas Party Party food, games and a visit from Father Christmas Golden Eagle, 2pm, £5 21st December
Christmas Carol Service Performed by St John’s Church, Owlerton New Barrack Tavern, 9pm, free Visit our website to view the full listing of events this quarter, including Halloween parties, Movember challenge and what not to miss this New Year’s Eve! For full details of Festive Season events visit www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/christmas
Regulars Mondays • Curry & Quiz night at the Bread & Bitter, from 5pm • Pie & Harvest Pale Night at the Kean’s Head, from 5pm • Curry Night at the Stratford Haven, from 5pm Tuesdays • Curry & Quiz night at the Poppy & Pint, from 5pm • Pie Night at the Stratford Haven from 5pm • Quiz Night at the Willowbrook from 8.30pm • Quiz Night (with free chips!) at the Vat & Fiddle from 7.30pm Wednesdays • Curry Night at the Swan in the Rushes, 5pm • Live Music from the Old Nick Trading Company at the Lincolnshire Poacher, from 9pm Thursdays • Curry Night at the Vat & Fiddle from 5pm • Acoustic Sessions from 6.30pm at the Canalhouse Sundays • Loyalty Card Madness, with stamps on all drinks, at the Golden Eagle Last Friday of each month • Pie Day & Night at the Fox & Crown, and Open Mic Night at the Swan in the Rushes Match Day BBQs • The Vat & Fiddle, just 1 minute from Nottingham train station, fires up the BBQ for all Notts County and Nottingham Forest home games, from 11.30am-2.30pm Ladies Night • Two courses & a cocktail only £9.95 On the last Wednesday of each month Willowbrook (book on 0115 987 8596)
www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/event
Drinks in Focus October is Cider and Perry month CAMRA Cider and Perry month takes place every October to celebrate and recognise the production, history and skills associated with real cider and perry making. The trend for real cider is growing in line with that of real ale. There are over 300 cider makers operational throughout the UK, 50% more than in 2005, and many cider makers are reporting a high increase in demand for their products. Jez Hand, Assistant Manager of the Canalhouse (which stocks up to 13 real ciders at any one time) and Castle Rock’s ‘Cider Guru’, offers insight into the time-honoured tradition of cider making. “Cidermakers have matured cider in wooden vessels for centuries. The natural properties of the wood, combined with an
element of oxidation, allows the cider to breathe. There are many flavours inspired by this process and it depends on the cask stock and the intention of the Cidermaker. At its best, after an extended period of time, the cider can develop a rounded, fullbodied flavour, with a soft feel. However, the time spent in the wood also increases the potential for other, more questionable characteristics.” “Castle Rock will be showcasing over 100 traditional cider and perries throughout its pubs during October. We have always been dedicated to showcasing new and
Black Gold’s a winner at CAMRA GBBF 2014
interesting products, and this year is no exception. We’ll be working extra hard to bring our customers a diverse, exciting and flavourful range of real cider and perry. As Fringe Festival Fortnight falls between 4th and the 19th October, they’ll be plenty of opportunities to enjoy a cider matched with your meal, special dishes cooked with cider and, for those wanting to learn more, taster trays on offer so you can experience the full range.” For a full list of ciders available throughout the month, please visit our website.
Castle Rock merchandise 20% OFF MERCHANDISE We’ve got a selection of Castle Rock merchandise up for grabs, with a generous 20% discount!
On 12th August 2014, a few folks from Castle Rock Brewery took the annual pilgrimage to Olympia in London for the Great British Beer Festival. Representing the brewery were managing director Colin Wilde, chairman Geoff Newton, head brewer Adrian Redgrove, brewer Dan Gilliland, world beer buyer Wayne Harvey, commercial & IT support manager Lewis Townsend, and hop & malt store manager Al Smith. Upon arrival, the first task was to test Black Gold, which was on Bar B15, to check the beer was up-to-scratch (which of course it was!) The group then dispersed to explore, trying various beers and taking in the atmosphere at one of the biggest events in the brewing calendar.
Announced at 3:30pm by Iron Maiden frontman, Bruce Dickinson, we were exceptionally proud to hear that Black Gold had won Bronze in the Mild category. That now means four different Castle Rock beers have won at a national level, including Harvest Pale’s Supreme Champion Beer of Britain of 2010. Black Gold is a well-balanced dark mild ale. At 3.8%, the beer has a slight sweetness, which is counteracted by a distinct hop aroma and bitterness, and is available permanently at many Castle Rock pubs. Congratulations to Adrian and his hard-working brewing team for another wonderful accolade!
There’s plenty to choose from, so drop into the Vat & Fiddle to ‘buy it now’ or place an order in your Castle Rock local. All-new designs coming soon...
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My favourite Castle Rock beer 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!
TOP COMMENTS Thanks for all your tweets, retweets, follows, likes, and lovely comments. Keep them coming! “Just writing to say how much I enjo y your beers and to say what an excellent pub the Swan in the Rus hes (Loughborough) is. There are so many themed / chai n pubs selling mediocre beers that it is very refreshing to find an unassum ing, friendly down to earth pub with excellently kept ales and good, reasonably priced food. Elsie Mo is an excellent beer and very consistent. The staff, owners and brewery deserve congratulations for keeping up a dying tradition. Kee p it up and thank you.” Dave Johnson, local to the Swan in the Rushes
Elsie Mo Name: Richard Whitbread Local: Several Castle Rock pubs Favourite Beer: Elsie Mo “My favourite beer ha s to be Elsie Mo. She is a perfect blonde, brig ht and bubbly with attitude. And has a cheeky af tertaste. CHEERS!” If you’re a fan of Elsie, and we know many of you are, keep an eye out on the streets of Nottingham and beyond! Our CRB vans are about to get a rather eye-catching makeover, and those spotting Elsie out on the road will be in on a chance to win tasty goodies.
Follow Elsie on @Elsiemocrb “I recommend Castle Rock Brewery’s Elsie Mo - satisfying with some great fruity notes - currently my favourite!” (@OssianH_)
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
@Alex_Pub_Derby
The Rook and Gaskill
@RookGaskillYork
Bread Bitter
@breadandbitter
Stratford Haven
@stratfordhaven
Canal House
@canalhousebar
Swan Rushes
@swanrushes
The Derby Tup
@TheDerbyTup
Vat and Fiddle
@VatandFiddle
The Eagle
@TheEagleBoston
The Wetmore Whistle
@wetmorewhistle1
The Maze
@themazenotts
The Willowbrook
@WillowbrookCRB
The Fox & Crown, Newark
@TheFoxandCrown
Castle Rock Brewery
@CRBrewery
The Golden Eagle Free House @GoldenEaglePub
Our beers talk too!
The Hop Loft
@TheHopLoft
Kean’s Head
@keanshead
Lincolnshire Poacher
@lincpoacher
Elsie Mo
@Elsiemocrb
New Barrack Tavern
@NewBarrack
Sheriff Tipple
@SheriffTipple
The Newshouse
@NewshouseNotts
Screech Owl
@ScreechOwlCRB
Poppy & Pint
@PoppyandPint
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@Traffic_Street
15
Castle Rock Pubs
ALEXANDRA HOTEL
BREAD AND BITTER
CANALHOUSE
e-mail: breadandbitter@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
CASTLE ROCK TAP ROOM & KITCHEN
153-155 Woodthorpe Dr, Mapperley, NG3 5JL
Tel: 0115 960 7541
48-52 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7EH
203 Siddals Road, Derby DE1 2QE
Tel: 01332 293993
e-mail: alexandrahotel@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
Tel: 0115 955 5060
e-mail: canalhouse@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
First Floor Departure Lounge, East Midlands Airport
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
144 West Street, Boston, Lincs PE21 8RE
Tel: 01246 454316
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
KEAN’S HEAD
21 High Street, Lincoln LN5 8BD
21 The Rushes, Loughborough, LE11 5BE
Tel: 01522 521058
Tel: 01509 217014
46 St. Mary’s Gate, Nottingham NG1 1QA
161-163 Mansfield Road, Nott’m NG1 3FR
LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER
NEW BARRACK TAVERN
e-mail: keanshead@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: lincolnshirepoacher@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: newbarracktavern@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
Tel: 0115 947 4052
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
Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay, Notts NG2 5DX
Tel: 0115 952 3061
Tel: 0115 981 9995
12 Lawrence Street, York YO10 3WP
Tel: 01904 655450
SWAN IN THE RUSHES 21 The Rushes, Loughborough LE11 5BE
12-14 Queensbridge Rd, Nottingham NG2 1NB
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
VICTORIA HOTEL
(Hands On Pub Company)
Dovecote Lane, Beeston, Nott’m NG9 1JG
Tel: 0115 925 4049 e-mail: vichotel@btconnect.com
Tel: 01509 217014
VAT AND FIDDLE
(The Brewery Tap)
STRATFORD HAVEN
Tel: 0115 985 0611
WETMORE WHISTLE
WILLOWBROOK
e-mail: wetmorewhistle@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
e-mail: willowbrook@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
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 3.4%
Brewed to be a traditional session ale with a malty bitter taste.
3.8%
A national awardwinning golden beer. American hops give a refreshingly crisp, citrus finish.
3.8%
A well balanced, awardwinning dark mild with some bitterness. Full-bodied but not overly sweet.
4.3%
American-style red ale brewed with dark crystal malt, plus El Dorado and Kohatu hops.
4.4%
A full-bodied premium bitter of typical East Midlands character. Perfect bitter-sweet balance.
4.7%
5.5%
Blonde and beautiful single malt golden ale refreshing on the palate.
A national champion. Strong India Pale Ale. Lots of everything so proceed with caution.
See you in 2015...when even more will be revealed The seasonal beers Snowhite & Midnight Owl are available from January to March: PLUS we’re re-launching our Natural Selection…