All the latest news, views and essential information from Castle Rock Brewery
No:8 Winter 2015/6
2016 BEERS NEW ERA FOR TRAFFIC STREET OUR PUBS THIS WINTER THE POWER OF SOUR BEER
www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk
Welcome
Beer News
At the dawn of 2016 I’d like to wish all of our customers a very Happy New Year and say a big thank you for your support in 2015. I’d also like to thank you for picking up our latest edition of the Castle Rock Quarter.
Beers of 2016
Keeping regulars and visitors both warm and nourished during the shorter winter days has long been a key function of the great British hostelry. I’m sure you’ll all know Castle Rock take this tradition seriously – we’ll keep your cockles warm! With plenty of wholesome comfort dishes, seasonal brews, and real open fires, this is a time of year that rewards the optimistic; this is a time of year to cherish! I hope this issue gives you a chance to kick back with a pint and have a good read. There’s plenty enclosed, including our brewing plans for the coming months, behind the scenes looks at our pubs, and upcoming events for those dusting off the pine needles and rallying for the new year. There will be lots going on in your Castle Rock local this year, so keep your eye out for each issue of CRQ, visit our website and join the chatter on the social media feeds.
We have spent the last three months making sure 2016 would be another great beer year. Our head brewer Adrian and the rest of the team have created our best range yet, so read on and see what’s in the pipeline for those taste buds… Another year has rolled around and suddenly we find ourselves facing the icy winter and only a distant hope of spring. The purse strings are tight after Christmas celebrations, the excitement of New Year’s Eve is a blurry memory, and quite frankly everyone feels a bit fat. Of course we’re then told this is the perfect time to re-make ourselves, with adverts spouting ‘New Year, New You’, and on we trundle with our impractical or unrealistic resolutions. What will it be this time? Lose weight? Watch less television? Spend within your means? Or ‘go dry’ for January? It seems to us, what you need – what we all need – this time of year, is a little kindness. Why waste these chilly three months in a sorrowful hibernation when you
could be enjoying yourself? There’s much fun to be had with your friends, family and colleagues. Whether you’re a real foodie and need time away from the stove, a social butterfly in search of a good night out, looking to unwind with a quiet drink, or need to boost your lunchbreak with a glass of prosecco, there are plenty of ways your local Castle Rock pub can ease the pain. And don’t forget independent businesses are at their most vulnerable this time of year, so if you’re going to treat yourself, treat yourself right. Support your local pub this New Year, and remember everything in moderation is usually better for you than nothing at all… #TryJanuary
Good luck with your resolutions and we hope to see you many times in the coming year.
Seasonal Beers for Winter 2016
Cheers
Snowhite 4.2% (Available January-February)
Attenborough Reserve 4.0% (Available January-February)
Our ice maiden Snowhite is available throughout January for those partial to pale ale. Snowhite is a very pale and refreshing brew with a floral citrus aroma, and a very crisp finish.
Attenborough is a pilsner-style pale ale with a floral, grassy aroma and a spicy, delicately sweet finish. The fourth beer of 2016 to support the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Pair with: Chicken salad, white fish
Pair with: Fish, pasta, Thai food
Colin Wilde Managing Director @SheriffTipple colin.wilde@castlerockbrewery.co.uk
Queensbridge Road, Nottingham NG2 1NB
Telephone: 0115 985 1615 General enquiries: admin@castlerockbrewery.co.uk Sales enquiries: lotte.sefton@castlerockbrewery.co.uk Recruitment: sarah.halpin@castlerockbrewery.co.uk CRQ is designed and produced by freerbutler limited www.freerbutler-gds.co.uk
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Midnight Owl 5.5% (Available January-March) This hoppy black IPA is a true winter warmer. Dark ruby in colour with caramel and citrus on the nose, the finish is complex and bitter-sweet. Pair with: BBQ Ribs
Nottinghamian Celebration Ales We’ve been brewing Nottinghamian Celebration Ales since 2010. Each beers gives us, and you, the chance to explore Nottinghamshire’s past and celebrate local people. While varied in style and flavour, all the Nottinghamian beers are brewed to a sessionable 4.2%
Colin Slater 4.2% (January-March) The first Nottinghamian Celebration Ale of 2016 has been created for MBE and football journalist Colin Slater, who has been writing about Notts County FC since 1959 and commentating on BBC Radio Nottingham since 1968. This dark ruby porter has aromas of roast malt and coffee, with a rich chocolatey flavour. Pair with: Coffee cake, dark chocolate
D.H. Lawrence 4.2% (April-June) Spring 2016 brings to bars a beer for literary icon D.H. Lawrence. Novelist, storywriter, critic, poet and painter, Lawrence is one of Nottinghamshire’s most beloved sons. To celebrate the life and works of this 20th century icon, we’ve
created a moreish nutty mild with UK hops. Dark brown in colour with hazelnuts on the nose, Lawrence is a perfectly balanced brew. Pair with: Game meats, pies, mild cheddar
expect lots of juicy hops with a clean taste and fairly high bitterness. Pair with: rich spicy curry or mild blue cheese
Florence Boot 4.2% (October-December)
Andy Turner 4.2% (July-September) Alongside the run up to Rio 2016, we are delighted to be brewing an Andy Turner beer. Andy is a multi-medal winning track and field athlete from Nottingham, having won medals at Commonwealth, European and world championship level. His namesake beer is a session IPA, so
The final Nottinghamian Celebration Ale of 2016, but by no means least, is Florence Boot. Equal founder of Boots the chemist, Boot was a business woman and benefactor. She was dedicated to staff welfare, particularly with female members of staff. Writing a letter to the women in 1906, Boot promised ‘in any time of serious difficulty or trouble, I will always be your sincere friend.’ This amber coloured ale has been brewed with experimental hop variety CF127, giving the beer an aroma of tangerine and orange, with a malty citrus finish. Pair with: Grilled meat, sausage
In 2014, nations across the world came together to commemorate the centenary of the First World War. 100 years after war was declared, we launched a special range of beers: the Commemoration Collection. Brewed to mark events and figures of the war, each beer has been created with dedication and respect. Donations from each pint sold are made to Amnesty International UK and the Royal British Legion, to support those facing warfare today.
Pilot’s Wings: 13 Squadron 4.4% (February-April)
Baptism of Fire: The Somme 4.8% (July-September)
Pilot’s Wings is brewed to remember Nottingham fighter pilot Albert Ball, who gained his Pilot’s Wings 100 years ago.
Named after the military phrase for a soldier’s first experience of combat conditions, Baptism of Fire is brewed in remembrance of those who fought and fell in the Battle of the Somme.
Ball joined the No. 13 Squadron in January 1916 and went on to record 44 victories against Germany. Pilot’s Wings signifies the natural talent, determination and bravery of Albert Ball, and remembers those who flew before, beside, and after him. This pale and hoppy ale has an upfront bitterness and aromas of pine. Pair with: Burgers, Tex-Mex, medium cheddar
As one of the bloodiest battles in military history, we have created this beer to commemorate the battle 100 years on. It’s an amber ale, infused with ginger for a fiery, warming finish. Pair with: Korean BBQ, Jerk chicken
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Pubs in focus
The Embankment A new lease of life Our biggest project in recent months has been the Embankment, by Trent Bridge. In the summer edition of the Quarter, we announced the former Boots social club had finally been welcomed into the Castle Rock family. Since then, we’ve been working to restore and refurbish the three floor venue into an excellent pub for visitors, sports fans and the local community.
building, so on visiting you’ll find many of the fittings still in place. However with some TLC and vision, the Embankment now houses a breath-taking function room, a dining room with a nod to the history of the area, and the Dispensary bar.
On 12th November we reopened the doors after refurbishments, and had an amazing night celebrating in the venue. We’ve been keen to maintain the charm and history of the
The Dispensary is the biggest change at the site: once a Boots chemist, this room had been bricked up and set apart from the rest of the venue.
We’ve put the windows back in and turned the room into an ideal real ale and craft beer venue, with décor inspired by the early 1900s pharmaceutical industry. We’ve been so pleased to see the reactions of our customers, especially those who used to frequent the Embankment. If you’ve yet to pop by, please do – it’s time to make some new memories!
Drinks in focus
Real cider Cider Guru Alex McKenzie selects his favourite real ciders produced in the East Midlands. Follow Alex on Twitter to have a chat @CiderGuruCRB The cider industry is consistently growing, with new producers springing up all over the country. Those who have loved real cider for a long time have been joined by newcomers, moving from flavoured, carbonated cider to the real deal. We’ve been sourcing real cider for a long while now, and the range you’ll find on our bars is always changing and expanding. The East Midlands has a thriving cider industry, as highlighted by these three producers who are based just over the Nottinghamshire-Leicestershire border.
Charnwood Cider, Leicestershire
Bottle Kicking Cider Co., Leicestershire
Gladstone Cider, Loughborough
A sustainable and environmentally friendly cider maker, who have just started growing their own apples. My favourite is Disco Cox, a delightfully fruity medium dry cider. At 5.6% ABV it’s fairly sessionable compared to most real ciders…
Bottle Kicking Cider Co. is named after the bottle kicking game which takes place once a year in the village of Hallaton, Leicestershire. Scrambler also gets its name from the game and is a delicious medium dry cider produced from locally grown apples. At 7% it’s not for the faint hearted, much like the bottle kicking itself!
The small team at Gladstone pride themselves on producing 100% natural cider, with no added sugars or water, to adhere to CAMRA’s definition of ‘real cider’. 101 is an easy drinking and refreshing cider, pressed from a selection of cider apples. A six month natural fermentation period gives this cider its dry taste, weighing in at around 6%
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In focus: Poppy & Pint
Siblings at your Service Meet the Poppy & Pint’s brother and sister team: James Halfpenny, manager, and Vanessa McGuire, head chef. It will be five years in May since the former British Legion became the Poppy and Pint. In the pub world, the Poppy is still very young - many of our pubs were passed through generations of families, brewers and pub groups, before being taken on by Castle Rock. No matter how established a pub is, there is always work to be done, so how do you start from scratch? How do you create something new, in an industry grown from tradition? Castle Rock’s Liv Auckland spent a morning with James and Vanessa to find out how and why the Poppy became, and remains, a firm favourite in the Lady Bay and West Bridgford community. The Poppy is loved for your food, Vanessa. What are your aims with the menu here? I spent ten years working in a French restaurant and it really influenced my cooking. A lot of the food at the Poppy is in the style of a French bistro – it’s all about creating dishes that are full of flavour, colour, and texture. We want to cater for everyone. Veggies for example are lucky to get a risotto in some pubs, but I love creating vegetarian dishes, especially when meat eaters enjoy it too. The first step to creating tasty dishes is embracing the seasons. There’s no point using air miles to fly over fruit and
vegetables, when there are so many fresh seasonal goodies in the UK. As a nation we are definitely becoming more interested in cooking with healthy, ethical ingredients. If nothing else, it makes the food a lot more flavourful. You were on the television last night James. Can you summarise what you were being interviewed about? I was talking to Notts TV about family friendly pubs. From the very start we wanted everyone and anyone to feel welcome here. I think we’ve ticked every box – all the generations are under one roof, from bumps to golden oldies. And there’s plenty of space whether you want a quiet dinner or to have a laugh with your friends. Let’s talk about the function room upstairs. If I were a fly on the wall, I think I’d witness pretty much every event possible going on up there. We have weekly classes up there from adult ballet lessons to Chinese health groups. It’s a really spacious room [with capacity of up to 150 people] so it’s popular for private events too, like weddings, christenings, children’s parties, charity events. The function room is often hired for conference meetings and team away days. Because we’re nestled in the suburbs, I think the Poppy offers them a quiet escape from the city centre. Plus we’ll cater for anything you need. There’s the conservatory downstairs which can also be hired for smaller events, like gathering your friends and family for a birthday meal. And the coffee is really good. What about a tasty tipple? What’s on the bar to quench the thirst? Obviously we’ve got Castle Rock’s regular beers on the bar alongside the seasonal and special brews.
We were the first Castle Rock pub to run the LocAle scheme, so showcasing beer from local brewers is really important to us. There are four kegged beers on tap and a good selection of bottled beers as part of the Discover World Beers initiative… …and everything in between? Pretty much. Our wine is sourced from our dad who hosts wine tasting nights here, and our spirits are all carefully selected. There are plenty of soft drinks and the café bar is great for a cup of tea and a piece of cake. What’s next for the Poppy then James? We just keep going and aim to get a bit better each day. At the end of the day our focus will always be the same: for this to be a friendly pub where everyone feels welcome, to serve up excellent food and drinks, to deliver events tailored to the customers’ needs and wants. Thank you siblings, it’s been a treat. The Poppy & Pint serves food from 9.30am9pm Monday-Sat, 10am-8pm on Sunday • Twitter: @PoppyandPint Facebook: Poppy & Pint
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2015 on record
What a difference a year makes In the tough times you find out what you’re made of, in the happy times you realise what a great industry this is, and in the blurry times you discover who your true pals are. Here’s to the highlights of 2015, another year in the memory book…
JANUARY
l We launched Sherwood Reserve, the first stout to join our range of regular beers. Brewed with coffee and roasted malt, in aid of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. The Reserves managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust became the focus of four new beers. The range is continuing in 2016, with a tweak to each recipe.
l The doors to Beer School opened! Our BII training centre was launched to teach the ins and outs of the licensed trade. l Our fastest ever selling Nottinghamian beer, Brian Clough, sold out in under two weeks. Luckily, Cloughie will be back in 2016. l In Boston, the Eagle was voted Best Bar in the region, by readers of the Lincolnshire Weekly.
FEBRUARY
l Beer of the Year winners were announced. New Brewery of the Year went to Totally Brewed, first place Beer of the Year to Black Iris, and Brewery of the Year was awarded to Black Sheep Brewery.
l The Alexandra Hotel in Derby had a double win, crowned as best city pub and best pub overall.
MARCH
l The Horse & Plough in Bingham joined the Castle Rock family!
APRIL
l Our year-old pub, the Willowbrook in Gedling, suffered a severe fire, to our devastation. l The life and works of architect Watson Fothergill was celebrated in our 19th Nottinghamian beer.
MAY
l Zeppelin Raids, a German style smoked beer, was launched to commemorate the raids of the First World War.
l Castle Rock was bestowed with the ‘feather in your cap’ award for our celebrations of the legendary Robin Hood.
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JUNE
l Former Boots social club the Embankment became a Castle Rock pub! l 800 years since the sealing of the Magna Carta was internationally celebrated. We brought you Runnymede 800, a golden ale brewed with local honey, to mark the occasion. l Colin Brown, former Shipstone’s Brewer, joined us at Castle Rock to brew a very special Nottinghamian Celebration Ale: James Shipstone, the first to pioneer a scientific approach to brewing. l Nottingham became the first city outside of London to hold a Craft Beer Week.
JULY
l Just 3 months after the fire, the Willowbrook was back on form and the doors were opened to happy customers. Coincidentally, the opening night fell on the hottest day of the year… l The Canalhouse once again hosted the SIBA Keg festival where over 100 Northern brewers competed for the coveted crown.
AUGUST
l It was another incredible Waterfront Festival at the Canalhouse, the one day event which brings the best musicians from Nottinghamshire to one venue. l We sponsored Macmillan Festival for the first time, in support of headlining band Evil Scarecrow. l Yeastie Boys of New Zealand joined us at the brewery to create collaboration beer ‘Enz to Enz’.
SEPTEMBER
l Women of Castle Rock and the Nottingham Women’s History Group came together to help brew ‘Munitionettes’, a brew created in homage to the women’s workforce of the First World War. l The Lincolnshire Poacher won a well-deserved award: LocAle Pub of the Year, thanks to Nottingham CAMRA. It’s a real ale oasis,
so hop on up Mansfield Road for an excellent pint of local beer. l Crafty Flanker, brewed for the Rugby World Cup, flew out so fast we had to brew it three times! Crafty was so popular that it’s back throughout the 6 Nations 2016. l Over in Sheffield, the New Barrack Tavern became a tenanted Castle Rock pub, with trusted managers Kev and Steph becoming the new tenants of the venue.
OCTOBER
l What else?! It was of course the Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival, held at Nottingham Castle. It was another fantastic festival…every year it somehow gets better. l Cider came to the brewery as we became the grateful receivers of local apples from the allotment holders of St Ann’s and other supporters. We’ve been pressing and, at the time of writing, our first go is nearly ready for consumption! l Bob’s BlundaBus, a double decker comedy venue, parked up in the brewery yard for Nottingham Comedy Festival.
NOVEMBER
l We launched BROvember, a month of fundraising for the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre. A wonderful £3,554.14 was raised and donated to prostate cancer research. l After possibly the most impressive refurbishment we’ve ever managed, the Embankment officially reopened as a Castle Rock pub. Lord Mayor Jackie Collins cut the ribbon, and the opening night saw the beautiful venue packed with friends, family and colleagues.
DECEMBER It was Christmas of course. At the time of writing, it’s still a few weeks off, but we’re fairly confident it was a good one…
Discover World Beers
Sour Power @DiscoverWBeers Follow us to stay in the loop with offers, events and news Discover World Beers buyer Wayne Harvey Follow selects his favourite beers this autumn. W The term ‘sour’ when talking about beer has typically been used as a negative descriptor in the UK. It indicated the beer was off and past its best. In the last two years we have seen an explosion of British brewers intentionally making sour styles and it has been widely well received. So why has our attitude to this once derided flavour changed? Firstly we start in the heartland of sour beer, Belgium, where sour styles are as traditional as brown ale and porter are here. Lambic is an ancient beer, spontaneously fermented by wild yeasts and infected by the natural bacterias of the Zenne Valley. The beer tends to be blended and then it is termed as ‘Gueuze’. Although some modern variants are sweetened, traditionally the beer is tart and dry with varying degrees of ‘funk’ – similar to that of farmhouse cider. Traditional producers, such as Cantillon, create variants by adding sour cherries (locally known as Kriek), raspberries and even elderflower. These beers are still sour unlike some of the sweet syrup counterparts. The interest in Gueuze has blown up internationally; many smaller producers cannot keep up with demand. The biggest market for Lambic outside of Belgium is the USA. And it makes sense. The US has had its own beer renaissance, influenced by old world styles such as IPA, Stout and now Lambic. American producers have started to replicate the style from Jester King in Texas to Allagash in Maine. Of course Lambic is not the only sour beer style. Oud Bruin and Flanders Red are dark ales with a lactic tang, picking up bacteria from the inside of oak vats over a period of eighteen months and then blended with younger, sweeter beer. From Germany, there are sour Wheat beers such as salty and tart Gose and the acidic Berliner Weisse. These are all styles US breweries have replicated and popularised within their domestic markets. And this is where we get back to the UK. Breweries such as Buxton and The Kernel have taken plenty of influence from the US and have produced their own sours. Berliner Weisse and Gose are popular styles to produce, as they can be created with the same brewing equipment as most other beer
styles. Wild fermentation takes space and time, something not many UK brewers necessarily have in abundance. There are some exceptions: Burning Sky of Sussex has a blending programme, producing a Flanders Red style and a Cuvee of oak-aged Saison, and imported Belgian Lambic. Elgoods of Wisbech in Cambridgeshire have their own wild fermentation programme too, recommissioning a coolship (a shallow, open fermenter) in order to create their own take on Lambic (they refer to it as Cambic). Wild Beer Co. in Somerset are just starting to put out some of their fully wild fermented beers and Cloudwater, less than a year into their founding, have announced their intention of creating their own wild styles. We now have producers such as Chorlton, a 100% sour brewery. That there is a place in the market
Sour beers you should try: Magic Rock – Salty Kiss 4.1% Salty Kiss is a modern take on the Gose style that originated in Leipzig, Germany. It has an addition of gooseberries in order to enhance the lactic tang of the base beer, while the salt acts as a counterpoint. Incredibly thirst-quenching and a great palate cleanser. Available at – The Canalhouse, The Kean’s Head, Embankment
Burning Sky – Monolith 8% Burning Sky is at the forefront of wild fermentation in the UK. This is a black beer aged in red wine casks with wild yeast and lactic bacteria. Dry, oaky with flavours of chocolate and red berries.
for this kind of brewery demonstrates the massive turnaround in attitude.
ayne on Twitter to sta y up-to-date!
I see people - who aren’t regular beer drinkers - pick up a glass of Belriner Weisse or Gose and enjoy it. Because they have no preconceptions of how beer should taste, they are much more open to relatively extreme flavours. The acidity reflects that of white wine or cider, so the flavours when replicated in beer should not be balked at but delved into and enjoyed. The beer scene in the UK is constantly evolving, wildly and seemingly spontaneously –we should allow our conceptions to evolve too.
Cantillon – Vigneronne 5.0% Cantillon is the quintessential Lambic producer and makes some of the most soughtafter beers in the world. This is one of them. This is a gueuze blended with white wine grapes and is intensely sour. Think Granny Smith apples, acidic white wine and lemon. Available at The Kean’s Head
Rodenbach Grand Cru 6.0% Rodenbach produces Flemish Red style beers, aged in oak vats and blended to create a perfect balance of sweet and sour. Perhaps surprisingly the Rodenbach family learned this technique in England. Flavours of balsamic vinegar, oak and red fruit. Incredibly complex, and a great alternative to red wine. Available at The Canalhouse, The Kean’s Head (and others)
Available at The Canalhouse
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The Goings On We’ve been rather a busy bunch as per usual! It was an amazing autumn of frolics with friends, experiments and events, comedy, Christmas parties and a trip to Bitburg, Germany.
Robin Hood Beer Supporting the Fest is best again! Castle Trust The Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival was another fantastic success. Held at Nottingham Castle from 7th10th October, the festival reportedly showcased the largest range of cask ale in the world. It was the 40th birthday of RHBCF with over 1,100 real ales and 300+ real ciders. We had three bars over the grounds: the Tavern by the band stand, the Main Bar in the top tent, and for the first time ever the Traffic Street Trailer. The vibe this year was incredible, with groups of friends drinking, dancing and generally having a great time. A huge success for everyone involved. See you at RHBCF16!
First Impressions Working with St. Anns Allotment holders in Nottingham, we gathered 450kg of apples to make a local, organic cider. As October is CAMRA cider and perry month, and with so many excess apples at the allotments that might otherwise go to waste, we decided it was time to dabble.
We’re excited to announce a new partnership with the Nottingham Castle Trust. Our support will help unlock funding used to create a world class visitors’ centre at Nottingham Castle. The attractions will include opening the medieval caves that are cut into the ancient sandstone Castle Rock, and adding in a feature glass elevator to provide an outstanding view of the south of Nottingham. It will also bring high grade art collections to the city, adding to Nottingham’s reputation as a cultural haven; the first of these exhibitions will run from July 2016, and will include ten Leonardo da Vinci drawings. We’re proud to be involved and to invest back into the fabric of the city - more to come in the next edition!
Comedy at Castle Rock Brewery Since the Nottingham Comedy Festival started up in 2009, Castle Rock has been sponsoring the event. This year it was bigger and better than ever, with the addition of a new comedy venue: Bob Slayer’s BlundaBus! The double decker bus, complete with a bar selling Harvest Pale, parked up in the brewery yard
throughout the festival. Hosting an array of comedy shows, from child-friendly comedy to (very risqué) late night performances, the BlundaBus was a unique and hilarious addition to NCF. Above: Bob Slayer’s BlundaBus, a new venue for Nottingham comedy courtesy of Castle Rock Brewery
Welcome to Castle Rock City
We’ve long been supporters of real cider, so it’s been great to learn more about the process. At the time of writing, the apples have been pressed and simply left to ferment. We’re hoping it will be ready for a taste in spring!
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We were thrilled when Rock City, Nottingham’s favourite music venue, approached us about providing beer for the ‘Indie All Dayer’ in October; an event to celebrate 35 years of live music at the venue. The music filled Saturday saw the likes of Echo and Bunnymen hit the stage, and happy festival goers drank the bar dry of Harvest Pale, Red Riding Hood and a special beer: Rock City Ale. It’s rare to see real ale in the venue, so we were pretty chuffed to be involved. Since then, we’ve supplied the beer for another event at Rock City, and we’re hoping the collaborations will continue…keep an eye out!
Barley-Moo In 2015 Castle Rock was thrilled to gain Silver accreditation from Investors in the Environment, a sustainability company working to tackle fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions and improve resource efficiency. Along with many other efforts to ‘go green’, one of our processes to reduce waste is passing on our spent grains to a local farmer. Our spent barley, made sugar free as part of the brewing process, provides a steady supply of food for contented beef cattle. We thought we’d introduce you to nineyear-old Felicity, an eager farmer-to-be whose family own Farnsfield farm and another in Bramcote. With the help of grandad Richard, and parents Frank and Tania, Felicity oversees feeding time for the cattle. Below she is pictured with Richard, serving up a hearty breakfast.
A trip to Bitburg A gang of happy Castle Rock managers were invited by Adnams and Bitburger to hop on over to Bitburg ‘for a drink’…we know, we know, we weren’t jealous either. So over to Germany they indeed hopped, for a couple of days meeting friends old and new. Here’s Phil, manager of the Swan in the Rushes, Tom, manager of the Stratford Haven, and James, manager of the Poppy & Pint, enjoying a drink in Bitburg.
Emma Taylor, manager of the Bread & Bitter, fundraising assistant Becky Tolputt and Professor Graham Pockley of the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre
BROvember - Cracking the Cancer Code In the last edition of the Quarter we made an announcement that our November fundraising efforts were to be re-focussed. After a few years of supporting an international charity, we decided to return home in support of a very worthy charity: the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre. Castle Rock director Neil Kelso and wife Linda, owners of the Victoria Hotel in Beeston, have been long-term supporters of the centre. Each year they host VicFest, a sixteen day festival which raises thousands of pounds for the centre. We decided to follow suit! The running cost of the centre is funded by the John and Lucille van Geest Foundation and Nottingham Trent University, so 100% of donations received go directly to cancer research. Prostate cancer is one of the key areas of focus for the centre, so our original aim to support men’s health remains. Over the month of November, we brewed up Walrus, a lip-smacking charity beer with 20p per pint sold donated to the charity. Our pubs got involved with special BROvember dishes on the menus, raffles and quiz nights, and together you helped us raise an amazing £3,554.14. Thank you so much for your support. Here’s to Cracking the Cancer Code!
A visit from TV’s Mike Dilger The third beer in the 2015 Wildlife Reserve range, Trent Vale Reserve, was launched with the help of a familiar face. Ecologist, ornithologist and television presenter Mike Dilger – best known as The One Show’s wildlife reporter- visited the brewery to learn more about the beers, which raise money for the work of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. As Honourary Vice President of the Trust, Mike joined us to try Trent Vale, a traditional East Midlands style best bitter. Mike is pictured right with our very own Lewis Townsend (centre) and Isabel Badger, mascot for the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. The latest beer in the Wildlife
Reserves range is Attenborough, a pilsner-style pale ale, which is available through to February.
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Traffic Street Specials
Traffic Street Tour and a “New Era”
Dan Gilliland
Firstly, a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who visited the Traffic Street Trailer at the Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival. It was wonderful to meet so many new people, see those of you we knew already, and give the low down on what the Traffic Street Specials are all about. Although the Traffic Street range is brewed within the walls of Castle Rock Brewery, the head brewer Dan Gilliland describes himself as a bit of a thorn in Castle Rock’s side; his relentless pursuit of experimentation is a stressful but welcome addition to the brew day. To be honest, it’s great to leave Dan to his own devices without interference. In Dan not only do we have a great brewer but also someone who is invested in, and dedicated to, the cause of incredible beer. There’s no point experimenting “within reason”, so we’re more than happy for Dan to be free and uncompromising. In December 2015, the newest beer in the range “New Era” was released. New Era is a 7.7% ABV beer/wine hybrid and started out as a pale ale wort with tasty Yakima Valley hops.
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The beer began to take a new form when Pinot Grigio grape juice was added. It’s an assertively dry beer with grape and hop battling it out on the palate, the result being an explosion of fresh citrus, gooseberry, stone fruit and a little bite in the finish. As always, we love to hear your feedback, so look out for New Era in Castle Rock pubs and let us know what you think. (Remember all Traffic Street beers are very limited edition!) On to 2016 and we’re keeping the momentum up. With seven beers to date, we’re researching some exciting flavours and styles: you can look forward to a new saison as well as, hopefully, a Kombucha tea beer brewed with our very own SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast). Sounds interesting, right? Alongside the beer, we’re also planning to put the Traffic Street Specials on the map with a
“Traffic Street Tour” of England’s major cities and suburbs, starting with Castle Rock pubs then moving on to Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield and London. The tour will feature a series of tap takeovers and meet the brewer evenings, so you can chat with Dan and together we can celebrate great beer. We are officially launching New Era at the Canalhouse on Thursday 21st January, from 5pm. There will be giveaways and discounts, with Dan on hand for any questions. All are welcome! You can also follow @Traffic_Street on Twitter for Traffic Street updates.
In focus
The Derby Tup Nestled on the northern outskirts of Chesterfield, the Derby Tup is an award-winning pub acquired by Castle Rock in 1990. Over the years, the Derby Tup has won multiple awards and developed a remarkable reputation as a result. Since we last featured the Derby Tup in the Castle Rock Quarter, new licensee Ade Cole has arrived on the scene and settled in well. We caught up with Ade to talk about this beer haven: ‘The Tup has a deep association with the real ale movements, and it’s one of the longest standing pubs in the Good Beer Guide.’ (In 2014, the Derby Tup received a rare honour from Chesterfield and District CAMRA after thirty consecutive years of inclusion in the Good Beer Guide.)
The developments in the brewing and pub industry over recent years has been exciting to see, with US-style café bars, industrial drinking spaces and modern, minimalist bars popping up all over the UK. The Tup, however, has remained quintessentially English. It’s still very much a classic ‘local’; a quiet place in which to seek shelter. As Ade puts it ‘there are no gimmicks; just great ale and a warm atmosphere.’
Ade has been licensee at the Derby Tup since February 2015. As a craft brewer and owner of small commercial brewery ‘Pigeon Fishers Craft Brewery’, his knowledge of beer and the brewing process make him an expert behind the bar. Some of the Pigeon Fishers beers are permanent fixtures to the real ale offering at the Tup, which means every night is a ‘Meet the Brewer’ night. Ade’s passion for beer combined with the long standing reputation of the Tup is a winning combination, which brings us to
Project Brunswick Ales… A small brewing plant is currently being installed in the kitchen of the pub, selling exclusive one off ales for the pub. Ade tells us the venture has been named ‘Project Brunswich Ales’ after the Derby Tup’s previous name, the Brunswick Hotel. Despite a reputation as a real ale staple in the Chesterfield area, the Tup isn’t resting on its laurels. The pub recently underwent some improvement works with re-decoration and the installation of new heating and toilets. The back bar area has also had some remodelling, and at the rear of the pub a micro-beer garden has been created. All of which, it’s important to mention, has been done with a compassionate eye – nothing much needs to be changed. As Roger Protz once said, the Derby Tup is among the few remaining pubs which form the ‘backbone of Britain’s traditional pub stock.’ As is common at many Castle Rock pubs, the Tup boasts an excellent range of gins, whiskies and quality wines. Naturally, beer lovers are well looked after with three Castle Rock ales on at all times as well as up to seven guest ales which change almost daily. Couple this with a decent range of world bottled beers and you have yourself a great place to settle down for a drink or two. *** The Tup is a popular pub with locals, but is easily accessible for visitors to the area; with a taxi from Chesterfield railway station costing around £4 and the area well served by buses. If you are yet to visit this wonderfully traditional pub, we’d encourage you to do so and see why it’s been in the Good Beer Guide for 30 years and counting!
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Bon appétit The Bread & Bitter’s winter menu is here and it is b-e-a-utiful… On Mapperley Top you’ll find the Bread & Bitter, a multi-room pub loved for being a real ale oasis. With manager Emma joining Castle Rock a few months back, we decided it was time to pop on over, have a chat and spend an afternoon sampling dishes from the new winter menu...for your benefit of course! Head chef Matthew was unable to join us on our visit, so we were lucky enough to be wined and dined by Adam (pictured righte). Adam started out in Castle Rock running a summer BBQ. Training manager Sarah spotted his natural talent, and the young enthusiast is now producing some of the most delicious dishes we’ve ever tasted. The new menu at the Bread is ideal for a locavore, with all the ingredients sourced locally (the beef only travels 6 miles from a Hucknall farm!) Nearly everything on your plate is homemade too, from the gnocchi to the honeycomb to the caramel sauce. Emma explained that ‘food at the Bread is more evolution than revolution. Classic dishes will always stay, but we’ll keep tweaking them to work
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with the fruit and vegetables that are in season. Our specials board is where the chefs get to experiment. Matthew has really switched things up since he joined the team’. And blimey, has he switched it up good. For those in favour of a traditional meal, the steak and ale pie is for you. There’s Harvest Pale in the shortcrust pastry, Preservation ale in the pie, and a side of stilton mash and vegetables which are blanched and seared. Our favourite dish was probably the fillet steak with anchovy butter, served with barrel-aged feta and truffle oil mash potato, and balsamic glazed shallots. All topped with crispy prosciutto and a rich veal jus. Veggies can dig into homemade mushroom gnocchi, and sea food fanatics into the most colourful prawn tagliatelle. If you’re vegan or gluten free, the chefs assure us that
they’ll create something especially – an offer like that is hard to beat. And for the sweet tooth, how about a panna cotta with rum-soaked strawberries or a rosemary and thyme crème brûlée? Are you feeling light-headed yet? It’s okay, we all are. If you can only swing by for a quick breakfast, your taste buds with be just as satisfied. Alongside breakfast ciabattas and hearty porridge, there’s the chance for ultimate indulgence: Toasted banana bread served with maple syrup, caramelised banana, vanilla mascarpone and fresh strawberries…now that’s the way to start your day. Food at the Bread & Bitter is served from Monday – Saturday 10.30am – 9pm, Sunday 12pm – 7pm. Sunday lunch is booked up fast, so give the pub a call to reserve your table.
Editor’s picks Upcoming Events January 2016 Thursday 21st – Sunday 24th January
Tuesday 9th February
Beermuda Triangle Beer Festival
Shrove Tuesday
The Fox and Crown is a featured pub on this unique beer trail which is organised by PINT (Pubs in Newark Together). The festival takes place over four days with more than 80 beers across seven pubs in Newark. Thursday 21st January
A Titter at Tea Enjoy a three course meal at the Horse & Plough followed by an evening of comedians hosted by Funhouse Comedy Club for just £29.95 a head. Comedians include Paddy Lennox and John Mann, with compere Spiky Mike. Thursday 21st January
The 39 Steps It’s time to celebrate Castle Rock’s 39th birthday! There will be drink & food offers at various Castle Rock pubs, as well as special events. Roll back the years at the Vat & Fiddle with free canapes and live music from Pesky Alligators; The Lincolnshire Poacher are ready to feed you up with free birthday cake and offers on Castle Rock beer; Over in Gedling the Willowbrook will have live music from Mispent Youth, offers on Castle Rock beer and a unique curry/beer tasting; The Poppy & Pint will have live music from Just Ben, plus discounts and a fundraising raffle; and at the Stratford Haven there’s live music, discounts on beer and burger night offers. Monday 25th January
Burns’ Night Enjoy a taste of Scotland at Castle Rock pubs with offers on malt whiskies with complementary neeps and tatties at the Vat & Fiddle and the Lincolnshire Poacher. At the Golden Eagle there will be themed beers, whisky offers, and a little bit’a Scottish reeling, and the Stratford Haven have offers on drinks plus a menu of traditional Scotch dishes. Or join us at the Willowbrook for a 2 or 3 course Scottish-inspired supper for just £13.95 or £16.95 including a whisky.
Full listings on our website - events in Castle Rock pubs are updated daily
It’s pancake day! Get your flippin’ fix at the Bread & Bitter with breakfast pancakes, traditional lemon and sugar pancakes, or gooey Nutella pancakes. We’ll also be serving up mouth-watering stacks at the Lincolnshire Poacher, the Stratford Haven and the Willowbrook.
February 2016 Tuesday 9th February
French Wine Tasting An evening for lovers of the vine; this tasting evening at the Poppy & Pint is hosted by Roger Halfpenny and includes the sampling of wine from the main regions of France, alongside a tasting menu created by chef Vanessa McGuire. Tickets are only £25, so call the Poppy to book yours: 0115 981 9995 Sunday 14th February
Valentine’s Day Valentine’s haters look away! Cupid is back in town and we’ve got that fuzzy feeling… Celebrate this Valentine’s Day with half price prosecco at the Bread & Bitter, a special Valentine’s supper at the Willowbrook, a Valentine’s Roast at the Stratford Haven including a bottle of wine, and a free rose at the Golden Eagle when you buy two pints of Castle Rock beer. That’s a win-win. Monday 29th February – Saturday 5th March
British Pie Week There’s not much the British folk love more than good pie! The Bread & Bitter are making a different pie each day cooked with Castle Rock beers, and all pies at the Lincolnshire Poacher will include a free pint of Harvest Pale throughout the week for just £9.95. At the Willowbrook there are sweet and savoury pies and the Stratford Haven celebrates with Pie & Pint offers. If you’re in Loughborough, be sure to visit the Swan in the Rushes and go pie-eyed for Pieminister Pies.
March 2016 Sunday 6th March
Mother’s Day It’s time to celebrate the most special lady of all: mum. Mothering Sunday has hurried around again and we’ve got plenty for Ma to enjoy. The Fox & Crown are offering free drinks for dining mums, and at the Lincolnshire Poacher two people can enjoy a three course meal and a bottle of wine for just £29.95. At the Willowbrook mums can enjoy a free glass of prosecco with a two or three course meal, and there’s a special Sunday Roast menu at the Stratford Haven with free desserts. Friday 18th – Sunday 20th March
Sport Relief Fundraiser There will be a series of sponsored events taking place at the Golden Eagle including a cycle ride, walk, crib and darts to raise Monday for Sport Relief, with offers on food for everyone taking part.
Regulars MONDAYS Bread & Bitter: Curry & Quiz Night. Curry, rice, naan and a drink for just £8.95, from 5pm. NEW: Horse & Plough: Burger and Beer Night, £9.90 from 5pm Kean’s Head: Homemade Pie & Pint Night. £10.95 from 5pm Stratford Haven: Curry & Pie Night, £7.95 from 5pm Willowbrook: Pie & Pint Night, £10 from 5pm. TUESDAYS Poppy & Pint: Curry & Quiz Night, £7.95 from 5pm (Quiz £1 from 9pm) Stratford Haven: Pie & Pint Night, £9.95 from 5pm NEW: Vat & Fiddle: Curry & Pint Tuesdays, £7.95 from 12noon-8pm Willowbrook: Quiz Night from 9pm, free. WEDNESDAYS: NEW: Embankment: Pizza Night, 2 pizzas and a bottle of house wine, £24.95 from 5pm. (Live acoustic music from 7pm) NEW: Stratford Haven: Steak & Blues Night, a new menu each week (with veggies catered for) and live Blues on the first Wednesday of each month. From 5pm. THURSDAYS NEW: Burger & Beer Night, £9.95 from 5pm. Swan in the Rushes: Charnwood Brewery Tap Takeover on the last Thursday of the month, and Funhouse Comedy on the first Thursday of the month Willowbrook: Curry & Pint Night, £10 from 5pm.
www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/event
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Beer news
The Dark Side Stout and Porter Stroll, MARCH 2016 2016 will mark the 12th Nottingham CAMRA Stout and Porter Stroll, which takes place throughout March. This initiative encourages the sampling of two of the oldest beer styles still enjoyed in Britain today. At Castle Rock we’ve always been fans of these styles, brewing many as part of the ‘Natural Selection’ beers which raised money for the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. A while back now we noticed the demand for stouts was gathering momentum, down to initiatives like the Stout & Porter Stroll and beer drinkers experimenting with more diverse styles. So a year ago we added a stout to our core range of beers: Sherwood Reserve, brewed with fresh coffee beans. Sherwood is smooth and well-balanced, with aromas of coffee and chocolate. We’ll be highlighting this great beer throughout the Stout and
Porter Stroll, so look out for it on Castle Rock bars and beyond. Also look out for Colin Slater, the first Nottinghamian Celebration Ale of 2016 (and the 22nd overall). To celebrate the Notts County commentator legend we’re brewing a deliciously warming porter, which will be available between January and March. Our guest ale lines will of course showcase stouts and porters from both local and national breweries, so if there’s a particular beer you’d like to see, get in touch. You can contact us on our website, or send us a message on Facebook or Twitter.
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Castle Rock Pubs ALEXANDRA HOTEL 203 Siddals Road, Derby DE1 2QE
Tel: 01332 293993
e-mail: alexandrahotel@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: Alexandra Hotel T: @Alex_Pub_Derby
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Beer Consortium
282-284 Arkwright St, Nottingham NG2 2GR
Tel: 0115 986 4502
e-mail: breadandbitter@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: Bread Bitter T: @breadandbitter
e-mail: canalhouse@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: Canal House T: @canalhousebar
Tel: 0115 960 7541
e-mail: embankment@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: Embankment Pub & Kitchen T: @EmbankmentNottm
Tel: 01246 454316
FOREST TAVERN/MAZE 257 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FT
Tel: 0115 947 5650
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email: info@themazerocks.com • web: www.themazerocks.com F: The Maze T: @themazenotts
HORSE AND PLOUGH
GOLDEN EAGLE
21 High Street, Lincoln LN5 8BD
Beer Consortium
NEW BARRACK TAVERN
e-mail: lincolnshirepoacher@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: Lincolnshire Poacher T: @lincpoacher
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Lady Bay Inns
Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay, Notts NG2 5DX
Tel: 0115 981 9995
e-mail: poppyandpint@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: Poppy & Pint T: @PoppyandPint
4-6 Appletongate, Newark, Notts NG24 1JY
Tel: 01636 605820
e-mail: foxandcrown@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: The Fox & Crown Newark T: @TheFoxandCrown
e-mail: keanshead@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: Kean’s Head T: @keanshead
LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER
601 Penistone Road, Sheffield S6 2GA
Tel: 0114 234 9148
e-mail: newbarracktavern@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: New Barrack Tavern T: @NewBarrack
NEWSHOUSE
123 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7HB
Tel: 0115 952 3061
e-mail: newshouse@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: The Newshouse T: @NewshouseNotts
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(The Brewery Tap)
e-mail: stratfordhaven@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: Stratford Haven T: @stratfordhaven
21 The Rushes, Loughborough LE11 5BE
12-14 Queensbridge Rd, Nottingham NG2 1NB
WILLOWBROOK
e-mail: swanintherushes@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: Swan Rushes T: @swanrushes
e-mail: vatandfiddle@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: Vat and Fiddle T: @VatandFiddle
e-mail: willowbrook@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: The Willowbrook T: @WillowbrookCRB
Tel: 0115 985 0611
13 Main Rd, Gedling, Nottingham NG4 3HQ
Tel: 0115 987 8596 T
All of our pubs follow the latest allergen legislation. Further details are available in each establishment.
Tenanted pub F: Castle Rock Brewery
Core Castle Rock Beers 3.4%
Brewed to be a traditional session ale with a malty bitter taste.
F: Sheriff Tipple T: @SheriffTipple
3.8%
A national award-winning blonde beer. American hops give a refreshingly crisp, citrus finish.
3.8%
A well balanced, award-winning 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.
T: @RedRidingHoodCR
4.4%
A full-bodied premium bitter of typical East Midlands character. Perfect bitter-sweet balance.
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Tel: 0115 982 5981
SWAN IN THE RUSHES Tel: 01509 217014
VAT AND FIDDLE
Tel: 0115 947 4052
2 Stratford Rd, W. Bridgford, Nott’m NG2 6BA
12 Lawrence Street, York YO10 3WP
e-mail: rookandgaskill@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: The Rook and Gaskill T: @RookGaskillYork
46 St. Mary’s Gate, Nottingham NG1 1QA
STRATFORD HAVEN
ROOK AND GASKILL Tel: 01904 655450
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FOX AND CROWN
e-mail: horseandplough@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: Horse and Plough T: @HorseandPlough
161-163 Mansfield Road, Nott’m NG1 3FR
POPPY AND PINT
e-mail: eagle@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: The Eagle T: @TheEagleBoston
KEAN’S HEAD
Tel: 01949 839313
Tel: 0115 941 1584
Tel: 01205 361116
25 Long Acre, Bingham, Notts NG13 8AF
Tel: 01522 521058
e-mail: goldeneagle@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: The Golden Eagle Free House T: @GoldenEaglePub
Tel: 0115 955 5060
144 West Street, Boston, Lincs PE21 8RE
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e-mail: derbytup@castlerockbrewery.co.uk F: The Derby Tup T: @TheDerbyTup
48-52 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7EH
EAGLE
387 Sheffield Rd, Chesterfield S41 8LS
First Floor Departure Lounge, East Midlands Airport Operated by Autogrill
EMBANKMENT
153-155 Woodthorpe Dr, Mapperley, NG3 5JL
CANALHOUSE
DERBY TUP
CASTLE ROCK TAP ROOM & KITCHEN
Breakthroughpoint Ltd
BREAD AND BITTER
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.
4.5%
Brewed with fresh Columbian coffee beans. Flavours of rich chocolate and coffee are in the nose, and the taste is smooth and lasting.
T: @CRBrewery
F: Elsie Mo T: @Elsiemocrb
F: Screech Owl T: @ScreechOwlCRB
For details of upcoming and future seasonal beers please see pages 2 & 3 in this issue
The next issue of Castle Rock Quarter is published in April