Beer Around Ere 189 - June/July 2016

189 Peterborough & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale June / July 2016

ALSO INSIDE PUB & BREWERY NEWS

DIARY DATES

GBBF 2016

The sun has returned, is summer here? Well it appeared so the weekend of 7th-8th May! Those running and those attending beer festivals certainly had the weather for it! We will have to hope that August has similar weather.

You will notice that this edition mentions the CAMRA Revitalisation Project, see Chairman’s Corner and page 13. Do please take a few moments to familiarise yourself with its aims and help to shape the future!

One person got in touch regarding pubs that give discounts to CAMRA members. Thank you Ken!

Editor’s ramblings | 3

IN THIS ISSUE Welcome from the editor 3 Chairman’s corner 5 Pub news 7–11 Is this the end of CAMRA? 13 Brewery news 14–16 Farewell Bert and Eileen 19 Train Trip to Bridlington, Driffield and Beverley 20–23 Diary dates 24 Iron Horse Beer Club 26–27 Awards 29 Branch contacts 30 Join CAMRA 31

great pubs in our area that don’t get the recognition they warrant.

So not so much a list as I had hoped for but a Cheers! mention for the Fox and Hounds in Longthorpe which gives 10% off real ale for members and I’m JB told has 4 real ales on most of the time. Do all pubs offering discounts advertise the fact in-house?

Asking the question but not expecting replies I think it’s a case of ‘let’s skip the editor’s bit and find Get Beer Around Ere delivered to your door! something more interesting!” I can go along with For a year (6 issues) send £3.60 for second class or £4.14 that, no more questions!!

Are you missing out?

Finally please don’t forget to nominate deserving pubs for a Gold or Merit Award. There are some

Editor: Jane Brown bae-editor@real-ale.org.uk

Published by: Peterborough & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

Produced on behalf of CAMRA by: Orchard House Media Ltd Eventus Business Centre, Sunderland Rd, Market Deeping. Tel: 01778 382758

Magazine Design & Production: Daniel Speed daniel.speed@orchardhousemedia.co.uk

Advertising Sales Manager: Jane Michelson Tel: 01778 382718

for 1st Class or multiples thereof for multiple years. Please send a cheque/PO payable to “Peterborough CAMRA” and your address to:- Daryl Ling, 19 Lidgate Close, Peterborough PE2 7ZA

Distribution: David Murray chairman@real-ale.org.uk

Proof Reading: Bob Melville - 07941 246693

Printed By: Precision Colour Print Ltd Haldane, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ

Circulation: 7,000 copies distributed to pubs, clubs and members throughout the Peterborough and District CAMRA Branch area. A digital version of this magazine is available to view and download at issuu.com

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Beer Around ‘Ere is published by the Peterborough & District Branch of CAMRA Copyright © 2016, The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. Views or comments expressed in this publication may not necessarily be those of the Editor or of CAMRA. The next issue of Beer Around ‘Ere will be available on the 21st July.

We must have your stories, news and advertisements by 4th July Please send your stories and other copy to the editor, Jane Brown.

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

THE VINE

4 | Please support our advertisers

Market Deeping

Gold Award Winner

Free House with 5 Real Ales Large Patio area 2 Regular Ales and 3 Guest Ales Stockist of Hopshackle Beers

BEER FESTIVAL Thurs 23rd - Sat 25th June 2016 Tel: 07501 465 646 19 Church Street, Market Deeping

BEER AROUND ERE | JUNE / JULY 2016

We are Peterborough CAMRA Pub of the Year 2016!

Up to 4 Real Ales available • Friendly village pub with riverside mooring • Large garden • Dogs welcome

Food served: Lunches Monday - Saturday 12-2pm, Sunday 12-3pm Evening meals Monday -Saturday 6-8pm

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Chairman’s corner |5

Chairman’s Corner “Many people believe that CAMRA has done its job as one of the most successful consumer groups in Europe. There are some who would say, has it really?”

The main topic of my blurb this issue is that CAMRA have proceeded with a new membership action known as the Revitalisation Project. This basically is asking members in what direction the campaign should now be going. Many people believe that CAMRA has done its job as one of the most successful consumer groups in Europe. There are some who would say, has it really?

With a membership of over 175,000 should CAMRA represent only drinkers of real ale? In 1988 we took on board the cider and perry producers and drinkers. Why not represent beer drinkers of all types, and try and convert them to real ale? Or should we represent all drinkers of traditional styles of beer/cider without caring too much on the methods of production and dispense?

All pub goers could be represented, because they are the ones who help to keep the key outlets for real ale open and pubs promote responsible drinking in a controlled environment. Finally should we represent all people, whatever they drink, and wherever they buy it and wherever they drink it?

No, I think the last scenario could include the winos on the local park bench, so forget that bit.

We could, if we position ourselves, represent all beer and cider drinkers who drink in pubs, plus gain a larger membership and campaigning voice.

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

If we welcomed all drinkers, even those who have still not made up their minds what they think is good beer, we might even help them discover their own preferences. A few facts to alert you. In 1970 beer represented 71% of all alcohol consumed in the UK. In 2014 this was only 36%. In 1974 there were fewer than 200 breweries in the UK. Today there are over 1500. Between 2009 and 2013 3,800 coffee shops opened, whilst during that time 4,500 pubs closed. The price of a pint of beer in the on-trade (pubs) increased by 187% between 1987 and 2011 but, only 52% for off-sales (shops).

So this is why CAMRA is looking closely at the future strategy and purpose. They are holding open meetings throughout the country to breathe new life into the campaign, but need to find out from our members what direction to take. Make a note of this date. Saturday June 18th there is a Revitalisation Project meeting being held at the Brewery Tap in Peterborough, starting at 1.30pm. I urge members to attend.

Please bring your membership card. There will be limited spaces so book your place promptly.

The meeting is also open to any other interested parties within the trade. CAMRA NEEDS SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED before any changes can be made. This review is in keeping with good governance as all good organisations review their mission from time to time.

As we have a record membership and greater influence than ever before, any changes can be made from a position of strength and success.

Please make every effort to attend the meeting on June 18th. It’s only for a couple of hours, but could make a major impact on CAMRA’s future direction.

David Murray Branch Chairman

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

6 | Please support our advertisers

VINYL NIGHT Bring down your favourite records Last Friday of the month

UKELELE NIGHT Every Thursday from 7.30pm

LIVE MUSIC WEEKLY Check Facebook & local gig guides

14 Ever-changing, gravity fed real ales thepalmerstonarms

BEER AROUND ERE | JUNE / JULY 2016

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Pub News The Kings Head A warm, sunny day at the end of March took us to the ancient village of Apethorpe, which has a mention in the Doomsday book. It has a pleasant village pub called the Kings Head with open log fires, London Pride as its regular beer and two guests from local breweries. Like so many village pubs nowadays it has a heavy dependence on food, but the bar at the front of the pub has retained much of its original character. The rather effeminate head displayed on the pub sign is presumably that of James 1st who stopped in the village on his way to London in 1603. At least he managed to keep it intact for the remainder of his life, which is more than we can say for his mother and son. Further along the road is the beautiful limestone village of Kings Cliffe. This is one of the many unspoilt villages in the branch, probably flourishing on the wool trade judging by its statuesque Regency houses. Nestled amidst its mullioned windows and Collyweston slates is the Cross Keys. As you enter this pub there is a long bar to the left and a small snug to the right, both adorned with their original stone inglenooks. The main bar is further along the passage and is a regular haunt of Kings Cliffe brewer, Jez O'Neill, who brews a special beer for the pub. Also available were Greene King IPA, Black Sheep Gold and Everards Tiger. The pub boasts a very reasonably priced menu and I would especially recommend the home- made pies. Mad Mondays offer all the beer at £2.50 a pint and happy hour is 6.00 -7.00pm every day.

Ferrynough As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, country walks once again become a more attractive prospect. Our less ambitious walkers might choose a stroll across the parkland of Ferry Meadows rather than risking the hazardous footpaths of the open countryside. There are several access points to the park, but I have chosen the route just off the Thorpe Road, which may be reached by a number 2 bus from the city centre.

The Boathouse, in Thorpe Meadows, is excellently appointed at the head of the boating lake.

It has been recently refurbished in the corporate Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Pub news |7

style of the Chef and Brewer chain which you will probably find as banal as the distressing pun that heads this paragraph. Spacious, food orientated and with plenty of seating room, it has an extensive patio and garden area overlooking the eastern edge of the park. Greene King IPA, Abbot, St. Austell Tribute and Sharp’s Doom Bar, this pub also offers a moderately priced lunch time menu available from 12.00 – 4.00pm, Mondays to Saturdays.

Anticipating an arduous walk ahead, I felt it was wise to fortify myself with a steak and kidney pudding, made from real beef suet. And a pleasant walk it turned out to be, virtually impossible to get lost. Following the boating lake and crossing the golf course, you are bordering the Nene all the way until you cross it at the suspension bridge.

From here you merely follow the tarmac paths which dissect the man-made lakes until you arrive at the visitors centre. Not much to detain us here, apart from Jason Thomson’s wood sculpture carved around the contours of an otherwise dead elm tree. Ham Lane will take you back to the Oundle Road and the Granary, a bog standard Beefeater Inn designed in a style that blends well with its bucolic setting. Blasted by Becks and surrounded with grills, I sought refuge in its spacious basement bar where I found Sharp’s Doom Bar and Fullers London Pride on hand pump. Like many chain pub-restaurants, it does what it says on the tin.

The more ambitious can turn left into the Oundle Road and right into Cherry Orton Road for the Windmill. This is an elegantly furnished pub with open fires, oak beams and oak pillars offering soups, kebabs, tortillas, burgers, nachos, steaks, sausage and mash, fish, curries and chicken, all of the meat delivered fresh on the day. The menu also offers a glutton burger in case Mr. Creosote pops in and is insufficiently sated by all of the other items on offer! Black Sheep Bitter, Adnams Broadside, Bishops Farewell, Tim Taylor’s Landlord are the regular beers. On this occasion it was not Mr. Creosote who exploded but a regular customer who, on learning that I was a CAMRA member, told me to “get up north and get a

F

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

8 | Pub news - continued

decent pint wi’ a decent ‘ed on it”. After this battery of imperatives, the soothsayer fled muttering, denying me the opportunity to remind him that it was Karl Marx who once famously said that “sparklers are theft”. I was probably wasting my time.

I personally prefer the walk which lies ahead of Bluebell Wood, at the edge of the golf course and on the eastern side of the suspension bridge.

Exiting the wood at Milton Ferry Bridge, having spotted another of Jason Thomson’s intriguing tree carvings on the route, you are at the foot of the slip road leading up to Love’s Hill above the ancient Roman settlement of Castor. The Romans had the novel idea of locating a settlement above a flood plain, a principle that seems to have been lost on modern planners. For those who do not know Castor, it has evolved into an exquisite village abounding with thatched roofed houses and a stunning church, parts of which date back to Anglo Saxon times, and it still has two pubs.

The Royal Oak describes itself as “an Old English Village Pub”, and so it is. Three roomed with low ceilings, original oak beams and traditional fireplaces, it offers four beers: JHB and St. Austell Tribute as regulars and two rotating guests. I tried a pint of Thwaites Wainwright, which was in excellent condition. It was a Friday lunchtime when I called in and the pub was packed with walkers and diners: hot lunches, toasted paninis, hot and cold baguettes and steamy soups. These are normally only available on a Friday and Saturday, but they will make special arrangements for a group of walkers if notified in advance. Shiraz, Merlot, Malbec and Rioja are all available by the glass or at £16.50 a bottle. You know it makes sense.

It was time I visited my old friends, Simon and Kay, in the Prince of Wales Feathers. This is one of the best designed pubs I have ever been into. It has three identifiable areas, main bar with Sky Sports, a games room and an eating area to the rear. Each room is framed as a separate compartment, but with the absence of physical barriers they all naturally sweep into each other, thus creating a sense of integrated space which enhances the conviviality of the pub. It has two outside drinking areas, one facing the main road, BEER AROUND ERE | JUNE / JULY 2016

the other to the rear which now houses a permanent stillage and with extended roof cover. This is the ideal venue for their beer festivals which have become popular for the interesting range of beers that Simon offers. And you don’t have to wait for a beer festival. This is the brewery tap for Castor Ales, and there is almost invariably something on the bar which I have never tried before. Six real ales and seven ciders, Kay recommends that you book in advance if you arrive for Sunday lunch.

On the Grapevine Which is likely to reopen. The proprietors of Clarks, in Cathedral Square, are relocating to the old Flying Club in their pursuit of the Michelin star, and I have heard that Charles Wells are interested in turning it back into a pub. Thus, the Grapevine has not only survived the Queensgate holocaust, but also the current gourmet invasion.

Phil and Maria Quinn have managed to procure the Boat in Whittlesey from Elgoods and celebrated with a mini beer festival at Easter. They will continue to serve Cambridge and Golden Newt, due to their continuing popularity, along with two guests. The Woolpack in Weldon is still up for sale. If it closes for good it will reduce the number of pubs in Weldon to two. But this is an expanding suburb of Corby and I have heard that Marston’s intend to open a pub/restaurant on the new estate. I have also heard an unsubstantiated rumour that the Grainstore brewery in Oakham has an interest in the Fox in Folksworth. After being closed for some time, maybe we can look forward to this pub reopening. Meanwhile, back in the city centre, real ale has returned to the Bull Hotel in the form of Oakham JHB and Mark 7.

Simon Benton has introduced his own brew into the Ostrich, a 4% bitter called Dirty Bird.

Brewed on license by Jez at Kings Cliffe, this is available along with the normal enterprising selection of cask ales and a growing range of key keg products. Enterprise Inns have put the Hand and Heart in Highbury Street up for sale. It is, of course, essential that we save this pub and Matt Mace is organizing a community enterprise of pub patrons and local residents with a view to raising £300,000. Further details are available from Matt on: mattmace@outlook.com.

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Pub news - continued |9

Inside Stamford After the conflicting information I have received on the future of the Periwig, I had an irresistible urge to visit the Crown and get the information straight from the horse’s mouth. For a brief period I was afraid it would close but I should have known that the Knead Group would not relinquish this valuable piece of real estate in the middle of Stamford. A refurbishment is being planned, but the new concept is still under consideration. The only positive information I have is that it is to be called Peyton’s Bar and Kitchen, after the wine merchants who occupied the property before it became the Marsh Harrier, but I feel sure that we can count on Mick Thurlby maintaining his long standing commitment to high quality real ale.

The Crown is still serving Tim Taylor’s Landlord, JHB and London Pride, and I thought I would, for once, take the rare opportunity to enjoy the comfort of the well-appointed mezzanine lounge.

Stone-walled and sumptuously furnished, above the fireplace is a large portrait of a gentleman clad in eighteenth century garb, somewhat inclined to corpulence, who I instantly assumed to be a member of the Stamford gentry in fancy dress.

Closer inspection, however, proved it to be Daniel Lambert who should need no introduction in this part of the world. This artifact was somewhat surpassed by a wooden plaque in the main bar declaring that “the Lincolnshire red bull on our farm is called Christian”. The unfortunate creature is then displayed exhibiting his neck, chuck and blade, sirloin, fillet, rump, silverside, topside, fore ribs, flank and shank, in a true spirit of Christian sacrifice. If it were a sheep farm, dare I say it, greater love hath no lamb. A more indulgent approach to our animal friends is apparent in the restaurant where there is a notice welcoming our “loving pooches” into all Knead pubs with free dog treats at the bar.

As reported in the last edition, George Sakalli has taken over the Green Man and has appointed Betty Hawkes as pub manager. The pub is currently offering seven real ales with prices ranging from £2.90 -£3.20, a welcome relief in Stamford. I have heard that George intends to dispose of the juke box and the one-armed bandit, Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

which should do something to raise the profile of the pub and return it to its former glory. The pub featured its Easter Beer Festival, as usual, at the end of March. Mick Purvis, who took over the Golden Fleece last year, has now taken over the Millstone, and the pub has started selling food and has returned to opening every day. It is now managed by his daughter, Carole, and her partner, Malcolm. Like so many other Stamford pubs, it is a former coaching inn, Grade 1 listed and dating back to 1720. As you face the bar, the thoroughfare would have been on your left. I was particularly drawn in by the oak beams which Malcolm suggested were probably recovered from a galleon, pointing out the grooves that run along the side designed to hold the transoms. They have major plans for the garden, improving the wooden decking and planning to erect metal gates between the stone walls to provide security for children from the Sheepmarket traffic. As they are awaiting the installation of a new python, if you visit the pub now you will get your beer poured straight from the cask. I went for a pint of London Pride, a complex beer which, as it has become more widely available, is not always in the best of form. The pint that Malcolm drew me from the cellar, however, was at its immaculate best. The Fleece and the Millstone are most certainly back on my Stamford itinerary.

Resurrection As I predicted in my last article, some pubs close for a short period and are soon to reopen. My Stamford informer, Alun Thomas writes “the Queens Head, Bulwick, re-opened on Friday 25th March. A new broom has evidently been flourished with the interior of the pub a lot roomier and brighter, yet space has been found for that rarity these days of a snug. Ian and local girl Hayleigh are mine hosts, while born and bred Rutlander, Rob, is the chef. Straight forward pub fare is the plan in the short run, but watch this space. Locals are already giving the pub the thumbs up with two beers from Grainstore, (Triple B and Osprey, both on stonking form on my visit) alongside Bishops Finger and Doom Bar. Friday the 25th was of course Good Friday, the same day that the Black Horse in Elton reopened. Because of this they call this Friday Good.

F

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

10 | Please support our advertisers

Peterborough’s Oldest Members Club Just a short walk from Bus and Railway Stations and Queensgate

Food served Wednesday to Sunday Free entry to CAMRA members Live Music & Entertainment

28th May Retrolux 4th June Park Lane 11th June Athenry 17th June James Edmonds 18th June Frankly My Dear 25th June Phoenix Show Band 1st July Race Night 2nd July Souled Out 9th July Go with the Flow 16th 101 Proof

Find us at: 7 Burghley Rd, Peterborough PE1 2QA Tel 01733 896989 theburghleyclub Website: www.theburghleyclub.com

BEER AROUND ERE | JUNE / JULY 2016

25+ Beers, Ciders and Craft Lagers.

Live Music all weekend Gorefield Gala day on Saturday, lots of stalls and attractions.

Camping available, £5 per pitch, with toilets on site and shower block. please book in advance. email: bookhall@gorefield.com www.hall.gorefield.com Gorefield Community Hall, Wolf Lane, Gorefield, Wisbech, PE13 4NE

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Meanwhile, back in the city, I attended the reopening of the Blue Bell in Dogsthorpe on April 2nd. This Grade 1 listed building is one of the city’s major assets with parts of it dating back to the seventeenth century. Especially attractive is the wood panelled snug to the left of the main bar.

Paul Cliff, Jimmy and Jeannette Gilligan and Darren Needham are our intrepid entrepreneurs who after four months of hard graft and no little expense have launched this pub back into the centre of the community. The opening ceremony, conducted by Jeannette’s mum, Marjorie Howell, was impeded by either an exceptionally tough ribbon or some very blunt scissors, much to the jocularity of the assembled host. On learning that I was a CAMRA representative, Marjorie reminisced with me on the late Gilbert Cole, whose encyclopaedic knowledge of branch pubs kept us in awe for decades. Gilbert was also a rambler, and I had a fleeting vision of him prophesying this ceremony by reopening a closed public footpath with his wire cutters.

The Kings Head Recent newspaper reports reveal that a publican has become so irked with the ACV process and the people who have inflicted it upon him that he has barred all CAMRA members from his pub. He appears to be claiming that the petition has put him at a commercial disadvantage and that these “do-gooders” have no right to interfere in his business.

Pub news - continued |11

recently a group from the travelling community has successfully claimed that they have suffered a detriment as part of “an identifiable social group”.

And there is nothing more identifiable than CAMRA members with their moth eaten sweaters, beards and sandals. Even the male of the species is easily spotted. The point being that the 2011 Localism Act is now as much a part of the framework of legislation that is designed to protect both publicans and drinkers as the laws governing unfair discrimination and those granting managerial discretion. It would be somewhat perverse to accept one and not the other. It was John Milton who once said that to say that someone, anyone, is above the law undermines the very principle of law itself**. And his King lost his head over it. *Further details are available on request. ** Eikonoklastes: John Milton 1649

John Temple Pubs Officer

Send us your news!

Calling all landlords and landladies! Had a refurb? Got a great event on? Started selling a new range of ales or cider?

Let us know and we will add your news to these pages.

Just email John Temple at pubs-officer@real-ale.org.uk

Only a man whose heart is like a stone can fail to sympathise with this poor chap. Whilst it is true that under English law publicans can refuse to serve whoever they like without giving a reason, they now have to consider a whole raft of laws relating to equality. And we all know what a minefield this is. It has left the saloon bar door open to all kinds of undesirable deviants*. The problem with these I think he has just suggested that his views on ACV’s are at variance with those inconvenient laws is that they are of CAMRA and it would be preferable if we drank elsewhere! always open to abuse. Only Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

12 | Please support our advertisers

The Ramblewood Inn ‘The pub in the woods’

The all day venue – Open for meals and snacks 12pm to 9pm daily A conservatory restaurant with food served all day, nooks and crannies in the old stables, outdoor seating and extensive parking, plus a selection of Real Ales.

Real food, Real ales, Real pub BEST WESTERN PLUS Orton Hall Hotel & Spa, The Village, Orton Longueville, Peterborough, PE2 7DN Tel: 01733 391111

50% OFF

All food purchased when you spend £30 or more

Name Email Postcode Terms and Conditions - Coupon valid only when £30 or more is spent on food, cannot be exchanged for cash, does not apply to spend on drinks cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, not valid for parties in excess of 8 people. Valid until 29th July 2016. Excluding Sundays.

If you do not wish to receive further promotions please tick here.

For special offers, news and travel directions visit www.traditionalinns.co.uk

BEER AROUND ERE | JUNE / JULY 2016

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Revitalisation of CAMRA |13

The End of CAMRA? After 45 years of being one of the largest singleissue consumer groups in the world, the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) could be coming to an end.

The organisation is embarking on a consultation of as many as possible of its nearly 180,000 members to ask them who and what it should represent in the future, and it may no longer be focused on real ale!

One of its four founders, Michael Hardman, has returned to lead the Revitalisation Project - a wholesale review into the purpose and strategy of CAMRA. Members of the organisation will be invited to share their views about the future of CAMRA by completing surveys and attending around 50 consultation meetings across the UK this summer. They’ll be asked whether CAMRA should move away from promoting and protecting traditional real ale and become more inclusive, or shed subsidiary issues which have become attached to the organisation over the years - such as cider in order to narrow its focus exclusively on caskconditioned beer.

The Revitalisation Project is CAMRA’s response to a beer and pub industry which has changed hugely since the organisation was founded in 1971.

The rise of craft beer and a resurgence of interest in beer in recent years, plus renewed threats to pubs, have challenged CAMRA to review if it is best positioned to represent its members in the future.

Options include becoming a consumer organisation for all beer drinkers, all pub goers regardless of what they drink, or even all alcohol drinkers, regardless of where they drink it. Revitalisation Project Chairman Michael Hardman said: “This could mark a fundamental turning point for the Campaign for Real Ale. So fundamental it may no longer continue as the Campaign for Real Ale and instead become a campaign for pubs, or a campaign for all drinkers’’.

“It’s not up to us though. It’s up to our members to tell us what they want the Campaign to do in the future. CAMRA has sometimes been criticised for failing to react to the times, being old-fashioned and reactionary, and failing to embrace developments in the pub and beer industry such as craft beer. This is the chance for our members to tell us who we should represent in the future and for what we should be campaigning.’’

“When we founded the Campaign the most important thing was choice and combatting poor quality beer. Now our members need to tell us what is important to them. We need to hear from as many CAMRA members as possible to tell us what they think the organisation should look like in the future.”

Mike Blakesley Press Officer CAMRA members please visit https://revitalisation.camra.org.uk/ and take part in our future.

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

14 |

Brewery News Bexar County During a recent visit to the brewery Bexar County BLO (Brewery Liaison Officer) was able to sample several beers from the fermenter including Cookie Monster 6% abv American lager and El Sol y La Luna 4.9% abv, a Mexican style lager and also a Dortmunder export lager called I Love To Hate You 5.2% abv all of which were full of taste and flavour.

Also on the go was Papa Steve in a Glenmorangie oak cask which will be going to Cambridge Beer Festival where Bexar County will be sharing a brewery bar with 3 Blind Mice from Ely. Truman Victorian Export Stout is another Bexar County beer that has been put into an oak cask and which was first brewed last year for Melton Mowbray Victorian market. It went into the cask 6.7% abv and should be slightly more lethal when it emerges. This beer will be going to Peterborough Beer Festival. A beer soon to be available is a collaboration with Alphabet Brewing Co. called Tainted Dove which is a chocolate, coconut and almond PALE beer, you don’t see many pale chocolate beers!

Blue Bell The brewery has recently been sold by Emma Bell to John and Debbie, hosts at the Blue Bell Inn. The rationale behind the purchase is to secure the brewery and the beers to make it an integral part of the Blue Bell business.

All renovation work is now complete and the first batch of Ingle Dingle was in the fermenters at beginning of May and should be on sale soon. The first batch of what will be the main beer and re named New Honesty was due to be brewed midMay. This is a 4.1% abv bitter and has a slight ‘tweak’ in the recipe from the original!

It will also be known as “That One” and Ingle Dingle as “The Other One”.

BEER AROUND ERE | JUNE / JULY 2016

The brewery will concentrate on supplying the pub and for private sales (parties etc.) in the first instance.

Castor Ales Recently we added our own twist to the collaboration merry go round that seems to be all the craze these days.

Having tasted Bexar County's collaboration brew with Weird Beard called “A Lemon Tree my Dear Watson” we decided we wanted to try and brew something similar. The polite thing to do would be to arrange a collaboration with Steve Saldana, but no, we merely phoned and bombarded Steve with questions until he effectively gave us the recipe and the process, and then we set about replicating it.

(Some may call it stealing!) Thanks Steve!

The final product Leaping Lemon featured at the Coalheavers beer festival and soon sold out.

At the Prince of Wales Feathers beer festival it featured as a blend with Leaping Toad and became Lemondipity. Look out for future variations on this theme.

We were disappointed not to make the Cambridge Beer Festival again this year, but let’s be philosophical, their loss not ours and on the up side it meant uninterrupted supplies for our loyal Peterborough customers. Production of Hopping Toad 4.1% abv continues to increase with the Leaping Toad variation 4.9% abv featuring strongly in the second quarter of the year.

So Toadies must sign off, but please don't forget the first two weekends in July: the Peterborough Heritage Festival featuring real ale and real art and the Castor Summer Festival featuring real ale and real music. Come along to see what “specials” will be making an appearance from Castor Ales.

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Brewery news |15

Elgoods Double Swan is the current seasonal and will be replaced next month (June) with They Think It’s Ale Over to celebrate the UEFA Euro 2016 and 50 years since England’s World Cup win.

The brewery will again be hosting the SIBA East Beer Competition and Beer Festival from Thursday 29th September to Saturday 1st October. On the pub front as reported in Pub News the Blue Bell in Dogsthorpe has re-opened.

Hopshackle Brewery Dark, a 3.8% abv mild has been brewed for May and June. It is a very dark ruby colour and uses the traditional English hop, East Kent Goldings and the malts used are pale, chocolate, crystal and black. The yeast used has been a ‘borrowed’ yeast from another brewery which is more suitable for mild than the normal ‘house’ yeast.

Black Mule 5.6% abv and Hopnosis 5.2% abv and Dark are all available in casks.

Hopshackle Beers will be at The 42nd Cambridge Beer Festival, May 23rd -28th and The Rutland Beer Festival, June 23rd -26th.

Mile Tree Brewery Richard has now recovered from his hip replacement operation in February and is now busy brewing albeit with help from neighbour Trevor Parke - a real top bloke and damn fine brewery assistant!

Ely Eel Festival held over the Early Spring Bank holiday was once again a great success. Mile Tree Brewery along with Watergull Orchards ran the bar over the three day event with record numbers of people attending this year. Many thanks to all who helped us out!

Mile Tree are very pleased to have their beers once again at Cambridge Beer Festival. This year they have Dark Secret 3.8% abv and Woodrush 4.7% abv.

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

The annual Mid-summer Food and Craft Fair takes place on Saturday 25th June at The Secret Garden Touring Park where Mile Tree Brewery will be once again running the beer tent.

Mile Tree Brewery and Watergull Orchards will be running the Beer and Cider tent at the Hilgay Vintage & Country Festival on the weekend of 6th- 7th August.

Nene Valley Brewery Nene Valley were invited to supply their dark beers, Dark Horse 3.8% abv and Bible Black 6.5% abv, to the Cambridge Beer Festival at the end of May. Big Bang Theory 5.3% abv, Release the Chimps 4.4% abv and Supersonic 6.0% abv will be part of Nene Valley’s next canning run in three weeks. All of these beers have proved popular in this format.

The team are “within sight” of moving in to their expanded premises with one of the fermentation tanks being delivered next week.

The brewery's original 2.5 barrel plant has been sold to a concern in Letchworth where it will be employed in a brewpub.

Oakham Ales The brewery were recently presented with Champion Beer of the Festival 2015 Award for Green Devil by Milton Keynes Branch.

The June Oakadamy offering is Enough Rope an amber ale at 4.3% abv with a trio of new world hops Mosaic, Simcoe and Chinook. Another amber favourite Oblivion 5.7% abv made a return during May as part of the vintage range called so after the krausening process then six months in the cellar. Should be good. Work continues at the brewery to further the expansion and new brewing vessels should be ready for installation shortly.

The bottled beer market abroad continues to grow with such far flung places as Indonesia,

F

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

16 | Brewery news - continued

Malaysia, Hong Kong and South Korea taking shipments of Oakham beers.

Star Brewing Company Star’s most recent beer Stellar 4.1% abv has sold well and Astral 4.5% abv, Titan 4.2% abv and Lightyear 5.0% abv are now being brewed. Starburst 4.1% abv was brewed in May. Star beers have appeared at the East Anglian Beer Festival, in Bury St Edmunds and the St George’s Beer Festival at the Hand and Heart. Three beers were supplied to the Coalheavers’ Arms Spring Beer Festival.

A special beer was to be brewed in May for the Bourne Festival June 10th-12th. Members of the organising team for the Bourne Festival will be helping to brew the beer. The brewery will also supply beers to the Cambridge Beer Festival, including a new 5.0% abv beer, Festival Burton IPA. Star beers are also continuing to be seen in local Wetherspoon’s outlets.

Xtreme Ales Beer sales continue to be bouyant with Pigeon Ale and Mild Stout being brewed on a weekly basis. Specials continue to be requested with a beer called Route 701 being brewed for Fenland Bus Festival.

Lack of space continues to be a problem and so finally the decision has been made to move. A unit has been found, but it does mean that they will move away from their Turves/ Whittlesey roots!

The move will hopefully take place by the end of June, but this could change as the unit is currently being re-roofed.

Tydd Steam Golden Kiwi has been the latest occasional beer and will be replaced by the second appearance of Artic Fox’s Polar Beer.

Armageddon will also make an appearance shortly.

It has been a busy time at the brewery with beers going to events at Sandringham and to several beer festivals including Cambridge, plus the first Spalding Beer and Music Festival.

Weldon Brewery The name has been changed to appeal to a wider audience. Head brewer Graham Moorhouse has responded to the CAMRA revitalization project by launching into the craft keg market. Traditional cask ale still predominates, the latest addition to the portfolio being Galvy Stout, named after the galvanizing plant in Corby. Stahlstadt (steel town in German) has proved so popular that it is to become a seasonal regular, and we can look forward to the reappearance of Cupola in late spring. Rosie’s Sweat Box is now featuring regularly at beer festivals.

BEER AROUND ERE | JUNE / JULY 2016

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Please support our advertisers |17

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

Celebrating 20 Years at the Bull, Market Deeping |19

Everards Ales plus two ever-changing guest beers Open for breakfast 10am- 12noon every day.

We are a great place for Sunday lunch after a country walk or drive. Served from noon onwards.

We also oer 3 Star AA rated accommodation.

19 High Street East, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9PY

Tel: 01572 822302

The Blue Bell is a delightful combination of a Traditional Village Pub and high quality Italian Restaurant. Run with mediterranean flair and passion by Alex and Cinzia, it lies at the heart of the picturesque Village of Easton on the Hill, 1.5 mile west of Stamford, 2 minutes from the A1 and on The Jurassic Way.

Farewell to Bert and Eileen As a token of our high regard for the licensees of The Bull in Market Deeping we held our April Branch meeting at the pub. This was firstly to unveil the new wall plaque commemorating the inaugural meeting of the Peterborough and District Branch of CAMRA, which took place around September 1975. Then to present Bert and Eileen Murray with a certificate to show our appreciation for the hard work they had done in running the pub for over twenty years. They retired from the pub on the 24th of April. We wish them a long and happy retirement.

DM

3 real ales, 1 real cider and 6 draught beers Game room, Sky & BT Sport Freshly prepared food Tuesday to Sunday.

Our garden, bars and restaurants are available for your Wedding, office or birthday party.

9 High Street, Easton on the Hill, PE9 3LR. Tel: 01780 763003 Email: info@thebluebellpub.com Find us on Facebook: The Blue Bell Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

Train Trip

to Bridlington, Driffield and Beverley

“Meet you at the Peterborough Station at 8:30am”, said the paperwork, “and this tour will visit eight pubs (more if your prefer) including two of Britain’s Real Heritage Pubs, also one of Yorkshire’s Real Heritage Pubs – you could visit up to eight pubs in the 2016 Good Beer Guide.”

Omitted from this paperwork, was the fact that England would be playing Wales for the Triple Crown, so we also had to sort the pubs according to the following requirements:

1. Good beer.

2. T.V. showing rugby 3. Near to railway station to get back on track.

On the train maps were scrutinized, studied and we came up with what we thought was the ideal plan. Our first stop of the day was Bridlington.

BEER AROUND ERE | JUNE / JULY 2016

It’s years since I have visited this town, and we had only a five minute walk to the first pub – the Telegraph Inn, 110 Quay Road.

A great little pub, a free house with a small on-site brewery in the back yard, which opened in May 2014.

It was voted Hull & East Yorkshire’s CAMRA pub of the year in 2013.

Whilst waiting for my beer Wold Top Angler’s Reward, I spied an old “Pac Man” table and, i’m pleased to say, it was in working order; 50p a go and great fun. They then brought out plates of pork pie and pickles for the group and that was the gaming finished and beer drunk, ready for the next pub. Thank you for your kindness.

I feel I must pass on a warning here for the walk to the next pub, of disability buggies - please be aware as there are lots of these in Bridlington and some are not too worried about directions.

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Bridlington, Driffield and Beverley |21

went for the Rudgate Happy Hooker at 4.0% and enjoyed it. Also ordered was a pale ale, “Phonics keep the beer alive”. Created by Stereophonics and brewed by Brains 4.1%, Black Sheep Special Ale, and 4.45%, Hook Norton Crafty Fox 5.0%, Acorn Brewery Barnsley Bitter 3.8%. Also available was Everards Yakima and Oakleaf Pompey Royal. Well done Weatherspoons for a great choice.

Above: Prior John, Bridlington exterior by Ross Parton

Left: Bridlington Station Buffet – front bar by Michael Slaughter LRPS

We walked about 10 plus minutes back along Quay Road towards the Promenade and the Prior John, a Weatherspoon’s pub. They had a beer festival on and normally in a “Spoons” pub the most popular beer is “Coming Soon”, but the eagle-eyed of us spotted Titanic Plum Porter, priced at £2.15, a pint then with our 50p off vouchers, a steal at £1.65. Five pints ordered and enjoyed. For a Weatherspoon’s pub this was small, beautifully light and airy, and has one large crescent shaped room, with a first floor gallery reached by a spiral staircase.

I would have liked to have visited the Marine Bar along North Drive, but time and trains were pressing, so we had to leave and make our way back to Bridlington Station Buffet. It is one of the few surviving traditional station buffets (also one at Stalybridge, Greater Manchester). It dates from 1912 when a new station was opened and has two separate unaltered rooms retaining original features. On our visit it was serving only one real ale - Great Newsome Brewery Pricky Back Otchan, 4.2% - a great tasting beer. Look out for some wonderful enamel signage in this bar.

All aboard the train for Driffield, and the Benjamin Fawcett, Middle Street South, which used to be two pubs, Norseman/Winston Churchill, and now the usual “Spoons” pub. I would say not as nice inside as the Prior John. I Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Butcher’s Dog, Driffield exterior by Ross Parton

Our walk round Driffield continued and I was asked “Roz are you off to the Butcher’s Dog? There is a friend of yours in there from the Palmy waiting to have a drink with you”. When we arrived at the Butcher’s Dog, 24 Middle South Street, our friend Simon was there waiting, drink in hand and advice on which ones we would like.

“Great to bump into you Simon”. Five real ales, cider - will say more later, NO music or Wi-Fi, or spirits of either kind, just a pub.

The beers on Saturday were, Rudgate Brew No1 Vanilla Mild 3.5%, Butchers Dog Experimental Porter with Vanilla 4.5%, (wonderful, my choice).

Hooded Ram Brewing Company Toasty Ram 5% Winter Warming Ale(Isle of Man), also by them Mosaic single hop, Old Mill Brewery Blond Bombshell. Simon’s friend had a pint glass of green stuff which I assumed was Lemon and Lime. How wrong was I - it was lemon and lime cider, by Lilley’s 4% and they had Lilley’s Mango Cider also 4% which is bright orange. Although I tasted both, and you would not have known you had cider, could have been improved only (my comment)

F

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

with a few cubes of ice to chill it. They had 9 ciders on in here. What a great place to stay for the afternoon. They also offer The Dog’s Dinner, Pork Pie and Pint for £5 but we had to go and catch a train!

Other pubs visited in Driffield included the Tiger – a small narrow local’s pub very busy when we called which has at least two real ales including beers from the SIBA scheme. Also, the Mariners Arms, 47 Eastgate South, Driffield YO25 6LR - a street-corner local selling Jennings Best, Ringwood Razorback (was Best Bitter), and Banks’s Sunbeam.

Time and trains pressing, it was onward to Beverley, oh and the Rugby. Mick had done some groundwork on this and rang beforehand to see if any pubs would have a TV and have it on for the rugby and which would let in a group of beer drinking CAMRA folk for a few hours.

We headed for the Tiger Inn, 97 Lairgate, round by the Minster. It is a Brewer’s Tudor building, with a small front bar. Lounge on the left, a corridor to two small rooms at the back including a characterful snug. This is one of Yorkshire’s Real Heritage Pubs and also in 2016 Tiger, Beverley exterior by Michael Slaughter LRPS

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Good Beer Guide. The locals were friendly and moved about to accommodate us for the game.

Beer was drunk, rugby was watched and a great time was had by all.

Other pubs visited by members of the party included: -

Woolpack Inn, 37 Westwood Road, Beverley HU17 8EN – small tucked-away local which although opened-up inside still preserves its very rare, small panelled snug, complete with old bench seating. It sells a wide range of Marston’s group of breweries beers.

Next pub was the White Horse which is a ‘must visit’ – one of the top unspoilt pubs in the whole of the country. It has a warren of stone-flagged and wood-floored rooms lit by 22 gas lights. Known as ‘Nellie’s’ after Nellie Collinson, whose family acquired the pub in 1927 and ran it until acquired

by Samuel Smiths in 1976. Apart from constructing a proper servery in the main bar, little has changed but they have added a pool room and brought the old semi-private Kitchen into more regular pub use. Old Brewery Bitter is the only real ale on sale.

Bridlington, Driffield and Beverley - continued |23

Being a micropub it had the essentials of a good pub - good conversation and good beer – we liked the sign “No We Don’t Have Wi-Fi: Talk to Each Other!” Unusually, it has a first floor cellar and sells five changing real ales from microbreweries.

We took a train from Beverley to Hull, then changed to a train to Doncaster. Some of the party identified that the 19.55 train to Peterborough, that we were booked on, was 20 minutes late so a decision was made to visit the Plough only a short walk from the station. This is a pub with a Nationally Important Historic Interior, little altered since 1936 and when we got there we discovered they had a small beer festival with 10 real ales.

The members of the party that had arrived in Doncaster early spotted a train to Peterborough due in at 20.00 so 10 of us jumped on board.

When the other 14 arrived back on the platform they were expecting to join the late 19.55 train on platform 3a but there was a very late change of platform which was only just spotted by us – but not all 14 and so we left 3 of the party on the platform – fortunately there was another train to Peterborough at 20.37 so we all got back – but on 3 different trains!!

Another great day out.

Roz Fountain and some pub details from Mick Slaughter

White Horse ‘Nellie’s’, Beverley – front right room and scullery, by Michael Slaughter LRPS Nearby is the Cornerhouse with Beverley’s biggest selection of real ales and ciders.

We all met up in the Chequers Micropub, a small pub just off the main Saturday market area.

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

24 | Diary dates

Diary Dates June

Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th Peterborough Conservative Club Beer Festival. Live music every eveing with a Barbeque in the car park. 9 cask ales, real cider and craft bottles. peterboroughconclub.yolasite.com

Saturday 4th Merit Award Presentation to Letter B, Whittlesey. Minibus will depart Brewery Tap at 7pm and return by 11pm. Cost £5.

Award will be presented at 8.30pm. Book places through Social Secretary, John Hunt.

Monday 6th at 8.30pm Branch Monthly Meeting at the Swiss Cottage, 2 Grove St, Peterborough PE2 9AG. All members welcome, please bring membership card

Friday 17th Merit Award Presentation to Cross Keys, Kings Cliffe.

Minibus will depart Brewery Tap at 7pm and return by 11pm. Cost £5. Award will be presented at 8.30pm. Please book places through Social Secretary, John Hunt.

Saturday 18th at 1.30pm Revitalisation Project - Peterborough Consultation Meeting.

We want to hear from you about your vision of the future of CAMRA. We are running a series of events across the country which members are invited to attend. Meeting will start at 1.30 until 3.30pm at Brewery Tap, Westgate, PE1 2AA. BEER AROUND ERE | JUNE / JULY 2016

CAMRA meetings, socials and beer festivals in the coming months

Saturday 18th Annual Branch Cycle Rally.

Departing from Cathedral Square at 4.30pm.

Contact Ross at rossparton@ntlworld.com for further details.

Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th Oakham Beer Festival and Ale Trail, Museum, Catmose St, Oakham LE15 6HW. Further details: www.rutlandcamra.org.uk

Thursday 30th – Sunday 3rd July Ploughman Summer Beer Festival, Staniland Way, Werrington Centre PE4 6NA.

July

Tuesday 5th at 8.30pm Branch Monthly Meeting at Ostrich, 17 North Street, Peterborough PE1 2RA. All members welcome, please bring membership card.

Thursday 7th – Saturday 9th Gorefield Beer Festival and Gala, Community Hall and Field, Wolf Lane, Gorefield, Wisbech PE13 4NE. 25+ Real Ales, Real Ciders and Craft Lagers. Thursday 7-11, Friday 7- midnight, Saturday 12midnight.

Friday 8th Elgood’s Brewery Visit. The branch has been invited to visit the brewery and gardens.

Minibus will depart Brewery

Tap at 6pm and return by 11pm. Cost £5, please book places through Social Secretary John Hunt.

Monday 11th at 8.30pm Peterborough Beer Festival 2016 Open Meeting, Brewery Tap, 80 Westgate, Peterborough, PE1 2AA. An Open Meeting (for any CAMRA members) to learn more about this year’s Beer Festival.

All are welcome, this is your chance to be involved in one of Peterborough’s most successful events.

Volunteers Wanted

With half the year almost gone and our big event on The Embankment approaching we are once again calling for our membership to come and help us at this year’s PBF. The web site is now up and running for members to submit their applications as volunteers in setting up and running one of the city’s major events of the year. New faces are always welcome and especially younger people. It really is great fun and we supply some free beer, greatly reduced priced food and a free bus home at the end of each evening. So what are you waiting for? We need more people on the Friday and Saturday but, not so many on the Tuesday/Wednesday.

DM.

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Please support our advertisers |25

The Bluebell Inn

Helpston

The Bluebell, Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough PE6 7ED Tel: 01733 252394 www.bluebellhelpston.co.uk We support local micro breweries stocking great local cask conditioned ales - always a choice of 4 including “10 Woodgate” which is specially brewed just for us.

Open seven days a week for drinks and serving fresh, seasonal, locally sourced produce, our menu offers something for everyone.

‘Lunch for Less’ Menu Monday to Friday

(offering a special two course menu only £12)

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

Iron Horse Beer Club

Not usually one for drinking on a school night, I saw that the Iron Horse Ranch House in Market Deeping were holding a ‘Craft Beer Club’ on the first Wednesday of the month, so, as a Market Deeping resident and a big fan of the food there, I thought I’d mooch along and support this new venture.

On arrival I grabbed a pint, handed over £20 for my entry to the beer club, received a Glastonburystyle wristband, and chatted with the staff as we waited for the arrival of the rest of the punters.

Looking over the bunch assembled I spotted a familiar face and saw it was Deeping’s local Rector out with his son. It was awesome to find out he is a beerhead and is passing on his passion to the next generation. Well done sir!

Two of the last to arrive before we got started were Dean and Jill from the Jolly Brewer Stamford who also now own Baker’s Dozen Brewery. What a BEER AROUND ERE | JUNE / JULY 2016

lovely couple they are, very passionate about brewing and both had a great sense of humour, I wish them well in their new venture.

We took our seats at a big table set up on the stage, each place setting had a printed chart of the beers we would be sampling that night, a quiz about the guest brewery and a sheet to nominate the best beers of the night to win overall. We also had pitchers of water to ‘cleanse the palate’ after each tasting.

The night kicked off with a talk from our guest brewery of the month, Oakham Ales. The brewery representative, Jo Coleman, had only been working for Oakham a short while but she had a good knowledge of the history of the brewery. Jo talked us through some samples of dried Citra hops and the comparison between these and hop pellets; the massive demand for American hops and various other topics which would be of interest to any beer geek like me.

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Iron Horse Ranch House craft beer club |27

We sampled several Oakham beers and Jo talked us through the hops used and the flavour profiles.

Jo’s passion for the brewery was very apparent and made the talk lively and fun.

After the short talk we had about ten beers to sample, the offerings were from a wide range of breweries and included local brews like Castle Rock Elsie Mo and Bakers Dozen Electric Landlady, to further flung places like American breweries Goose Island and Flying Dog. We tried beers dispensed via bottles, draught (keg and cask) and cans. The samples were being served in very generous half pint measures and a whole load of Tapas style dishes where brought out to soak up the beer.

One of the aspects I really liked about this night was the opportunity to put beers ‘under your nose’ which you may have drunk a while ago but hadn’t revisited for a long time. JHB from Oakham Ales and Elsie Mo from Castle Rock are two ales I honestly haven’t touched for at least five years.

Not due to anything being wrong with them, I just pass them by when I see them on the bar due to perceived familiarity. It was actually really good to appreciate these forerunners of the beer popularity ‘explosion’ and judge how they held up against all the young-blood breweries popping up. I’m happy to say I scored them both highly and was surprised at the subtleties in flavour present in both beers, especially when you compare them to some of the overly brash IPA’s now appearing.

steep, it really isn’t: At least ten beer tasters, some really decent buffet nibbles, a talk from a brewer and a pack of beers to take home which in my mind was worth about £12. A bargain! Next month is hopefully a talk from Hopshackle Brewery. I’ll see you there.

http://www.ironhorseranchhouse.co.uk/ craft-beer-club-iron-horse-ranch-house/ Daniel Speed

Peterborough Beer Festival 2016 Open Meeting

There will be an Open Meeting (for any CAMRA members) to learn more about this year’s Beer Festival. Please join us at The Brewery Tap on Westgate at 20.30 on Monday 11th July.

This will present an opportunity for CAMRA members to put questions to the Beer Festival Committee.

All are welcome, this is your chance to be involved in one of Peterborough’s most successful events.

ML

After a fun few hours filled with some beery banter and interesting quiz questions we all handed in our scores and the best beer of the night was awarded to Baker’s Dozen Electric Landlady, looks like Dean and Jill are on the right track!

Finally, on the way out, we all had a pick of six bottles from the range sampled that evening to take home and enjoy.

I had a thoroughly enjoyable night. Richard and his team worked really hard to make the evening fun, informative and seriously worth the £20 entry fee. For those of you who may think this is a little Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

Awards |29

Rising Sun, Leverington Award Presentation

A full minibus departed the Brewery Tap Car Park in anticipation of an evening spent visiting some pubs in a far flung part of the branch and culminating in a Gold Award presentation to the Rising Sun, Leverington.

First port of call was the Bell at Murrow which was busy and vibrant. Elgood’s beers in fine form were enjoyed here before moving on to the Wheel at Wisbech St Mary. En route it was decided to try out the Bridge Inn. This was something of an unknown quantity as we were not even sure if it was still a pub or now a café. A pub it certainly is and a nice pint of Adnams Lighthouse was available. Onto the Wheel, a lovely old Elgood’s pub situated in the heart of the village. The only real ale available was Cambridge Bitter which was a shame as more of a range would suit such a nice pub. Next it was off to Leverington and a quick visit to the Six Ringers. This is very much a local’s pub and Greene King IPA on good form was the beer available.

Finally it was on to the main event and what an event it turned out to be. The pub was packed before we got there but we somehow managed to fit in with some members enjoying the garden.

The Elgood’s brewery was very well represented with several members of the family and senior staff present. The beers available were Cambridge Bitter, Double Swan and Greyhound Strong Ale. All beers were in good condition befitting a Gold Award holder. The presentations started with Social Secretary and Elgood’s Brewery Liaison Officer John Hunt presenting MD Belinda Sutton with an East Anglian Beer Competition Silver Award for Black Dog Mild. John had originally put the pub forward for the Gold Award so he then presented this to popular landlady, Maggie Sharman. In a short speech he stressed the wellkept beers, very good value food served and most Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

importantly the way Maggie treated her customers and the great atmosphere created at the pub by Maggie and her team. Maggie thanked the brewery for their support, CAMRA for recognising the good work carried out at the pub, stressing that we all need to use our village locals or risk losing them. She then thanked her friendly, hardworking staff and finally and most importantly her loyal customers.

The speeches were then followed by a buffet which was brought round and served by the staff.

The only way to describe the buffet was sumptuous.

There were mountains of food of many different kinds and it was greatly appreciated. Chef Duncan must have worked for days to produce such a spread and it was very well received by everyone in the pub. Duncan was summoned out of the kitchen

by Maggie to take a well-earned bow.

Finally after a brilliant evening it was time for a very contented group to return to the minibus for the journey home.

JUNE / JULY 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

30 | Contacts Branch Committee Secretary: Dickie Bird 4 Cissbury Ring,Werrington Peterborough, PE4 6QH 01733 574226 (tel & fax) 07731 993896 info@real-ale.org.uk

Chairman: David Murray 01733 560453 chairman@real-ale.org.uk

Treasurer: Paul Beecham 01733 311981 07710 008693 treasurer@real-ale.org.uk

Vice Chair: Matthew Mace 07809 629241 vice-chair@real-ale.org.uk Social Sec: John Hunt 07923 489917 social-sec@real-ale.org.uk

Pubs Officer: John Temple 07905 051 312 pubs-officer@real-ale.org.uk

Press Officer: Mike Blakesley 01733 390828 (h) 07747 617527 (m) press-officer@real-ale.org.uk

Cider Officer: Bernidette Gilbert

cider@real-ale.org.uk

Young Members: Kara Williams young-members@real-ale.org.uk

Kings Cliffe Brewery: Mike Blakesley 07747 617527

Festival Org: Mike Lane 07850 334203 festival-organiser@real-ale.org.uk

Mile Tree Brewery: Steve Williams 07756 066503

Webmaster: Harry Morten webmaster@real-ale.org.uk

Oakham Ales: Dave Allett 07966 344417

Membership: Bob Melville 07941 246693 membership@real-ale.org.uk

LocAle Officer: Vacant Position locale@real-ale.org.uk

Brewery Liaison Officers Blue Bell: John Hunt 07923 489917

Bexar County Brewery: Dave Botton 01733 345475

Nene Valley: Bob Melville 07941 246693 Tydd Steam: John Hunt 07923 489917

Weldon Brewery: John Temple 07905 051 312 Star Brewing Company: Don Rudd 07806 731765 Xtreme Ales: Katie Barrett xtreme-blo@real-ale.org.uk

Castor Ales: Mike Lane 07850 334203 Digfield: Dave Waller 07821 912605 Elgood’s: John Hunt 07923 489917

Melbourn: Don Rudd 07806 731765

08545 040506 www.consumerdirect.gov.uk Check out our website at: www.real-ale.org.uk

Trading Standards

Hopshackle: Noel Ryland 07944 869656

Pub Merit Awards & Gold Awards Does your local pub have excellent beer, friendly staff, a great atmosphere, community spirit, or have they introduced additional hand pumps? If so, nominate them for an award. Gold Awards are for pubs that make exceptional efforts to improve. The Merit Award is for pubs that continue to maintain high standards. If you know of a deserving pub within the branch area, please complete the form below indicating Gold or Merit Award and post to the secretary or email nominations to info@real-ale.org.uk.

Pub name: Pub address/town/village: Reason for award: Your name: Your phone number or e-mail address: Your membership number: BEER AROUND ERE | JUNE / JULY 2016

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Big kfasot 11am rB eaSat 8 t ! ry 95

ree At Least Th

y, er v r r c a t fo e th ea m an fro u c f el o rs a s y e u ev lp yo uch e H as m

on

Real Ales!

.

5 £ ly

More than just a Carvery!

A great welcome awaits you at The Farmers, Yaxley.

We are famous for our fresh vegetables and great carvery meats, succulent and served with all the trimmings, then finished off with a tantalising hot or cold dessert!

Open Every Day 10am - 5.30pm All Day Menu & Coffee Midday - 2:30pm Carvery & Specials Menu 5:00pm - Late Carvery & Grill Menu Sunday Open From 12 Noon - 9pm All Day Carvery

Check out our lunch-time grill menus and our everchanging specials boards. Put it all together with three fine cask ales and you have the perfect place to enjoy dinner with friends or a family celebration. We have a self -contained function suite which is ideal for parties, weddings and all of life’s celebrations.

So if you’ve not been before give us a try and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Planning a wedding or special family event?

We have lots of packages available including our new Green Room facility.

Please call for further details.

Now licensed to conduct Civil Marriage ceremonies on the premises

Now taking bookings for

Fathers Day on June 19th

200 Broadway, Yaxley Tel: 01733 244885 Email: thefarmers@btconnect.com

www.thefarmersyaxley.co.uk