Beer around Ere issue 187

187 Peterborough & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale February / March 2016

TYDD STEAM

BEER IN THE USA

BREWING IN CYPRUS

Local brewery celebrates South Pole adventure with an Antarctic brew!

Peterborough CAMRA Press Officer tastes the best of Californian brewing

Facinating story on the trials and tribulations of setting up a brewery abroad

ALSO INSIDE PUB & BREWERY NEWS

DIARY DATES

JOIN CAMRA

The Simmonds Family present:

THREE GREAT AWARD WINNING PUBS

serving Real Ale with fantastic prices! rough Peterbo AMRA C t ic & Distr

he Pub of t 4 Year 201

rough Peterbo AMRA C t ic & Distr

ard Gold Aw 013 2 Winner

rough Peterbo AMRA C t ic tr & Dis

he Pub of t 1 0 Year 2 1

Staniland Way, Werrington Centre PE4 6NA Tel: 01733 327696

Pub Of The Year 2014 and 2011

THE DRAGON

Hodgson Centre, Hodgson Ave PE4 5EG Tel: 01733 578088 Six Real Ales from £2.20 a pint Live Satellite Sports• Live Entertainment evon South D CAMRA

he Pub of t 4 Year 201

Ten Real Ales from £2.00 a pint Live Satellite Sports • Live Entertainment Happy Hour Monday - Friday 5-7pm rough Peterbo AMRA tC & Distric

ard Gold Aw 013 2 Winner

The Queens Arms

31 Station Hill, Brixham TQ5 8BN Tel: 01803 852074 6 hand pumps and a regular £2 special Weekly Live Music and Events Facebook: The-Queens-Arms

Editor’s ramblings | 3

Greetings!

So here we are one twelfth of 2016 gone already. It’s been grey and dreary so far and as you look around there have been lots of gloomy faces.

Guess they haven’t visited their local recently! Reading pub news makes me realise that there are many pubs in our branch area that I either haven’t visited recently or indeed not at all. I don’t make New Year resolutions but must try to make the effort to venture forth into the hinterland! I have to get out the bicycle! Roll on spring!

For those of our readers visiting Cyprus this year check out the article on page 28, definitely worth a visit. There is also an article on beer in USA, plus the regular features.

I was reading in What’s Brewing that CAMRA women’s representative, Lisa Wadlow, has been extolling the virtues of beer to Women’s Institutes, introducing them to beer and food matching.

Makes a change from ‘Jam and Jerusalem’! What a good idea, always pleased to see new ways of introducing women to beer or should that be introducing beer to women?

Did you “Try January” (see chairman’s report) or did you have a “Dry January” (bah humbug).

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 jane@orchardhousemedia.co.uk Tel: 01778 382718

IN THIS ISSUE Welcome from the editor 3 Chairman’s corner 5 Pub news 7–13 Brewery news 14–16 New Year, new venue 19 Mysterious goings-on 20-21 Is craft daft? 22-25 Diary dates 24 Beer in the USA 26–27 Micro-brewing in Cyprus 28–29 Branch contacts 30 Join CAMRA 31 It would be interesting to know what our readers think about these types of campaigns. Please let us have your opinions on these or other topics pertaining to CAMRA related issues and/or articles in Beer Around ‘Ere. Also, if there is anything you would like to be included in this newsletter, please get in touch. Your feedback is always welcome, be it positive or negative.

Cheers!

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

JB 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 24th March.

We must have your stories, news and advertisements by 1st March Please send your stories and other copy to the editor, Jane Brown.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

4 | Please support our advertisers

The Rose & Crown in March

Easter Beerfest

Friday 25th – Monday 28th March 2016 PUB OPENING HOURS 20+ LIVE s Friday, Saturday & Sunday: MUSIC Real Ale 12noon-midnight (Fri, Sat & Su n and Real Evenings) Monday: 12noon-11pm Ciders Pub food served 12noon-8pm • BBQ available 41 St Peters Road, March, PE15 9NA

BEER AROUND ERE | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

Tel: 01354 652077

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

Chairman’s corner |5

Chairman’s Corner The festive decorations have been returned to the loft for the next eleven months.

The Whittlesey pubs have had their ‘Christmas 2’ with the Straw Bear weekend.

So we are now into Dry January (and for many pubs February as well). Whilst not berating the idea of abstaining from having a beer or two during the month if overindulgence during the festive season is the reason, I can only emphasize how much damage to the pub trade this can cause.

It’s a fact of life that the first two months of the year are a bit Spartan in our pubs due to a lack of customers. Abstain campaigns have a benefit for some charities but, the other side of the coin is it may encourage a lack of impetus to socialise.

Many people actually don’t go out at all during the first month of the year, whether through lack of funds or to have a ‘dry month’. This can only cause even more hurt to pubs already under-used by their local community.

There has been an alternative campaign suggested by drinks industry journalist Jessica Mason, namely, ‘Try January’ which encourages licensees to challenge people to try new drinks and food and make the month more inspiring and experimental. The campaign aims to challenge people to try something new or different at their local. The whole ‘Try January’ campaign could in some way help prevent pubs seeing in the New Year with low takings, whilst giving something back to the community by inspiring customers with tempting options.

CAMRA is once again calling for a further 1p cut in beer tax. Apart from Finland the UK pays the highest beer tax rate of the top six brewing countries in the EU. A cut of 1p can help struggling pubs stay open, increase investment in brewing and pubs, and keep the lid on pub beer prices.

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

Over the next few weeks, as usual for this time of year, we will be surveying the pubs that have been chosen by our members to be put forward for inclusion in the 2017 Good Beer Guide. In spite of a very poor response from our branch membership we did manage to get a variety of pubs that may get recommended. These include some new and different entries from previous years. Thanks to all the members who took the trouble to send in their votes.

Our congratulations go to our new POTY (Pub of the Year), The Woolpack, in the old part of Stanground. Landlady Linda and Pete Goddard were presented with a Gold Award in August 2015 which put them in the running for POTY. The pub is a real olde world building steeped in history, and originally built in 1711. From the village morgue to the local lock up and a small military museum by a former landlord in the back room, the compact pub is a true community social centre. Normally three or four hand pumps dispense a variety of beers, including a LocAle. The regular being one from Tydd Steam brewery. They hold a beer festival each summer. There is a long garden which leads down to the river Nene backwater, with mooring for visitors. An ideal spot on a warm summer’s day. We shall be making the presentation to Linda and Pete on the 12th of February. Come along and give your support.

That’s all folks, for now.

David Murray Branch Chairman

FEBRUARY / MARCH 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

Winter beer fest 2nd - 7th February

LIVE MUSIC WEEKLY Check Facebook & local gig guides

14 Ever-changing, gravity fed real ales thepalmerstonarms

BEER AROUND ERE | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

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

Pub News

Christmas has gone, and all those who turned up for their one annual visit to their local and found it closed can now rue the 364 days when they failed to appear. Thanks to all those loyal readers who clubbed together to present me with the complete box set of the Eurovision Song Contest, including the marking (I had previously confided that I prefer the marking to the music). “Nul point”!

ACV Update The current edition of What’s Brewing has announced that “the number of pubs nominated for ACVs has doubled in the past six months, following the launch of a joint CAMRA/government initiative”. After a slow start, this process is slowly gathering momentum in our own branch with the Walnut Tree in Market Deeping being the latest addition, with sixty signatures. Lynn and Daron will be celebrating their seventh anniversary at the pub with a party and a disco on the sixth of February. They will be running a Buy One Get One Free promotion throughout the month on cask ales, cider, lager and wine, and at Easter they will again be featuring their beer festival with 10+ cask ales from the cellar. With all this going on, one would think that the petition was scarcely necessary. But let us never forget that raising an ACV is a pre-emptive act which safeguards pubs from being demolished or converted to another use without planning permission or community consultation. If planning permission is already granted, it is too late.

Foody - pubs It has become common now to recognize that many pubs, especially rural pubs, would not survive without serving food. Whereas this is a truism scarcely to be challenged, it is also a platitude likely to be overstated. A case in point is Embé in Burleigh Road. This place has been through various incarnations, but when I first came to Peterborough it was an excellent local, with an excellent landlord (military disciplinarian) and an attractive garden; ideal place to take the children. It was taken over, gutted, and renamed the Glass Onion. After that it became a bar Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Pub news |7

restaurant offering an enticing Caribbean cuisine.

The last time I was in there they had a Digfield beer on hand pump. The proprietor told me that he intended to discontinue this, making the place effectively a restaurant with a bar. Now, not only has the draught beer been discontinued, so has the pub, closing down late last year.

Now the point I am trying to make is that once you become almost exclusively a food outlet you are missing out on a substantial amount of your potential custom. Once you stop offering a pint to the occasional passer- by, not only are you missing out on a potential regular but you are also missing an opportunity to promote your food.

Another case in point is the Ram Inn in Whittlesey. I reported on this in Issue 185, with the conversion of the function room into a restaurant called the Shepherd’s Hut, and I predicted a prosperous future. But it proved to be a part of the world where a bistro just would not flourish, and it has since closed and changed hands. The new manager is Jamie Rudd who has years of experience in the trade and who has turned it back into a pub, intending to go down the real ale trail.

Ram Ale is the house beer, brewed by Caledonian and excellent value at £2.80 a pint. Jamie also offers two rotating guests and has turned the restaurant back into a function room with live music on a Friday night. The brewery clearly thinks this is a venture worth investing in, planning further improvements to the function room, a conservatory facing out on to the garden and a covered passageway linking it to the bar.

A similar decision has been made by Barry Hubbard in Hub’s Place. With two excellent restaurants nearby, and sensibly priced meals available in the George alongside, he has decided to discontinue food –now concentrating on serving excellent beer ( it is the only pub I know where I can guarantee getting a pint of Woodforde’s) in one of the most comfortable pubs in the branch.

F

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

8 | Pub news - continued

Darkest Fenland My incursions into these dragon infested regions continued with a tour of the Wisbech villages.

A freezing night in November took us to Wisbech St. Mary. The first pub we visited was the Chequers, an Elgood’s tied house in Tholomas Drove. The building itself dates back to 1774 and it is a good example of a house that sold beer to the public from its front room. This is clearly visible in the structure of the pub, with the main bar leading into what was the original living space.

To the right is a dedicated pool room; to the left, additional seating space which could easily be converted into restaurant facilities. Landlady, Emma Cowans, has only been there for six months and is currently serving Elgood’s Cambridge, Cambridge IPA and Fuller’s London Pride. Just down the road is the Bridge Inn. It says outside it is a family restaurant, but this is very much a traditional pub with an unusual triangular promontory jutting out and marking off the main drinking area from the games area, which also features Sky Sports. Landlady Rita Gammon has been there for 23 years and is adamant that it will continue as a pub, ensuring its viability by renting out the function room as an Indian Restaurant with indoor access. She has Adnams Lighthouse as the resident beer and it seemed to be popular with most of the customers. The village’s third pub is the Wheel, formerly a blacksmiths shop as the name suggests. The shop itself is now the main bar, with a long narrow saloon, clearly of later addition, now the restaurant. Tastefully decorated with repro oak beams and horseshoes and horse brasses, it is an Elgood’s tied house serving an excellent pint of Cambridge. During the First World War it served as a military hospital.

The Woodman’s Cottage is a large attractive pub in Gorefield. It formerly belonged to Enterprise and went through a series of unsuccessful managers before being closed and put on the market, almost certainly destined for a property developer. Local resident Martin Walpole wasn’t having it as it was his Dad’s local, so he took the pub over in April and now runs it with his sister, Jane. He told me he has a three year contract with Greene King who have been “massively BEER AROUND ERE | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

supportive”, assisting him in all aspects of the trade. The beers available were IPA, Old Speckled Hen, plus London Glory. A new beer at 4.1% brewed to invade the growing Doombar market, I felt it compared very favourably. We took the opportunity to eat here and would recommend its wide and varied menu. Make sure you have a healthy appetite. Deeper into the dark and on to the Woadman’s Arms in Newton. As soon as I entered this pub and observed a wire haired terrier spread-eagled in front of an open coal fire as though he owned it, and the landlady slowly pouring a perfect pint of Old Speckled Hen from a sitting position, I knew I was in my comfort zone.

Wendy Johnson was born here, has run the pub for 37 years, her Mum and Dad for 28 years before that and her grandfather for an unspecified period before that, so I think we can certainly say that it is “dyed in the woad”. I settled again for a pint of London Glory, new to my palate but the Greene King yeast was now starting to come through.

With this selection of pubs and the warm welcome we received everywhere, a return visit was inevitable.

To Murrow And to Murrow and to Murrow (I am determined to revisit this area) and all our yesterdays are preserved in these isolated Fenland villages*.

Entering the Bell Inn is like walking into a George Orwell novel; an open coal fire to the left and the ceiling and the wall festooned with a scythe and a siding spade for the dykes. There is also a rake suspended from the ceiling which I imagine is a relic from Elgoods brewery used to separate the yeast bed in the traditional open squares. The pub has two adjoining rooms; one used for the Sunday carvery and the other a games room containing a bar billiards table; a game which seems to proliferate in this area. The Bell is an Elgood’s tied house serving excellent Cambridge and London Pride.

The nearby village of Parson Drove has three pubs and our next stop was the Swan Inn. Once again greeted by an open fire, this has a spacious L shaped bar serving Keltek Lance, London Pride, Bombardier, and to my delight, Elgood’s EPA, which I have been told is the legendary Pageant

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

Pub news - continued |9

5 4

7

8 2

1

6 3

rebadged, in my view one of the best beers that Alan Pateman has brewed. The lintel above the entrance spells out the invitation “Duck or grouse”. I, of course, did not notice this until I attempted to enter, so I banged my head on it.

When I complained to the landlady, she said: “Well, we sell Grouse but not duck”.

Sarah Pickersgill has been running this pub since August of last year and is determined to keep it as a traditional Fenland village pub. Elgood’s send her a guest ale portfolio every month and she told me that her customers prefer lower gravity beers, probably because they are early risers. I was pleased to see another bar billiards table-the perfect pub game because all the shots are played from one end of the table. To the right of the main bar is a games room containing a pool table - thus ensuring that players do not knock drinks out of the hands of the surrounding imbibers whilst concentrating on their shots. Elgood’s have offered to refurbish this, and Sarah is keen to preserve its traditional ambience.

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

1. Wheel Inn, Wisbech St Mary 2. Bridge, Wisbech St Mary 3. Chequers, Tholomas Drove 4. Woodmans Cottage, Gorefield 5. Woadmans Arms, Newton 6. Bell Inn, Murrow 7. Swan Inn, Parsons Drove 8. Butchers Arms, Parsons Drove

Further along the road is the Butchers Arms, probably originally a Regency coaching inn – there are traditional oak beams and posts in the old bar (I could not quite make out the exterior design in the dark). This is a Free House where proprietors, Jan and Julien Laffan, serve one real ale rotating to ensure peak condition. Wadworth’s 6X was available on our visit. The extension to the right was built in 1870, housing the ubiquitous bar billiards table which was hosting a local league match. The restaurant is situated in the adjoining barn, originally the stables, but food is also served in the old bar which is dominated by a large inglenook now furnished with a cast iron wood burner. The menu is extensive and moderately priced. Unfortunately the last train from March was imminent, so we did not have time to visit the Five Bells. Tydd awaits.

Sauerkraut “Former Beefeater ejected from pub for speaking German”. So ran a headline in the Evening Telegraph. One would immediately assume that this patriotic action took place sometime during the last war. But then one would be wrong as it

F

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

10 | Please support our advertisers

BEER AROUND ERE | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

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

occurred just over three years ago, and the pub was the Pack Horse in Northborough. Fortunately it is now under the more enlightened management of Sam, his brother Jack and their dad, Keith, who is in charge of the kitchen. Sam told me on my recent visit that it dates back to the sixteenth century, about the same time as the manor house opposite, and it was probably a series of almshouses. The structure of the building certainly bears this out. Stone built and a warren of connected small rooms with the original timber framed roof intact; originally warmed and lit by inglenooks, the most impressive of which dominates the main bar. They now serve Courage Directors, Caledonian Deuchars and Wadworth’s 6X, and have a special offer on a Tuesday night of two pizzas and a bottle of wine for £18. Perhaps the previous owner would have offered Sauerkraut.

Local news The Ostrich, in the city centre, is now in the hands of Simon Benton, also licensee of the Palmerston Arms in Woodston. Simon has appointed William Laud as pub manager, and they are keen to continue the policy of providing five real ales and a cider on hand pump. They also intend to increase the range of key keg beers in the pub, for which they forecast a growing market.

Meanwhile, back at the Palmy, the pub has been voted LocAle Pub of the Year. Not surprising really as often they feature three beers each from Oakham, Kings Cliffe and Nene Valley breweries.

One of my three locals in Woodston, the Swiss Cottage, has been through a major refit:reupholstered, recurtained, and redecorated.

Roosters and Doombar are the house beers with either a Tydd or a Digfield as guests - all in excellent condition. Very little of this beer is spilt, which is just as well as the pub has also been recarpeted.

James and Angie confirm that wellington boots are no longer required in the bar.

Bad news First from Bulwick. My Stamford informer, Alun Thomas, has written to tell me that “the Queen’s Head, this branch’s Pub of the Year for 2013, has closed its doors. In fact it has been closed for almost a month. It just shows what a tenuous busiVisit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Pub news - continued |11

ness the pub game is. When I think back to the presentation night there the future seemed so rosy, but is this latest development such a shock? I understand that weekday trade was minimal and virtually non-existent at lunchtimes and I know that they closed on Saturday afternoons and Sunday evenings, so if you’re purely reliant on three sessions a week - Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday lunch - you've got to go some to make it pay. ..Some might say the Bulwick bypass must have affected trade (the old A43 went right past the pub’s door) but the bypass has been there for nearly thirty years so can’t be blamed. Round up the usual suspects - apathy, prices, cheap supermarket options, the decline in numbers of the “every night” regular, and so on. You’ve seen it all before, more’s the pity”. I think that Alun’s analysis is as usual comprehensive, but do any other readers have an opinion on this vital issue?

How would you make a pub like this pay? Ambience, product range, target market, décor, entertainment – any ideas? The pub is owned by Bulwick Estates and the latest news is that they are actively seeking new tenants.

F

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

12 | Please support our advertisers

The Crown Inn

Beer Festival Friday 25th March to Sunday 27th March Real Ales Live Music from 3pm

19 High Street East, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9PY

Tel: 01572 822302

BEER AROUND ERE | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

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

Pub news - continued |13

Good news Elizabeth Walker is a six year old child who suffers from hereditary multiple exostosis. As a result of this debilitating illness, she is totally dependent on her wheelchair. It will not surprise my gentle readers to discover that this wheelchair has been stolen and destroyed, such is the nature of the moronic society we inhabit. Fortunately there is a family connection with Amanda Payne and Colin in the Peacock in Woodston, and they have adopted Elizabeth’s case as a pub charity.

As readers are well aware, it is often the case that where the pub is the heart is. By a happy coincidence this has occurred alongside a major investment by Admiral Taverns in this well appointed pub: new carpet, new toilets, new kitchen, new wood laminate on the floors, and the bar has been redesigned with a light oak top whilst the brick facing has been retained. The garden will be enclosed for the summer months. An extra hand pump has been added and they are negotiating with Charles Wells to provide a beer to accompany Doombar and a rotating guest. Colin is also considering introducing Tyske to attract the potential resident Eastern European market.

Amanda chose the re-launch date of 19th

December to promote the charity when I had the privilege of meeting Elizabeth’s mum, Sarah, who was equally bemused by the motive for the crime.

Sarah told me that largely as a result of the Peacock and its customers, they are well on their way to achieving their target for the new wheelchair.

Last but not least!

I have been re-elected Pubs Officer for a further year. As last year I only managed to visit 203 pubs, I shall really have to sharpen up my act. And I am also running out of copy. So potential news features from readers is becoming more and more desirable. I know there are about 20,000 of you out there and by now I must surely have upset someone, so negative feedback would especially be welcome. After all, it’s your magazine!

“So shines a good deed in a naughty world”.* *Apologies to W.S.

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

The Bluebell Inn The Jolly Sailor, 43 Great Whyte, Ramsey PE26 1HH Tel 01487 813388

OPEN ALL DAY EVERY DAY FROM 11am Five Real Ales on permanently

FOOD SERVED DAILY Monday to Friday: 12 to 2.30, 6 to 9pm Saturday: 12 to 9pm Sunday: 12 to 4pm

Helpston

The Bluebell, Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough PE6 7ED Tel: 01733 252394 Email: hello@bluebellhelpston.pub 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.

Look out for our special Valentine’s Menu

‘Lunch for Less’ Menu

Booking now being taken!

(offering a special two course menu only £10)

Monday to Friday

14 |

Brewery News Abstract Jungle It’s been a great first three months for Abstract Jungle.

Hard to believe that it was only in the last week of October 2015 that Simon was standing in the brewery, nervously starting his first brew on an unfamiliar brew kit. Despite the unfamiliarity, I am pleased to say that the results have turned out exactly as Simon had anticipated….phew.

Many of you will have had the opportunity to try both the Pride, (3.9% pale ale) and Jackal, (4.2% porter) during the brewery launch at The Coalheavers in November and more recently tried Restless (4.5% golden ale) and, during the Christmas festivities, Casual, a 4.6% breakfast stout. Initial feedback has been positive thus far and as well as a few pubs in Peterborough, Simon’s beers have been seen in several around the Nottingham area where his reputation is longer established.

With the hectic Christmas / New Year behind us Simon is intending to look at ingredients in more detail. It is clear that hop supply is going to be very tight this year for ALL brewers and it will be important to be ahead of the game on new varieties and alternatives. Any new projects will be released as specials and feedback and involvement from the local branch and outlets will be critical. Luckily (Steve Saldana) has a small pilot kit that can be utilised as a testing ground for any uncertain recipes.

The site that Simon shares with Steve and Bexar County continues to fill up with new kit and adjustments to the existing site are ongoing. More developments (and beers) are planned for this year and, subject to various legislation/consultations it is hoped to be able to, maybe, open the brewery to the public once a month for an open day. The draw of visiting a hybrid brewery with two completely different brewers should make such days a big success.

BEER AROUND ERE | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

Bexar County Bexar County will be having several beers at Ely Winter Beer Festival on its own brewery bar.

A collaboration beer with 3 Blind Mice of Ely has recently been brewed and also one with Weird Beard in London.

Steve will be taking part in a meet the brewer session along with 3 Blind Mice at The Craven Arms in Birmingham on 8th February. There is another collaboration with Alphabet Brewing Co. in the pipeline. Bexar County beers are to be available at the Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival and also Ely, Manchester and Colchester winter ales festivals, plus a few others, featuring both cask and keg beers.

Newly designed pump clips will soon be available to make the cask beers more prominent on the bar.

A barrel ageing programme has recently started at the brewery with Papa Steve 2015 and Victorian Export Stout being the first two to be aged.

These beers will be released only when they are ready, the beers will decide, not the brewer.

Finally, if you get a chance to try Death in a Sea of Mediocrity, either cask or keg, then please make sure you do!

Castor Ales 2015 has been a great year for Castor Ales now into their 8th year of brewing.

During the year they were invited to exhibit Hopping Toad ale at the Great British Beer Festival in August this year. A large contingent from Peterborough took the opportunity for a “bit of Castor Ales promotion” on the Trade day, as you may have seen a few piccies in the last edition of BAE. Duncan continues to brew regularly whilst still having commitment to his full time employment.

However, the possibility now exists for more regular brewing since close proximity environVisit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

mental constraints have evaporated. The decision of Simmospoons to take Hopping Toad on a permanent basis as “House Beer” at their Werrington pubs has meant that demand remains very positive. In fact this beer is hopping around the UK having been seen as far afield as Brixham and Liverpool during the course of 2015.

The range of brews has recently been rationalised, with four now available all year round - Durobrivae 3.7% bitter, Hopping Toad 3.7% bitter, Old Scarlet 4.6% premium bitter and Full Tilt 4.3% copper coloured bitter.

Other available seasonal beers are, Dark Side of the Comet 4.5% stout, 12th Man 4.4% bitter, Imperial Place Ale 4.5% best bitter and Castorware a 4.4% mild.

Furthermore the brewery continues to look ahead to the future and I am told that, Brewer Duncan is contemplating going out to tender for a new chain for the plug on the brewery sink as part of his 2016 investment strategy.

Mile Tree Brewery The brewery had a good run up to Christmas, attending many Christmas Markets where their bottled beer virtually sold out.

They had Larksong 4.5% going to Letter B for the Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival. 1850 Porter 5.3%, Old Ale 5.4% and Larksong 4.5% were due to make appearances at Ely Winter Beer Festival.

Mile Tree are looking to increase bottled sales in 2016 and are in the process of exploring new ways to increase their production and are also working on recipes to develop new beers during 2016, in both bottle and cask. Woodrush 4.7% will be the first to be released.

The brewery has taken on a full time employee, thus enabling them to increase production from Jan 2016.

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

Brewery news |15

Nene Valley Brewery Nene Valley had a good Christmas with sales in the shop doing particularly well. Beer in a box and five litre mini barrels did a roaring trade and the new line in cans (Big Bang Theory and Release the Chimps) were a hit too. An expanding network of pubs in Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire are now stocking Nene Valley beers.

The move into the extended premises at Oundle Wharf is expected towards the end of February and brewer, Paul, is looking forward to the additional fermentation capability (two more are on order) that this will bring, along with extended cold storage capacity.

Manchester Beer and Cider Festival (20th - 23rd January) and the CAMRA National Winter Ales Festival (17th - 20th February) will both feature Nene Valley beers for the first time. Nene Valley Bitter, Mid-Week Bender in cask and Big Bang Theory in key keg will make the trip to Manchester and Nene Valley Bitter, Bible Black and Mid-Week Bender (all in cask) will appear at Derby.

A further brew of Mid-Week Bender was fermenting when I visited and should be dispatched to publicans by the time you read this.

All of Nene Valley's beers are now Gluten Free with recent tests returning results of considerably less than the 20 parts per million threshold.

Oakham Ales 2015 was an excellent trading year for Oakham Ales with overall sales up 6% on the previous year, with a total of 24,000 brewer’s barrels making their way out of the brewery during the year. Bottled beers now make up 15% of the total volume with the vast majority being sold in supermarkets throughout the UK. Although 1% of bottles go abroad with the best markets being Italy, South Africa and the Scandinavian countries.

F

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

16 | Brewery news - continued

So to 2016 and we see a few changes to the Oakadamy, Seasonal and Vintage range of beers.

The Vintage range sees two new beers, The Navi an Amber beer at 5.5% and Blue Skies I.P.A. a golden beer at 6%, both are packed full of New World hops. There is a welcome return for Oblivion and Helter Skelter.

The Seasonal range has some old faces back by demand, Beer Monster in March at 4.8% and Akenhaten in May at 4.9% being originally brewed as specials for Peterborough Beer Festival in recent years. Akenhaten was certainly a top beer. Bird Brain a Kiwi beer, will appear early in the year and Winter Wraith a dark offering at 4.5% is returning during November, back by popular demand.

For a full listing of the breweries products visit their website oakhamales.com.

Shoulder of Mutton Brewery The Shoulder of Mutton breezed through a busy Festive period in the warm glow of their pub’s CAMRA Gold Award. They bolstered their normal range with a couple of specials, Riveter was first on the pumps, a delicate subtle golden ale with hints of orange marmalade from First Gold hops. It was an instant hit. Sales of this were ‘rocked’ though with the introduction of Oresome, as allegiances switched to this spectacular American Pale Ale featuring a sextet of US and New World hops. Head Brewer, Graham Moorhouse, claims to have thrown everything in and hoped for the best, those that know him will know better. The New Year saw a first foray into a stout intended to be a cornerstone of the range an initial experimental number found its way into cask, keg and bottle, a research project that regulars are enjoying a great deal. All regular beers are now available in bottles at the Shoulder of Mutton.

Star Brewing Company December was a good month for the Brewery. Newest beers Super Nova (4.4%) an American Pale Ale, and Kepler’s Law (5.5%) a strong golden IPA, both sold well.

Beers available at present are Comet (3.8%), BEER AROUND ERE | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

Meteor (4.0%), Dark Matter (4.4%), Winter Ale (4.6%) & Kepler’s Law. The brewery also supplied Titan (4.2%) and Summit (4.6%) to the Letter B for the Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival in January.

Tydd Steam The big news from Tydd Steam is that Will has brewed a new 4.3% ABV beer called Arctic Fox’s Polar Beer. The beer was brewed to celebrate a visit to the South Pole by Will’s nephew Michael, who has been involved in transporting supplies to the scientists stationed there. The beer sold out very quickly as did the Christmas beer Yooligan. Mind Bomb is being brewed for the SIBA National beer competition in March and Beartown was available during Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival. Recent releases from the occasional portfolio have been Golden Kiwi and Dr Fox’s Cunning Linctus. Iron Brew will be available again shortly.

Xtreme Ales December was a quiet month with holidays and some electrical changes being made to the brewery. Production will be increased from January onwards due to having a full time employee. A special brew of Victorian Winter Ale was produced for Melton Mowbray street festival in November. This was so popular a further batch was brewed and was available at the Whittlesea Straw Bear and Ely beer festivals. In addition the Straw Bear Festival also featured Dancing Pigeon and Goldilocks at various pubs around the town.

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

Please support our advertisers |17

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 30th Jan Soul Effect 5th Feb Disco 6th Feb Frankly My Dear 13th Feb Tom Wright 20th Feb Dizzy Miss Lizzys - Final Gig 26th Feb Rockabilly night 27th Feb Betty Swollocks 5th March Park Lane 12th March Phoenix Show Band 19th March BRM 26th March Souled Out 2nd April Children of the Revolution

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

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

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.

Taking bookings for Valentines Day and Mothering Sunday See website or call for details 9 High Street, Easton on the Hill, PE9 3LR. Tel: 01780 763003 Email: info@thebluebellpub.com Find us on Facebook: The Blue Bell

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

18 | 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 25th March 2016 excluding Sun 14th Feb and Sun 8th March 2016.

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 | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

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

New micro-pub on its way to Peterborough |19

A New Year, a New Venue?

2016 will see the launch of a new venue in Peterborough. And something different to anything else in the city. Most pubs provide a range of drinks, some better than others, mixed with big TV screens, noisy background music, and flashing gaming machines. Believing there is a real need in Peterborough for a much more traditional ale house, two local men are looking to open the first micro pub in the city shortly.

Micro pubs are the new drinking phenomenon spreading throughout the country; the first was set up in Herne, Kent in 2005, and there are now over 200 all over the UK. They are usually a former shop unit, brought back to life for the benefit of locals who enjoy top quality real ales and good conversation.

Steve Williams knows his real ales, and knows what a proper pint should look and taste like. He has been involved in the local Campaign for Real Ale group for over 25 years, and manages all the staffing at the Peterborough Beer Festival. Steve said ‘Indifferent service and average beers are just two of my pet hates. Peterborough does have some really good boozers but nowhere near enough. I think real ale drinkers deserve

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: Wed to Sun 12 - 2.30pm, Mon to Sat 6pm - 8pm

LIVE MUSIC SUNDAY 3rd April THE STRINGLERS 4pm - 6pm

much better, and we intend to do something about it.’

John Lawrence re-opened the Crown pub in New England 3 years ago, and is looking to build on that experience. John added ‘the Crown is thriving, and has a new manager, and I wish it well; I will still visit for the live music. But we want to offer a more dedicated ale house where the drink and the chat come first’.

The pair have the backing of a number of brewers both local and further afield, who plan to offer an ongoing range of exclusive brews.

In addition to the real ales, the venue will offer a range of quality wines, soft drinks with a twist, and premium spirits - including the largest range of malt whisky in the area.

They will also offer a Bottle Shop, offering the widest range of quality bottled ales for customers to buy and take home or enjoy in house.

A venue is being finalised, and it is hoped it will be open by early summer.

Mysterious Goings On! Sunday 20th December saw fifteen CAMRA members meet at the Brewery Tap car park in eager anticipation of the day’s forthcoming activities. Where would they be going? As Social Secretary and event organiser I was there to meet them with a mince pie each. Kay and John, two first time attendees then told me that the last Mystery Tour they went on went straight back to where they lived, which at the time was Whittlesey.

I asked where they lived now to be told that they lived in Bourne. My heart sank a little as I knew we would be heading in that direction later on.

We all boarded the minibus and set off. Kay groaned as we then took the A15 going north! The first stop was planned to be the Five Horseshoes at Barholm. I decided on a cunning plan to put the inquisitive throng off the scent a little by detouring via Helpston and West Deeping. The plan got even more cunning when we discovered that the road to West Deeping was closed and had to continue via Bainton and then across to Tallington getting the BEER AROUND ERE | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

wrong side of the notorious Tallington crossing in the process. It certainly worked though and thoroughly confused everybody.

We arrived two minutes after twelve to be faced with a fine array of ales including Roosters and local beers from Star Brewery amongst others. We were made very welcome and enjoyed beers in excellent condition. A very good start to the trip, with everyone agreeing what a good pub this was.

On departure from the Five Horseshoes we headed across to Langtoft and then towards Bourne. The groans from Kay and John were getting louder until we veered off and headed for the small village of Edenham. We arrived at the Five Bells and promptly disembarked for some fine beers from Horncastle Brewery and Grainstore Brewery. The Five Bells is a very pleasant and airy pub which caters equally well for both drinkers and diners. The beers were on song and the pub was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Kay and John also Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

enjoyed visiting the pub despite being able to walk to it from their house! One or two of the more astute members also saw a theme developing with the pub names containing numbers. This theme developed some more after a short drive to the next venue, the Six Bells at Witham-on-the-Hill.

Mystery Tour |21

This is a very well-appointed pub with a major emphasis on quality food but it also welcomes drinkers. Here the beer range was more limited than had been hoped for due to a very busy Saturday depleting stocks. After a very enjoyable pint of Hop Back Elf & Hoppiness, I decided to go off-piste and put in an extra pub. It was no mystery as we all agreed on the Green Dragon at nearby Ryhall. The pub is in a very pretty village and we were made welcome despite the complete lack of notice for the landlady and her staff. Beers from Oldershaw and new brewery Bakers Dozen were available and were enjoyed in what was a very busy but friendly pub.

I was glad to see the Bakers Dozen beer on the bar at the Green Dragon as the brewery was going to be our next destination! We headed off through Stamford and on to Ketton. Most of the group were still in the dark as to the destination when we arrived at the Brewery to be met by owner and brewer, Dean Baker. Dean proudly showed us around his new plant and after telling us something about the beers that he brews, he gave us a very interesting insight as to why and how he had added a brewery to his already successful pub business. This was followed by a generous sampling of Bakers Dozen beer. This was not to be the end of Bakers Dozen beer as the final port of call was scheduled to be the Jolly Brewer itself where we were met by Dean’s partner, Gill. Following an excellent buffet, Gill judged our Christmas Jumper competition which was won by BAE editor Jane Brown who out-spangled the rest of us to win a gift-pack of beers kindly donated by Elgood’s Brewery. The beers in the Jolly Brewer were up to their usual high standard and made a fitting end to the trip. All that was left to do was take a contented group back to Peterborough. Unfortunately we had run out of mince pies by this time!

John Hunt, Social Secretary

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

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

22 |

Backdrop With pub closures still reported to be running at a rate of around 29 a week there is another, no less startling statistic that may have escaped your attention. That is that over 200 breweries opened during 2015, most of them producing excellent cask ale.

There are now more than 1,400 breweries in the UK, more per head of population than anywhere else in the world. Real Ale, Craft Keg and bottled beers continue to rise in popularity including amongst younger drinkers who are spurning the bland to experiment with exciting new tastes and flavours that couldn’t have been dreamt of even 15 years ago.

Beer in the New Age There has been an explosion of new hops, live imported yeasts, malt kilning techniques and new adjuncts to market during the last decade or so. Clever targeted marketing has resulted in it being ‘cool’ to drink modern new beers made by passionate knowledgeable young brewers. Suddenly it is trendy to frequent modern colourful new beer bars that sell beer by the third for three times the price and accompany them with simple but expensive food accompanied by

so many slates, boards, bowls, cages, pans, skewers and platters that the presentation of the food somehow unwittingly usurps its taste.

The Noughties Brewer Aside from the seemingly boundless infectious enthusiasm of modern brewers they also have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. It is a thirst that is sated by online forums, social media groups, brewing collaborations, recipe exchanges and most of all, of course, is empowered by the freedom of the internet. The old school brewer faces potential bewilderment as new techniques, invented and imported make the brewing of new beer styles de rigueur, and boundary pushing the norm. New world hops have been a revelation, beer that has hints of grapefruit, lemons, grapes or berries are now commonplace and techniques such as first wort hopping, dry hopping or hop bursting with massive amounts of aroma hops toward the end of the boil are resulting in some spectacular beers.

They are not always universally liked but they are spectacular nevertheless. They can also be credited with acting as a ‘transition’ drink for a lager drinker who will find it relatively easy to switch to an ale that might even pay a passing resemblance to a lager and lime or even their favourite fruit flavored soft drink!

Tradition to be Respected Counter to this there is an unshakeable and highly deserved place for more traditional styles and flavours. There are few joys in life to better a perfect pint of traditional English Bitter with a hunk of bread and a slab of Cheddar for example and the resurgence of mild, ruby and old ales along with stouts and porters are a joy to behold.

There is no question that new brewers, new ingredients and new methods have added colour, character and much debate to the beer scene. It’s an interest that healthily spans all age groups and it is good to see it sitting easily and being embraced by the establishment.

Bravo we say, but is it all sweetness and light; and what does the future hold? Like most other food and drink manufacturing sectors the only thing that is certain in brewing is change itself. The emergence of new breweries is fantastic for the Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Is craft daft? |23

industry, indeed it counterbalances the somewhat depressing continued near monopoly by the world’s top breweries. In a similar vein there is no better indication of how well craft, micro and nano breweries are doing than seeing some of the majors, rubbishing them, buying them up or copying them by setting up their own, craft range or new products division.

Challenges Ahead Is there trouble on the horizon though? Brewing is a tough old business, and brewing the beer is the easy part. As any brewer will know, meticulous equipment cleaning takes up more than half of a brew day, then of course there are the un-glamourous tasks of cleaning casks, delivering them, collecting them and of course the tricky challenge of getting paid on time. All of these tasks can be outsourced of course, but at a cost. The ingredients for making beer can be relatively inexpensive but the cost is in the time. In the commercial environment a 6 to 8 hour brew session is followed by perhaps a week of your asset fermenting, then being cold conditioned before finally being released to market. By the time everyone has been paid, including the tax man and if you are lucky, yourself – oh and then of course there’s the rent, rates, water and fuel bills to settle, the margins are thin. Suddenly the use of those exotic hops from New Zealand, and yeast flown in from America may seem hasty as they are also tugging at the same margins. That is if you can get the hops, as the 2015 hop harvest was not the best. Poor weather and powdery mildew has all but wiped out some species for the year and others are near unobtainable having been snaffled under contract by the major breweries. There is no doubt the skills of the brewer will be under sharper than ever focus during 2016 as throwing mounds of fruity hops at a brew will no longer be a commercially viable option. Blend and balance will take on new significance and the elusive quest for popular saleable beers will continue unabated.

The Quest for Profit In other cases, the towel is being thrown in, in the quest for profit. Recycling yeast is considered good practice but re-cycling dry hops for the next batch boil, milling malt extra fine to extract more

F

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

24 | Please support our advertisers

at Sundays, 3 Cumbergate, Peterborough PE1 1YR Bookings on bbq.nights@yahoo.com Tel: 01733 554 334

Great local ingredients, cooked low ‘n slow over wood in our multi-award winning Cookshack Smoker, imported from the USA. Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork, Ribs & more.

Good Meat+Rub+Smoke+Time=BBQ

Food Service Times Lunchtimes: Wed - Sat 12-2pm Evenings: Thurs - Sat 6-8.30pm Sunday Lunch: 12-3pm

For further information and table reservations please call: 01778 343200

1 Peterborough Rd, Langtoft PE6 9LW

Diary dates February

Wednesday 3th at 8.30 pm.

Branch Monthly Meeting at the Beehive, Albert Place, Peterborough, PE1 1DD. All members welcome to attend, but please bring your membership card.

Friday 12th Award Presentation - Pub of the Year 2016 at the Woolpack, Stanground PE2 8HR from 8.00pm onwards.

Wednesday 17th – Saturday 20th National Winter Ales Festival, The Roundhouse, Pride Park, Derby DE24 8JE. For further details go to http://nwaf.org.uk

Saturday 20th Award Presentation – Branch Cider Pub of the Year at the Letter B, Whittlesey. Mini bus departs Brewery Tap at 7pm

Delaine Bus Route 201 / 202

CAMRA meetings, socials and beer festivals in the coming months

return by 11pm. Cost £7.

Contact John Hunt, Social Secretary to book places.

March

Monday 7th at 8.00pm Branch Monthly Meeting at the Palmerston Arms, Woodston PE2 9PA. To include presentation of the LocAle Pub of the Year. All members welcome to attend, but please bring your membership card.

Wednesday 9th – Saturday 12th Leicester Beer Festival, Charotar Patidar Samaj, Bay Street, Leicester LE1 3BX. For further details go to www.leicestercamra.org.uk

Thursday 17th – Saturday 19th St Neots ‘Booze on the Ouse’ Beer and Cider Festival, Priory Centre, St Neots PE19

2BH. For further details go to www.hunts.camra.org.uk

Saturday 19th March in March Campaigning Crawl. Meet Peterborough railway station at 11.40 for 11.50 train to March. Off Peak Day Return £7.60. If you intend to join in March ring 07923489917 for location update. Contact John Hunt, Social secretary to book places.

Friday 25th - Monday 28th Easter Ale Festival at the Tap and Kitchen, Oundle Wharfe PE8 4DE

April

Saturday 23rd Joint trip to Bermondsey Beer Mile with Huntingdon CAMRA branch. Details TBC.

‘flavour’. Using rice, corn, syrups and other adjuncts, cheap sugars, inverts, colourings and, for goodness sake, hop oils instead of real hops are not uncommon beyond the grass roots of the industry.

Some advocates will try to justify them on quality, flavour or mouthfeel grounds. The rest of us shake our heads in disbelief as pretenders take on the race to the bottom in search of profit. Thankfully cut corners are generally easy to taste, – soulless and twiggy brown beers with a heartbreaking lack of taste and flavour leave a trail of broken dreams and promises for the expectant drinker. Sadly a tarring with the same brush casts a shadow over the collective reputation of beer as our national drink of choice.

The Emerging Model The beer bars that have created a new market will have their credentials questioned by the footfall of a demanding public and fall back closer to the traditional pub model as the vogue for paying more for less becomes less fashionable. After all, the beers use essentially the same ingredients and only cost pennies per pint more to make than any other beer. At the same time genuinely great traditional pubs will prosper on a mandate of quality beer and quality food and of course being a great community venue.

So, with so many breweries emerging, and yet so many pubs closing, or having their choices limited by their owners, how does the brewer prosper?

Some breweries will merge, resources will be shared, and breweries will close. There is the oft repeated story of the farmer who spent tens of thousands on his dream of setting up a brewery only to close it six months later because the lack of sales, hard work and need to be in three places at once was simply overwhelming. The rose tinted bespectacled romantic notion type brewer will not last the course.

Pub companies are already changing and adapting and will survive because their shareholders demand it. The end of the Pub Tie, the emergence of the Market Rent Only option and the divestment of part of their pub estates by even the largest players brings forth another opportunity.

Is craft daft? Continued |25

The Brew Pub As a pub landlord what if you could completely control beer quality? Accurately assess demand and adapt cask sizes to suit, stock a wide variety of beers, and change them regularly to keep interest high, minimize wastage, reduce transportation costs and increase profitability whilst at the same time serving beer that you are proud of and making your pub a destination attraction?

And if you were a brewer what if you could get a regular reliable source of sales with prompt payment and no returns or complaints about matters outside of your control?

With the emergence of new breweries we are seeing the re-birth of the brew pub. It is often said that beer doesn’t travel well and with a brew pub it doesn’t have to. Beer made just yards from its point of sale has the best chance of being served in optimum condition. Chances are, the landlord and his brewer will know exactly what went into the beer and will be able to explain it to you with a genuine interest. There will be a glint in the eye and a pride in the product that can be compared to the home made pie and the hand cut chips that are served with your pint. None of the corporate ordinary or the grim bland will be seen in this type of establishment. Yes, of course, the proprietor knows which beers are light and hoppy and those that are dark and bewitching, and of course, they know what hops were used in the beer. Indeed the landlord may have put them in the copper himself or even grown some of them in the garden. This is a model that works because it produces quality outcomes - different and better because it is simpler. Where quality comes first, ingredients are finest and the brewing art revered. It doesn’t shout, but it certainly demands your attention.

Graham Moorhouse Head Brewer at the Shoulder of Mutton, Weldon.

Are you missing out?

Get Beer Around Ere delivered to your door!

For a year (6 issues) send £3.54 for second class or £4.08 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

26 |

On a recent California fly drive holiday with my very understanding fiancée Carron we visited a number of Breweries to see how real ale was flourishing ‘over the pond’. First point to note is the Americans define microbrewers as craft brewers and correspondingly their produce is called craft beer.

Our first stop was San Diego and the Ballast Point Brewery, Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits Company founded in 1996. It is the second largest brewer in San Diego County and the 37th largest craft brewery in the USA. Alongside craft beer it is also a micro distillery producing 14 different spirits from gin to moonshine! The tasting room was very similar in size to our very own Brewery Tap in Peterborough with a long line of taps running the length of the bar plus the complete range of Ballast Point spirits. Carron tried a US pint (glasses are smaller than our impeBEER AROUND ERE | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

Beer in the USA

rial pint it looks and feels very strange!) of Commodore a medium bodied stout at 6.5 ABV. I sampled a Sculpin IPA at 7.0 ABV which is their signature brew. Can you see a pattern unfolding here? The Americans like their craft ale very hoppy and very STRONG! To be fair not all the US craft beer is strong, I sampled a session IPA, Even Keel, which at 3.8% was a tad hoppy for my palate but was very tasty as were all the beers we sampled from Ballast.

Our next port of call (literally) was the RMS Queen Mary moored in Long Beach. The Queen was built in 1936 and is a floating Art Deco palace and a tribute to British craftsmanship, and I had engineered the visit so I could propose to my partner Carron on the deck.

I was not disappointed with her response and we toasted our engagement in the 1st class 1930’s Observation Cocktail bar. There were a small number of craft ales for sale and of particular note was Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA ABV 7.2. The name derives from the dry-hopping the beer gets in production from the hop torpedo.

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

The hop torpedo is a stainless steel device packed with whole-cone hops and sealed against pressure.

Fermenting beer is circulated out of a fermenter, through the column of hops, and back into the fermentation tank. The beer was hoppy with a very crisp taste. Los Angeles is a very big place and has over 20 craft breweries within the city limits.

(As a footnote I have since found bottles of Torpedo Extra IPA for sale in both Morrison’s in Peterborough so you can try it for yourselves).

The last part of our journey was through the fruit and grape growing regions of California as we headed for the bay and San Francisco. It has to be seen to be believed, mile after mile of fruit and grape vines are all you can see. When we arrived in downtown San Francisco again we found the same as every were else with craft beer on sale at just about every location. There are over 30 craft breweries in San Francisco. The Americans have embraced craft ale in all its styles golden, amber, dark etc. In downtown San Francisco you can take a cable car (tram) and at each terminus there is a craft beer brewery very close by.

We visited the Cellarmaker Brewing Company which was just around the corner from our hotel.

Beer in the USA|27

So very handy for a growler to take home (a growler is a glass jug that carries a half-gallon of beer).

There was a very warm welcome from the staff.

The beer list comprised of beers with weird and wonderful names like, Killed by Death Pale Ale 6.1 ABV, Highway to the Danker Zone double IPA 8.4 ABV, Vastness of Space double Imperial stout 9.8 ABV, and Coffee & Cigarettes London porter 7.2 ABV. You can ask for 5oz tasters which is a great way to find out what tickles your fancy. For me it was Killed by Death Pale Ale and Carron just loved the Coffee & Cigarettes Porter. In summary we had a wonderful trip, met some wonderful people, and drank some wonderful beer.

The word on the street for 2016 is the Americans are coming, with a number of licence brewing deals with UK breweries to bring you the new taste of America! American beers can be purchased online, are available in the larger supermarkets, or try asking your local landlord or landlady.

Have a Nice Day!

Mike Blakesley Press Officer

Gold Award Presentation Shoulder of Mutton

Dave Murray, Chairman presenting award to landlord Bogdan Vujnovic, with brewer Graham Moorhouse.

The Shoulder of Mutton was presented with a Gold Award on 4th December 2015. A mini bus of members travelled to Weldon for the presentation. The award was for “increasing the variety of real ale and the addition of a LocAle brewery”. Visitors joined locals in the celebration! Good beer, excellent food laid on by mine hosts, all in all a good night.

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

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

Cyprus microbrewery finally gets the go-ahead!

Melanie, our youngest daughter, studied at Sunderland University as one of a growing band of British women brewers. We researched the market, prepared a detailed business plan and presented this to the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency, CIPA, who agreed to help. We didn’t enter into this lightly nor, knowing Cyprus, did we expect things to be easy, but no market research, business plan or MBA could have prepared us for the sheer extent of the government nightmare to follow…”

The owners of the Paphos-based Aphrodite’s Rock Microbrewery & Brewpub, the first licensed microbrewery in Cyprus, tell CAMRA their incredible story of how they overcame years of rampant government bureaucracy to brew their real ales in Cyprus.

William Ginn (Bill), said, “We started working on our licence application shortly after arriving in Cyprus in October of 2010 but, as you’ll see, the process was very drawn out and made extremely difficult and expensive for us”. He added, “Leaving Cyprus was never an option, as my wife Jean, our daughters, Laura and Melanie and me, whilst proud of our Yorkshire heritage and of being British, just love living in beautiful Paphos.”

Why Did You Decide to Start a Microbrewery in Cyprus?

I was a Chartered Engineer in the oil industry and travelled all my life. I enjoy good beer but I’ve spent a lot of time in places where good beer, often where any beer, is impossible to find. Brewing has been of practical interest to me so I knew we could make high quality and interesting beers. Cyprus, like most Mediterranean resorts, only had bland, massproduced commercial lagers and with nearly three million tourists every year, half being British, we saw real potential to establish our microbrewery in Paphos.

BEER AROUND ERE | FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016

What Were the Problems You Encountered in Cyprus?

We found an old defunct winery, near Tsada village, set in a lush green valley in the beautiful hills above Paphos. The size was perfect plus it was full of charm and character and had all the permits as a winery.

CIPA said the ‘Change of Use’ application, from winery to brewery, “…should be straightforward”. It was, however, an interminably slow and expensive process and it was Easter 2012, eighteen months of continuous work later, when our thick dossier of documentation was complete. We were assured all was in order and that we “…should receive the Permit to Brew in about a week”. You can imagine our shock on receiving notification from Nicosia, not with our promised Permit to Brew, but with further increasingly unreasonable, impractical and, often, impossible demands.

It must be said that Jean and I were treated very badly during these years and our health undoubtedly suffered. For over two years our equipment stood idle and we incurred huge costs with no income. CIPA was shocked by the extent of the bureaucratic obstacles we encountered but was powerless to help. It was almost as if there was a deliberate attempt by the government to drive us out of Cyprus for some reason!

We persevered and met all demands making it very clear we would not just go away. Customs & Excise then dropped their bombshell announcement, never previously mentioned, that should we ever receive a Permit to Brew we would need to pay a €51,000 bond and have a full-time Inspector on our premises whose Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

salary and all expenses would be to our account and, after lunchtime, the salary would be at double time.

The total cost of this resident Inspector could amount to well in excess of €100,000 p.a.; a crippling sum for a small family business.”

To Brussels and the European Parliament Bill said “With no options left to us, and feeling very alone in our struggles, we took this matter to the European Parliament in Brussels where, with the kind support of our former Yorkshire MEPs, Mr Godfrey Bloom and Mr Edward McMillan-Scott, questions were raised on our behalf over the legality of the Cyprus brewing industry and whether fair and equitable treatment should be expected for foreign direct investors into Cyprus as dictated under EU law.”

“We’d taken an entrepreneurial business risk with our investment into Cyprus, and we’d taken a hefty financial and emotional beating for our audacity by those who should have welcomed us, but we finally had hope and a glimmer of light at the end of our long dark tunnel. As a result of the EU intervention, our Permit to Brew was granted, with the resident Inspector and bond dropped. All seemed well but this was followed by a letter stating that we were “Forbidden to trade outside the city of Paphos” and “Forbidden to trade via the retail industry”. We objected and pointed out that this unfairly and unreasonably restricted our ability to compete with the Cyprus brewing duopoly of Keo and Carlsberg and was against the founding principle of ‘freedom of movement of goods’ in the EU. So our fight against Cyprus bureaucracy went on. It was nearly four years after we started when we finally received an unrestricted permit to brew and to distribute in Cyprus.

People liken our story to David vs Goliath; I don’t know about that but I do know that we couldn’t just meekly accept such unfair treatment without a fight.”

He said, with a wry smile, “After all these years of Cyprus bureaucracy, I nearly called our Irish Red Ale ‘Red Tape’!” He then added, “I am, however, now pleased to announce that a Mediterranean holiday no longer condemns CAMRA real ale drinkers to suffering long days of bland, mass-produced commercial lagers; some choice is now available in Cyprus.

Come to our little oasis in Paphos in 2016 for a great day out!”

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

David vs Goliath in Cyprus |29

Aphrodite’s Rock Microbrewery and Brewpub today Aphrodite’s Rock operates from an old winery just 15 - 20 minutes drive from the city of Paphos in Cyprus.

Or try the recommended No. 645 bus from the Old Town, then phone the brewery for the shuttle bus on arrival at Tsada bus stop. It is set in a valley surrounded by the natural beauty of the Mediterranean countryside amidst olive groves and grapevine terraces. Our kitchen offers value-for-money meals plus a range of Italian wood-fired-oven pizzas.

Handcrafted Ales in Cyprus Aphrodite’s Rock Microbrewery & Brewpub is still, first and foremost, a working brewery. Ales and lagers are created by Head Brewer, Melanie, and her team.

Four core ales (Yorkshire Rose Bitter, Lian Shee Irish Red Ale, ESB and London Porter) are cask-conditioned and dispensed at the brewpub as CAMRA compliant real ales. As craft ales, gas-dispensed and cooled to 5° C, all products are available in selected outlets throughout much of Cyprus.

Aphrodite’s Rock is also the only cider producer in Cyprus. For those who enjoy cider this is one pilgrimage that is a ‘must’! Guests are also all invited to join the free Aphrodite’s Rock Microbrewery & Brewpub Tour every Monday to Friday at about 2.00pm. Bill closed by saying “Things are slowly improving but we still have many ongoing issues.

The more people that spread the word and come to see us, the better we can confront these. We ask you, our fellow CAMRA members, for your help in this, please: ‘Like’ our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AphroditesRockBrewingCompany/); follow us on Twitter (@Aphroditesrock). If you’re coming to see us please write to us saying your visit to Paphos was prompted by reading this article and the dates you’ll be here. We look forward to meeting you soon. The Ginn family extends a warm welcome to all CAMRA members, their friends and family, so come and say ‘Hello’.

We wish Bill, Jean and their family every success in the future…

Aphrodite’s Rock Microbrewery & Brewpub Contact Information: Address: Polis Road, Tsada, Paphos 8540, Cyprus. Phone number: (00 357) 26 101446. Email: info@aphroditesrock.com.cy and info@cyprusbrewpub.com FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

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

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

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

LocAle Officer: Dave McLennan 01733 346059 (h) 07854 642773 (m) locale@real-ale.org.uk Webmaster: Harry Morten webmaster@real-ale.org.uk

Brewery Liaison Officers Blue Bell: John Hunt 07923 489917 Bexar County Brewery: Dave Botton 01733 345475 Castor Ales: Mike Lane 07850 334203 Digfield: Dave Waller 07821 912605 Elgood’s: John Hunt 07923 489917

Hopshackle: Noel Ryland 07944 869656

Kings Cliffe Brewery: Mike Blakesley 07747 617527 Melbourn: Don Rudd 07806 731765

Mile Tree Brewery: Steve Williams 07756 066503

Nene Valley: Bob Melville 07941 246693

Oakham Ales: Dave Allett 07966 344417 Tydd Steam: John Hunt 07923 489917

Shoulder of Mutton Brewery: John Temple 07905 051 312 Star Brewing Company: Don Rudd 07806 731765 Xtreme Ales: Vacant

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

Trading Standards

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 Gold or Merit Award. The new Merit Award is for pubs that are continuously outstanding, so 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:

Big kfasot 11am rB eaSat 8 t ! ry 95

ree At Least Th

, ry ve r r a o e c at f h t e m can o r f u lf se s yo r e u a ev lp yo uch e H as m

Real Ales!

5. £ y onl

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 taking bookings for Valentine’s Day and Mothers Day (6th March)

Now licensed to conduct Civil Marriage ceremonies on the premises 200 Broadway, Yaxley Tel: 01733 244885 Email: thefarmers@btconnect.com

www.thefarmersyaxley.co.uk