Welcome to the 34th CAMRA South East Essex Beer & Cider Festival I would like to warmly welcome you all to the 34th South East Essex Beer and Cider Festival, here at the Freight House. It doesn’t seem like twelve months ago, that we were here for the 33rd festival. Planning for this year started shortly after last year’s festival finished. I hope that you enjoy the ales and ciders that we have on offer during this week. If you are interested in joining the Campaign for Real Ale, to save the pubs that sell, and the brewers who produce, some of the wonderful beers you have sampled here, please join CAMRA at the membership desk in the hall. CAMRA’S KEY CAMPAIGNS CAMRA members have chosen four main campaigns to concentrate on during the coming months. These campaigns were agreed following a policy discussion group at CAMRA’s AGM in Torquay, April 2012, and a previous membership survey and strategy weekend that was conducted by the National Executive. Narrowing the Campaign’s activity to fewer key campaigns was a recommendation from the Fit For Purpose Report which was presented to the members at CAMRA's AGM 2011.
Please see page 4 for a message about our current campaign from CAMRA National Chairman, Colin Valentine. Please remember, all the people serving you here are volunteers, who give up their time to make this festival a success. Please treat them with respect, and, ENJOY THE FESTIVAL. Colin King
Chairman - CAMRA South East Essex THANK YOU Apart from our volunteers and sponsors, there are many other people and businesses who have helped behind the scenes. We would particularly like to thank:
TapRoom magazine Graham and Jackie at Recognition Express Billericay Brewing Company and George’s Brewery for brewing our Festival Specials and, all of the pubs taking part in our”Ale Trail to the Rochford Beer & Cider Festival” The Ale Trail encourages people to try real ale and real cider in different pubs throughout South East Essex. If your pub would like to take part next year, please contact maggiecamra@hotmail.co.uk
The key campaigns are:
Stop tax killing beer and pubs Secure an effective government support package for pubs Encourage more people to try a range of real ales, cider and perries To raise the profile of pub-going and increase the number of people using pubs regularly 34th South East Essex Beer Festival
Ale Trail 2013: Jordan Sharp at the White Hart, Hockley
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MESSAGE FROM COLIN VALENTINE CAMRA National Chairman CAMRA's campaign to strike a fair deal for publicans tied to large pub companies who are struggling to make a decent living and create a thriving pub sector has reached a critical stage. The Government is poised to announce their response to the pub company reform consultation which saw 7,000 people answer the online questionnaire and 1,100 written responses. This announcement will outline the legislative proposal to reform the large pub companies and affect the future direction of the campaign. As always thank you for your effort and dedication to the Fair Deal for Your Local Campaign which has resulted in the support of 192 MPs and 250,000 beer mats distributed across the country. This year CAMRA’s Campaigns Team also brought the issue directly to the heart of the political agenda at the Party Conferences advocating reform to 70 MPs and hosting a policy debate with Minister Jo Swinson who instigated the consultation. Together we have built a strong groundswell of support for pubco reform. As you know, for too long large pub companies (those with over 500 pubs) have been taking more than is fair or sustainable from pub profits, causing real hardship for licensees and contributing to the closure of 26 pubs every single week. CAMRA is calling on Government to deliver a statutory Code which includes the principle that tied licensees are no worse off than those that are free of tie backed up by a powerful adjudicator. CAMRA wants to see pubco licensees offered a “Market Rent Only Option” and a Guest Beer Option freeing them up to sell local beers at a competitive price. For more about the campaign: www.fairdealforyourlocal.com Thank you for your support. 4
Real Ales, Fine Wines & Good Food Large Garden • Quiz Nights Regular Live Music • Sunday Lunch Menu Function Room for Hire
Food Served Every Lunchtime and Tuesday to Saturday Evenings 274 Main Rd, Hockley, Essex SS5 4NS
Tel: 01702 203438 www.whiteharthockley.co.uk 34th South East Essex Beer Festival
A very big Rochford welcome to all our friends old and new to the 34th South East Essex Beer Festival. CAMRA has grown and currently has over 150,000 members. Why not join us, which you can do at the membership stand. You really can make a difference. As we saw in the chancellors budget. Without CAMRA would that really have happened? Our beer list has grown yet again this year from a 2.5% session beer to a 11% strong ale. This year we are featuring a War Of The Roses bar with rare beers from Yorkshire and Lancashire, inc Merseyside and Greater Manchester (part of the ancient county of Lancashire). Plus our usual superb range of Essex beers, and some from other parts of the U.K.. Not forgetting a great range of Cider's and Perry plus British and Foreign bottled beer. Take-aways If you would like to take some ale or cider home, container's are available at the bars. I would welcome any suggestions for future festivals themes either verbally or by email. My personal email is stephen.dunham@hotmail.co.uk. I look forward to your feedback. Our Thwaites Wainwright sponsored heated Marquee has only been made possible by the kind support of our long standing friends at Thwaites. I really do appreciate there help over the year's, as much as I love their beers. Why not try a pint of Thwaites Smoked Stack. A rauch beer. A first. We have some on draught on the Foreign beer bar.
I would like to end on a very sad note. You will notice the Ray Fuller Cider Bar. Ray suddenly passed away over the summer. Ray was a lovely bloke who loved his pub’s and his family. We on a weekly basis shared a few beers discussing world affairs and our beloved Southend United plus real ale and Cider. Rest In Peace mate, you will be massively missed. We will be back at the Freight House next year 18th to 22nd November. Please put that in your diary. Steve Dunham and Colin King Festival Organisers
Everyone who is working today is giving up their time free of charge to serve you. So Please treat them with the respect they deserve. We would personally like to thank the whole beer festival team sitting through all those planning meetings, and all the volunteers who put in months of work or just the odd hour. Your all Champions in our view.
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
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FESTIVAL CHARITY: Little Havens Children’s Hospice When a family has been told that there’s no cure for their child’s illness, Little Havens Hospice can help. We’re here to make the journey as comfortable as possible, controlling pain and medication, offering respite and caring for children at the end of their lives. Our specialist care is free – for as long as is needed – within the family home and at our hospice. We’re a registered charity – not part of the NHS – and receive limited government funding. Our hospice can only exist because of the support and generosity of the community. Together, we’re ‘Making every day count.’ Little Havens is part of Havens Hospices, which also incorporates Fair Havens Hospice. Little Havens Hospice is based in beautiful meadowland in Thundersley near Rayleigh and officially opened in March 1998. Since then it has cared for over 1,000 children with life-limiting illnesses and given vital support to their families. Caring for a child with an illness which could shorten their life places a huge emotional, physical, mental and often financial strain upon the whole family. In the homely environment of the hospice families can take a break from the strain of constant care, and concentrate on spending quality time together. Little Havens also helps to provide respite service called EPIC for families who wish for their child to be cared for in their own home. Our care is often described by those we care for as “amazing.” Everyone matters at Havens Hospices, we care not just for patients but their families friends and neighbours too. All are welcome. 6
WHO WE CAN HELP Little Havens Children's Hospice provides care for children who are life-limited, are lifethreatened or have palliative care needs. What this means is that the child has been diagnosed with a condition, meaning that their life may be shortened. We can care for children and young people under the age of 19. We care for children, young people and their families from Essex and the surrounding London boroughs. The child may still be receiving treatment which aims to cure but where there is a risk that this treatment may fail. Equally the child may be receiving treatment which aims to prolong their life. Little Havens seeks to provide care along with the professionals already involved in the child’s care and being referred to Little Havens does not mean that these treatments will stop.
Little Havens also has a Supportive Care Team which offers support to children, young people and their families for as long as it is needed. We have specific criteria to assess each child’s needs and we will work with your child's doctors to determine whether they are suitable for the care we can provide. If you have any questions please call our Care Team confidentially on 01702 552200. 34th South East Essex Beer Festival
HOW WE ARE FUNDED Our hospices can only exist because of the support and generosity of the community. We’re not part of the NHS and receive limited government funding. Because the care we provide for seriously ill children and adults is free of charge, we must raise over £100,000 every week. The hospices can only exist because of the support and generosity of the community. WHAT IS IT LIKE THERE? Little Havens is a purpose built, architecturally designed building within maintained woodland just five minutes drive from the A127 and A13. We pride ourselves on our informal and relaxed atmosphere as the building is designed to be a “home from home.” So there is a lovely kitchen where home-cooked meals are served every day, lounge areas and beautiful landscaped gardens. There is plenty to do here with a computer room, teenage den, multi-sensory room, swimming pool and messy play area. For those who want some peace and quiet there are dedicated lounge areas, quiet parts of the garden and each child has their own bedroom. We have eight bedrooms (two especially for teenagers with en-suite facilities) and two specialist bathrooms. All of our building and gardens are wheelchair accessible. WHO CAN USE LITTLE HAVENS? Our service is for children and young adults who live in Essex, who are between 0-19 years of age and who have a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. The child may still be receiving curative treatment but there is a risk that this may fail, treatment to prolong their life, their treatment may be purely to keep them as comfortable as possible or they may not be receiving treatment. We provide care for the child and the whole family. WHO CARES FOR THE CHILDREN? We have a multi-disciplinary team which means the Care Team has a mixture of skills and qualifications. We do not wear uniforms and hope that this makes you feel as comfortable as possible. We do, however, 34th South East Essex Beer Festival
wear name badges. Around half of the Care Team are registered nurses who come from a variety of backgrounds. We also have a team of on-call doctors who work with a child’s own paediatrician, consultant or GP to provide medical care. We also have a music therapist, teacher and teaching assistant, play specialist, family support worker, nursery nurse and NVQ-level carers. We have a key worker system to ensure families know who to contact if they need anything. WHAT DO OTHER PEOPLE THINK ABOUT LITTLE HAVENS? Here are just a few comments for families and children who are using the hospice: “Little Havens means peace and tranquillity for our family – we are cared for well here.” "After my first visit, I wished I’d rung sooner. I couldn’t believe how lovely and welcoming Little Havens was. In hospital, people do stare at you and your baby. At Little Havens we are accepted for who we are.” “I was close to breaking point but now things are much better now we have Little Havens as support. My children love going to Little Havens so this is a treat for us all. If we didn’t have Little Havens our family would have split up. It really has been a lifeline.” “I think Little Havens is really cool. I was a bit worried at first but it was OK, everyone there made me feel at home. I liked the swimming because it helps with my muscle exercises.”
www.havenshospices.org.uk www.facebook.com/havenshospices www.twitter.com/havenshospices Please help support Little Havens Children’s Hospice by placing your beer tokens (with any unused amount) in the box at the front desk. THANK YOU.
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Alexandra Yacht Club
The brewery kit
Clifton Terrace, Southend-on-Sea
‘One of Southend on Sea’s best kept secrets’
EAST ANGLIA CAMRA Regional Club of the Year 2012 SOUTH EAST ESSEX CAMRA Cider Bar of the Year 2012 CAMRA Club of the Year 2013 Social membership available Cliff-top location is the ideal place to relax See what we have on at alexyachtclub.co.uk or facebook: alexandra yacht club
People often ask what made me want to start up my own brewery, so where do I start? Years of drinking beers, going to beer festivals and home brewing on and off had developed an interest and passion in beer. Then 2 years ago with a couple of friends I went on a “Brewer for The Day” experience at Brentwood Brewery. After spending a fantastic day there I thought, “Why not do that yourself?” So I spent a year reading round the subject, visiting breweries and drinking more beer and thought “Yes, I could do this!” With a love of Belgian beer and the emerging craft beer movement in London, I decided to aim at a different market – premium bottled craft beers that I would aim to sell direct to the public. So the first step was thinking of a name for the company – as Brentwood already had a brewery I moved to the next town and it would be Billericay Brewing Company. Next step was to find suitable premises – not easy! I wanted somewhere that I could brew, but with a potential footfall to be able to sell bottles direct to the public. After a number of premises did not quite work out, in December last year I found a suitable unit, just behind Waitrose car park in the centre of Billericay. It had space for a microbrewery and shop, so went ahead with renting it, but many steps before we could open – planning permission, licence etc. At the same time I joined the East Anglian Brewers cooperative, in the hope of starting to
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34th South East Essex Beer Festival
Start Up for Billericay Brewing New sign for brewery and shop
brew somewhere. Through the co-op I met up with Pitfield brewer Andy Skene, who was just starting up his own enterprise, Dominion Brewery Company. I became a cuckoo brewer learning loads on the way, brewing my first collaborative brew, Mayflower Gold, with Andy. A 6.5% highly hopped American style IPA, it received a very positive response in bottled form and on draught at The Alehouse and Winter Beer Festival, both in Chelmsford.
never quite happen as soon as you wish, so we had to brew our festival special (Ice Blue) at Pitfield again. If you like it at the festival, we hope that it will become a regular feature in our range. Mayflower Gold and A Mild With No Name are also available here. Once the brewery is up and running we plan to expand our range further, including a couple of session beers suitable for selling to local pubs and clubs, but still concentrating on bottled craft ales with taste and character.
After obtaining planning permission and licence our shop opened in mid June. I wanted the shop to be a specialist beer shop selling not only Billericay Brewing beers, but also beers from other local microbreweries in Essex and London. The range in The Essex Beer Shop has been very popular, with Essex beers from Brentwood, Wibblers, Crouch Vale, Farmers, Pitfield, Red Fox, Growler and George’s Brewery. The London section features the exciting new beers from The Kernel, Beavertown, Weird Beard, Redchurch and Partizan (if you’ve not tried them yet, you are in for a treat!) For the opening of the shop, we also launched our second beer, another collaboration with Dominion, A Mild With No Name. We’ve had a great reception for this from beer aficionados, and converted a lot of people to dark ales and milds.
Next weekend, why not come along and see how far we have reached in installing and commissioning our brewery, and hopefully try even more of our beers. We have a Belgian Beer tasting evening with Essex’s own Belgian beer expert Podge on Friday 29th and open weekend on Saturday 30th/Sunday 1st. All events with pop up bar – see our website or Facebook/Twitter for more details.
Essex Beer Shop
Our main aim now is to get our own microbrewery installed, and as you read this at the festival we hope that the installation is close to completion. We hoped to brew our first brew on the plant for this festival, but things 34th South East Essex Beer Festival
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34th South East Essex Beer Festival
Whatpub.com and The National Beer Scoring Scheme It is CAMRA policy for all CAMRA branches to use NBSS scores to assist in selecting pubs for the Good Beer Guide. The online scoring system has now been incorporated into the Whatpub.com website
What do the scores mean
WHAT’S WHATPUB.COM ALL ABOUT?
1. POOR. Beer that is anything from barely drinkable to drinkable with considerable resentment.
For a number of years, people have been asking why CAMRA as the UK's largest and most influential pub-going consumer organisation doesn’t have its own online pub guide. Well now it does. You can use whatpub.com to search for pubs across the UK and then look up opening times, descriptions, facilities and of course details of the real ale and cider on offer. Being an online guide means that extra functions such as additional text for descriptions, photos and live map data are also available. Our aim is to get every pub in the UK listed on whatpub.com and all with complete and up to date information such as descriptions and photos.
The Good Beer Guide (GBG) is our showcase to the world – it demonstrates that we as a Campaign believe that excellent real ale is worth campaigning for. It plays a vital part in supporting our pubs because if you want to drink cask ale then the pub is the obvious option. Every pub in the GBG should sell great beer all the time. The view of over one hundred thousand people is the key to that consistency and the National Beer Scoring Scheme is the tool to make that job as easy as possible.
0. UNDRINKABLE. No cask ale available or so poor you have to take it back or can’t finish it.
2. AVERAGE. Competently kept, drinkable pint but doesn't inspire in any way, not worth moving to another pub but you drink the beer without really noticing. 3. GOOD. Good beer in good form. You may cancel plans to move to the next pub. You want to stay for another pint and may seek out the beer again. 4. VERY GOOD. Beer in excellent condition. 5. PERFECT. Probably the best you are ever likely to find. A seasoned drinker will award this score very rarely.
Up to six cask ales plus cask cider available every day
564 Rayleigh Road Eastwood SS9 5HX
If you drink real ale in a pub, and have ever thought about why it is or indeed why it isn’t in the GBG, then by scoring it you can make a difference.
Regular Regularguest guestales alesfrom; from;Adnams, Adnams,Crouch CrouchVale, Vale,Marstons, Marstons, Sharps, Sharps, Wychwood Wychwoodand andmany manymore. more.
Also, if you have anything to do with selecting pubs for the GBG you have a duty to listen to what over 150,000 fellow members are saying about your pubs.
able! Christmas Fayre Menu now avail
Beer scores can now be entered at www.whatpub.com When you first enter the database you will be asked to login. Your username is your CAMRA membership number. The password is the one you use to access the national website.
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
Great Greatfood foodavailable availableall allday, day, every everyday dayuntil until10.00 10.00pm. pm.
Live entertainment every weekend Live Jazz every Monday evening, Poker evening every Thursday. Party bookings catered for.
Find us on Facebook (Oak Wood )
www.theoakwoodleighonsea@stonegatepubs.co.uk
Telephone 01702 512819
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The Cask Ale List These beers were ordered; some will have changed since programme printing. Not all beers are on at every session: ONLY THE BARRELS WITH A CASK SIGN AND PRICE ARE AVAILABLE. Any tasting notes are just a guide; please ask for tasters.
Grays
Dark Side
4.8%
Dark stout, flavoured with Fairtrade coffee
Redemption
4.5%
Full flavoured amber ale
Rock ‘n’ Rolla
ESSEX BAR
Billericay
Deverell’s
4%
Blonde summer ale with bite
Billericay
Ice Blue
4%
Festival Special, strong hop flavours SPONSORED BY ICE BLUE LEGAL
Mayflower Gold
6.5%
Powerful, American style pale ale
Mild With no Name
5.5%
Traditional, strong dark mild
Bishop Nick
4.3% 3.6%
Traditional bitter
Brentwood
Farmers
9.7%
Maldon
5%
Pucks Folly
4.2%
Pale golden ale
Xmas Stout 2.5%
Full-bodied, mid-brown bitter.
Gold
Yukon Gold 2 Matured in cognac barrels
4.8%
Full bodied, coffee & chocolate flavours
Brentwood
BBC2
4.9%
Brewed with 7 different hops
Powerful, deep-golden ale
Rich tawny beer, nutty taste
Ridley’s Rite
Moreton
Canada
Golden Boar
Braintree
1555
Dominion
4.3%
Felstar
Felsted
Good Knight
5%
Slightly smoky, easy drinking, porter
Heavily hopped golden beer.
Plumberry
4.5%
Brown session beer, strong taste
Winter Warmer
4.7%
3.8%
Light, refreshing, golden ale
Metropolis
3.9%
Great Wakering
74 Squadron
4%
Full of English hops
3.9%
Golden hoppy beer
Winter Nights
Old Essex
George’s
Wakes Colne
Brass Monkey
4%
Deep amber traditional old ale, rich malty taste
Amber winter ale
Colchester
Lightburst
Well hopped with American hops
4.3%
200-200
3.9%
Festival Special SPONSORED BY ANDREWS TAXIS
Dark ruby, best bitter
Crouch Vale
S. Woodham Ferrers
Amarillo
5.0%
Strong golden ale
Brewers Gold Pale golden ale 12
Merry Gentlemen 2012 6% Winter warmer cellared for 12 months
Merry Gentlemen 2013 6% 4.0%
Warming velvety Old Ale, port chocolate flavours
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
COLOUR KEY Bitter
Excalibur Reserve
Light/Golden Ales
Mild/Stout/Porter/Dark
Red Ales
Speciality
7.2%
Citrusy, with the warmth of an old Armagnac
Ha’Penny
Pitfield
Moreton
Eco Warrior
4.5%
Citrus hop aroma
Ilford
London Particular
4%
Red Ale
4.8%
Complex with a strong hop character
Mild
London Stone
4.5%
Harwich Town
4.2%
Hoppy, golden ale
4.7%
Crab & Winkle Mild
3.6%
Thin-bodied mild
Bay Bitter
3.6%
Golden, hoppy, bitter
Ganges
4%
Ha'penny Mild
3.6% 4.8%
Delicate citrus aroma
Hunter’s Gold
5%
Collaboration with brewing guru Charlie Saville
Freakshow 9
3.8%
Full flavoured, light brown bitter
Coggeshall Gold
Great Wakering
Snake Oil Stout
Coggeshall
Citrus & exotic fruit flavours
Deep red, traditional mild
Xmas Beer
Red Fox
Best Bitter
Well balanced amber bitter
Hop Monster
Brightlingsea
Full-bodied stout
Harwich
Bathside Battery
Railway Tavern
Bladderwrack Stout
Reddish-brown, best bitter
4.2%
Ruby Red Mild
4% 3.9% 6.5%
Full mash complex mild; homage to Sarah Hughes
Wily Ol’ Fox
5.2%
Extreme Magnum hop rush, dry fruit finish
Amber, with English hops & malt
Indian Summer
Round Tower
Saffron Walden
Bombay Blonde
4.5%
East Mersea
Island Gold
3.9%
Hopped with Cascade, Columbus & Chinook hops
American Brown Ale
Saffron
Maldon
Bingle Jells
5.2% 3.7%
Hint of fruit, bitter finish. CAMRA SUPREME CHAMPION 2011
Wiseman's Gold
4.8%
Hints of citrus & pine
Yule Love Her
4.6%
Henham
Henham Honey
Traditional fruity dark porter
Oscar Wilde Mild
4.1%
Golden, hoppy bitter
Pale amber, bitter
Mighty Oak
Cotter
4.5%
Refreshing, golden ale
Lion Bitter
5.4%
Strong, dark, stout
Generously hopped
Mersea Island
Chelmsford
Shadoxhurst Stout
4.6%
Straw coloured beer with local honey
Littlebury Lighthouse
4.2%
Smooth amber ale
Saffron Blonde
4.3%
Light golden ale with citrus & malt flavours
Chestnut Grove
4.8%
Warming, nutty bitter
4.1%
Fruity and spicy
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
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Proud to supply Rochford Beer Festival 2013
Announcing our
5th Annual Beer Festival
at the Redoubt Fort, Main Road, Harwich
24th - 27th July 2014 60+ Beers and ciders Draught & bottled U.S. Beers Hot & cold food all sessions Admission: ÂŁ3 with FREE half a pint if you bring your own pewter tankard Phone / Fax: 01255 551155 E-mail: info@harwichtown.co.uk Station Approach, Harwich Essex CO12 3NA.
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34th South East Essex Beer Festival
Cask Ale List continued Shalfords
Brass Castle
Braintree
1319 Mild
3.7%
Dark, roast malt & chocolate flavours
Ebenezer Ale
4.5%
Traditional light brown beer
Rampant Hop
4% 6.5%
Sweet, nutty, with a bitter finish
Stoneley Bitter
4.2%
Dark amber session beer
Sticklegs
3.8%
Refreshing pale ale
Wibblers
Brightside
Radcliffe
Inn Crowd
3.8%
Dark mild, all English hops
Best Bitter
4.3%
Dark amber, traditional bitter
4.8%
Light amber, American style IPA
Solstice Golden Ale 3.9%
Amber coloured, slightly malty
Winter Wibble
4%
4.5%
Light golden ale
Mayland
Apprentice
Tail Gunner
Maverick I.P.A
Braintree
Stour Gold
4.5%
Brass coloured, special bitter
Dry hopped, rye beer with a reddish hue
Brewed using local wild hedgerow hops
Rotten End
Pocklington
Best Bitter
6%
Chantry
Rotherham
Diamond Black Stout
4.5%
Full bodied, dry stout
Old ale, whisky like malt flavours
Wobbly Mole
11%
Barley wine
New York Pale
Concertina WAR OF THE ROSES BAR
Bank Top
4%
Dark brown with malt & roast aroma
Flat Cap
4%
Amber ale with citrus, malt & fruit notes
Black Edge
Horwich
I.P.A
4.7% 3.8%
Clean, citrus flavoured
Boggart Hole Clough Dark Mild
4% 4%
3.9%
Old Dark Attic
3.9%
Dark with cherry fruit & roast flavours
Dunham Massey
Dunham Massey
Dark with a hint of cherries
7.2%
Belgian style ale
Light Mild
3.8%
Winter Warmer
6.6%
Strong brown traditional north western winter ale
Sheffield
Farmer’s Belgian Blue 4.4% Christmas berry overtones & a blueish head
Farmer’s Bitter
Club Bitter
Gold, easy drinking, light mild
Hoppy fruit aroma
Bradfield
4.6%
Refreshing and easy drinking
Dunham Gold Newton Heath
Classic dark mild
First Christmas
Bengal Tiger
Chocolate Cherry Mild 3.8%
Hoppy india pale ale
Hop
Mexborough
Light amber, ale
Bolton
Dark Mild
3.9%
Pale, session bitter
3.9%
Elland
Elland
1872 Porter
6.5%
Rich dark porter, from an 1872 recipe
Traditional, copper coloured malt ale
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
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Cask Ale List continued Beyond the Pale
4.2%
Pale golden, bitter
Great Heck
Lymm
Lymm
Bridgewater Blonde
Great Heck
Treasure I.P.A
4.8%
Smooth, hoppy IPA
Bitter
4%
Easy drinking
Yule Twig
5.2%
Slitten Brook Stout
Rich brown, hoppy, with notes of Xmas pud.
Smooth and creamy
Great Newsome
Lytham
S. Frodingham
Frothingham Best
4.3%
Dark amber, best bitter
Sleck Dust
3.8%
4.2%
4%
Berry Blonde
4.1%
Mithril
Richmond
A66
4%
Crisp, refreshing, golden ale
Sweet liquorice taste
Stuff the Kiwis
Ilkley
Mary Jane
3.5%
Refreshing, pale ale, packed with American hops
Imperial
Lytham St Annes
Witch Wood
Blonde beer, with hints of English berries
Hemsworth
Spanish Stout
Ilkley
4%
English hopped, brown ale
Straw coloured, session ale
Hamelsworde
4%
Delicate, hoppy, subtle and refreshing
Mexborough
Bitter
3.9%
Classic, dark, best bitter
Blonde
4%
Very pale, light golden ale
Stout
Moorhouse’s
4%
Burnley
Black Cat Mild
3.4%
Dark ruby ale, with chocolate, mocha flavours
Blonde Witch
4.5%
Golden, gooseberry notes with fruity flavours
North Yorkshire
Pinchinthorpe
Lord Lee’s
4.7%
Refreshing with a hoppy aroma
4.6%
Priors Ale
3.6%
Black stout, slightly sweet finish
Light, refreshing, pale ale
Kelham Island
Oates
Sheffield
Easy Rider
4.3%
Light amber, easy-drinking ale
Get Your Kicks
6.6%
Halifax
Wild Oates
4.3%
Full bodied, amber beer
OMT (Oates Mean Time) 3.8%
Strong, golden American I.P.A
Light, straw-coloured, session beer
Kirkby Lonsdale
Outstanding
Kirkby Lonsdale
Monumental Blonde
4.5%
7.3%
Highly hopped
Golden coloured ale
Radical
Bury
Pushing Out
4.2%
Owenshaw Mill
Sowerby Bridge
Stout 13
Ruby-red, malty beer
4.1%
Complex flavours from 5 malts
Ruskins Bitter
3.9%
A traditional bitter
Liverpool Organic Kitty Wilkinson
Liverpool
4.5%
Vanilla, butterscotch & chocolate flavours
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Katy's Blonde
3.6%
Fruity, full bodied, blonde, session beer
Phoenix
Heywood
Monkeytown Mild
3.9%
Deep roast flavour
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
Prospect
Whalebone
Wigan
Nutty Slack
3.9%
Dark mild, with a hint of liquorice
Whatever
3.8%
Pale, intensely hopped beer
Reedley Hallows
3.9%
Well balanced, fruity with a spicy finish
Old Laund Bitter
3.6%
Smooth & creamy session beer
Robinsons
Stockport
Old Tom
Wood Street
Sheffield
4.2%
Pale green ale for Halloween
Yellow Wood I.P.A
5.1%
Pale ale
Worsthorne
Burnley
Old Trout
4.5%
Red-brown
8.5%
Strong, dark, old ale
Tom & Berry
4.7%
Coffee aftertaste
Devil’s Walking Stick
Burnley
Filly Close Blonde
Hull
Truelove Porter
Yorkshire Brewing
Kingston upon Hull
Supernatural Blonde 4.6%
4.1%
Refreshing, citrus flavoured
Combination of Old Tom & winter berries
Trooper
4.7%
Premium British beer Inspired by Iron Maiden
Rudgate
York
Ruby Mild
4.4%
Nutty and rich
Thwaites
4.3%
Reddish coloured, malty, premium ale
Lancaster Bomber
4.4%
Full bodied, chestnut coloured ale
Nutty Black
3.3%
Dark ruby, mild ale
3.6%
Amber coloured, session beer
Smoke Stack
5.8%
Dark, smoky, rauch beer - available on the Foreign Bar
Wainwright
4.1%
Refreshing, golden ale
Bitter chocolate & orange in a glass Barlow
Anastasia Russian Imperial 7.5% Strong, dark and smooth stout
Betty’s Blonde
4%
Light golden, with citrus & passion fruit flavours
Blue Anchor
Helston
3.5%
Amber coloured, light mild
Landlord
4.3%
Classic, strong, pale ale
4.8%
Smooth, roast & chocolate malt overtones
Plum Pudding Stout
Original Special
4% 6.5%
Strong, dark & sweet
Brampton
Chesterfield
Golden Bud
3.8%
Impy Dark
4.3%
Traditional, dark mild
Winter Bock
6%
Dark ruby-red barley wine
Brampton Best
Wentworth
Oatmeal Stout
5%
Traditional sweet Cornish bitter
Well balanced, light, golden, hoppy bitter
Keighley
Golden Best
Wentworth
Ripley
Chocolate Orange Stout 4%
Middle
Original
Timothy Taylor
Amber
Barlow
Blackburn
Crafty Devil
NATIONAL BAR
4.7%
Roast aroma & bittersweet notes
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
4%
Session bitter
Burton Bridge Bramble Stout
Burton upon Trent
5%
Full flavoured dark stout, with hints of blackberry 17
Cask Ale List continued Thomas Sykes
10%
Straw coloured strong ale
Derventio
Darley Abbey
Cleopatra
5%
Apricot flavours
Mrs Claus
4%
Sweetish cereal malts
Driftwood Spars The Cherry Tree is a welcoming 18th Century pub, with a strong local following, both for its ambiance and excellent dining.
Real Ales Locally Sourced Food Bed & Breakfast Our countryside location provides excellent local walks and is close to Rochford Golf Club and Essex Marina, Rochford Train Station and Southend International Airport are only a mile or so away. The Cherry Tree, Stambridge Road, Rochford, Essex SS4 2AF
www.thecherrytree-rochford.co.uk
St Agnes
Alfies Revenge
6.5%
Deep red coloured, strong ale
Blackheads Mild
3.8%
Traditional mild, with smoky malt flavours
Elgoods
Wisbech
Cambridge Bitter
3.8%
Mid-brown traditional bitter
Exeter
Exeter
Avocet
3.9%
Pale blonde, organic ale
Fraid Not
4%
Deep golden, straw coloured, hoppy ale
Hartshorns
Derby
Floss the Boss
4.6%
Thirst quenching, pale golden ale
Humpty Dumpty
Reedham
Big Sharpie
5%
Strong pale ale
Lemon & Ginger
4%
Finely balanced lemon & ginger
Xmas Crack 2013
7%
Strong brown ale. A classic winter warmer
Jacobi
Pumsaint
Light
3.8%
Golden ale with floral flavours
Winter Warmer
5%
Malty fruit, bittersweet finish
Marlpool
Heanor
Blind Boris Mild
3.5%
Traditional dark mild
Nelson 1805
Chatham
5%
Dark golden, premium strength ale 18
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
d Trafalgar Bitter
4.1%
Light golden ale
Friggin in the Riggin
4.7%
Premium strength, mid-brown bitter
Loose Cannon
4.3%
Copper coloured, with a warm roast flavour
Powder Monkey
4.4%
A dark golden ale
Oakham
5%
Chocolate, liquorice & coffee flavours
Rusty Boiler
4.5%
Mid-brown best bitter, with a lick of caramel Newton Abbot
3.8%
4.6%
Pale, fruity bitter
4.2%
Traditional winter warmer, smooth & rich
Xmas Cracker
Citra Grapefruit & peach flavours
Okells
Thornbridge
Douglas
Bitter
3.7%
Gold coloured, session beer
Ordnance City
4.7%
Crisp dry hoppy finish
5%
Full bodied, rich & malty
Tally Ho!
5.5%
Dark, strong, old ale
Panther
4.5%
Dark rich smooth ale
Purple Moose
Porthmadog
Dark Side of the Moose 4.6% Dark and malty
Snowdonia Ale
3.6%
Ruby coloured, complex, mild
Tryst
Larbert
Brockville Pale
3.9%
Golden, hoppy, session ale Shaldon
Shaldon Shag Ode Ale
4.2% 4.2%
Light amber and fruity
Waen
Llanidloes
3.8%
Coffee & chocolate, with subtle blackberry
Festival Gold
West Hewish
4.2%
Golden, citrus & hoppy beer
3.6%
Light brown, lightly hopped bitter Horsford
First Light
3.8%
Traditional, amber bitter
Blackberry Stout
Refreshing, pale ale
Hewish I.P.A
Alton
Altons Pride
Two Beaches
Reepham
Black Panther
5.9%
A hoppy I.P.A.
Pressed Rat & Warthog 3.8%
Bridport
200
6%
Bakewell
Jaipur
Triple fff
Ashcott
Sidewinder
Palmer’s
5.5%
Stocklinch
Black Smock
Neap Tide
Citrusy
S&P
Stocklinch
Teignworthy
Peterborough
Bishops Farewell
R.C.H
Raspberry Wheat Cloudy wheat beer
Wentwell
Derby
Justice for Gingers
4%
Subtle hint of ginger
4.1%
Citrus and hops
Yeovil
Skinner’s
Session bitter. Slightly spicy & citrus notes
Truro
Betty Stogs
4%
Easy drinking, copper coloured ale
Son of Sid
Lynx Wildcat
3.8% 4.3%
Bronze, full bodied, hoppy bitter
Little Gransden
Muckcart Mild
Yeovil
Glory
3.5%
Dark mild
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
Ruby
4.5%
Ruby-red, malty bitter 19
George’s Brewery
All Pitfield Beers are certified organic All our bottled beers are vegan friendly
We deliver to London every week
Established in 2010 in Great Wakering, George’s Brewery and its experimental cousin, Hop Monster Brewing Company continue to thrive. Mark Mawson’s diverse range of beers are permanently featured at several pubs including the Plough & Sail, Paglesham; the Mayflower, Leigh; Station Arms, Southminster and the Trout, Southend which celebrated its 500th different guest ale with George's Quintessentiale. For anyone on a budget, Golden Lion Gold is available at the Golden Lion (Rochford) for only £2.60 a pint! Monthly and seasonal specials have proved very popular. The latest from George's is 74 Squadron
dominionbrewerycompany.com pitfieldbrewery.com Telephone: 01277 890 580 infodominionbrewerycompany.com Moreton, Essex
STATION ARMS
BEER FESTIVAL 39 Station Road, Southminster CM0 7EW Tel: (01621) 772225
January 24th - 26th 2014 Friday: 5.30-11pm Saturday: Noon-11pm Sunday: Noon-10.30pm
25+ Real Ales and Traditional Ciders Hot food available
200 Yards from Southminster Station www.thestationarms.co.uk
The Off Sales Licence and the installation of a bottling plant (500ml and 330ml) means you can enjoy George’s and Hop Monster beers at home! For parties and special events, polypins, and minipins in various sizes are also available to purchase from the brewery. Growlers and Squeakers: quality re-usable glass containers in 1 litre and 2 litre sizes. Once the initial purchase has been made, just bring them back to be refilled! George’s Brewery is still growing, employing more staff and continuing to supply local Festivals and events with beer and equipment. Cooling jackets, taps, stillage and equipment are available for up to 30 casks for your event or party. Brewery visits and Brew Days can also be arranged. Hop Monster was honoured to be asked to supply CAMRA’s flagship event: the Great British Beer Festival at Olympia, London two years in a row! The beer CAMRA chose this year was George’s Broadsword. It was very popular and sold out quickly. Look out for George’s and Hop Monster beers at the South Benfleet Social Club Real Ale Festival: November 28th - 1st December.
20
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
Foreign Beer list La Trappe Blond 6.% Blonde La Trappe Witte 5.5% Wheat La Trappe Quadrupel 10% Strong Rochefort Rochefort 8 9.2% Dark Westmalle Dubbel 7% Dark Huyghe Delerium Nocturnum 8.5% Dark St Bernardus Tripel 7.5% Strong St Bernardus Wit 5.5% Wheat St Feuillien Blond 7.5% Blonde St Feuillien Saison 6.5% Saison Slaghmuylder Witcap Stimulo 6% Pale Lefebvre Blanche de Bruxelles 4.5% Wheat Verhaeghe Duch de Borgogne 6.2% Special Rodenbach Grand Cru 6% Special Troubadour Blond 6.5% Blonde Moortgat Extra Blond 5.2% Blonde Verhaeghe Slag Pils 5% Pils Kona Firerock Pale Ale 5.9% Pale Kona Big Wave Golden Ale 4.4% Pale Belgoo Luppo 6.5% Blonde Belgoo Magus 6.6% Blonde Bosteels Kwak 8.4% Dark Boon Oud Gueuze Marg Parf 8% Gueuze Huyghe Delerium Red 8.5% Fruit Lindemans Cassis 3.5% Fruit Lindemans Framboise 2.5% Fruit Lindemans Pecheresse 2.5% Fruit Lindemans Kriek 3.5% Fruit Mongozo Mango 3.6% Fruit Mongozo Coconut 3.5% Fruit Hacker Pschorr Sternweiss 5.5% Wheat Hacker Pschorr Heffe Weisse 5.5% Wheat Paulaner Salvator 7.8% Dark Paulaner Hefe Weizen 5.5% Wheat Hacker Pschorr Munich Helles 5% Pils 34th South East Essex Beer Festival
Augustiner Edelstof 5.2% Pils Hopf Helles Weisse 5.3% Wheat Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest 6% Pils Schlenkerla Rauchbier 5.1% Smoked
British Bottled Beers BridestonesWest Yorkshire American Pale 5% Winter Warmer 6% Dunham Massey Greater Manchester Chocolate Cherry Mild 3.8% Light Mild 3.8% Dark 3.8% Milk Stout 4% Blossom Honey Beer 4.3% East India Pale Ale 6% Norfolk Square Norfolk Pi 3.8% Square Miled 4% Sunshiny 4.5% B52 4.8% Winklepicker 5% Maverick Craft Beer Bisquit 7% Lunatik 7% Crazy Horse 8% Black Widow 9%
Norfolk (330ml)
All British bottled beers above ÂŁ3.40 each 21
The Ray Fuller Cider and Perry Bar In memory of Ray Fuller, 30th May 1950 - 8th August 2013 The South East Essex CAMRA Branch was shocked and saddened this year by the death of Pubs Liaison Officer: Ray Fuller. Ray was a keen supporter of pubs and CAMRA, and enjoyed all aspects of pub culture especially quizzes, live music, and strong beers and ciders! Ray took part in many CAMRA campaigns and was always the first to write to the local Once again there’ll be a few ciders and perries from producers who have never been at Rochford before, and we'll have a few who have not been seen for several years. We’ll have our usual local ciders from Buffoon's and Paglesham Punch, but we'll also have some other Essex ciders, as well as some other East Anglian ciders. All of the well known ‘industrial’ ciders are not recognised by CAMRA as ‘Real Traditional Cider or Perry’. Many people have rediscovered the delights of Traditional Cider and Perry and the rich world of flavours they offer to those sampling their delights. Real Cider and Perry represent a tradition that has been enjoyed in Britain since Roman times. Whilst the methods of production have benefited from modernisation, the basics still stay the same. Pick the fruit, press the fruit, allow to ferment, then enjoy. This results in a product that is unpasteurised, un-carbonated and full of natural flavours. Cider and Perry can be any combination of mellow, aromatic, tangy, sharp, fruity, or tannic, as well as being sweet, medium or dry. These are real flavours not masked by cold temperature or fizz! Please be aware that traditional ciders and perries typically have higher alcohol content than most of the commercial cider you get in pubs or super22
paper regarding issues affecting pubs. SE Essex CAMRA appreciate and miss his support, enthusiasm and humour in all his CAMRA activities. The Cider and Perry Bar will miss him this year as will all who knew and loved him. Take it Easy! markets, so please drink responsibly and enjoy your time at the festival. Wassail - from the cider bar team LOCAL CIDERS
Buffoon’s ciders are also available at the Shepherd and Dog, Ballards Gore. Paglesham Punch cider is available at the Plough and Sail, Paglesham Other pubs promoting local and unusual REAL ciders include: The Gun, Bowers Gifford; The Railway Hotel, Southend; and the Hoop, Stock.
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
CIDER LIST Buffoon’s Canewdon, Essex C-Cider Buffoon’s Canewdon, Essex Maggoty Cox
Sherston Sherston, Wiltshire First Press Tricky Lower Willand, Somerset Cider
Buffoon’s Canewdon, Essex Ribcracker
Virtual Orchard Wolverton Mill, Buckinghamshire Falstaff Hard Core Hogshead
Carter's Boxted, Essex Essex Cider
W.M.Watkins Grosmont, Monmouthshire Cider
Cassels Bourn, Cambridgeshire Great Shelford Blend #1
Wilkins Mudgley, Somerset Cider
Delvin End Sible Hedingham, Essex Waltzing Wasp
Winkleigh Winkleigh, Devon Sam’s
Dengie Mayland, Essex Dengie Dry
PERRY LIST
Double Vision Boughton Monchelsea, Kent Cider
Chapman Ledbury, Herefordshire Stinking Bishop (SV) Perry
Hartland Tirley, Gloucestershire Whisky Cask
Double Vision Boughton Monchelsea, Kent Impeared Vision Perry
Hecks Street, Somerset Cider
Gwynt Y Ddraig Llantwit Fardre, Glamorganshire Pyder
King Brain Sparkford, Somerset Cider
Hecks Street, Somerset Perry
Millwhites Boxmore, Hertfordshire Barrel No7
Millwhites Boxmore, Hertfordshire Apples and Pears
Millwhites Boxmore, Hertfordshire Rum Cask
Mr Whitehead’s Selborne, Hampshire Midnight Special Perry
Norfolk Cider Co. Hoveton, Norfolk Kingfisher “Sweet”
Mr Whitehead’s Selborne, Hampshire Novo Pyrus Perry
Oliver’s Ocle Pychard, Herefordshire Cider
Mr Whitehead’s Selborne, Hampshire Pear Light Perry
Paglesham Punch Canewdon, Essex Cider
Oliver’s Ocle Pychard, Herefordshire Perry
Potton Press Potton, Bedfordshire Cox (SV) Crispin Blend Sweet Spot
Troggi Earlswood, Monmouthshire Perry
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
W.M.Watkins Grosmont, Monmouthshire Perry 23
Pub Closures Our pubs are STILL suffering. This time last year we reported that the national figures showed that 18 pubs were closing every week. SADLY THIS FIGURE HAS NOW INCREASED TO 26 PUBS A WEEK.
YES, TWENTY-SIX PUBS CLOSE EVERY WEEK. South East Essex has seen lots of pubs close down including the Grey Goose, Rochford; the White Horse, Rayleigh; the Cock, Stock; the SunRooms, Southend; the Nelson, Westcliff; the Golden Lion, Westcliff and many more. Many pubs have been converted to private housing and some have been demolished. Those pubs that are still operating are finding things tougher than ever. This time last year we suggested you have a chat with John, landlord at the Golden Lion, if you wanted to hear about some of the difficulties facing pubs. After another year of struggling, John has plenty more to tell you today! Bad luck seems to plague some pubs: the Horse and Groom in Rochford was closed for months after flooding; the Fox and Hounds in Ramsden Heath had been trying to reopen but after the recent storms lost electricity for a week! They should both be open by the time you read this, so Good Luck to them!
HOW CAN YOU HELP? If you aren’t already a member, please join CAMRA. Current campaigns include: Pubco Campaign - Reform of the Beer Tie: CAMRA is campaigning for a rebalance to the current unfair relationship between the giant property companies (pubcos) and their licensees. This rebalance must include an option for lessees to become free of tie, accompanied by an open market rent review, so that they can buy beer on the open market potentially saving each pub business tens of thousands a year. Those who remain tied should be given the 24
opportunity to buy one real ale as a guest beer outside of any beer tie. CAMRA is also calling for an independent adjudicator to be established. List Your Local: CAMRA’s List Your Local initiative aims to get 300 pubs around the UK listed as Assets of Community Value by the end of 2013. Doing this gives a community more power should the pub be put up for sale and stops a valued, profitable community pub being sold for short term financial gain by the pub’s owner (or Pub Company). Most importantly please keep visiting and supporting pubs! Use them or lose them. Further information: www.fairdealforyourlocal.com www.camra.org.uk/listyourlocal www.pubisthehub.org.uk www.closedpubs.co.uk
Crooked Billet
51 High Street, Leigh-On-Sea, SS9 2EP Tel: 01702 480289 Bring this advert in for
£1 PiOntFofF a
Ale!
CAMRA South East Essex Pub of the Year 2012 Choice of 6 ales including Nicholson’s Pale Ale, Adnams best and other ale only available to Nicholson’s. NEW beer takeaway service available Food served all day 34th South East Essex Beer Festival
The Olde Trout
Southend’s newest and best Ale House. Georges Trout Ale only available here. Always 4 Ales Available, Selection of Bottled Ales.
Bar Snacks Monday to Saturday lunch
Sunday Carvery now open Function room available for hire
56 London Road, Southend on Sea , SS1 1NX
Tel: 01702 337000
email: info@oldetrout.co.uk www.theoldtrout.webs.com
Good Food, Good Ale, Good Service Quiz nights alternate Sundays
The Fox & Hounds Serving FIVE changing Real Ales Gourmet Pub Food served lunch and evening Call for latest menu and reservations
NOW OPE N!
Opening Hours Mon to Thurs 12 - 11pm Fri to Sat 12 - 12pm Sun 12 - 11pm
Church Rd, Ramsden Heath, Billericay CM11 1PW Tel: 01268 711625
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
25
Site Map DISABLED TOILET
War of the Roses Bar
Ray Fuller Cider & Perry Bar
Marquee - Sponsored by Thwaites Opening Times: Tues 5.30pm – 11pm. Wed 12pm – 3pm & 5.30pm – 11pm. Thur - Sat 12pm – 11pm.
ince the early 16th century, our pub has been serving good beer and food. We are well known for an ever changing real ale selection, with gravity fed guest beers and our own “Olde Dog IPA” brewed for us by local award winning brewery Crouch Vale. Seasonal availability dictates our varied menu. Fresh fish (from Mersea Island) is delivered six days a week and wherever possible James and his team source as many ingredients as possible from the local area.
Choose one, two or three courses on the day from our “Specials” Chalkboards.
Three courses from £16.95
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
26
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
Travelling Home from Rochford Beer Festival Please allow enough time to queue for refunds on tokens or to return glasses. Please empty glasses before leaving the Freight House EVENING TRAINS
7 23.18 to Rayleigh, Websters Way Stephensons of Essex
Rochford Station is about 5 minute’s walk from the Freight House. Please check at Station for schedule changes. Trains depart towards London Liverpool Street at the following times:
Buses to Southend operate from East Street, Rochford. Please allow 10 minutes to walk to the stop:
22.08, 22.38 and 23.08 Trains depart towards Southend Victoria at the following times:
Timetables may have changed since printing, please check at Station or arrivabus.co.uk or greateranglia.co.uk
22.24, 22.44, 23.04, 23.34 EVENING BUSES Bus stop at the bottom of the Freight House approach, towards Ashingdon, Hockley and Rayleigh: Tuesday to Saturday 7 21.42 to Rayleigh Station Arriva 7 22.18 to Rayleigh Station Stephensons of Essex
CAMRA LocAle - promoting pubs that sell locally-brewed real ale, reducing the number of 'beer miles', and supporting local breweries.
Tuesday to Saturday 7 21.44 to Southend Arriva 7 22.14 to Little Wakering Corner Arriva 7 22.38 to Southend Stephensons of Essex 7 23.08 to Southend Stephensons of Essex
Taxi
Andrews - 01702 200200
Car Park Freight House car park is now Pay & Display. Please check the machines for current rates & hours.
DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. Designated drivers receive free soft drinks.
Who benefits from LocAle? • Local brewers who gain from increased sales • The local economy because more money is spent and retained locally • The environment due to fewer ‘beer miles' resulting in less road congestion and pollution • Tourism due to an increased sense of local identity and pride - let’s celebrate what makes each locality different
What is CAMRA LocAle? CAMRA LocAle is an initiative that promotes pubs stocking locally brewed real ale. The scheme builds on a growing consumer demand for quality local produce and an increased awareness of ‘green’ issues.
Please do your bit for the local economy, the environment and reducing road congestion, by drinking LocAle beers.
South East Essex CAMRA adopted the LocAle scheme to encourage pubs to serve at least one real ale brewed within a 30mile radius.
The following South East Essex pubs have been awarded LocAle status: Plough & Sail, Paglesham Shepherd & Dog, Ballards Gore
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
Mayflower, Leigh-on-Sea Golden Lion, Rochford Old Windmill, South Hanningfield Cricketers, Westcliff Coach and Horses, Billericay Alexandra Yacht Club, Southend Horse & Groom, Rochford Olde Trout Tavern, Southend Fox & Hounds, Ramsden Heath Last Post, Southend Anchor, Hullbridge Look out for more LocAle pubs in future on our website www.seecamra.org.uk and Facebook page Seessex Camra If you run a pub or club and would like LocAle accreditation, please talk to me at the festival or pick up a LocAle leaflet from the front desk. Thank you. Maggie LocAle Officer 27
What is Beer? The origins of beer can be traced back at least 6,000 years, to when the ancient Egyptians and Sumerians began to grow cereals. The drink we would recognise today started to appear in 7th century Bavaria, when hops were first used. The hop was first seen in Britain in the 14th century, in a drink brought over from Germany and the Low Countries. Beer contained hops, whereas ale remained unhopped, and ale and beer brewers would remain entirely separate until the 17th century. However, after three centuries the unhopped variety had been all but wiped out. With very few exceptions all beer brewed today contains hops in some form. The modern usages of the words ale and beer are rather different. Beer refers to nearly every alcoholic drink made with malt and hops. Ale normally refers to beers fermented with particular types of yeast – so called ‘top fermenting’ varieties. Hops provide the bitterness and many of the other flavours and aromas in beer. Further flavours come from the yeast. Yeast is a single-celled organism that only began to be understood in the 18th century. The selection of yeast will often give a brewer’s beers a common flavour, and many breweries will guard their particular yeast strain very carefully. Yeast also produces the alcohol in the drink from sugars. These sugars mostly come from malted barley. The maltster allows the barley to just begin to germinate before stopping the process using heat. This makes the grain softer and easier to mill, and starts the process of turning starch into sugar. Other cereals (both malted and unmalted) may be used in some beers. Brewing sugars are used by some brewers and other flavourings, spices and even fruit may be added. As well as sugars, malts also provide many of the flavours in beer, such as roasted and caramel notes. The colour of a beer is almost entirely dependent on the variety and amount of malts used.
Feature kindly supplied from the Cambridge Branch of CAMRA
WHAT IS REAL ALE? Real ale is a beer brewed from traditional ingredients, matured by fermentation in the container from which it is dispensed, and served without the use of additional gas. It is described as ‘living’ as it continues to ferment in the cask, developing its flavour as it matures, ready to be poured into your glass. Real ale is also known as ‘cask-conditioned beer’, ‘real cask ale’, ‘real beer’ and ‘naturally conditioned beer’. The term ‘real ale’ and the above definition were coined by CAMRA in the early 1970s. HOW CAN I TELL IF IT’S REAL ALE? Real ale is full of flavour with a light natural carbonation produced by the fermentation that has occurred in the cask. A real ale should be served at cellar temperature (11–14°C) so that the flavour of the beer can be best appreciated. You can recognise real ale in a pub as it is usually served using a hand pump, although a number of pubs sell the beer straight from the cask using nothing but gravity – like at this festival. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALE & LAGER Real ale is produced by ‘top fermentation’ at temperatures of up to 22°C, which produces the rich variety of flavours. After primary fermentation the ale is allowed to mature at 11–14°C in a cask where a slow secondary fermentation occurs. Lager is produced by bottom fermentation at lower temperatures (6–14°C). It is then conditioned for several weeks or months at close to freezing, during which time the lager matures. Traditionally, lager style beers were brewed during the cooler winter months and then stored in cool cellars throughout the summer. Indeed, lager is the German word for store. However, most mass-produced UK lagers are matured for less than a week and do poor service to the name. continued on page 30
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34th South East Essex Beer Festival
Food Served from 12-8.30pm
NOW BOOKING FOR CHRISTMAS!
New winter menu Special FOUR course featuring lots of warming menu available home cooked foods, such as 1st - 23rd of December splett’s barling beauties Just £24.95 per person sausages, drunken pork Children’s menu available, chops, pies and stews.
call or pop in for more details
Traditional Sunday Roast served Sundays 12-4pm Selection of Real Ales including Wakering’s very own Georges Brewery
SPECIAL OFFER! BUY ONE GET ONE FREE ON LUNCHTIME MEALS
available Mon to Thurs Regular Entertainment 12 - 3pm (excludes December) and monthly open mic night Tel: 01702 216521 181 Little Wakering Road, Little Wakering, SS3 0JW
34th South East Essex Beer Festival
29
ALE STYLES Ale-style beers are often broken down further into various styles, although many beers are hard to fit in to one of these categories. We’ve chosen a few examples for a few common styles. Milds are low in bitterness and may be dark or light. Although generally of a lower strength (below 4%) they can also be strong. Bitter is the most common beer style, usually brown, tawny, copper or amber coloured with a medium to strong bitterness. Light to medium malt character may be present. Bitters vary in strength from around 3.5% to nearer 6%. Recently some brewers have produced beers below 3%, which often have a remarkable depth of flavour. Golden Ales first appeared in the 1980s. These are pale amber, gold, yellow or straw coloured beers with light to strong bitterness and a strong hop character that creates a
refreshing taste. The strength is generally less than 5.5%. India Pale Ale (IPA) originally appeared in the early 19th century. First brewed in London and Burton-on-Trent for the colonial market, IPAs were strong in alcohol and high in hops: the preservative character of the hops helped to keep the beers in good condition during long sea journeys. Look for juicy malt, citrus fruit and a big spicy, peppery bitter hop character, with strengths of 5% to much more. The recent appearance of “Black IPAs” has confused many, since they are definitely not pale. Porters and Stouts are complex in flavour and typically black or dark brown. The darkness comes from the use of dark malts. These full bodied beers generally have a pronounced bitter finish. Historically a stout would have been any stronger beer, but the term evolved to mean a strong porter beer. They are usually 4–8% in strength, although some go higher.