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STRAIGHT ISSUE 1 | AUTUMN 2014
A BUMPER CROP OF AWARDS The publicans’ favourite regional brewer
JOIN US ON THE ALE TRAIL Helping you celebrate and explore our wonderful and diverse pub estate
THE CRAFT OF BREWING Inspiring a new generation of British brewers
SAMUEL JONES Comes home to Exeter Quay
SHIP SHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION Building a business in Bristol and Gloucestershire
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IN THIS ISSUE PAGE 3 THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY PAGE 4 A BUMPER CROP OF AWARDS TOASTING OUR SUCCESS PAGE 5 WORLD GETS A TASTE FOR CORNISH BEER PAGE 6 JOIN US ON THE ALE TRAIL ON YER BIKE! PAGE 7 SAMUEL JONES COMES HOME TO EXETER QUAY PAGE 8 NEW BREWS PAGE 9 SHIP SHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION MEET THE BRISTOL SALES TEAM PAGE 10 THE CRAFT OF BREWING PAGE 12 HELPING THOSE IN NEED PAGE 13 A MECCA FOR ALE LOVERS PAGE 14 A RINGSIDE SEAT ON PUB HISTORY PAGE 16 PAYING TRIBUTE TO OUR SPORTING CHAMPIONS FANS BOWLED OVER BY ALE PRIZES PAGE 17 YAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN WE ARE THE BREWERY CHAMPIONS PAGE 18 RUN YOUR OWN PUB PAGE 19 PUB QUIZ BACK COVER GET AWAY THIS WINTER
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elcome to Straight to the Pint and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each reader for your support and contribution to St Austell Brewery whether it be as a customer, partner or part of the St Austell Brewery team (current, past or potential!). St Austell Brewery is a diverse and exciting company but all areas of our business share the same values and commitment to our mission: “Serving customers with excellence”. 2014 so far has certainly been an eventful and exciting year for St Austell Brewery and many of the company’s achievements appear in this magazine. Cornwall and
South West England were blessed by fair summer weather while an improving UK economy meant customers were more confident to enjoy time going out and visiting pubs. Despite this, we are aware that cash remains tight for customers and that they demand value for money and be made to feel extra special when they choose how to spend their hard earned leisure time. With this in mind we continue to invest in all aspects of our business; in brewing award winning beers, in developing our pub estate and also in providing industry leading service and support for free trade customers across the South West. Although St Austell Brewery is perhaps best known for brewing beer, I firmly believe ours is a people business and our success is reliant on the relationships we build with all our stakeholders. So whatever your relationship with St Austell Brewery I’d like to thank you for the part you play in the St Austell business. Please enjoy Straight to the Pint. James Staughton Managing Director
Sandi Toksvig presents the BBPA award to James Staughton
THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY National award recognises Brewery’s support for local organisations and staff.
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e are delighted to have been honoured for our work in the community at a prestigious national awards ceremony. St Austell Brewery won the coveted Heart of the Community Award at the British Beer & Pub Association Industry Awards - one of only three awards presented during the ceremony held in London on October 8.
“A huge thank you to all our staff, customers, publicans and partners for the part you play in putting St Austell Brewery at the heart of the community. This award belongs to each of you.” James Staughton
ST AUSTELL BREWERY 63 Trevarthian Road, St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 4BY T. 0845 241 1122 E. info@staustellbrewery.co.uk www.staustellbrewery.co.uk
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is the leading body representing Britain’s brewers and pub companies. The BBPA annual awards dinner brings together business leaders in the sector to recognise the exceptional contributions made by companies and individuals in the industry. The Heart of the Community Award judged candidates on whether they could prove a genuine commitment to consistently engage and support their communities. The judges were also looking to recognise a company that exercised leadership in helping to shape the ‘big society’. St Austell Brewery was commended on many fronts. Our Charitable Trust has raised and donated over £450,000 to local charities since it was formed, with almost £100,000 raised since the beginning of 2013. The Brewery’s ongoing work with Macmillan Cancer Support in Cornwall has raised more than £18,000 for the charity.
We were also praised for our commitment to developing our staff, our work with local producers and the management team’s support of local organisations. The Brewery’s funding of grassroots sport, our green credentials, and our positive impact on local employment were also taken into account. James Staughton said: “We are delighted to receive this award. As a family owned firm with over 160 years’ history, we are acutely aware of our role in the South West economy and society.”
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WORLD GETS A TASTE FOR
CORNISH BEER
Roger Ryman with the award winning beers
A BUMPER CROP OF AWARDS We are delighted that publicans have once again voted us their favourite regional brewer and we’re still pinching ourselves after scooping dozens more regional, national and international drinks awards. This marks what’s proving to be an amazing year in which we have won a raft of top industry awards for our best-selling brews. We look back at some of the highlights of 2014 so far.
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he highpoint for us was winning two prestigious industry honours for the third year in a row at the 2014 Publican’s Choice Awards. We were once again named the
UK Regional Brewer of the Year, and our flagship Tribute Ale won the title of Best Regional Cask Ale Brand. We are particularly proud of these awards because they are voted for entirely by pub licensees
TOASTING OUR SUCCESS We are thrilled to have won no less than 21 glowing accolades for our popular beers this year. We raise a glass to our amazing brewery team who have done us proud.
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e know our beer is great but to have independent recognition of this is always very gratifying! The awards have been shared between some of St Austell’s most popular beers including Proper Job, Tribute and Admiral’s Ale, as well as new and one-off brews including
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Big Job, 1913 Cornish Stout and Tamar Creek. Roger Ryman, Brewing Director for St Austell Brewery, said: “The number of awards that we have received for our beers this year is a fantastic tribute to the whole brewing team and the values with which we brew our beer.”
across the country, making them highly respected awards within the brewing trade. James Staughton said: “Winning both awards, three years in a row, is absolutely fantastic and all of the team here are delighted. The fact that the awards are voted for by pub licensees make them all the more valued and it’s great to know that publicans across Britain recognise the quality of our products and the high standards of our service and support.”
Here’s a selection of the awards received by St Austell Brewery for our beers in 2014: • B BI Drinks Competition – Admiral’s Ale - Gold • B BI Drinks Competition – Tribute - Gold • B BI Drinks Competition – 1913 Cornish Stout - Gold • I nternational Beer Challenge – Big Job - Gold Medal • T aste of the West – Proper Job - Gold • T aste of the West – Big Job - Gold • T aste of the West – 1913 Cornish Stout - Gold • S IBA South West - Overall Bottled Beers – Big Job - Gold • S IBA South West - Bottled Gold Beers – Big Job - Gold • S IBA National Championship Premium Bitters – Proper Job – Gold • W orld Beer Awards, Big Job, Europe – Gold • World Beer Awards Tribute Extra, Europe – Gold • W orld Beer Awards, 1913 Cornish Stout, Europe – Gold
From Norway to New Zealand and Canada to China, our award-winning brews are now enjoyed by ale lovers around the world.
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e have seen increased international demand for our award-winning ales thanks to the growing global thirst for quality craft beers. St Austell Brewery first started exporting in 2011, initially to Denmark and Italy. Since then we have rapidly expanded the number of countries that we serve and St Austell bottled and draught beers can now be enjoyed in more than 20 markets spanning the globe. Mike Morris, who manages the St Austell Brewery export business, says there are a number of differences between domestic and international markets. “Consumers overseas tend to want stronger, more distinctive beers and as a result, Proper Job IPA is our lead brand in the export market,” he said. “When we started, we planned just to export bottled beer but it quickly became apparent that our export customers wanted beer on draught. “We therefore invested in technology which allowed us to export our beers in one-way
(non-returnable) plastic kegs – being one of the first UK brewers to do so. The result is that our overseas draught business is now as important as our bottled business
and gives many more overseas consumers the opportunity to get to know our beers.” However, it is not all plain sailing and political and military conflicts around the world can have immediate and unexpected impacts on our export business. For example, during 2012 and 2013, Russia was a healthy growing export market for British beer. But with the onset of the Ukraine crisis and the cooling of relations between Britain and Russia, we have stopped trading with our importer in St Petersburg. Despite this the future for St Austell exports remains bright and earlier in 2014 our efforts were recognised when St Austell Brewery was awarded the South West Newcomer of the Year accolade in the International Trade Awards 2014. So, the next time you are travelling abroad and fancy a taste of home, ask for a Proper Job or an Admiral’s Ale and you may be pleasantly surprised.
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ON YER BIKE! Brewery riders get in the saddle for ale trail charity challenge. In May a group of cycling enthusiasts from St Austell Brewery visited an impressive 70 pubs on a 280-mile charity bike ride across the South West and raised £1,500. The gruelling Ale Trail Cycle Challenge was organised to raise much-needed funds for the St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust.
JOIN US ON THE ALE TRAIL It’s back by popular demand! The St Austell Brewery Ale Trail proved such a hit with customers first time around that we decided to re-launch it to help you celebrate and explore our wonderful and diverse pub estate.
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here are many great prizes on offer to customers who join us on our epic ale trail, including food and drink vouchers, Brewery tours and accommodation at some of the South West’s favourite watering holes. The more pubs you visit the better the prize. So get your coat on and we look forward to serving you soon!
Ale Trail, St Austell Brewery, 63 Trevarthian Road, Cornwall PL25 4BY. (If posting a part-completed stamp page, please include your return address so we can return it to you to carry on the journey.)
The riders set off on their three-day journey from the Brewery’s most easterly pub, The Albion in Clifton, Bristol and finished at the furthest west mainland pub, The Old Success Inn at Sennen Cove.
COMES HOME TO EXETER QUAY Our brand new Samuel Jones Smoke & Ale House on Exeter’s vibrant quayside opens its doors this autumn. Here we take a sneak peek behind the scenes of this exciting new venue.
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he opening of the Samuel Jones follows a year-long renovation project and an investment of £1.5 million that will create at least 40 new jobs in the city. Based in the heart of Exeter’s bustling quayside development, our new flagship pub will offer comfortable casual dining and drinking with a fresh and contemporary urban feel. Named after the former Exeter mayor and merchant who in 1878 had the original building constructed as a bonded warehouse for imported wines and spirits, the Samuel Jones will serve quality craft ales and delicious smokehouse-style food. These will include a range of beers from around the world, including the UK, USA, New World (and Cornwall). Food will be smoked
and cured in-house and cooked on chargrills and barbecue ovens in open theatre-style kitchens. During the year-long renovation of this historic building we identified a number of artefacts relating to Samuel Jones and his family. The prize find was a silver trowel presented to Emily Jones, wife of Samuel, by the builder John Henry Foaden when the building first opened in February 1878. The trowel is now in the possession of Denise Chantrey-Willcox, Samuel Jones’s great grand-daughter, who is delighted with our plans for the old warehouse. We hope the Samuel Jones will also appeal to the people of Exeter as well as to those who work, shop, visit and study in this vibrant, bustling county city.
FREE 2/3 PINT SCHOONER OF ANY DRAUGHT CRAFT BEERS
HOW THE ALE TRAIL WORKS You can pick up an ale trail passport from any St Austell Brewery pub or email aletrail@staustellbrewery. co.uk and start getting your passport stamped at each pub you visit. A full list of pubs is available at www. staustellbrewery.co.uk You can redeem your rewards by either emailing aletrail@ staustellbrewery.co.uk with a scan or photo of your completed passport stamp page, or by posting it to:
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Beer tanks installed at the Samuel Jones for Tribute and Proper Job, each with a capacity of 500 litres (879 pints)
Call in and see for yourself: Samuel Jones, 37 Commercial Rd, Exeter Quay, Exeter, EX2 4AE Tel: 01392 345345 www.samueljonesexeter.co.uk
We’d like readers of Straight to the Pint to enjoy a drink on us when you dine at Samuel Jones. Please present this token when you order any dish from the main menu and we will be pleased to offer you a 2/3 pint schooner of any draught craft beers – on the house! Terms & conditions: Offer valid until 30th December 2014. Soft drink option available. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer limited to one coupon per person. No cash alternatives available. Collector Card value £0.001p. Promotion only available to persons aged 18 or over. Choice of craft beer from the selection available at the bar. Please drink responsibly. Licensee retains the right to withdraw or amend promotion without prior notice.
NEW BREWS We launched a number of exciting brews this year and expanded the range of beers available in bottles and cans. Here’s a taste of what’s new...
PROPER COOL INNIT? This summer we expanded our beer range with the launch of a new chilled IPA inspired by our hugely popular Proper Job brew. Proper Cool IPA is a powerfully hopped American-style 5.5% India Pale Ale, with strong citrus notes, brewed using three American hops – Cascade, Chinook and Willamette. The new brew was developed in partnership with Cornwall’s world-famous Eden Project which is planning to grow samples of the three American hops and serves Proper Cool IPA in its Mediterranean biome.
an orchard at Bohetherick Farm in the Tamar Valley near Saltash, before being mashed entirely by foot and added to the specialist beer. Around 1,000 bottles of Tamar Creek with an abv of 7.3% were produced in a 750ml sharing bottle. KOREV IN A CAN We have launched our popular 4.8 per cent craft brewed, Cornish lager Korev in a 330ml can.
For more information visit www. proper.cool or www.facebook. com/propercool
KRIEK-Y! IT’S A CHERRY BEER We produced a kriek-style beer with a Cornish cherry twist this year, providing another exciting addition to our special bottled beer line-up. This Cornish brew based on one of Belgium’s most famous beer styles was made using 50kg of the tastiest cherries grown in the heart of the Tamar Valley. They were handpicked during the summer of 2013 at
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Korev is brewed to authentic methods over 25 days using only natural ingredients and has
established a loyal following for its clean, crisp taste.
Photograph: Jon Le-Bon / Shutterstock.com
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MEET THE BRISTOL SALES TEAM
Korev – the traditional Cornish word for beer – was launched in summer 2010 in a 500ml bottle and on draught in 2011 and has fast become one of our leading brands. PROPER JOB MINI KEG/ TAKE HOME A PROPER JOB With more people drinking at home and following the popularity of the Tribute mini keg, there has been no better time to introduce the Proper Job mini keg. They are easy to use and require no settling period – a great, hassle-free addition to any party! All you need to do is position it on a level table top, pull out the tap and vent the keg for a perfect drink. Proper Job is an authentic IPA brewed with Cornish spring water and a single malt made from Cornish grown Maris Otter Pale barley. A powerfully authentic IPA with a modern twist, Proper Job is brewed with a blend of imported hops, Cascade, Chinook and Willamette for a punch of citrus, pine resin and a hint of spice for a classic IPA. Voted the South West’s Champion Golden Ale and Champion Bottled Beer by CAMRA in 2013.
SHIP SHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION Three years ago, due to popular demand, we took the decision to develop our distribution network across the Bristol area. From a standing start the Bristol division has grown exponentially and now generates £3m per year. We know that our approach is really working. As a people-facing business, we have our own draymen, our own lorries – it’s a personal service and customers can really get to know us. Although Bristol is closer to London than it is to St Austell, customers have really responded to the fact that we are an established, independent South West business.
We are committed to growing our presence in Bristol, Bath and Gloucestershire and are sponsoring several Somerset and Gloucestershire County Cricket Clubs. Daniel Crabb, Head of Regional Sales
Vicky Guy, Sales Development Manager Vicky is a Cornish girl born and bred. Having moved from Cornwall in 2009 to study at the University of the West of England, Vicky stayed in the area to work for Bacardi before joining St Austell Brewery’s new Bristol sales team. “I was delighted to get the role with St Austell. Having come from Cornwall I have a personal interest in working for the company, but as well as that, the Brewery is growing very quickly in the Bristol area and people are now more aware of the quality of our service and the competitive pricing. It’s an exciting time to be with the company. The new depot has made a huge difference as well, customers like to see us really planting some roots in the city.”
Lee Jasper, Sales Development Manager Lee has lived in Bristol for 36 years. At the age of 20 he joined the Beer Seller company as a drayman and progressed through the business to eventually work for the sales team. Having been on the road as a sales manager for over 12 years, Lee joined St Austell Brewery two years ago.
“Since I started working for the Brewery there has been a massive change in the presence and the reputation it has in the city. When the Brewery expanded into Bristol we were delivering from North Devon and had a fairly modest team. As the business has grown in the area we have expanded the team and the new depot is a big statement. “Tribute is popular, of course, but Korev is the real growth brand. The Tobacco Factory in the city centre is the company’s biggest free trade customer, so it’s travelled really well.”
Ben Daley, Sales Development Manager Ben has lived in Bristol for the past 17 years having originated from Leicestershire. A graduate of Bristol University, Ben has worked in the hospitality industry since he was 16. Having previously worked for Corona and Brothers Cider, Ben recently joined the growing Bristol sales team. “I was well aware of St Austell Brewery before I joined the Bristol team. I worked with them in my previous roles and was always impressed by the way they operated and the service they deliver. It is definitely an exciting time to be involved with the Brewery, the company’s presence in the Bristol area is growing year on year with brands like Tribute and Korev becoming ever more popular with the locals.”
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My vision for the future of beer is one of ever increasing diversity of styles and choice. and brewing methods that ensure quality, character and consistency. It’s about having deeply held personal feelings about what good beer ought to be. Using this definition St Austell is most definitely a craft brewery. In fact, in many ways, Britain’s family brewers can all be considered the original craft breweries. Provenance and tradition are factors that carry great value with many beer drinkers, but equally such tradition can be a millstone around a brewer’s neck. I know of several head brewers who have joined long established family breweries with the firm instruction: ‘Whatever you do, don’t touch our prized best bitter’.
THE CRAFT OF BREWING The craft beer revolution sweeping the US has inspired a new generation of British brewers. But you don’t have to be a micro brewery to be a true ale innovator, says St Austell’s Roger Ryman.
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rue innovation in brewing requires the application of knowledge in a novel way to develop new markets, products or processes that meet real customer needs and offer a commercial advantage. Craft breweries and innovation seems to go hand in hand but noone has come up with a universally
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accepted definition of what it is to be a craft brewer. Craft brewers are generally considered to be small, so what happens when they grow? In the US the Brewer’s Association defines a craft brewer as having a production of less than six million barrels per year! So it seems that being a craft brewer is not about size. Craft brewers are often defined as
independent. However, we have seen both US and UK multi-national brewing companies buy craft brewers. This has resulted in some wonderful beers being produced using different raw materials, yeasts and techniques. For me, being a craft brewer evades definition - it‘s really about a state of mind.
Having said that, my favourite description of a craft brewer comes from the US speciality beer importer Dan Shelton. He talks about using the best ingredients
When we think of craft brewing, we tend to look to the US to see where the market will lead us. Despite the huge number of start-up breweries there, and although consumers are looking for challenging and more diverse flavours, those brands that deliver consistency of quality, and stretch the consumer beyond
the comfort zone of the blandly ordinary, are those that gain real purchase and volume. The US has introduced a new generation of craft beers featuring strong, assertive hop flavours. Similarly, when we launched our own Proper Job IPA back in 2006, it was one of the first UK beers to raise the game in terms of bitterness and the distinctive US hop flavour. We followed this with Proper Job’s big brother, Big Job Double IPA to raise the bar once again, which won a Taste of the West Gold Award in 2014. My vision for the future of beer is one of ever increasing diversity of styles and choice. Cask ale wilI, I’m certain, remain the bedrock of the British pub, with strong regional brands of repute, provenance and integrity, while family brewery ‘craft’ brews, along with microbrewery offerings will add colour and choice. The keg taps and bar fridges will start to offer choices from imported beers and local craft brewed ales and lagers from the more experimental family brewers and the new generation of craft beer makers. We will start to see beer menus on tables informing consumers of the choices available and how to match these with the food on offer. Beer will be served with more style and reverence in smart branded glassware by bar staff, or even beer sommeliers, who are educated and knowledgeable and know their Helles from an IPA.
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FUNDRAISING HIGHLIGHTS OF 2014 A sportsman’s dinner was held in February at the Exeter Chiefs’ rugby ground which generated £20,000 for the Trust. A partnership between the Trust and the Salvation Army Trading Company saw generous customers donate unwanted clothes and shoes which raised more than £12,000 for the charity. The Trust was the Porthpean Golf Club’s chosen charity for last year and they raised a fantastic £1,650 which was presented to the Brewery by Pat Balch, treasurer of the ladies’ section.
A MECCA FOR ALE LOVERS
HELPING THOSE IN NEED
This year’s Celtic Beer Festival promises to be the biggest and best yet. As well as our award-winning ales, there will be some experimental new brews on offer. Coffee beer anyone? in search of the very best brews from Cornwall and the other Celtic regions of the world.
St Austell Brewery’s Charitable Trust has raised nearly half a million pounds for good causes during the last decade. Here we look at some of the many charities that have benefited.
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rom ale tastings and quiz nights to coffee mornings and treks up Mount Kilimanjaro, we are proud to support local good causes through the St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust. The Trust was established in 2003 to provide a focus for the company’s charitable activities.
Since then we have raised more than £450,000 for local charities, good causes and individuals in need across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. The Charitable Trust is funded by contributions from St Austell Brewery plus donations and fundraising events held by our energetic staff, publicans and customers. One of the biggest fundraisers is the annual Celtic Beer Festival, held each year in late November in the vaults beneath the Brewery. The festival alone has raised more than £75,000 for the Trust. Some of the many charities supported by the Trust include: Macmillan Cancer
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Support, CHICKS, Foodbank, HFT Independent Living, Children’s Hospice South West, Dogs for the Deaf, FLEET, Enable, Adult Hospices across the region, Cornwall Blind Association and Phoenix Stroke Appeal amongst many others. Approximately a third of all money raised is donated to individuals and small local groups within our community. The Trust has been privileged to provide vital assistance to those in need including specialist computer and mobility equipment, as well as respite and care breaks. For more information about the St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust call 0845 241 1122 or email trust@ staustellbrewery.co.uk
This year they will be able to sample more than 130 different ales, stouts and lagers, as well as enjoy some great live bands playing throughout the day and evening.
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t times they have resembled mad professors bent over their brewing vessels and experimenting with exotic ingredients. Our Brewery team have been busy preparing for one of the biggest events in the ale drinkers’ calendar. On November 22 we will be hosting the 16th annual St Austell Brewery Celtic Beer Festival which has become one of the largest parties of the year for ale lovers across the country. The festival – which is held in the Brewery’s Victorian cellars - has become a mecca for beer connoisseurs and aficionados
There will be four bars serving our award-winning beers, including favourites such as Tribute, Proper Job and Korev, along with exciting new and limited edition beers brewed specially for the festival. In the months leading up to the event in November the Brewery teams have been busy creating new brews, ranging from traditional tipples to those designed to push the palettes of ale enthusiasts. We’ve been experimenting with different recipes so be sure to look out for some new taste sensations including our special coffee beer. There’s even a rum and raisin
flavour brew which is causing a great deal of excitement. Production has been so intense that the fermenting vessels are being quickly rotated as one beer is brewed and the next starts production, pushing our brewery equipment to its limits. This is followed by a flurry of creative activity as the different beers are named and the design team races to produce pump clips before the event. The run up to the festival is always a frantic time as we try to get the brews ready and organise things so that everyone has a great party and absolutely awesome beers. The festival is from 11am until 11pm. Tickets will be sold at the entrance and cost £10 per person. This includes a commemorative festival glass, 2 x ½ pint beer coupons and a festival brochure. For more information about this year’s Celtic Beer Festival please go to www.staustellbrewery.co.uk
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A RINGSIDE SEAT ON PUB HISTORY Our archive team has been busy organising events to encourage people to visit their local pub and share in its colourful history. Here curator Chris Knight looks back on our long association with Cornish wrestling.
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ub-goers across Cornwall have been invited to get in the ring and have a go at the county’s oldest sport. There have been a series of fun wrestling demonstrations outside our pubs as a result of renewed ties between St Austell Brewery and the Cornish Wrestling Association (CWA). The series kicked off with the Brewery-sponsored CWA County Championships at Poltair Park in St Austell, a fitting finale to the St Austell Feast Week celebrations. The Cornish style of wrestling – or ‘wrasslin’ – dates back over two thousand years, and from early times the men of Cornwall had established a formidable reputation in the art. At the famous meeting between King Henry VIII and Francis I in 1520 at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in France, a team of Cornish wrestlers were sent to face the champions of France. Established in 1923 to formalise the many local rule differences in the sport, the CWA banner is actually based on a design carried by Cornishmen into the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, depicting two wrestlers in a ‘hitch’.
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Although the Brewery’s ties to the sport don’t go quite that far back, they can be traced to the 1920s when much work was put into a revival of the sport. Wanting to play its own part in helping to re-establish the county’s traditional sport, St Austell Brewery – then trading as Walter Hicks & Co Ltd – donated two trophies, the first being the distinctive Walter Hicks Cup, originally presented at a special tournament in Poltair Park for the ‘Advancement of Cornish Wrestling’.
As a youth, he battled against the Bretons in the 1967 Cornu-Breton Championships at Bodieve Park where, in the words of one Cornish patriot, the visitors “wrastled damn ‘ard!” - before going on to win the Cornish Open Championship there.
‘Wrasslers’ being weighed for the 1926 revival in Poltair Park, St Austell. The original weighing machine can be seen on display at the Brewery’s museum and Visitor Centre.
The trophy was later renamed the West of England Cup before finally assuming its current role as the Cornish Light Heavyweight Trophy. The second, less wellknown piece of silverware, was the Guinness Challenge Trophy, presented to the best wrestlers in the west of Cornwall by Messrs Guinness, Sons & Co. Ltd through the auspices of their Cornish bottler and distributor, Walter Hicks & Co. The Brewery’s connections don’t stop at silverware, however, with Wadebridge boy John Treglown, a long-serving employee of the company and now senior sales development manager, having represented both his town and his county with great success.
Brewery Curator Chris Knight said: “Cornish Wrestling is part of our heritage and so is the local pub. Tournaments regularly took place in pub fields back in the day and with our strong links to the sport, it made perfect sense to renew our relationship with the CWA and do our bit in promoting our national sport for future generations to enjoy.”
The Walter Hicks cup (right) on its first outing in 1926.
Members of the St Columb Cornish Wrestling team give an expert demonstration outside the Molesworth Arms.
St Austell’s John Treglown presents the Walter Hicks Cup to this year’s winner John Cawley.
Pubs that have taken part in the successful series of demonstrations include the Molesworth Arms in Wadebridge and the Queen’s Head in St Stephen – both locations which used to be hotbeds for the sport with a finale for the season taking place appropriately at the Seven Stars in St Austell, Walter Hicks’ first pub, acquired back in 1863, and one of the foundation stones of his brewing empire.
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PAYING TRIBUTE TO OUR SPORTING CHAMPIONS St Austell Brewery has always taken its social responsibility very seriously. That’s why we are keen to support our community by sponsoring local sports.
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ur flagship ale Tribute has become the beer of South West sport and we are proud to sponsor many clubs and sports leagues throughout the region.We support grassroots rugby in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset as the Official Beer of South West Rugby and now sponsor 14 different leagues and many local teams. Tribute is also the main shirt sponsor for Cornwall County Rugby and sponsors the Cornwall Rugby Cup.
YAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN We reveal Cornwall’s top five pubs for a dog-friendly escape.
C At the end of the season the region’s top rugby teams came together to celebrate their success at the annual Tribute Rugby League Awards, which were held across our area. One of the highlights of the award evenings was the presentation of the Tribute – You’ve Earned It Awards, for the teams who had overcome adversity. In 2013, Tribute became the main title sponsor of the Somerset and Gloucestershire County Cricket Clubs and the logo appears on players’ shirts.
ornwall is the perfect location for an off-season getaway for the whole family - including the dog! Many beaches in the Duchy are dog-friendly all year round but there are also some wonderful locations which open up to pets from October. Here are our top five inns in Cornwall for a perfect dog-friendly break:
Tribute is also the main sponsor of the Cornish Gig Rowing Association and the official beer of Plymouth Argyle. It features at Exeter City and Truro City as well as many high profile non-league clubs. Golf is another sport where Tribute has a high profile and many clubs across the South West have our flagship ale on the bar.
T20 competition to raise money for South West charities and the club’s new pavilion appeal, through the sales of Tribute cricket hats.
FANS BOWLED OVER BY ALE PRIZES St Austell Brewery and Somerset County Cricket Club launched two new promotions for fans during every Twenty20 game at the County Ground this season.
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he Tribute Top Deck Challenge and the Tribute Catch (awarded to spectators
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skilled enough to catch a ball hit into the crowd with a slab of 24 cans of Tribute) were introduced to 2014’s
Lucky fans picked out wearing the hats got to watch the game from the Tribute Top Deck above the Old Pavilion and enjoyed a private bar stocked with Tribute ale.The Tribute cricket hats cost £5 and for each one sold, £1 went to the St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust and another £1 went to support the Somerset Pavilion Appeal. This was our second season partnering with Somerset cricket and we are delighted to have worked with the Somerset team on the NatWest T20 Blast to add extra fun to the competition and help enhance people’s experience of these exciting matches.
THE TOP HOUSE INN This friendly pub on The Lizard is great all year round with plenty to do come rain or shine. Enjoy al fresco dining in the summer months or warm yourself by a roaring log fire on a winter evening. The beautiful Kynance Cove Beach is nearby, making it ideal for an autumn getaway with the dogs. Landewednack, The Lizard, Helston, TR12 7NQ t.01326 290974 www.thetophouselizard.co.uk
THE HERON INN If you’re looking for somewhere with a calm countryside feel but with plenty to do nearby, The Heron
Inn is the place to be. This dogfriendly pub in the small village of Malpas is just two miles from Truro city centre on the stunning River Fal. Malpas, Trenhaile Terrace, Truro, TR1 1SL t: 01872 272773 www.heroninnmalpas.co.uk
THE FOUNTAIN INN Situated in the quaint fishing village of Mevagissey, The Fountain Inn is the oldest pub in the village and the sandy Portmellon beach nearby welcomes dogs all year round. After an invigorating day out you can enjoy the traditional pub food on offer, showcasing Cornwall’s fresh seafood and locally sourced produce. Cliff Street, Mevagissey, PL26 6QH t: 01726 842320
THE OLD SUCCESS INN Dog friendly all year round, Sennen Cove is one of Cornwall’s most beautiful coastal villages and if you’re staying in The Old Success, then stunning views are what you
can expect. Our comfortable selfcatering flat is perfect for your stay with the dog. But if you don’t feel like cooking you can head down to the bar to enjoy freshly prepared food, accompanied by a large selection of St Austell ales and fine wines. Cove Hill, Sennen Cove, TR19 7DG t.01736 871232 www.oldsuccess.co.uk
THE PORT WILLIAM INN Nestled into the cliffs along the spectacular north Cornwall coastline near Tintagel, The Port William welcomes dog owners to stay in its recently renovated rooms which have been completed to a high standard. Situated on the South West Coast Path and with Port William beach directly below, the inn is close to one of the five most popular dog walks in Cornwall. Trebarwith Strand, Trebarwith, PL34 0HB t.01840 770230 www.theportwilliam.co.uk See all our dog friendly properties www.staustellbrewery.co.uk/pubs-innshotels/dog-friendly
WE ARE THE BREWERY CHAMPIONS Rival brewery teams show off their fancy footwork during an exciting charity match.
T
he weekend of the FIFA World Cup Final also saw two local footballing titans vying for glory closer to home. St Austell Brewery’s football team battled it out against Sharps Brewery in a charity match that resulted in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out. The game reached full time at 2-2 and the penalty shootout, taking the score to 6-5, finally resulted in St Austell Brewery taking the title of champions for a second year. Following the football match, the Cornish Wrestling Association made their mark on the pitch, staging, amongst other categories, its Lightweight Championship for the original Walter Hicks Cup, sponsored and donated to the Cornish Wrestling Association (CWA) back in 1926.
AUTUMN 2014 | 17
STRAIGHT
BEER FACTS N I K R E D L I K M K D S Y J S S R N F E R M E N T O F F N P F W A P L A G E R R M Q A H O Y Z Q T M A S H T U N G T O H V E X Y V R K F M R F L X N N O I T A T N E M R E F C I J Y V D E Q S W F Y Y R N R R R N O I T A N O B R A C I E L Z E L A A W Y P N O I E K E T F K G F D M E Y E A S T R B L Y D O I G E L Z B O S U I T A R F B N I A R G U X Q B F F M D X R E E B A I Y M A I C A O T Y M W E P B C H S L R U R H E Z X X I Z R S U U N T E C R B
Kim Barker, licencee at The Ship Inn, Pentewan and the Duke of Cornwall, St Austell
RUN YOUR OWN PUB Ever dreamed of running your own pub? If you have, there are many good reasons why you should consider a St Austell Brewery tenancy.
S
t Austell Brewery is a successful family-owned firm with more than 160 years’ of heritage behind us and a passion for award-winning beer and fantastic pubs. We are always looking for prospective tenants with the personality and ambition to run their own pub. We own 168 pubs, inns and hotels across Somerset, Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly. These businesses operate as either managed or tenanted houses and include many of the South West’s best known and most popular watering holes. Our tenancies operate typically on a three-year rolling agreement, which is offered after an initial six-month settling in period. As a St Austell tenant you have a full wet tie, but all food and accommodation income goes 100% to you. We work in
18 | AUTUMN 2014
partnership with our tenants to help ensure your business is successful and that it fulfils your ambitions. We take great care to match you to the business which best suits you and your dedicated business development manager will work closely with you during your first year to ensure all goes well. We also offer access to BII accredited training at our award-winning training centre, and wines and spirits specialist training, as well as advice on marketing, cellar management, catering, HR and finance. As the UK’s Regional Brewer of the Year three years running, St Austell Brewery offers a fantastic choice of beer brands for our tenants to choose from. For more information about running one of our pubs please contact Christine Marsh on chris. marsh@staustellbrewery.co.uk or call 01726 627267..
ALE BEER IPA KILDERKIN FIRKIN MALT HOPS YEAST TRIBUTE BARLEY FERMENT GRAIN LAGER MASH TUN FERMENTATION CRAFT BEER CARBONATION
John & Emma Hooker licencees Cornish Arms, Tavistock that was awarded Bib Gourmand in the 2015 Michelin guide.
OTHER WAYS OF RUNNING A PUB Operating a tenancy with us is just one of the ways of getting into the pub business. Other options include: • F ree house - buying your own free house where you will be able to buy your products from whoever you wish. • Managed house - you could also find a position as a manager and receive a salary for running a pub. If you are interested please contact us to discuss opportunities. • L ong term lease - some companies offer leases on their pubs where you can take a long lease on a property.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
oming in behind tea, beer is the C second most popular beverage in the world. According to The Code of Hammurabi of ancient Babylonia, a merchant could be put to death for diluting beer … eek! A bride would distribute ale to her wedding guests in old-age England. In exchange, they would give money as a gift to the newly weds. The beer was known as “Bride Ale”, which is where the word “bridal” comes from! Ancient Egypt, stonecutters and In slaves who were building the pyramids were paid in beer. This type of beer was called “kash”, which later became the word “cash”! he very first Oktoberfest was held in T Munich in 1810....and still thrives on a yearly basis today.
DID YOU KNOW Many drinkers disapprove of the foam on top of a beer glass: It makes drinking difficult and looks unappetizing to some. However, the foam is a very important part of the beer. The foamy “head,” as it is called, is formed by a complex carbon-dioxide reaction and can say a lot about the quality of the beer. Many stout beers, Guinness in particular, are characterized by their gloriously foamy head. The lack of head, on the other hand, can mean that your beer is probably flat and bland-tasting.
I f you are a beer lover or enthusiast, you are by definition a “cerevisaphile”, while if you collect beer bottles you are a labeorphilist.
The Holy Grail of foam enthusiasts is so-called Brussels Lace. It is the perfect foam that refuses to go away and forms a lace-like residue pattern once the glass is empty. This can only be achieved with a high-quality beer. Interestingly, Brussels Lace will never form on a dirty glass, so it also tells the drinker that their glass has been properly cleaned. In Britain a legal pint measure includes 5% head.
The world’s oldest recipe is for none other than....beer! Beer bottles weren’t invented until 1850. Before then, people would carry their booze home in a special bucket. Cenosillicaphobia is the fear of an empty glass … (common phobia in pubs). n average, a pint of St Austell beer is O served every 1.2 seconds.
Find 5 differences between these two photographs:
For more information visit: www.staustellbrewery.co.uk/ careers-and-training AUTUMN 2014 | 19
FROM AS LITTLE AS
GET AWAY THIS WINTER £99
Whether you’re looking for a rural retreat, a luxury break on the coast or a romantic hideaway, we’ve got the best offers in the best West Country locations.
Escape from it all this winter with a two-night break at one of our managed hotels and inns from as little as £99 for two people. Just select from the properties below and call them direct to make your booking.
RASHLEIGH ARMS, CHARLESTOWN 2 nights from £99 This special offer applies to midweek breaks between Sunday and Thursday from 2nd November to 12th February. Friday and Saturday nights incur a supplement of £10 and room upgrades are also available at an additional charge. Call 01726 73635 www.rashleigharms.co.uk OLD SUCCESS, SENNEN COVE 2 nights from £99 This great deal applies to midweek breaks between Sunday and Thursday from 2nd November to 12th February. Friday and Saturday nights incur a supplement of £10 and room upgrades are available at an additional charge. Call 01736 871232 www.oldsuccess.co.uk THE THREE CROWNS, CHAGFORD 2 nights from £99 Stay with us for a midweek break
between 2nd November and 23rd December for just £99. This price is for a standard room between Sunday and Thursday. Room upgrades and Friday and Saturday nights are available at a supplement of £20 per night. Call 01647 433444 www.threecrowns-chagford.co.uk
SHIP INN, MOUSEHOLE 2 nights from £99 This offer applies to midweek breaks between Sunday and Thursday from 2nd November to 10th December. Friday and Saturday nights incur a supplement of £20 and room upgrades are also available at an additional charge. Call on 01736 731234 www.shipinnmousehole.co.uk HARBOUR INN, PORTHLEVEN 2 nights from £99 This great deal is for midweek breaks between Sunday and Thursday from 2nd November to 23rd December. Friday and Saturday nights incur a supplement
of £10 and room upgrades are also available at an additional charge. Call 01326 573876 www.harbourinnporthleven.co.uk
OLD CUSTOM HOUSE, PADSTOW 2 nights from £140 Enjoy a relaxing mid-week break in Padstow and take full advantage of our amazing, winter deal when you dine at the Pescadou restaurant on 1 night. Offer is available from Sunday to Thursday from 2nd November 2014 – February 12th 2015. Call 01841 532359 www.oldcustomhousepadstow.co.uk Rates are for 2 nights, bed and breakfast, based on two people sharing. Bookings can be made by phone only. Offers are not available from 20th December 2014 – 3rd January 2015.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS Offers are subject to availability and are for new bookings only. We reserve the right to amend or discontinue these rates at any time. For more information visit www.westcountryinns.co.uk