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All of our crisps have won great taste awards Crisps as they should taste. www.piperscrisps.com @Piperscrisps Piperscrisps IA 8_Layout 1 17/09/2013 12:25 Page 3 CONTENTS ISSUE 3 2013
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11 The Regulars 7/8/9 Lincoln News A round up of Local Pub and Brewery News 11 Lincoln Members Diary Page & Branch Diary Find out what’s going on in the Lincoln CAMRA branch. 22/23 Recimpes Beery Bolognese and Porter pudding – who can resist? 26 TravAle A trip to Ingham and Scampton 15 27 Quiz Your chance to win a meal for two at Springhead Brewery’s The Roaring Meg Meet the 31 Membership Sign up to CAMRA Brewer The Guests 18 The Good Beer Guide 8 Sail Brewery 21 Old Ale Tales – some pictures from Lincoln’s pub past.
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4 ImpAle LincolnCamra.org.uk IA 8_Layout 1 17/09/2013 12:25 Page 5 Welcome. Hello Again
The year seems to be sailing by. The So summer has ended but autumn is a good time to get down new Good Beer Guide has been the local pub, there is still plenty of events on (keep up to date released and ImpAle has the scoop with Lincoln CAMRA’s twitter page for up to date event details). on the new entries for 2014. The So whether it is a quiet night, going to see a band or taking part entries into the Guide are chosen in the regular quiz night, make the most of your local pub. Of by CAMRA members and are based course there is always ImpAle to read, and why not have a go at on beer quality alone, so when you our quiz? The prize this edition is a meal for two at Springhead’s visit one of these pubs, they come Roaring Meg. Definitely worth an entry – see page 29. highly recommended! Special mention has to be made to The Victoria in Once again ImpAle would not come together if it were not for the Lincoln who have now been in the efforts of a small and dedicated team of people and I thank them Guide for 30 years – what an amazing again for all their help. achievement. There’s more on the Beer Guide on page 18. Please enjoy this issue of ImpAle and as usual if you have any comments please send them to me. Elsewhere Steve Renshaw talks about a new CAMRA scheme [email protected] or tweet me @ImpAleEditor. Or called List your Local. This is something regulars in pubs need be my friend on Facebook – Lincoln CAMRA ImpAle to be aware of; they have the power to get a petition together to list the pub as an asset of community value. This may mean Wendy should your favourite pub get put up for sale, the community gets a chance to keep that pub as a pub. Read more about this on PS – In Mays’ issue we forgot to credit Steve Smailes for The page 20. Lincolnite for the picture of Emma Chapman at The Jolly Brewer.
Our Twitter account @Lincoln_CAMRA has nearly 2000 followers! Our friends on our Facebook account are also increasing at a steady rate! To help keep the success going we need your help! Please email Aaron at [email protected] with your local pub’s events, be it a regular weekly quiz/food night and one off events, it's an easy way to become active within the branch with minimal effort.
ImpAle ImpAle is the magazine of Lincoln CAMRA and Louth CAMRA branches. CAMRA campaigns for real ale, real pubs and consumer Editor rights. It is an independent, voluntary organisation with more than Wendy Margetts 140,000 members nationally. ImpAle magazine is published three Design times a year and is available free through pubs in Lincoln and Louth Matt Richards branch areas. To join CAMRA, help preserve Britain’s brewing and Art of Matelot, Matelot Marketing Limited pub industry, get the campaign’s quarterly newsletter and its monthly newspaper What’s Brewing and a host of other membership benefits – Publisher visit www.camra.org.uk Neil Richards MBE, Matelot Marketing Limited Tel:01536 358670 Mob:07710 281381 CAMRA is a limited company, run at national level by an elected unpaid [email protected] board of directors and at regional level by volunteer regional directors, Front Cover both backed by full time professional staff. Picture used with permission of Tony Pygott of 8 Sail Brewery. Consumer Rights With kind help from For complaints about issues such as short measures contact Lincolnshire Trading Standards on 01522 782341 or Consumer Direct Steve Renshaw, Wendy Renshaw, Steve Campaign for Real Ale Richardson, Aaron Joyce, Ashley Sewell Greg on 0845 404 0506. 230 Hatfield Road Richards, copies/images of Lincoln Library St Albans, Herts. with permission of Lincolnshire County Disclaimer AL1 4LW Council: Lincoln Central Library: Local The views contained within ImpAle do not necessarily represent the Tel: 01727 867201 Studies Collection, Sara Basquill, Springhead views of CAMRA, the editor, or the Lincoln and Louth branches. Email: [email protected] Brewery, Tony Pygott and Steve Doane at 8 Sail Brewery. LincolnCamra.org.uk ImpAle 5 IA 8_Layout 1 17/09/2013 12:25 Page 6
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6 ImpAle LincolnCamra.org.uk IA 8_Layout 1 17/09/2013 12:25 Page 7 NEWS Champion Beer of Britain
Following on from the success as CAMRA brewed from an original 1872 recipe. It has Champion Winter Beer of 2010 and 2013, an old port nose, and coffee and bitter Elland Brewery’s 1872 Porter has now chocolate flavours on the palate. received the ultimate accolade from the 2013 CAMRA Great British Beer Speaking in praise of the winner, CAMRA Festival, winning the top prize. The West chairman Colin Valentine, said, “It was a Yorkshire brewed real ale was judged really tough decision but Elland 1872 Porter the Supreme Champion over a host of is a fantastic beer and a well-deserved other finalists in seven different beer winner.” categories, which included beers from both small microbrewers and large Michael Wynnyczuk, Head Brewer at The only beer from the East Midlands to regional brewers. Elland, had this to say, “I’m utterly shocked. feature in the medals was Castle Rock’s It’s a great beer and we’re really proud to be Screech Owl, which won bronze in the The rich, complex dark ale (6.5% ABV) is crowned Champion Beer of Britain.” strong bitters category. WhatPub goes live
CAMRA’s new pub website, the market. whatpub.com, goes live to the public at the end of September. The site currently Information on the site is updated has details of over 35,000 different real regularly by thousands of CAMRA ale pubs across the UK - that’s over volunteers and includes pub name, 96% of the total. At the time of writing, address and telephone number, plus over 720 Lincolnshire pubs are included. opening hours, beer range and a With number of entries increasing all description similar to those found in the time, the site aims to be the most the Good Beer Guide. You will also find comprehensive real ale pub website on lots of photographs of the pubs.
IN BRIEF Pub campaign hits important target New team at Sleaford Over 100 pubs have now been listed as Assets of Community Chris Smith has sold Sleaford Brewery to father and son team, Value, providing greater protection for pubs across the country John and Andrew Butler. The new owners are keeping part of from being sold off for redevelopment. At the Great British Beer the existing range and are looking to create some new beers. Festival 2013, Brandon Lewis, the Community Pubs Minister, Whereas Chris bottled most of his beer, John and Andrew are announced that communities where the pubs are listed have planning to expand more into the cask ale market in the pub been granted the power to “stop the clock” when faced with trade. However, they are still supplying all existing outlets that their local pub going up for sale. currently stock Sleaford bottled beers.
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News
IN BRIEF
Oldershaw’s celebration of record-breaking loco The record-breaking Mallard returns to Grantham in September to celebrate its 75th anniversary. The LNER Class 4 engine set the world speed record of 126mph on the east coast line along Stoke Bank, Grantham in July 1938, a record that still stands today. To commemorate this special event, Oldershaw Brewery of Grantham have created Loco 126 in homage to the famous locomotive. The 4.3% ABV ale uses a combination of English Challenger and Golding hops with American Cascade and Mount Hood Steve Marston at Cathedral Heights Brewery hops, and a specialty malt. The beer has complex bitter notes with a smooth and mellow finish. It will be New start at Cathedral Heights available throughout September.
Having been a home-brew enthusiast, 72-gallon capacity) plant from scratch. the Forum in Lincoln. His original plan was Steve Marston set up Cathedral Heights Every last piece of welding and pipe work to brew twice a month, but things have Brewery a couple of years ago, just in was completed by Steve, with some help gone so well that it’s been twice a week. time to produce a special ale for his from family and friends. One frustration for Steve is that, because wedding. After a year’s break from of beer-tie arrangements, none of the three brewing, Steve is now back on stream in Steve’s first brew using the new kit was in pubs in Bracebridge Heath have yet a unit on the Churchill Business Park at June, but he already has six different beers stocked his ales. Bracebridge Heath. Being a Jack-of-all- in his portfolio. And they are appearing in trades, he has built his 2-barrel (that’s a local free houses, including the Ritz and
Cask and Craft coming to Lincoln
Big changes are being made at the Vine Inn on Newland Street West in Lincoln. Work is progressing well and the pub should re-open by early October with the new name of Cask and Craft. The new licensee is Lewis De-la-Hey, formerly a manager at the Good Beer Guide listed Wig and Mitre.
The pub will have five handpulls to showcase real ales, with two being dedicated to local breweries and the other three serving exciting ales from award-winning breweries such as Liverpool Organic, Manchester Marble, Oakham Ales, Thornbridge, Titanic and Blue Monkey, to name a few. Vier and Stella Black will be available, together with many bottled beers. The keg products will include three imported German beers available in steins, and ever-changing world beers such as, The food offering will be largely based around zythology, Hoegaarden, Fruli, Pavel Kwak, Flying Dog, Brooklyn, Chimay, the study of beer, and how it can be paired with food. A small Magic Rock, Vedett and many more. Staple brands of Becks selection of wines will still be available.
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News IN BRIEF Busy times at Raise a pint to English hops with HopStocks! Lovers of English hops have reason to Springhead celebrate with HopStocks, produced by another Grantham brewer. Sara Barton of Brewsters' Brewing Springhead Brewery of Laneham have Company collaborated with hop farmer been having a busy time recently. Firstly, Ali Capper and beer sommelier they’ve renovated The Vine on Barnbygate and writer Jane Peyton in what is a in Newark and renamed it The Roaring celebration of the brilliance of British Meg. The pub has really captured the hops. Even though less than 2% of imagination of the locals and is now the world's commercial hops are buzzing. The new kitchen is installed so a grown in Britain, there are over 20 tasty menu is available to complement the varietals grown here, with several more finest Springhead brews. And the winner in development. Contrast that with of our competition on page??? will get the Germany, the world's biggest supplier chance to sample the fare. of hops with 38% of the market and yet only around only 25 varietals in The brewery has also seized upon the total. British hops are all about opportunity to run The Boat Inn at Hayton David Anderson, from Springhead, outside The beauty, choice, diversity and localism! near Retford. The pub has a beautiful Roaring Meg. (Photograph courtesy of the Newark HopStocks (4% ABV) is a pale, hoppy Advertiser newspaper) canal-side location, outdoor bar and ale with herbal, piney and citrus notes, barbecue area, stylish bed and breakfast plus a guest beer on rotation, and craft and a firm, refreshing bitterness. rooms and an enviable reputation for food. ciders. The Springhead team has embraced the challenge wholeheartedly and already Unfortunately, Springhead’s Southwell Beer festival at international implemented a new menu using the pub, The Bramley Apple, was hit by the equestrian event famous Springhead pies plus other torrential flooding in July and was locally sourced, hand-made favourites. extensively damaged. It will be closed for Dukeries Brewery of Worksop is Four Springhead real ales are available refurbishment for some time. running a beer festival, featuring over 50 beers and ciders, in conjunction with the Osberton International Horse Trials. The event takes place from 3rd Taste of India at the to 6th October on the Osberton Estate near Worksop. Advance tickets to the beer festival only are £7 but CAMRA Dog and Bone members can get a £2 discount by quoting the code OSBEERF. CAMRA Get along to the Dog members can also claim a free pint and Bone in John Street, between 11 am and 5 pm. Full details Lincoln, on 27th September are on the Bede Events website. for a genuine Indian street experience. Starting at 7pm, the event will feature East Midlands’ traditional Indian street Champion Beer food cooked outside in Bateman’s Salem Porter won overall an authentic manner, champion beer for the East Midlands Bollywood dancing with at CAMRA’s Derby Beer Festival. Indian music, plus a Stuart Bateman, Managing Director clothing stall with items of Batemans Brewery, said: “This is an made from Indian fabrics unbelievable achievement, especially and prints. To ensure you with such fierce competition. We are all get to try all the different absolutely delighted.” Salem Porter is a A taste of India dishes and enjoy the full 4.7% ABV, dark ale full of fruit, nuts and experience, you will need to and chutney competition locals, Chris and Sarah will spices fused with roasted grains to book. on Sunday, 13th October. be putting on wine tasting, create a warm buttered toast and Judging will take place from loads of cheese and gentle crunchy nut biscuit character. Another event to tickle the 3pm. To make it special jazz. It should be a lovely taste buds will be the pickle and as a thank you to the afternoon.
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WHAT’SBREWING NATIONALLY
ImpAle rounds up CAMRA’s news from the last three months
June August > Speaking at CAMRA’s parliamentary reception, Secretary of State for > The Government has dropped plans for minimum alcohol pricing in Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, said that CAMRA England and Wales. At this year’s AGM, CAMRA members voted to can achieve its campaign target of 300 pubs registered as assets of withdraw the Campaign’s support for the policy, while still supporting community value. measures preventing below-cost selling of alcohol. > Talks between Punch Taverns and its debt holders were reported to > Small is beautiful, as close to 30 micropubs have opened in the UK. have reached stalemate. The company was hoping to restructure its The latest is the Weavers in Kidderminster, which opened in June. Up £2.4 bn debts. Punch owns around 4,000 pubs in the UK. to 10 more are in the planning stage or due to open in the near future. > Molson Coors has come under attack for launching a new cider > Molson Coors says its Doom Bar is the number one cask ale in the branded as British, despite only using a small percentage of local apple UK in both volume and value. Brewed at Sharp’s Brewery in Cornwall, juice. Supermarket trade magazine, “The Grocer”, revealed that Carling the beer reached the top spot after an average growth rate of 45% over British Cider contained as little as 10% UK-sourced apples. the last three years.
July If you’re not a CAMRA member, you won’t be getting all the latest > A survey of 850 publicans for CAMRA showed that more than half of real ale, pub and brewing news delivered to your door every month. lessees tied to buying beer from large national pub companies earn less Join, using the application form on page 31 and get What’s than the minimum wage. Brewing and Beer delivered free, plus a host of other membership > CAMRA is supporting two industry campaigns promoting beer and benefits. pub-going. Let There Be Beer is a multi-million pound campaign funded by global brewers that will promote all beer styles. It’s Better Down The Pub highlights the great things local pubs have to offer. > Greene King has come under fire for scrapping more than 200 traditional pub signs and replacing them with green-and-gold lettered versions, as it rebrands some of its pubs.
We asked our Facebook friends and Twitter followers to tell us about their favourite pub. ImpAle Editor asked whilst enjoying a beer or two Here’s a selection of the replies. at the rather beautiful The Butcher and Beast in @ImpAleEditor - do you feel you ruin the beer garden for non- Heighington what Twitter follwers thought were smokers? beautiful pubs. @iaingalaxy – No I don’t think so there is plenty of room and @Aisthorpe_Watts – Agree – fantastic ale, great food and very fresh air for all. Better than the doorway where smoke blows back pleasant landlord. inside.
@Agressive_Toad – always like The Royal Oak, Aubourn at @aaronjjoyce – I don’t mind it myself. I’d rather smokers go night. outside in the garden as long as they don’t smoke right outside the doorway! ImpAle Editor asked ‘Have pub beer gardens now become smoking gardens?’
@iaingalaxy – Golden Eagle High St Lincoln is great I can have Find Lincoln CAMRA ImpAle on Facebook. Follow us on a pint, fag and more important take my dogs so great. Twitter @ImpAleEditor alternatively, you can email [email protected] or write to ImpAle, 4 Squires Place, Nettleham, Lincoln, LN2 2WH 10 ImpAle LincolnCamra.org.uk IA 8_Layout 1 17/09/2013 12:26 Page 11
Lincoln CAMRA Members’ News
150,000 Members If you haven't already heard, we have reached the milestone figure of over 150,000 members. In the last decade, CAMRA membership has more than doubled from 65,000 to 150,000. Women now account for 22% of the total membership, a growth of 20,000 members in the last decade. Without you this could not have happened. So next time you are visiting your local, raise a glass to yourself.
Keith Dawson A number of branch members attended the funeral of Keith Dawson, who died in May, aged 52. Also present was Colin Valentine, CAMRA’s national chairman. In addition to holding posts on the Lincoln branch committee, Keith was elected to Beer festival helpers enjoying the ales at the Wellington Inn the National Executive in 1996 and remained a member until ill on the post-festival trip to Hull. health forced his retirement nine years later. He also acted as chief steward at the Great British Beer Festival. One of the last occasions many of us saw him was when he attended the Lincoln Beer Festival Lincoln Beer Festival in 2012. Once again, the Lincoln Beer Festival was a great success, thanks to all of you who volunteered to help. But it’s now time to start thinking about next year. The first task is to ensure we have enough helpers to plan and run the festival. The first planning meeting will be held in the Morning Star, Lincoln, on Sunday, 20th Lincoln Branch Diary October at 8pm. Subsequently, meetings are monthly, and we would welcome an infusion of new blood. October Sunday 6th - Committee Meeting Tempest, Coleby - 8pm. Annual General Meeting The branch AGM will be held in The Barracks (formerly the Post Wednesday 9th - Branch Meeting Office Sports & Social Club), Dunkirk Road, Lincoln on Friday, 22nd Carpenters Arms, Fiskerton - 8.30pm. November, starting at 8pm. If you want to find out about getting Sunday 20th - Initial Beer Festival Planning Meeting involved with the branch, this is a good place to start. Morning Star, Lincoln - 8pm.
Good Beer Guide November The branch has ordered a small stock of the new edition of The Sunday 3rd - Committee Meeting Good Beer Guide. These can be purchased for the bargain price Ivy, Wragby - 8pm. of £10 per copy at branch meetings and the AGM. Nominations Friday 22nd - Annual General Meeting for our branch entries into Good Beer Guide 2015 are now being Barracks, Lincoln - 8pm. taken. Nominations can be made in person, by post, phone or e-mail (please, include your membership number). Members can Saturday 30th - East Midlands Regional Meeting nominate as many pubs as they wish. Selection takes place at Newark, noon. our February branch meeting. December st Branch Pub of the Year 2014 Sunday 1 - Committee Meeting to be arranged. By the time ImpAle goes to press, we should know the East Midlands’ Pub of the Year for 2013. However, we now need Wednesday 4th - Branch Meeting to start thinking about the Branch Pub of the Year for 2014. As Forum, Lincoln - 8pm. previously, each member is allowed one vote, which can be made in person, by post, phone or e-mail up to 12th January 2014. A judging panel, selected at the AGM, will visit the four pubs with Check out the branch website for up-to-date details of meetings the most votes and score them against the criteria used in the and socials. national Pub of the Year competition. In addition to beer quality, these criteria include atmosphere, décor, customer service and all-round value of the pub visit.
LincolnCamra.org.uk ImpAle 11 IA 8_Layout 1 17/09/2013 12:26 Page 12 Craft Keg what’s that all about? Steve Renshaw goes out of his way to investigate the craft beer revolution
Earlier this year, we were in Norwich for On a blackboard to the side was a list 1970s, the big brewers had moved away CAMRA’s national annual general meeting. of the beers. I recognised some brewery from producing traditional, flavoursome What a lovely city and so many great pubs! names but, being a Yorkshireman, the beers which continued to ferment in the We were really pleased that we booked main thing that struck me was the cask from which they were served. some extra nights so we could explore price. The cheapest pint was £3.70 and properly. Thornbridge Jaipur was £4.90. Several Instead, they were pushing beers that really expensive beers were priced by the were chilled and filtered to remove One evening, we set off across the city half pint. all the yeast, pasteurised to make towards a pub where we planned to eat. them sterile and then put in a sealed On the way, we passed a newish-looking When I studied the beer list in more depth keg. The problem is that this removes place called the Norwich Tap House. It I noticed, towards the bottom, Guinness a great deal of the taste and aroma. was still early, so we decided to drop in for and Becks. It was only then that it struck And, because there is no secondary a drink. The décor reminded me a bit me. This was all keg beer. Horror of fermentation occurring in a keg, there is no of Lincoln’s Strait and Narrow, with lots of horrors! natural carbonation of the beer. So carbon exposed brickwork and bare floor boards. dioxide has to be added to make the beer However, there was one big difference - CAMRA was formed in 1971 by four fizzy. there were no pumps on the bar. Instead, journalists who were disillusioned by the there was a row of twenty numbered taps domination of the UK beer market by a CAMRA has been so successful that the protruding from the wall behind the handful of companies producing bland term “real ale” it coined forty years ago is counter. keg beers. During the late 1960s and early now in the Oxford English Dictionary, and
The Norwich Tap House (Photograph by Steve Adams of the Eastern Daily Press. Copyright: Archant.)
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of the beer to come through. It seemed by the pint and ranged from £4.65 to £5.95, quite watery and I didn’t like the unnatural while the others set you back from £2.75 carbonation. to £6.50 for a half.
“It’ll never catch on”, we mused as we left. As I sampled my second pair of drinks, I But when we walked by later, the place looked round at the clientele. The place was full of young people who clearly had was busy, and it was easy to see who was a taste for the beers and the money to pay drinking what, as cask was served in for it. Craft beer bars are increasingly straight-sided glasses while the keg was popular, particularly in London. According in tulip glasses and schooners. to beer writer, Melissa Cole, “Craft beer is seen as sexy right now.” Which is, Although there were some women and presumably, why they can charge so some older drinkers, the majority of much for it. customers were young men. And most of them, although certainly not all, were If you do an internet search for “cask drinking keg. It was clear that this was versus keg”, you’ll find numerous blog a pub for discerning drinkers who entries on the pros and cons of craft keg. were happy to try something different. In the view of one of my favourite beer It wouldn’t appeal to those with conservative writers, Pete Brown, different beers suit tastes who only go for brands they different methods of dispense. The recognise, be they cask or keg. there are over 1,000 breweries producing new-style American IPAs are designed cask-conditioned beer. for keg dispense. Carbonation helps And what about these beers? The keg release the hop aromas from the beer and beers I tried were both around 5% ABV Until fairly recently, keg beer was the the mouth-feel is light and delicate. Cask and were very hoppy. There’s no doubt province of the global mega-brewers. conditioning suits traditional British ale that the carbonation enhances the aroma However, there are now some small which, for the last hundred years or so, has and, this time, the cold temperature didn’t brewers producing “craft keg” beers. had a relatively low ABV and a good detract from the experience. When taking Some like Brew Dog and Meantime, balance between the sweetness of malt a mouthful, the first reaction was to burp - only produce keg and bottled/canned and the bitterness of hops. It provides is that just me? There was very little versions of their beers. Others, such as depth and layers of flavour, subtlety and maltiness but plenty of lingering citrus fruit, Thornbridge and Blue Monkey, have cask character. with some harsh bitterness. The cask and keg versions of the same beers. beers were the house pale ale at 3.8% Deciding that I hadn’t given craft keg a fair ABV and a 5.2% deep red ale with New These producers are influenced by the judging, I determined to carry out more World hops. The aroma of both was less craft brewing revolution in the United research. Whilst in London for the Great noticeable, but it was in the taste that they States. There, the Brewers Association British Beer Festival, I sought out the Craft scored. There was a much greater variety defines a craft brewery as being "small, Beer Company in Clerkenwell. This is one of flavours coming through, even in the independent and traditional". Not so of four pubs the company runs, the others 3.8% beer. very long ago, American beer meant being in Brixton, Islington and Brighton. bottled lagers that were regarded by self- Formerly called The Clockhouse and Of course, one of the main advantages of respecting drinkers as bland, corporate owned by Greene King, it still looks like keg beer is that no expertise is required in and lacking in credibility. However, an a traditional street-corner local from the the pub or bar. All the staff have to do is explosion of craft brewers producing outside. But step inside and you soon connect up and serve - and the beer is lovingly-created, strong, pungent, flavour- realise that it’s far from traditional. the same every time. Cask ale, on the rich ales has transformed the reputation of other hand, requires a significant level of the product. The single, ground-floor room is dominated cellarmanship to produce a decent pint. by a long bar with 12 handpumps and And that’s why the same cask beer can The new-style keg beers are fermented 21 keg taps. And there are cabinets with vary significantly, depending on where you under pressure so the carbon dioxide hundreds of bottled beers. There were buy it. Clearly, the Craft Beer Company occurs naturally from the initial fermentation. no global brands to be seen - the cask know how to look after their ales. The beer is then filtered lightly, without any beers are sourced from independent pasteurisation, before shipping. However, microbreweries and the small-batch, craft There was lots of discussion about gas is still required to get the beer into the keg beers come from the UK and craft keg beer at CAMRA’s AGM. Many glass, unless you go for a bottled version. overseas. members see it as the beginning of the (next) end for real ale, while others feel that So, how was the beer in the Norwich Tap Taking my research seriously, I ordered CAMRA should embrace it. In the end, it House? I chose London Fields Black Path two halves, one cask and the other keg, was decided that we would continue as Porter (4.2% ABV). Porter is a traditional, and retired to the large, upstairs area the Campaign FOR Real Ale, and not a dark brew that often has hints of coffee to study the beer menu. Once again, I campaign against any other type of beer. or chocolate. Craft keg brewers claim was struck by the prices. The real ales We’re in favour of choice and, if craft keg that their beers need to be served cold. ranged between £3.55 and £4.05 per pint beer brings more drinkers into pubs, then However, I felt that the low temperature of (although there was a 10.5% ABV beast at that’s fine. my expensive half didn’t allow the flavours £6.15). Six of the keg beers were priced
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Meet the Brewer Sail away with 8 Sail Brewery
Wendy Margetts meets brewers Tony Pygott and Steve Doane from 8 Sail Brewery
On one of the last weeks in August, I made since 1986. A CAMRA member since the The building that the brewery is based my way over to Heckington to find out beginning, he always had an interest in is Grade 1 listed and used to be the more about a little brewery that’s doing in real ale and had dabbled in home workshop where an old sawmill was used. very well. The brewery in question is 8 brewing. It had been used for storage prior to Tony’s Sail Brewery and it is easy to find, being occupation and he worked hard for located in the shadows of the only eight- When we meet, Tony and Steve have just months prior to opening the brewery to sail windmill with its sails intact still come back from Peterborough Beer clean and repair the building so that he standing in the United Kingdom. The Festival where they have delivered ales could use it. windmill is a very noticeable landmark in for sale at the festival and attended the this small rural village and the brewery is trade session. It has been a busy week, “The building had been used as coal store also opposite Heckington railway station. they are both passionate about ales and and it took ages to clean the soot and have their own interest in certain styles black from the walls. I spent two months I’m there to meet head brewer Tony Pygott and recipes. Tony likes traditional British- cleaning and repairing the window frames. and his side-kick Steve Doane. Tony style beers, preferring to find old recipes There was no water, no electric and the started the brewery in 2010, but prior to and attempting to revive them, whilst Steve roof was dodgy,” he tells me. Looking this he had spent 30 years teaching. He is inspired by the American brewers who around now, a visitor would find it hard had been a primary school teacher with produce lighter, hoppier beers. But more to imagine that it was in such a state. It a speciality in science, maths and PE about that later. is clean, tidy and airy with a beautiful, and had been teaching in the local area purpose-built brew kit from Porter’s, with a little shop at the front for visitors to buy bottled ales and ciders.
Tony has attended brewing courses with Dave Porter, who supplied him with his brew kit and has also attended the Brew Lab courses. He saw this as a way into the industry. “The brew lab course doesn’t just cover brewing but all aspects of the business, and it really opens your eyes up to the business. Plenty of people attend thinking that brewing will make them rich, but only about two people from my course have successfully gone into brewing,” he commented.
Keen to make a change from teaching, Tony initially started brewing on a part-time basis on 2010. His first brew was 8 Sail, which originally was not successful. Tony admits he worked on this through the summer to perfect his recipe. The next brew was Merry Miller and this was the first
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Meet the Brewer - 8 Sail Brewery
of Tony’s beers to be found in pubs. This However, we make beer that is local and I of using the windmill to mill the grain that is now brewed regularly and is available believe of a better quality, and that is our will eventually be used in the beers all year round. unique selling point.” brewed.
Tony brews a wide range of ales and Tony is also a regular at local farmers’ Lincoln CAMRA arranged a small-group generally has 9 available, covering all markets, selling bottled beers straight to visit to 8 Sail Brewery last winter and colour/flavour bases for customers and customers, and this is very successful for thoroughly enjoyed our brewery tour, and usually there are three golden, three brown him. “Selling at farmers’ markets is a perfect had the added bonus of a windmill tour. I 1 and three dark ales. The brew plant is 5 ⁄2 outlet for me. I can talk to my customers, strongly encourage readers to visit the barrels and, usually, Tony brews twice a interact with them and get immediate Heckington windmill and explore the shop week, producing around 40 casks. Beer feedback about what they like”. Tony views at the front of the brewery. Not only are is also bottled on site. bottled ale as a premium product. His are you supporting local business but also a bottled conditioned and he prefers to sell piece of local history and heritage. them through specialist outlets such as local delis and The Real Ale Store in Newark. The Windmill Steve Doane joined the brewery in 2012. The mill was originally built in 1830 by He is originally from the New Forest and is Edward Ingledew of Gainsborough for ex RAF, having flown Nimrods until they Michael Hare as a five-sailed mill. went out of service. When he was made Following a severe thunderstorm which redundant from the RAF, he undertook blew off the cap and sails, it was repaired some brewing and cellar management in 1892. The repairs were carried out by courses. He used to work for Sleaford John Pocklington, using a cap and eight Brewery and has known Tony since they sails from a windmill in Boston. The bricks both worked at farmers’ markets together from the Boston mill were recycled and selling their respective brewery’s ales. used to build the mill house that stands at the front of the site. Steve brings an American-style influence to the beers brewed by 8 Sail. He is the mastermind behind the Deacon John series of ales; these beers are brewed to commemorate the link between Lincolnshire and the early settlers in America. Deacon John Doane was one of the first settlers in America; he greeted the Pilgrim Fathers and was Beer is delivered to local pubs within Assistant Governor of the settlers in 1633. about a 30-mile radius of the brewery. A Interestingly, he was prosecuted for selling deal has been secured with the local alcohol without a licence in June 1640 Wetherspoons and 8 Sail beer is available and Steve is a direct descendant of in Sleaford and Lincoln. In Lincoln, you Deacon John Doane. Heckington mill ceased work in 1946 and will find the beers as guests in The deteriorated until it was purchased by Ritz, The Plough, The Jolly Brewer, The Tony on the other hand is interested in Kesteven County Council in 1953 and Strugglers and The Plough Boy. The brewing heritage and likes to brew beers made safe. The mill underwent restoration Three Horseshoes at Waddington and that reflect history. He uses recipes he in 1986 and further major repairs were Horncastle Squash Club regularly has 8 finds from books and old breweries carried out in 2004 and is now in full Sail beer on as well. All deliveries are and tries to recreate beers. The Victorian working order. made by Tony and he enjoys getting Porter and the new Baltic Amber are feedback from pub landlords. Tony has examples of this. Whilst these are brewed The mill is now owned by Lincolnshire spent years building up his client base to old recipes, he attempts to appeal County Council, but is operated and and admits at first it was difficult to get to modern tastes. He also has an run on a voluntary basis by Heckington pubs to change their regular ales in favour interest in breweriana (brewery and Windmill Trust. of his. There is also a limited number beer-related collectables) and has Information taken from of free houses that are not tied to larger amassed a collection of old glasses, http://www.heckingtonwindmill.org.uk/i pubcos and breweries. “It is hard to mirrors and hand pumps with the long- ndex.html compete with large breweries that make term goal of opening a small, Victorian- offers to landlords based on the amount style bar at the front of the brewery, next to they buy and we cannot match that. the shop. There is also a long-term goal
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Victorian Porter 5.0% The Beers A true porter brewed to a classic Victorian recipe, using pale, amber, brown and black malts and hopped with Fuggles for bitterness and Goldings Windmill Bitter 3.8% for aroma and flavour. The aroma of berries, sour A mid-brown session bitter with a nice blend of malt and hops. fruits and roasted malts and the deep, intense, Available in cask only. chocolatey flavours give this dark beer a rich and full-bodied flavour. 8 Sail Ale 3.8% A refreshing traditional pale ale hopped with Damson Porter 5.0% Bramling Cross. Damsons have been added to give a full-bodied fruitiness to the rich, complex flavours provided by the pale, amber, brown and black malts. Aroma is bitter with caramel malty tones. Flavour is malty, slightly fruity with a bitter finish. Windy Miller 3.8% A dark, fruity session beer. A selection of malts combine with continental hops to give an easy- drinking beer. John Barleycorn 5.5% Brewed to recreate the taste of an original English IPA using English Fuggles and Goldings hops.
Blonde 4.0% A blonde beer made with pale and lager malt and gently hopped to create a refreshing taste. Black Widow 5.5% A strong, dark ruby mild echoing the milds of the Victorian age. Dark malt and liquorice flavours dominate. Merry Miller 4.1% A traditional bitter – pale, crystal and brown malts have given it a nutty, malty flavour. Hopped with Fuggles and Goldings, giving a good balance. Baltic Amber 6.4% (limited availability) A rich, amber ale, a style popular in Britain from the Flour Power 4.2% mid-1700s until the outbreak of WW1. Flavours from A refreshing, light, floral, hoppy beer flavoured with Marynka hops. pale and amber malts dominate with British hops Aroma is orange citrus and floral. giving balance and subtle undertones. Recreated to remember the days when the ports of The Wash were the gateway to prosperous trade with the Baltic States Golden Ale 4.4% A pale beer using 100% pale malt with a good balance of hop flavour. Dry and slightly tart, citrus dominated flavour.
Unit 1 Mill Stone 4.5% Churchill Business Park A beer made in the style of a northern brown ale. A Sleaford Road complex, balanced flavour from 6 different malts. Bracebridge Heath -JODPMOt-//-
Sail Away 5.0% Proud to Support Brewed in the style of a German Kolsch beer. Lincoln CAMRA and ImpAle
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GOOD BEER GU
checked. On the other hand, every pub The conversion is impressive, with the that appears in the Good Beer Guide has interior having all the trappings of a been visited regularly, often weekly, by traditional village pub, including a bar CAMRA members. The entire 150,000- billiards table. But the most striking feature plus membership is encouraged to be is the fascinating collection of memorabilia involved by submitting beer quality and information about 617 Squadron and information via CAMRA’s National Beer the famous bombing raid. Scoring System throughout the year. The thousands of beer scores help inform the Landlord, Greg Algar, has been in charge drawing up of shortlists of pubs in each since 2009. During that time, he has county. When the branches meet to increased the number of handpumps choose their entries from the shortlist, from two to six, dispensing a changing The UK’s best selling beer and pub guide, votes are cast and the numbers are selection of ales from breweries in the CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2014, was reduced to meet the allocations for local area and further afield and he’s now published in September. It features the each part of the country. installing a microbrewery to produce best 4,500 real ale pubs from across the house ales. UK, with details of food, opening hours, beer gardens, accommodation, transport New entries for 2014 links, disabled access and family facilities. Among the first-time entries in the Good Being the essential outlets for real ale, Beer Guide 2014 are three village pubs, pubs are the central core of the Guide. But each within ten miles or so of Lincoln. the pub listings are complemented by the Breweries section, which details all the UK producers of cask beer and their ales.
CAMRA is a proudly independent organisation and, unlike many other guides, pub owners are not charged to appear in the Good Beer Guide. And there’s a good spread of pubs. We recognise that most people live in towns and cities, and expect a good selection of pubs in those areas. But Dambusters Inn, Scampton we don’t neglect suburban and country Situated 6 miles north of Lincoln, Scampton pubs. On the contrary, CAMRA campaigns has a population of approximately 180. for the survival of rural pubs that are often The village lays in the shadow of RAF vital hubs of their isolated communities. Scampton, the wartime home of 617 Dambusters Squadron and, currently, the The driving force of the Guide - beer base for the Red Arrows Aerobatic Team. quality - has not changed over more than 40 editions. We believe that if a publican When you walk into the Dambusters Inn, looks after the real ales in the cellar then you can imagine wartime bomber crews the quality of the other facilities will most driving down from the base to relax Lion and Royal, Navenby likely be of an equally high standard. between sorties. Prepare for a surprise - The Lion and Royal is an imposing, Grade although the building is over 200 years old, II listed, brick building dating from 1824. It The entries in most pub guides are it turns out that it’s only been a pub since is situated in the centre of the village chosen either by small editorial teams 1999. Previously, it’s been the village shop, which lies nine miles south of Lincoln, on or by members of the public, whose a post office and a private house. the A607 to Grantham. Evidence suggests recommendations are not necessarily that, in Roman times, Navenby was a
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GUIDE 2014
significant staging point along Ermine Street.
Formerly known as the Lion, a visit in 1870 from the Prince of Wales, Edward VII, prompted the addition of Royal in the pub’s title. Another claim to fame is that Dambusters’ Wing Commander Guy Gibson honeymooned here.
Landlord, Nik Jones, keeps four real ales. Tetley’s Cask and Greene King Abbot Ale are regulars, and the other two are changing guests.
Green Man, Norton Disney Norton Disney lies midway between Lincoln and Newark, two CRAFTCRAFT BREWEDBREWED miles to the south of the A46. The small village is the seat of the Disney family, the name being an Anglicised version of the original French surname d'Isigny, of Isigny-sur-Mer, Normandy. LINCOLNSHIRELINCOLNSHIRE Formerly known as the St Vincent Arms, the village pub was completely refurbished in 2009. Colin and Emma Davies have been in charge since April 2012.
Black Sheep Ale is a regular on the bar and, of the three changing guests, two are usually from local microbreweries. Real cider is a house speciality, with up to 12 real ciders, all served from the cellar, ranging from fruity ones to strong dry ones.
Heckington Windmill, Hale Road, Heckington, Lincolnshire Tel: 01529 469308 www.8SailBrewery.co.uk
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List your Local
boarded up and unloved. Last year, Punch the answer would have been, “Not much.” Taverns sold it to Lincolnshire Co-op, who However, through the Localism Act, the plan to demolish the building and replace Government has introduced new powers it with a convenience store. for communities in England to nominate valued facilities such as pubs as assets of This is CAMRA’s worst nightmare. A community value. cash-strapped pub company puts a prime-site pub up for sale, a property Listing stops the sale of pubs behind the developer or supermarket chain snaps it backs of communities. If the owner of a up, and another community asset is lost listed pub wishes to sell it, they must let forever. the local authority know. At this point, a six-week interim moratorium period kicks The new owners will probably say that in, during which the local community the pub wasn’t viable and the locals didn’t group decides whether it would like to use it. But there are lots of examples of consider bidding to take the pub on. If so, struggling pubs that have gone from they can trigger a full moratorium period of Steve Renshaw explains why strength to strength once they have been six months – time to raise finance, develop released from the constraints of a big pub a business plan and to make a bid to buy listing your local is so important. company and allowed to operate as a the asset on the open market. free house. Dunholme village green is a hidden In order to list your local as an asset of gem. I’ve driven close by on numerous The Bridge Inn in Ruabon near Wrexham community value, you must explain to your occasions but, until recently, never noticed had been closed for six months when, in local authority why it should be listed and it. The small triangle of grass has an 2009, it was taken on as a family business. demonstrate that at least 21 people from impressive war memorial at its centre. It has been turned round to such an extent the community support the case. Some A beck runs along one edge, with a that, in 2012, it won CAMRA’s national pub authorities already have a nomination form footbridge leading to the ancient church. of the year award. It now plays a pivotal on their websites. If not, CAMRA has a And just off one corner is the village pub. role at the heart of a small community. template form that can be used.
It’s a scene you might see in a Visit But what can you do to keep your beloved But it’s important to stress that, by signing Lincolnshire brochure. Except for one local out of the hands of speculators or the nomination form, you will be under thing. The pub, The Lord Nelson, is supermarket chains? Well, until recently, absolutely no obligation to bid to buy that pub in the future.
CAMRA is hoping that at least 300 pubs across the UK will be listed by the end of the year. At the Great British Beer Festival, Brandon Lewis MP, the Community Pubs Minister, announced that 100 pubs have already been given greater protection from being sold off for redevelopment. So, if you love your local, get it listed.
Find out more about protecting pubs at: www.camra.org.uk/listyourlocal
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Old Ale Tales
Steve Richardson our historian has been busy volunteering at various Beer Festivals, but he has found some lovely old pictures from the Lincoln archives to share with us.
Picture 2: the signage for the Unity Hotel, then Broadgate owned by Tadcaster Tower Brewery Co. Ltd. The Tadcaster Tower Brewery was built in 1882. The company had built up an Fine view of Broadgate, about 1900. On estate of 247 tied houses when it was the left is the Wellington Hotel, and on the acquired by Hammond’s Bradford Brewery right the Unity Hotel (previously the ‘The Co Ltd in 1946. The brewery is still in Brown Cow’, and later our ‘Jolly Brewer’). operation today, though now as part of the Two painters are up on ladders renewing Coors Empire.
Picture 1: Steep Hill
A view up Steep Hill, probably from the late 1890’s. On the left at 44 Steep Hill is the Leopard Inn. Possibly with landlord Mr F. T. Jordan standing outside. The Leopard Inn dated back to at least the 1780’s, and had previously been known as ‘The Fiddle & Trumpet’, and ‘The Sons of Vulcan’. Steep Hill was then a busy working street. Behind the Leopard there is a sign for ‘C. Tollerton – Grimsby Fish – Fresh Daily’; on the left are signs for another pub, the ‘Fox & Picture 3: Hounds Inn’ (at 33 Steep Hill), ‘Bell’s The Strugglers Bakery’, ‘Traffords – Family Butcher’, a ‘Great Central Railway – Booking – Parcel Office’, and ‘Hair Cutting – Shaving The Strugglers, from 1963, in Hewitt’s livery. - Shampooing Saloons’. By 1913 the The adjoining Westgate properties still Leopard Inn had closed its doors. standing at that time.
Thanks to Lincolnshire County Council, Lincoln Central Library, and Local Studies Collection for permission to print these photographs.
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617 Squadron - The Dambusters Recim
Our resident chefs have been in the kitchen again testing out new ale-inspired recipes for you to try.
First we have Aaron Joyce and his recipe for Beery, beefy, Bolognese – perfect to warm you up now autumn is heading on its way.
Technically more of a Ragu than a Bolognese, this twist on a classic utilises the lesser used Ox cheek. Not often found on supermarket meat counter, I sourced mine from my local butchers Elite Meats in the Bailgate, www.elitemeats.co.uk. Ox cheek benefits from slow cooking which makes it melt in the mouth delicious!
Serves – 4, Cooking time - Up-to 4 hours
Ingredients - • 500g Ox Cheek • 1 large onion, chopped • 2 carrots, peeled & diced • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 200g mushrooms sliced • 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes with herbs • 300ml Dark ale (I used Batemans Dark Lord) • 1 bay leaf • 1 tbsp olive oil • 400g tagliatelle • Small bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped
Method - Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 3 (160-170 C). Heat the oil in a flameproof casserole dish; add the ox cheek and brown all over, set aside. Add the onions, carrots and garlic to the dish, cook for around 5 minutes until starting to soften. Add the meat back into the pan along with the tomatoes, mushrooms, beer and bay leaf. Top off with 200ml water & season. Bring to a simmer. Now this bit is important if you don’t want to spend ages cleaning your dish! Cover the top of the dish with baking parchment then place the lid on-top. Place in the oven and leave to cook for 3 - 4 hours.
Remove from the oven, then using two forks, pull the beef apart into bite size pieces. Keep warm whilst you cook your pasta according to the pack instructions. Serve the pasta with the rich beef sauce, topped with the chopped parsley.
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Next up is Wendy Renshaw’s Lincolnshire Plum Porter Loaf – a beery take on the classic Lincolnshire favourite.
This is a very simple recipe with consistently good results. It can be served with or without butter, according to preference. We also like it with a lump of cheese. It is moist and keeps well, if given a chance!
Ingredients - • Half a pint of 8 Sail Brewery Damson Porter • 6 ozs dark brown muscovado sugar • 12 ozs dried mixed fruit • 1 beaten egg • 8 ozs plain flour 1 • 1 ⁄2 teaspoons baking powder 1 • . ⁄2 teaspoon mixed spice
You will need a 2 pound loaf tin, lined with baking parchment.
Method - On the day before you want to bake the cake, mix the beer, sugar and dried fruit together in a bowl, and leave overnight to soak. Next day preheat the oven to Gas mark 4, 180o C, fan 170oC.
Add the egg, flour, baking powder and mixed spice to the fruit mixture and mix together well. It will be fairly sloppy. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for about an hour, until a skewer comes out clean. In my fan oven an hour is exactly right, but it can take ten or so minutes longer.
Cool for a little while in the tin before turning out on to a wire rack.
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Real Ale Gift Ideas
With the festive season quickly approaching the time to start thinking about what gifts to get people will soon be upon us. Play it safe or get something a bit different? Unique presents are often the best but then they can be a bit of a gamble. So to help here are a few ideas of what to get the real ale lover in your life.
Bottled Beer
The go-to, easy option. No-one is going to be disappointed with a bottle of beer to enjoy at their leisure. But rather than getting the same old 3 for £5 from the supermarket why not show you’ve put a bit of thought into it and get something a bit different? My recommendation for this year would be St Austell Brewery’s new stout 1913 (www.staustellbrewery.co.uk). It’s been brewed from a recipe discovered from an old 1913 recipe book, so what better time to get a bottle than in its centenary year. If that doesn’t appeal then try a visit to The Real Ale Store in Newark. They have a huge, constantly updated range and staff who’ll be able to point you towards something special.
Glassware
Someone else has beaten you to the bottled beer idea. Fret not! You still need something to put that beer in. Sure most people have got a pint glass at home, maybe even a handled mug, but how many people have a snifter, a Weizen glass or an earthenware stein? I know I don’t and I’m pretty into this stuff. Try www.beermerchants.com for a whole host of glassware you didn’t even know existed. Or failing that there’s away the classic yard-of-ale glass.
Clothing
After attempting a yard of ale most people require clean clothing and there are plenty of beer related ones out there. Gone are the days that a beer t-shirt was simply a brewery logo or pump clip emblazoned across a man’s chest. Well they’ve not gone exactly, there are still plenty of those around, but more and more breweries are bringing out tasteful and stylish ranges for both men and women. I personally like Magic Rock Brewing’s t-shirts, Skinners polo shirts and think that Brew Dog put more effort into their clothing range than their beer. Check out your loved one’s favourite brewery and see what they’ve got.
Books
The newly published Good Beer Guide is always popular and with good reason. But maybe your intended recipient bought it the moment it came out or has downloaded the app or is happy with last year’s edition. Well CAMRA have a whole range of books (shop.camra.org.uk) of which I’d recommend The Good Bottled Beer Guide. The book features listings for over 550 bottle-conditioned beers from expert Jeff Evans, as well as plenty of information about bottling beers and the breweries that produce them. Another great book I’d recommend is 1001 Beers To Try Before You Die (Octopus Books) which feature beers from all over the world and is a great coffee table reference book, or challenge depending how you look at these things. If you want something a bit less factual try Pete Brown’s Three Sheets To The Wind (Pan Books) in which the author visits 300 Bars in 13 countries in an attempt to discover just what it is people love about beer so much.
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Something a bit different
Of course the worry is always going too practical or too novel i.e. of no use to anyone. But there are a few items out there, such as these Beer Buddies bottle openers (www.beerbuddies.uk.com), which bridge the gap between the two. Coming in a range of options such as Green Man, Dragon or Skull they’re practical and something a bit different. Food is always a big part of Christmas, local producers Greendog Deli (www.greendogdeliproducts.co.uk) make two chutneys using real ale and if you keep an eye out at regular farmers markets you’re bound to find a range of small producers making some excellent preserves using different beers.
Finally if you think people have enough ‘stuff’ already they why not get them a beery experience. Both buyagift.co.uk and redletterdays.co.uk offer a variety of beer days and weekend breaks such as beer tasting courses, brewery tours or even the chance to brew your own beer. The best part about those gifts is many are for two people so they’ll need someone to accompany them!
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Ingham & Scampton After a long walk in the last issue, our pub investigator decided to get back on the buses and head north of the city to explore the pubs of Ingham and Scampton. All pubs can be reached via the 103 bus.
The Inn on the Green Our first stop was at this large pub in the centre of the village. As it was 11:30 in the morning, it was still quite quiet but this is clearly a pub that has a lot going on, including 3 ales. They have a beer token system where 4 pints can be bought for £10, although Sharp’s Doom Bar is the only ale included in the scheme. On a nicer day, we may have sat in the small beer garden in front of the pub but we were happy and cosy in the large front room.
The Black Horse Cosy could be used to describe the Black Horse as well, although this is mainly because it’s a much smaller pub. Almost half the main room is dominated by a pool table and a large screen TV on the far wall. Add in the games machines and this isn’t a pub to have a quiet pint in. I have to say I can’t recommend the beer - my Black Sheep was pretty much undrinkable and the London Pride wasn’t much better. But that may have just been as they were the first beers served that day.
The Windmill We’d intended to start at the Windmill and, after getting off the bus at Ingham and walking all the way up the hill, we were rather disappointed to learn it opened at noon, rather than 11am as we believed. So when we trekked up a second time in the rain, I wasn’t really in the best of moods and was cursing the pub for its awkward location. But I have to say it was worth the walk. Looking very much like a regular house from the outside and feeling like you’re having a drink in someone’s front room on the inside, we found ourselves made welcome by the landlord who served us the best beer we’d drunk that day. Two hand pumps on.
The Dambusters After the 3 pubs in Ingham, we headed to Scampton and its one pub. What it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality - this pub serves 4 real ales in excellent condition. Due to the bus timetables, we were forced to stay for two hours so got some lunch while we were there. The Ploughman’s I fancied was off the menu that day but the sandwiches we got were excellent and big enough to help soak up some of the day’s ales.
The Stag’s Head The bus comes back into Lincoln down Newport and straight past the Stag’s Head. Recently taken over by new management and at the time of writing in the running for The Best Turnaround Pub at this year’s Great British Pub Awards, there is a clear emphasis on food in a lot of the pub. But there is still plenty of room for the casual drink, with 4 real ales to choose from. There’s a separate room for the pool table, darts board and fruit machine, a large beer garden out the back and regular music nights.
Also in the area The Bottle & Glass, Navenby by Spital – not really very close but plenty of footpaths in the area mean you can do a circular walk from Ingham with a stop at this pub en route. That’s if it’s not raining too much, which is was every time I attempted to get there.
Don’t forget to follow Greg on twitter @TravAle_UK or read his blog www.travale.blog.com
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A new campaign has been launched to increase awareness that people. We now hope our new campaign will raise the profile of CAMRA fights for Real Cider as well as ale. Despite campaigning Real Cider and Perry and encourage more people to try these for Real Cider and Perry for the last 25 years, latest research for amazing drinks” the Campaign shows 82% of people who are aware of CAMRA or drink alcohol do not know it also promotes Real Cider and Perry.
To help increase awareness, CAMRA has made one of its four main campaigns in its five-year strategic plan as the need to “encourage more people to try a range of real ales, cider and perries”.
This will include a new promotion launched in October`s Cider and Perry month. APPLE committee chair Andrea Briers said: “We were a little surprised to see this work was not known by many
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CHEERS!
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0844 346 3000 ascot.co.uk 28 ImpAle LincolnCamra.org.uk IA 8_Layout 1 17/09/2013 12:26 Page 29 Quiz The prize this issue is a meal for 2 at The Roaring Meg, kindly provided by Springhead Brewery. Please send your answers by email to [email protected] or by post to ImpAle Quiz Issue 3 2013, 4 Squires Place, Nettleham, Lincoln, LN2 2WH. The closing date is 31st December 2013 and the editor’s decision is final. The winner and answers will be announced in the next issue of ImpAle.
1. What is measured with a chronometer? 2. Who wrote the 1949 novel The Jacaranda Tree? 3. What is a filbert? 4. Which London museum is on the site of the old Bedlam hospital? 5. Which football team plays their home matches at Aggborough? 6. What is the alternative name for the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley? 7. In the nursery rhyme who killed Cock Robin? 8. What is 2013 Champion Beer of Britain? 9. What type of creature is a Shag? 10. In the periodic table what element has the symbol Ta? 11. What is the name the Queen whose viscera is buried in Lincoln Cathedral? 12. Which actor was the first to play Doctor Who? 13. What is the boiling point of Mercury? 14. Which 2 players contested the 1985 World Snooker championship final? 15. What is the name of Mr Darcy’s house in the novel Pride and Prejudice? 16. Name the three mountains that make up the Yorkshire three peaks. 17. Name the 4 towns that Lincoln is twinned with. 18. Which LocAle brewery produces Devils Nightmare? 19. What fruit did Nell Gwyn sell in Drury Lane? 20. Which Shakespeare play opens with the line ‘I’ll freeze you, in faith!’ 21. What was Number 1 in the UK charts on the 25th July 1998? 22. What is the name of the fish which is one of the most celebrated but toxic dishes served in Japan? 23. How many gallons are there in a Hogshead? 24. How many years has The Victoria pub in Lincoln been in The Good Beer Guide? 25. What is the common name for the plant Viscum album?
Good Luck! Answers The answers to the May issue are as follows
1. Strait & Narrow 2. Wig & Mitre 3. Fox & Crown 4. Adam & Eve 5. Mill Lodge 6. Varsity 7. Tap & Spile 8. Pelham Bridge 9. Kind Bar 10. Horse & Groom
The winner is Andrew Berry from Welton who wins a beer t-shirt.
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Email: [email protected] Like us on Facebook: Tom Wood Beers Ltd Follow us on Twitter: TomWoodsBeer
Local ingredients Tom Wood’s beer is brewed on the farm that his family have farmed for three generations, using only malted barley that has been grown on the wolds of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, English grown hops from Kent and Worcestershire, water from a bore hole sunk deep into the chalk. Mixed with a whole heap of passion!
Like What You’re Drinking? You can buy Lincoln Gold and Bomber County in bottles on our website or direct from the brewery. Additionally, if you have an event at which you’d love to have our great beer at, we can provide barrels and hand-pumps, and now, bag in box beer, to make your event that bit more special! Contact us via email or through the website for more details. www.tom-wood.com Melton Highwood • Barnetby • North Lincolnshire DN38 6AA IA 8_Layout 1 17/09/2013 12:27 Page 32
BEST BITTER ABV 3.5 This is an easy to drink bitter and has a fresh, dry, hoppy fl avour combined with a fruity aftertaste and heady aroma.
BOMBER COUNTY ABV 4.8 An earthy malt aroma, but with a complex underlaying mix of coffee, hops, caramel and apple fruit. The beer starts bitter and intensifi es, but all its mahogany fl avours stay on until the end.
LINCOLN GOLD ABV 4.0 Pale bitter combining lager and traditional ale malts with English grown Cascade and Pilgrim, to produce a fruity aroma, slightly zesty fl avour but retaining some malt characteristics very moreish.