The Oxford Drinker
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Issue 98 December 2016 - January 2017 FREEFREEFREE please take one the Oxford Drinker The free newsletter of the Oxford and White Horse Branches of CAMRA www.oxford.camra.org.uk www.whitehorsecamra.org.uk December 2016 - January 2017 98 2 the Oxford Drinker 98 December 2016 - January 2017 Contents Welcome Gardener’s World 5 Another year is almost 21 Paul Silcock gives a over publican’s view Brewery Focus 6 An in-depth look at Wychwood in Witney A lesson in pubs The OOxfordxford Drinker is the newsletter 8 Pete looks at Oxford’s of the Oxford and White Horse scholastic pubs branches of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. Tony’s Travels 5000 copies are distributed free of 10 Tony enjoys his visit to charge to pubs across the two Besselsleigh branches’ area, including Oxford, Abingdon, Witney, Faringdon, Hanborough Eynsham, Kidlington, Bampton, 12 Rail Ale Wheatley and Wantage and most of A crawl around the pubs 24 Celebrating 40 years of the villages in between. around Long Hanborough Rail Ale Trips We have recently relaunched our website and pdf downloads are now Pub News available there once again. 14 A round-up of all the latest news locally Editorial team: Editor: Dave Richardson [email protected]@oxford.camra.org.uk Advertising: Tony Goulding [email protected]@oxford.camra.org.uk Tony: 07588 181313 Layout/Design: Matt Bullock Roarsome! Valuable contributions have been 29 Graham Shelton on life at received for this issue from Richard the Red Lion Queralt, Paul Silcock, Dick Bosley, Matt Bullock, Ian Winfield, Dennis Brown, Tony Goulding, Pete Flynn, and Graham Shelton. Real ale Ramble Please send contributions to the 16 Dick Bosley visits South editor at the above email address. Oxfordshire Pub news can be sent to [email protected]@oxford.camra.org.uk White Horse 17 White Horse branch news The views expressed in this and diary publication are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily Brewery News Brewer for a day those of Oxford or White Horse 30 Branches of CAMRA, or of CAMRA 18 New beers and new Pete brews at Loose Limited. breweries Cannon brewery Printed by Ox Uni Print, Kidlington Festival Diary Branch Diary www.oxuniprint.co.uk 20 A selection of autumn 31 What’s on in Oxford © Copyright Oxford CAMRA 2016 festivals to enjoy branch the Oxford Drinker 3 December 2016 - January 2017 98 4 the Oxford Drinker 98 December 2016 - January 2017 Welcome ….. to an end-of- year review marked ‘Satisfactory’ ALL SCHOOLCHILDREN await their found only 10 breweries that we shouldn’t be end-of-year reports with some represented on a visit to city complacent, as the number trepidation, but if I was marking pubs. attending was significantly down Oxford CAMRA’s report I would this year and some beer and declare that we are doing fairly But we should never be cider had to be poured away. well but could always do better. complacent, as some people in We are not overly concerned The local brewing scene is the brewing industry warn that about this as people found it a thriving, and while some pubs there are simply too many nicer environment, especially on continue to struggle we have breweries and that some will the Saturday when more tables lost fewer pubs than in previous disappear, while others will be were put out. But we need to be years, and even welcomed merged into bigger concerns. aware of changes in demand, some newcomers. Real ale would seem to be very and respond to them as well established but the appropriate. We need to be vigilant in trying increasing demand for craft to prevent and opposing pub kegs, especially among younger In this issue you can read about closures, while acknowledging people, indicates that tastes Rail Ale Rambles and focuses that some pubs have reached may be changing. This is why on various pubs around our the end of the road. Both Oxford CAMRA is currently conducting area, plus an in-depth look at CAMRA and the neighbouring a thorough review of its aims Wychwood brewery in Witney. White Horse branch which also and priorities. All our regular columnists are contributes to the Oxford present if not correct, and you Drinker have been pro-active in The 2016 Oxford Beer and will again find Paul Silcock of listing threatened pubs as Cider Festival also indicates the Gardeners Arms in Assets of Community Value, Plantation Road, Oxford and while local communities can do Graham Shelton of the Red the same. All being well, ACV Lion in Northmoor full of listing of the Abingdon Arms in interesting comment. Beckley will lead to its re- opening as a community-owned We are also looking forward to venture. our first gala night in February, an initiative by our chairman, The range of beers produced by Pete Flynn. Your news and our local breweries never views are always welcome in ceases to amaze me, and there the Oxford Drinker, so please are literally hundreds of real email me at ales available in and around [email protected] Oxford at any given time. It’s in stark contrast to 40 years ago Season’s Greetings from all of as the first Rail Ale Ramble us to all of you. visited Oxford (see page 24), when nearly 600 thirsty people DAVE RICHARDSON the Oxford Drinker 5 December 2016 - January 2017 98 P*ss-up* in a Brewery – Wychwood In the second of a WYCHWOOD BREWERY has a such as Banks’s, Jennings and series of in-depth special place in my affections Ringwood. because I attended my first articles on local CAMRA meeting here, and also The Witney Eagle brewery breweries, Dave because of a dreamy album occupies a site first used as a Richardson visits called From the Witchwood by maltings by Clinch’s brewery in the 1970s progressive rock 1841, but Clinch’s closed down Wychwood in Witney band, The Strawbs. I had no in 1961 after take-over by idea there was a real Courage. In 1983 Glenny Wychwood until moving to Brewery started at this site, Oxfordshire, where I found it renamed Wychwood in 1990. was an ancient forest. Refresh UK bought Wychwood in 2002 and that in turn was The brewery may have no link bought by Marston’s in 2009. with The Strawbs, but it has plenty of links with the music The year 2002 was doubly industry. Not only did it produce significant as this was when a beer for rock band Status Quo Brakspear Brewery in Henley- in 2014 – Piledriver – but it also on-Thames – in operation since sponsors local bands and 1711 – closed down. Brakspear markets its Hobgoblin beer Bitter had a huge following in extensively at music festivals. I the county but this wasn’t the was surprised and pleased to end, as production moved to find it at Butlin’s Skegness for Witney in 2004 including the the Great British Folk Festival, original fermenters and “double and Hobgoblin now turns up at drop” fermenting system. Bitter music and comedy festivals – and Oxford Gold are still and also sports grounds – produced under the Brakspear throughout the country. name, with the bitter tasting more like the original than many If you wonder how an beers that have moved away Oxfordshire brewery could have from their birthplace. The such marketing clout, that’s Brakspear Pub Company because Wychwood is part of remains separate. major group Marston’s. This leads some people to think it As a fan of dark ales I always isn’t an independent brewery, appreciate Hobgoblin, but even but I would beg to differ as it if it’s not to your taste you must PHOTO OPPOSITE: Alex Harrison has a great deal of autonomy admit that it’s a highly (left) and Jon Tillson at Wychwood within the Marston’s family successful brand. The brewery which also includes brands hobgoblin himself is instantly 6 the Oxford Drinker 98 December 2016 - January 2017 recognisable on pump clips, key thing to remember is that a ingredients,” says Alex. “Barrel bottles and other marketing, huge majority still want ageing is an interesting and the advertising campaign traditional high-quality beers, development for short runs, but challenging lager drinkers was a but we must respond to other we are also moving into craft great success as he asks, trends. There are lots of lagers with King Star in cans, “What’s the matter, lagerboy, crossover styles in our 2017 and have produced a gluten- afraid you might taste specials list, such as steam free bottled beer called Gratis.” something?” beer fermented at a higher temperature which creates a This year’s Christmas special is I visited the brewery just a few fruity flavour. again Bah Humbug, with a hint days after Hallowe’en, a major of cinnamon, available in cask date in the calendar for “Very hoppy IPAs came over as well as bottles. Although Wychwood when it stages the with the craft beer movement, Marston’s owns few pubs in Grand Lighting of the Pumpkins. and single hop beers also Oxfordshire, Hobgoblin and the More than 700 adults and 400 became very popular. Beer specials are widely available as children attended this year, drinkers are increasingly guest ales, while Brakspear proof of Wychwood’s strong knowledgeable and looking to continues to have a strong community focus. push the boundaries, and as a following. lot drink keg as well as cask, There to meet me were second there is an expectation that Wychwood – which sponsors brewer Jon Tillson and Alex some of these flavours will the Oxford Beer and Cider Harrison, who is marketing come into cask beer too.” Festival – is going from strength brand manager for Hobgoblin to strength.