Chelmsford The Birthplace of Radio, in 1912

Admiral’s Park, Rainsford Road, CM1 2PL

Tuesday 10th - Saturday 14th July

• Over 300 Real Ales • Over 100 Real Ciders & Perries • A wide selection of Belgian Beers • Local Wines • Food served all day

www. beerfestival.org.uk

Chelmsford and Mid-Essex Branch of Issue 002 CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale Summer 2012 2 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 3 Pub News Reports in Pub News are provided by local erage of £4,500 each year for the Charity. CAMRA members, licensees and Thirsty Times The fun starts at midday and goes on out readers. Further news of changes at local pubs side till dark with all the fun of the fair and is very welcome. Please send news to live music (naturally). Then it’s inside for a [email protected]. rockin’ comedy show with around 8 rock Although it may be more accurately de bands and 10 or so comedians. Oh, by scribed as a bar, and it receives a full the way, there’s a mini Beer Festival with writeup elsewhere, this column cannot let 8 real ales. Worth hopping on the 352 bus the opening of a new venue for real ale from Chelmsford or Braintree. and cider pass without a brief comment. The same bus (though no.70 on week Good luck to the Ale House which further days) will take you to the Windmill at enhances the thriving real ale scene in Chatham Green. Hosts Peter & Elaine Chelmsford’s West End. were the first to draw my attention to Fa Congratulations to the St Anne’s Castle thers’ Day on Sunday 17th June. Dads (www.stannescastle.co.uk) which was (and those treating them!) can choose voted Best Venue in the 2012 Panic from a special meat feast menu, 3 roasts Awards, a title they also won in 2008. Well or the specials boards. 2 sittings, booking deserved I’m sure. Dave & Pat host live advised for this. Then, on Friday 29th June, there’s live music from Snakeoil – “a great local band who play great toe tap ping good time country & skiffle”. The mu sic starts at 8.30pm with food served till 9. Regular food “events” here include Home made Pie Night on Wednesdays, and 2 courses for £10 Monday to Thursday lunchtimes. www.windmillmotorinn.co.uk Time to slip in an apology to the Leather Bottle at Blackmore, whose events were music events every week, with these mysteriously credited to the wrong pub in monthly regulars: first Tuesday is Jane’s the last issue. I hope we didn’t mislead too Open Mic, first Friday Modern Jazz Quin many of you. In fact these events have tet “Interplay” with supporting acts, first proved so popular that the Leather Bottle Saturday Rock the Castle with live bands, is having another Folk night on Monday last Sunday The Acoustic Soul Club with 4 18th June and another Jazz night, with the unsigned acousticstyle acts. Hot Mustard Jazz quartet, on Monday 2nd July. www.theleatherbottle.net As if that wasn’t enough the Castle also scooped Best Oneoff Event at those Well done to Kate & Paul at the Green same awards for their Annual Charity Gar Man, whose recent beer and den Party. This year’s will be held on Sun music festival with 12 ales raised over day 26th August with all proceeds going £500 for Breast Cancer Campaign even as usual to Air Ambulance. For the though the weather was rubbish. Hope past 6 years this event has raised an av fully the weather will be better on Satur

4 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! Pub News day 23rd June for their next Charity event Folk Festival a whole weekend of local the annual Green Man Gallon Walk It’s a Essex folk talent playing music and drink 10 mile walk through the Essex country ing real ale. Camping in the meadow will side visiting 8 pubs starting and finishing be available (as it is throughout the sum at The Green Man and collecting stamps mer) and there will also be 2 teams along the way from the other pubs. Those (should that be sides?) of Morris dancers completing the walk will receive fish and for the whole weekend chips for free and there will be live music You might gather that they like a bit of from about 8.30pm. The walk starts at 12 music at the Green Man. There is an open noon and entry is £10 with all proceeds mic night every first Thursday of the this year going to Farleigh Hospice. There month hosted by the Blues band 15 will be a varied selection of cask ales to Watts, and on the third Tuesday of every choose from as all the pubs on the route month there is a Songwriters Night, an are good ale houses. You don’t have to acoustic showcase hosted by Amy West drink a gallon but you must get a stamp ney. More details from Kate or Paul on from each pub to get your free fish and 01245 360203. chips. Two pubs which we reported as closed in Before that, on Friday 8th June, Spring our last issue are open again. The Three field Striders’ 5 mile road race finishes at Horseshoes at Bannister Green is still the pub and there will be a range of ales looking for a buyer but has Greene King on offer for the 250 runners, not to men IPA alternating with a beer from the tion their friends, families and spectators. nearby Felstar brewery. Food is available. And in July, from 20th 22nd, there is a Similarly, the Willows at Cressing is open and offering Greene King IPA & Adnams Bitter plus a guest ale. They hope to add a second guest beer handpump soon, and again food is available. The Cross Keys at White Notley, owned by Greene King, has gone through a pe riod of closure but the rumour is that it may have been sold on to a new owner. Let’s hope this pub which used to be the heartbeat of the village, is rescued. If so, please give it your full support. And the Jack & Jenny at Witham remains closed while Brakspear continue to adver tise for a new tenant. Now to Beer Festivals. The Whitehorse Bar and Lounge in Townfield Street has its summer beer festival from Wednesday 27th June till Sunday 1st July. Local ales

THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 5 Pub News from Crouch Vale, Mighty Oak & Nether for Essex. We wish them well in the next gate will be complemented with beers round of judging – for East Anglian Pub of from Whitstable, Fat Cat, Redemption, the Year. Their big summer festival is scheduled for 17th19th August and has been rebranded as "Hopstock". It is still a charity event with money going to Farleigh Hospice (last year they raised about £4,000). They plan to have over 60 real ales (one from every county in again plus some old favourites), real cider, live music, vintage tractor ploughing, stalls, huffer BBQ and children's entertain

Moorhouse’s, Ilkley, Windsor & Eton, and ciders from Suffolk and the West Country. 16 ales and 5 ciders will be on sale over the weekend, with a barbeque on the Sat urday (weather permitting!). www.whbl.co.uk The Royal Oak in East Street, Braintree holds its 1st Summer Beer Festival from 12th15th July, promising 40 Beers over ment. They are also hoping to have a the 4 days with a Hogroast and Barbeque. "special" real ale from Bishop Nick – Details from Tony on 01376 618033. probably a hoppy American style IPA. The Annual Summer Beer Festival at the www.compasseslittleygreen.co.uk White Hart, Tye is from 19th The Original Plough next to Chelmsford 22nd July. www.whitehartmargaretting Railway Station are offering the new tye.com Nicholson’s Pale Ale alongside their 6 The Oddfellows Arms beer festival runs permanent and ever rotating guest beer from 1st to 5th August. portfolio. The beer is brewed by St Aus www.theoddfellowsarms.com tell’s chief brewer and is a 4% abv classic amber English Pale Ale, with a fruity well Pete & Gill’s 2nd Beer & Cider Festival at balanced aroma of malt and hops. Also the Three Elms, runs keep an eye out for the winner of the from 10th12th August. Expect around 12 Nicholson’s best home brewed beer in the each of ales and ciders plus music, food UK competition which is Paul Carruthers' and fun. www.thethreeelms.com "Frank As Apollo" 4.6%abv Premium Bit More news from the Compasses, Littley ter, brewed at Thornbridge. Green. The Compasses, last editions www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/ cover star, has just won Pub of the Year theploughchelmsford/.

6 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 7 Brewery News Felstar Brewery In other news, look out for Oscar Wilde in bottles, soon to be appearing in off li There is a lot of brewing going on in Fel cences, bars and hotels around Essex sted these days. Between Franco and and London. Bishop Nick the brewery is brewing around 3 times a week. During the sum Bishop Nick Brewery mer Franco anticipates producing a few Bishop Nick has successfully revived the new bottled beers, all bottle conditioned of sacred Ridley’s brewing tradition through course, so look out for these at the brew out Essex with three ery shop. almighty brews being Mighty Oak Brewery imbibed in over 50 pubs from Southend Monthly specials are: to Saffron Walden. June - Snake in the Glass 3.5% A They are now operat golden, refreshing light ale, ing to capacity at Felstar Brewery to meet brewed with top quality East demand. George Cullen has joined the Kent Golding and Pilgrim Bishop Nick team. George, recently re hops that impart a traditional, tired from the Army, is now involved in all grassy floral character and a aspects of the brewing process. Often in hint of lemon. camouflage, he can be heard but not seen. As mentioned elsewhere Bishop July - Aspiration Ale 4.2% A blonde Nick will be setting up their stall next to summer wheat beer, with a Felstar at the Chelmsford Summer Beer pronounced berry fruitiness in Festival with their first ever brewery bar. the aroma, with hints of black Along side Ridley’s Rite, Heresy and currant working well with the 1555, they will be crafting a oneoff cere wheat flavour. monial ale just for the festivities. If you August - Sand Adder 5.0% Brewed with want to be part of Bishop Nick’s history 100% finest Maris Otter pale you need to pay them a visit. malt, and plenty of fruity Joss Ridley regularly has Bishop Nick Apollo and Citra hops make beers on the board at The Compasses, this a pale golden American and don’t forget takehome Pale Ale the Americans would polypins and minipins are available for be proud of. The aftertaste is Christenings, Weddings, Bah Mitzvahs long and bittersweet, with hints of summer and Olympics pool parties! fruit and nectarine. September - Bee’r Constrictor 4.0% Highwood Brewery Honey Beer A rich amber Highwood Brewery looks to be adding a harvesttime thirst quencher new beer to its portfolio. The beer will be a brewed with locally sourced 3.8%abv real ale with oriental ginseng. It honey that doesn't mask a is said to be strawcoloured with a distinc good malt character, and a tive and unique aroma and a taste de crisp hop finish. signed to compliment oriental foods.

8 Seek out LocAles in your local pubs. Support your local breweries. THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 9 Road To Bruges If you are thinking of nipping over the brewers in Belgium, if not the world, and channel this summer from Essex to sam they wanted to share their fantastic brews ple Belgian Beer and you have not visited with locals and visitors alike. for a while or not been there before, you True they feature beers from top local could be in for a pleasant surprise. Most brewers such as Dolle Brouwers, Struise Brits don’t get much further than West Brouwers, and SintBernardus which are Flanders because of the ease of getting all brewed within a few kilometres of the there & back and you can be drinking a café but they also drive out to some of the Bruges Zot on Zand Square in Bruges lesser known breweries to pick up beers with your early lunch. Bruges is the desti you would never usually find in the area. nation of choice for many beer tourists but Their list is everchanging but expect to there are lots of new Cafes, Restaurants see beers from 3 Fonteinen, Tilquin, and Breweries giving a fresh slant on Vapeur, Wolf, De La Senne, De Ranke, 3 Flemish Beer on the way out and on your Fourquets and Valier. Oh! and they just return journey. happen to have a draught Lambic from After crossing the Belgian border, you Girardin too. come almost immediately upon historic In 20 minutes you can be down the road Veurne but rather than drive into the town and in Toogoloog at Middelkerke. Set in a centre for the neat selection of cafes, 1920’s Butchers shop this new venture head for the little village of Steenkerke, a from Karin & Dirk started around three couple of kilometres away.

Kunstemaecker

Here you will find the Kunstemaecker right next to the bridge. Although the café occu pies a building dating back a century or so, the present occupants have been here for just over a year. The food is simple and locally sourced from artisanal produc ers but the star of the show is their beer menu. When asked why they started up their beer café in this little village, Frederik and Marijke explain that this is because they are surrounded by some of the best

10 Contact the editor: [email protected], (01480) 355893 Road To Bruges years ago and has developed into one of the best cafes on the coast. Toogoloog shares a similar beer policy to Kunste maecker in that it only stocks the very best of Belgian Beer with no fillers from the big brewers making up the numbers, likewise they display a great knowledge of the current beer scene. There is a wide selection from new, radical and challeng ing breweries including Alvinne, Struise, Tournay, Plukker, De Ranke, Cazeau, De Bistronoom Scheldebrouwerij plus all the Trappists and a great list of quality Geuzes and Christophe has a complete understanding Krieks. Food is more extensive than at the of what beers work with each course. Kunstemaecker but is of similar high qual All this and you have not even reached ity and simplicity. Highly recommended. Bruges yet. Don’t forget to reward your If you follow the coast road for less than driver with a beer or two once you do and 15 minutes you find yourself at the heart feel free to head for the famous Bruges of Ostend with a view of the marina from Beertje in the city centre. Here you can the window of De Bistronoom. mix with fellow beer tourists and regulars

Daisy at Bruges Beertje De Bistronoom alike choosing from a vast array of beers from their cellar. Although they only opened in 2009 the Say Hello to Daisy from me when you call. restaurant has acquired a reputation that CHEERS! Podge has spread across the world, winning nu merous accolades. Author of “Around Bruges in 80 Beers” and “LambicLand” and organiser of They do not pretend to be a beer café; Chelmsford based “ Podge’s Belgian Beer this is a temple to Bier Cuisine; you will Tours”. find that the matching of beer and food gets no better than this. Stefanie creates some fantastic beer infused dishes while

THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 11 Chelmsford Summer from many Essex breweries. Real Cider and Perry We plan to have over 100 ciders and perries available. Belgian Beer Podge’s popular Belgian Beer Bar will as always offer a wide selec tion of distinctive Belgian beers. Wine For wine lovers we have local Essex wine from Felstar. Food The food selection is very wide and very good ranging from burgers, sau sages, vegetarian dishes, a hog roast, thai food, olives, bratwurst, and pies. Families On Saturday we have our Fam ily Fun Day (until 6pm) with plenty of Opening Times: Tuesday 10th July Saturday 14th July, 12 noon11pm. things for children to do. Location: Admiral’s Park, Rainsford Entertainment There will be live music Road, CM1 2PL. every night at 8pm and on Saturday after noon. How To Get There The festival is only a 10 minutes walk from the town centre. More Details Please contact Derek Beau The No 51 bus passes the site generally mont, [email protected], 01245 every 30 minutes until 7.30pm. 264128. Also visit our web site for updates www.chelmsfordbeerfestival.org.uk. Entrance: FREE to CAMRA members. Non members free until 5.30pm. After 5.30pm, £4 Tuesday to Thursday, £5 Fri Chelmsford — The Birth- day and Saturday. Join CAMRA at the place of Radio in 1912 event and get your entrance fee refunded. Refundable £3 deposit on Festival Glass if Admiral’s Park, returned by 11.15pm. Rainsford Road, CM1 2PL Volunteers The festival is organised and run by members of CAMRA who are all Tue 10th - Sat 14th July unpaid volunteers. We always need more helpers, so if you can help at any session • Over 300 Real Ales please contact Derek Beaumont, • Over 100 Real Ciders & Perries [email protected], 01245 264128. • A wide selection of Belgian Real Ales This year we are planning to have over 300 real ales with strengths Beers • Local Wines • Food from a bit over 3% up to 11% covering all served all day beer types. A LocAle bar will feature beers www.chelmsfordbeerfestival.org.uk

12 Updates to beer festival details - www.chelmsfordcamra.org.uk Beer and Cider Festival Beer & Cider Tastings the Norfolk Broads. This year’s festival features a number of Woodforde’s ales are all made with whole tutored tastings; all take place at 19.30 flower hops and some of the finest malted and last around 90 minutes. barley grown by farmers in Norfolk. The Tuesday 10th July. LocAle beers tasting brewery even has its own bore hole on with Roger Protz.. Real ales from the new site, so uses its own water in the brewing generation of Essex brewers led by one of process. Woodforde’s was founded in the world's leading beer writers and editor 1981 by two members of the Homebrew of the Good Beer Guide. ers Society and was named after the fa mous Norfolkborn Parson Woodforde Wednesday 11th July. British Cider with who had a penchant for good food and Chris Rouse, CAMRA’s Regional Cider real ale. Coordinator. This year at the Festival they will feature Thursday 12th July. World Atlas of Beer the following beers: with Tim Webb. Quality beers chosen from around the world presented by Au Wherry Bitter (ABV 3.8%) thor of LambicLand, Good Beer Guide to Style: Bitter. Fresh and Belgium and the forthcoming World Atlas Zesty with crisp floral fla of Beer. A wide range of International vours. A background of Beers will be available throughout the sweet malt and a hoppy festival from the BelgaFest Bar. ‘grapefruit’ bitter finish char acterises this champion Friday 13th July. Outstanding Essex Bot bitter. tled Beers. Double act, Franco from Fel star Brewery and Nigel Sadler from Wib Nelson’s Revenge (ABV blers take you on a Tour of outstanding 4.5%) Style: Special Bit- Bottled Beers from round the County. ter. Rich and floral aromas, Both Felstar and Wibblers will have sweet Norfolk malts and a Brewery Bars at the Festival. burst of ‘citrus’ hops em body this mouthwatering Tickets priced at £7.50 can be booked in premium beer. advance by mailing Tast [email protected] or Sundew (ABV 4.1%) Style: ringing Kev on 01245 443423. First come, Golden. A subtle golden first served. beer, pale in colour and light on the palate with the Brewery Bars distinctive Woodforde’s As mentioned elsewhere Chelmsford finish. Deliciously golden Summer Beer Festival started running and refreshing. bars in conjunction with the brewers them Admiral’s Reserve (ABV selves when it first went outdoors in 2006. 5%) Style: Strong ale. That year we worked with the award Solid and generous sweet winning Woodforde’s Brewery from Wood fruit flavour create a com bastwick which is nestled in the heart of plex and satisfying dark

THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 13 Chelmsford Summer chestnutcoloured beer. Wonderfully, and part of the main beer marquee was up, dangerously, drinkable. and nothing else. Despite this, on the Sat urday morning at 7.00 am the Stillage Once Bittern (ABV 4.0%) Team started to erect the stillaging and 12 Style: Bitter. hours later the beer team had all the bar A coppercoloured ale with rels in place and most of the cooling was a distinctive aroma of rich also set up. An excellent achievement! spice and citrus fruit. Hints of sweet malt and fruit with During the time at Admiral’s Park we a dry finish. For every pint of Once Bittern started doing cooked breakfast for the sold, a donation is made to the Norfolk volunteers who camped and for the volun Wildlife Trust. teers who turn up early. Although this was started by myself, last year we had three Norfolk Nog (ABV 4.6%) guys cooking the breakfasts using their Style: Old Ale. Smooth, own cooking equipment giving the volun rich and rounded ‘Old Ale’ teers a better breakfast. This allowed the with a velvety texture and volunteers to stay on site instead of them hints of chocolate, treacle having to go into Chelmsford to buy and liquorice. breakfast. Also at the festival we are very proud to At Chelmsford the volunteers are very feature Bars from Bartrams Brewery, friendly and helpful and if you ask them to Bishop Nick, Brentwood Brewery, Felstar help do something there is always some Brewery, Pin Up, Sharp’s Brewery and one who will come forward. All I can say is Wibblers Brewery. Be sure to give them they are excellent. I know because I have all a visit at some time during the festival. been the Staffing Manager for the last four Volunteers Needed years, however this year we have a new Staffing Manager, Sarah Hart and I wish If you have no volunteers you have no her all the best with her new responsibili beer festival. The volunteers do this in ties. Doug Irons (AKA Dog) their own time with some giving up holiday to work at the festival. We have about 200 Brief History of CAMRA Beer volunteers throughout the festival includ Festivals held in Chelmsford ing setup and takedown. The only com At 12 noon on the 10th July 2012, the pensation for all their hard work and time Chelmsford & MidEssex Branch (CME) is free beer (when there is time to drink will open its 34th Summer Beer (Real it!), food, a polo shirt and they can camp if Ales) and Cider Festival in Admiral’s Park, they choose to save the hassle of travel Chelmsford. ling home late at night. Since July 1977 when the branch held its Last year the setup was amazing as we first real ale festival we have now held 33 had bad weather on the Thursday and Summer and 13 Winter Beer Festivals. Friday and yet staff still turned up to help on these days. However, the marquees The first festival was held in the function did not turn up on time with the result that room behind the Lion and Lamb (‘the Ani on the Saturday morning only one small mals’) later to become Dukes.

14 Updates to beer festival details - www.chelmsfordcamra.org.uk Beer and Cider Festival The following year, for one year only, it in that venue. was held at Both festivals continued to gain in popu the Chancellor larity to such an extent that for one year Hall and was the Branch experimented by making the known as the winter beer festival ticket only, which, per CAMRA Essex haps due to a lack of publicity, was not a Beer Exhibi success. We were fortunate that with the tion when 34 summer festival there was ample space beers from 16 for people to stand or sit on the grass out breweries were on sale. In 1979 it re side, and we were even more fortunate turned to the Lion and Lamb for the last that for the latter years when the festival time. was in the sports hall, the weather, espe There was no festival in 1980 when we cially on the Friday night, was good as were unable to find a suitable venue, so there would have been little chance of the next festival was in 1981 in the Stu accommodating all the customers in the dents Union Bar at the Anglia Polytechnic sports hall in the event of a thunderstorm. College (later to become the APU). Again With rumours of the imminent closure of in 1982 there was no festival as we were the APU in the town centre on it being unable to obtain a licence because the relocated to the Bishops Hall Lane area police and a few antagonist landlords ob (the old Hoffman’s factory site), in 2004/5 jected. Fortunately these objections were the branch looked for other suitable ven overcome so that we were able to again ues in Chelmsford town centre. However hold a festival the following year, 1983, as no such venue was considered suit when 55 beers from 26 breweries, but no able, bearing in mind how popular the ciders, were on sale. Since then the festi festival had become, as in the case of val has taken place on an annual basis Peterborough and Cambridge, the Branch and remained at the APU up to and in decide to take a quantum leap and organ cluding 2005. ise an outdoor festival in a marquee within Although some snacks including locally easy proximity of Chelmsford town centre. made real ale sausages were available in In this respect, as it was not being used in the Student Union Bar, it was when we the summer, we were fortunate in manag moved the festival to the larger sports hall ing to hire the football ground adjacent to on the ground floor that the burger and hot Mill, by the Army & Navy dog concession which also sold home roundabout. So in 2006 a dedicated team made curries was introduced. This was of volunteers set about the daunting task accompanied by the now famous Podge’s of planning our first outdoor festival. We pickled eggs and even a cheese stall. were very fortunate in having members It was at that time that cider and foreign who had been closely involved in the or beers were first sold at the festival. It was ganisation, set up and operation of when the Summer Festival outgrew the Chelmsford’s Cathedral Festival as well Students Union Bar in 2000 that the as a number of large scouting events in Branch held its first Winter Beer Festival cluding the European Scout Jamboree in

THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 15 Chelmsford Summer Hyland’s Park and they were more than Cider Press willing to volunteer and organise this as Although pect of the festival. Also as we now had CAMRA is the more space, we could stock beer from Campaign For more breweries and for the first time sold Real Ale it more than 300 different brands of beer. supports the We also had a dedicated cider bar and for promotion of the first time we asked a brewery Real draught (Woodforde’s) if they would like to run a and Real bot bar at the festival as well as a local vine tled cider, perry and pyder. For the uniniti yard (Felstar) for the sale of some locally ated that means that it’s fermented from produced wines. nonpasteurised juice: apple for cider; However, our biggest success, apart from pear for perry and pyder uses juice from getting the festival up and running, was apples and pears. They are made in the the idea of the family fun day on the Sat traditional way and are neither carbonated urday afternoon, when we had a bouncy nor pasteurised. castle, an inflatable slide, face painting As part of my role as Cider Representa and an ice cream van for the children. We tive for the Chelmsford and MidEssex were also extremely fortunate that that branch of CAMRA I have increased the year the sun shone for the entire festival profile for Cider supported by the Social and it was a delight to see whole groups Secretary, Brian Debenham, who organ of families having picnics and enjoying the ises trips to include pubs which sell real wide selection of beverages on offer whilst cider in addition to cider producers and their children ate ice creams or drank the breweries. More details to come in subse free soft drinks. Although it was very hard quent editions of Thirsty Times. work for the volunteers with long hours, the festival was a resounding success, Ian Reynolds, my fellow Cider Bar Man and as a result of this all our subsequent ager, and I research new stock for the summer festivals have been outdoor Cider Bar throughout the year and en events in a marquee. deavour to make it interesting for connois seurs and novices alike. We plan to have As a result of the possible redevelopment the winners of the CAMRA National Cider of the area surrounding the Army & Navy, and because we felt the festival could again run out of space, after unsuccessful negotiations with the local authority to relocate the festival to Central Park in Chelmsford, in 2008 we relocated to its present location in Admiral’s Park. With the gift of hindsight we now feel this is a better location than would have been the case had the festival been held in Central Park.

16 Visit www.chelmsfordcamra.org.uk for up to date details of socials Beer and Cider Festival and Perry Championships subject to avail as the Dry, Medium and Sweet Little Red ability over the course of the festival. Ci Rooster range of pyders (all 8.4%) there der: Gold Cornish Orchards, Farm will be several new ones including Lilleys house Medium 4.8% (Cornwall); Silver Crazy Goat Medium Sweet 6.8% and Pig Perry Brothers, Sweet Vintage 6% swill Medium Dry 7.5%. (Somerset) and Bronze Burrow Hill, Me The provisional Cider Bar list will be on dium 6 % (Somerset).Perry: Gold Gwat the website however additions and substi kin, Blakeney Red Medium 7.5% tutions are likely depending on availability. (Herefordshire); Silver Butford Organics, Medium 5.2% (Herefordshire) and Bronze Having used cooling for the first time at Minchew, Stinking Bishop Medium 7.5% dispense last year we have had special (Gloucestershire). stainless steel probes made which can be used for barrels as well as the bag in box For Connoisseurs we also plan to have products. This worked well at the festival more made from a single variety of apple in February at the Triangle Club and or pear. This includes Chisel Jersey Cider should make the appreciation of the de made by Millwhites in Hertfordshire which lights of the Cider Bar at the Chelmsford we sampled on our Branch trip to Mill Summer Beer and Cider Festival 2012 whites near Hemel Hempstead where we even better so please come and indulge!! were the first CAMRA branch to visit them on Saturday 14th April 2012. There will be Claire Irons more Pyder and an extended range of perries as well as ciders which will feature at Chelmsford for the first time. Continuing St. Annes Castle with the Eastern Region focus having championed Essex Ciders last year, East Annual Charity Garden Party Norfolk Trading Company have four ciders which have not been for sale in Chelms August Bank Holiday Sunday ford before including Oak Aged in aid of the Essex Air Ambulance 7.3%,Discovery Cider 7.3% and the sweet Norfolk Hawker 6.5% and Norfolk Hay Live music all day from midday maker 6.5%. From the newest cidery in Essex started in 2011 will be Sir Carter’s Lots of fun & games for the Scrumpy Medium 6% made from dessert kids and adults apples from an orchard in Stock. You can’t get much more Local than that! Mini beer festival With well over 100 different ciders, perries and pyders from Wales and all over Eng BBQ, bouncy castle, coconut land across the whole spectrum from shy, cake stall, bric-a-brac Sweet to Dry there will plenty for all tastes and palates to enjoy with votes for Cider Main Road, , CM3 1NE of the Festival, Perry of the Festival and www.stannescastle.co.uk Pyder of the Festival welcomed. As well 012 4536 1253

THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 17 Spotlight on Grays This is the first in a series of articles fea nounced and still be on the platform in turing Grays pubs in our area. time (well, almost). The Railway Tavern, Chelms- The Railway Tavern was always a favour ford ite in the branch, appearing in the first Good Beer Guide in 1974 but when John F a c i n g and Joy Green arrived in 2010 they Chelmsford quickly moved station in the pub on to Duke Street a higher level. stands the Back into the Railway Tav current GBG ern. Your first and scooping impression the branch’s may be of a small pub but looks can be Most Im deceiving. In summer it wears a splash of proved Pub award in 2011. colour provided by hanging baskets to the front and side, but the beerdrinker’s eye John was in New Zealand when the Rail will be drawn to the blackboard listing way became available and had a tele today’s 7 real ales. Indeed the blackboard phone interview. Not that he was unknown sometimes proudly proclaims “Permanent to Grays having previously run the Swan Beer Festival” at Maldon. Step inside, as early as 10.00 on a week The whole interior has now been refur day, and it’s bished with not hard to new uphol imagine your stery, shiny self in a rail wood panel way carriage. ling, etched You enter an windows and area of small Tiffany lamp alcoves with shades catch benches, chairs and tables leading to a ing the eye. bar which bulges out in the style of a buf There are 8 handpumps, all in use, with fet car although this one has room for Mighty Oak IPA (at £2.60 a pint), Sharp’s stools on which to sit and drink. Continue Doom Bar & Greene King Abbot the per past the bar to several bench seats with manent ales. Expect to find 4 guests tables between. Only the luggage racks drawn from local breweries or the monthly are missing from this replica of a passen Grays list. ger carriage. At its end are the toilets, of course, but beyond them you step out of There are 2 draught ciders with the the “train” into the unexpected pleasure of slightly unusual Addlestone’s Cloudy on an enclosed garden. Here, when the handpump. Note also the genuine Ger weather is kind, you can relax with a drink man Pils on draught – Meister Pils from until the very moment your train is an Schwaben Brau of Stuttgart.

18 To advertise in this newsletter contact Neil on 01536 358670 Spotlight on Grays Homemade in the bar shows the pub in 1919 with A W meals are WOOLARD emblazoned across the front. served at Arthur ran the lunchtime only place until his and range death in 1939, from a full then his English break widow Ann fast to daily until 1953 when their son Leslie took over. specials including salads and a children’s Some of our readers will remember Les menu. Interestingly these appear, as if by because he was behind the bar until 1997! magic, from a “dumb waiter” behind the 78 years in the same family. Even for a bar. Grays pub, whose tenants tend to stick around, that’s a remarkable record. The Railway opened in the 1860s. In 1870 Thomas Lawrence became the landlord Back to today. The Railway is a traditional and ran the pub until his death in 1908, pub, it is a wellkept pub, and it is a wel when his widow Maria took over for a fur coming pub with friendly and knowledge ther 11 years. So nearly 40 years in the able staff. Anyone arriving early for the same family, but this record was to be Summer Beer Festival, or still thirsty after broken by the Woolards who arrived in the walk back, should definitely call in. If 1919. A Francis Frith photograph hanging you live in Chelmsford, go now!

RAILWAY TAVERN

John & Joy welcome all old and new customers. Fine selection of well kept ever changing real ales. Home cooked food served 10.00am – 2.30pm. Secluded beer garden. Duke Street, Chelmsford CM1 1LW

THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 19 Where are they now? In 1974, the Campaign for Real Ale Was selling Greene King IPA and Abbot (CAMRA) published the first proper Good on gravity. Beer Guide (GBG) highlighting where Now still selling Greene King IPA but now good beer could be drunk across the has Doom Bar and three guests from country. Unfortunately, I do not possess a Gray’s list too. copy of that guide as they are very rare indeed, however I have the GBG from the , White Horse. following year and thought it may be inter Was selling Charrington Crown and IPA esting to see what has happened to the on handpump. ‘A 500 year old pub with a local pub and beer scene since then. In billiards room’. the 1975 guide, the following pubs from Chelmsford and MidEssex area were Now have Greene King IPA, Fuller’s Lon identified. don Pride, Adnams Broadside and two more beers chosen from the excellent Chelmsford, Oddfellows. Ember Inn’s ‘Ember Cask Club’ guest list. Was selling Greene King IPA and Abbot on gravity and described as ‘A down to , Walnut Tree, Broads earth pub’. Green. Was selling Ridley’s Bitter on gravity. Now serving a range of quality beers from ‘Victorian village pub’. all over the country by Now still selling beer on gravity however handpump now all their picked from beers are from the excellent Greene King Gray’s guest including IPA, list. You can Morland Bitter, always find Ruddles Best five beers including; Mighty Oak Maldon and a guest. A Gold; Sharp’s Doom Bar, an Adnams beer regular in the of some sort, a changing IPA plus a fifth GBG and again in the 2012 edition. beer from the Gray’s list available to their tenants. The pub has recently been com Hatfield Peverel, Cross Keys, pletely refurbished and is in the current Was selling Greene King IPA on gravity. GBG. ‘A 19th century local’. Felsted, Yew Tree. Now still selling Greene King IPA but now Was selling Ridley’s Bitter and Mild on with one or two guests picked from Gray’s electric pump. ‘A clean and pleasant pub list. with a club room’. Springfield, Tulip. Now delicenced and converted into a Was selling Greene King IPA and Abbot house in 1997. on gravity. ‘A popular pub’. , Horse and Groom. Now Adnams Southwold Bitter, Red Fox

20 Read Thirsty Times online: www.chelmsfordcamra.org.uk Where are they now? IPA, Sharp’s Doom Bar and Wibblers Ap Now selling Greene King IPA from a sin prentice all on handpump. gle handpump Stisted, Dolphin, on A120. , Wheatsheaf. Was selling Ridley’s Bitter and Mild on Was selling Greene King IPA and Abbot gravity. ‘An old pub with a busy lunchtime on gravity. trade’. Now selling Adnams Southwold Bitter, Now the Greene King beers, IPA, Morland Farmer’s Ales Original and Ruddles Best still served on Drop of Nelson’s gravity from behind the bar. Blood, Wibblers Apprentice, White Notley, Cross Keys. Sharp’s Doom Was selling Ridley’s Bitter on handpump. Bar, Mighty Oak ‘200 years old’. Oscar Wilde and Maldon Gold Now see Pub News page 5. plus two ever Witham, Victoria. changing guest beers. Still a regular in the GBG and voted Essex Pub of the year in Was selling Ridley’s Bitter and Mild on 2009. gravity. ‘Modernised interior; clean and comfortable’. CHEERS! Podge THE ROYAL OAK THE THREE ELMS 2012 First Summer Beer Festival Thu 12th—Sun 15th July 40 Beers over 4 days Ales from £2.30 a pint

Squealers Hog Roast Summer Ale & Cider Festival Royal Oak BBQ 10-12 August 2012 20+ Ales 20+ Ciders Starts Thu 5pm, Fri - Sun 12 noon Food & Music East Street, Braintree, CM7 3JJ Chignal St. James, CM1 4TZ www.royaloakbraintree.co.uk 01245 443151 01376 618033 www.the-three-elms.com

THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 21 Real Cider – Pubs Saviour?! CAMRA at its recent AGM in Torquay pearance of some major “craft” style beers debated at some length the issue of defi inspired from the US – has seen a selec nitions of the contents of real cider and tion available to the public like at no other indeed the terminology and acceptance of time over the past 50 years or more. real and craft ales. The outcomes were For many reasons real cider has been a not wholly conclusive nor would many say poor cousin to this growth and has failed representative of the mass of ordinary to make the sort of penetration into pubs CAMRA members or regular pub goers. that we have seen with real ale – although However they are a reflection that times the last 3 years has seen doubling or treb do not stand still and that we must always ling of cider volumes shown and drunk at be mindful of the adage that tradition can beer festivals. It is estimated that less only be appreciated if it has a place to than single digit percentage of pubs in this exist in our modern world. country actually serve a draft real cider. On that philosophical note, it leads me This is in direct contrast to the massive into the topic that underpins all the current increase in sales over the past 5 years of discussions namely that if we don’t have industrial bottled and keg ‘cider’ under good thriving pubs and retail establish pinned by the multimillion advertising ments then we will not have outlets for the campaigns. When a well stored real cider 1000’s of cider producers and breweries can last at least a month in baginbox in our country alone. It is fair to say that with minimal or no waste (in sharp con with the growth of SIBA (with its training trast to the 35 day for cask real ale once and distribution system support in particu opened) why do we have such low repre lar) and the introduction of graded beer sentation? duties the last 15 years have been a boon The reasons are complex but, as a mod for microbreweries. This together with an ern artisan real cider producer I will put open ability to produce unusual flavours, forward my scenario for readers to de diversity of production and new ingredi bateyou be the judge! As mentioned ents and recipes – not to mention the ap tradition plays a big part in cider but does create an an chor to progress. The image of us all travelling with jug in hand to a rural Cidery to col lect and be surprised by this years taste (and strength!) works for some but isn’t prac tical or desirable for 99% of us. Pubs and festivals who come and collect from us are welcomed with open arms but that doesn’t provide a sustainable, regular or practi cal logistical supply route on Simon Reed, Rough Old Wife Cider both sides. The polypin

22 To advertise in this newsletter contact Neil on 01536 358670 Real Cider – Pubs Saviour?! ‘traditional’ plastic barrel requires return have taken certain steps to act together to and pick up or an honour circulation sys help with both common distribution, cam tem, very limited in its appeal particularly paigning and marketing direct to pubs and for attracting new pubs, not to mention the establishments – perhaps it is time for us ingress of air to the barrel over time and in Kent (the home of the apple) to follow the prospect of ‘slow death’ or gradual suit – I for one am standing up for this. vinegarisation of the fresh product. Also to accept that we have to make our CAMRA’s internal committee are de products fit to the pub and its way of work lighted to suggest production processes ing rather than the other way round. We and campaign for the yearly October cider have to show them the advantages of promotion (which by the way should be in some fantastic local ciders not only in June when we all have cider and have the taste but the commercial aspects and greatest variety rather than in October provide consistent delivery, quality and when we are also at the busiest picking taste – we can be a saviour in difficult and pressing time!) but they do little to times! champion new delivery and storage meth © Simon Reed, Rough Old Wife Cider. ods (such as nonreturnable baginbox Email: [email protected] connection to existing potentially unused draft pumps). This article first appeared in Kent CAMRA Magazine ‘Channel Draft’. The Welsh Cider makers (as an example)

25 Townfield Street Chelmsford CM1 1QJ

8 Real Ales at all times Summer Beer Festival Including Mighty Oak, Crouch Wednesday 27th June until Vale, Nethergate and guest ales Sunday 1st July Thursday Quiz Nights 16 ales and 5 ciders on sale over Monthly soul, ska and reggae, and the weekend comedy nights Local ales from Crouch Vale, Sky sports, ESPN, Racing UK, At Mighty Oak, and Nethergate, as The Races, all Euro games and well as Whitstable, Fat Cat, Re- Olympics demption, Moorhouse, Ilkley, Win- dsor and Eton. Open Sun-Wed 11am-11pm, Thu-Sat 11am-midnight. Ciders from Suffolk and the West Food 11am-10pm Country t: 01245 269556 e: [email protected] w: www.whbl.co.uk

THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 23 Has CAMRA stunted In September 2009, UK beer writer Tim There had been consumerism in food and Webb, whose World Atlas of Beer (written drink before CAMRA. Cookery writer with Canadian beer writer Stephen Beau Elizabeth David had urged British house mont) will appear at the end of August, holds to improve mealtimes and political penned his 7th monthly column for the activist Raymond Postgate had chal American beer magazine Beer Advocate lenged restaurants to do likewise, creating (www.beeradvocate.com). Attendees at the pugnacious Good Food Guide in the 2011 CAMRA AGM applauded loudly 1951. as its message was condemned, though But CAMRA was a singleissue campaign. only a handful of people in the audience Its simple message was, “Old beer good – had ever read it. new beer bad”. For the first time in the UK, we are pub In this context ‘old’ meant caskfermented lishing the offending item, by kind permis ales served with no added CO2, served sion of its entirely unrepentant author. You usually straight from the barrel or hand decide. pulled to the bar counter. Such ales be Has CAMRA stunted the growth of British came ‘real’, while the rest acquired less Beer? wholesome names, including ‘foreign’. One of the regulars at my favourite local This began a patchwork global uprising pub shies away from the Pale Ale be that saw Charlie Papazian and others cause it is too strong. This bear of a man homebrew great beer back into the US is frightened by the prospect of drinking a mainstream and spawned a dozen na soft, faintly hopped ‘real ale’ because it tional beer consumer groups across contains 4.5% alcohol. Europe. The global brewpub and micro brewery revolution had begun. We British are an island people. We may know more of the world beyond our But then the awkward question. Has shores than our Americans counterparts CAMRA fallen victim to the law of unin but then we live in a smaller place. Like tended consequences? By deifying a lim goldfish in a bowl, we have little sense of ited range of virtually unexportable ale proportion. We know what we like and styles, did CAMRA fossilise British beer don’t like and we don’t like change. culture in a spoof version of the 1950s? The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) was What stops us admitting this is so? Senti a singularly British idea, dreamt up in mentality? 1971 by four young journalists holidaying Everyone should waste a substantial part in Ireland. Fantasizing as young men do of their youth on a hopeless cause. Mine about making the world a better place, was beer. Though we did kind of win. they decided to start with beer. Or maybe it is because the proposition is The ‘60s had seen mass movements to only half true. counter war, poverty, famine and injustice. The ‘70s would be about changing the day CAMRA’s double standard of tolerating today. Dull 1970s beer was about to be abhorrent grain and hop substitutions squeezed back to the future. while maintaining an autistic stance on

24 Read Thirsty Times online: www.chelmsfordcamra.org.uk the growth of British Beer? fermentation offends all logic. give its occasional spats of xenophobic myopia? Maybe. I get deeply embarrassed when the Great British Beer Festival refuses to use CO2 Recent surveys report a massive increase on any beer because it might offend cam in the proportion of British drinkers who paigners, regardless of whether the beer have given ‘real ale’ a try – 38 years after is designed to be recarbonated. it was first suggested. Over half now take the plunge. With the alternatives reduced The failure to challenge the narrow British to a shallow range of piss poor grain so obsession with beers drunk in measures das, who knows, uncarbonated draft may of 20 fl. oz. Imperial is galling too. yet become the UK’s favourite style. On the other hand find any quality website Maybe a bunch of young British journalists about beer and CAMRAinspired Brits will holidaying in Belgium, Gemany or the US be there, enthusing away. And even the could start a group to campaign for more smallest CAMRArun festival nowadays foreign influence on UK craft brewing? sells ‘foreign beers’. What a splendid idea. I might even join. The last three decades have seen con sumers generally kicking against the stan Tim Webb will be giving a tutored beer dardisation of food and drink by global tasting of a range of International Beers corporations. CAMRA started beer’s con on Thursday 12th July at Chelmsford tribution to that, so maybe we should for Summer Beer and Cider Festival.

THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 25 Going Dutch at the Olympics Going Dutch at Olympics: Heineken has At such key Olympics events as Green sole rights and Cardiff is a no Brainer. By wich Park in London and Weymouth in Roger Protz Dorset, the Heineken portfolio will again be the sole lager, bitter and cider on sale The 2012 Olympics, a showcase for Lon at bars. Meantime Brewery in Greenwich don and the rest of Britain, will be domi said it would be unaffected as it currently nated by one beer brand – Heineken lager has no bars in the park. Pubs in Wey brewed in the Netherlands. Heineken’s mouth will be free to sell such local beers domination extends beyond the Olympic as Ringwood and Dorset. Stadium in Stratford, east London, to all the venues for the games, including A spokesman for the London 2012 Organ Lord’s, the home of English cricket. ising Committee, said: “Getting sponsor ship for the games is a tough job and ex Heineken has “sole pouring rights” at clusive rights have to be offered.” Olympic events. The London 2012 Organ ising Committee has three tiers of spon He added that sponsors’ rights had to be sorship deals for the games. The commit protected. The name “Olympics” cannot tee won’t reveal the sums of money in be used by other companies or organisa volved but it’s understood that Heineken is tions and he said that if pubs or the Cam a “tier three” sponsor, costing the Dutch paign for Real Ale attempted to stage firm £10m. “Olympic beer festivals” they would be prevented from using the name. The package gives Heineken the rights to also sell two other brands in its portfolio, One major British brewer of cask beer – John Smith’s Smoothflow and Strongbow who did not wish to be named – said it cider – but neither of the brands can be was disappointing that homegrown real named. John Smith’s will be labelled ale would not be available at Olympics “British Bitter” and Strongbow will be events but the cost of sponsorship was called “Cider”. prohibitive. At Lord’s where Marston’s has the beer A spokesman for Heineken, which owns concession to sell Pedigree Bitter and is the former Scottish & Newcastle brewer the official sponsor of the England cricket ies and brands, said the arrangement with team, handpumps will be removed while the Organising Committee meant that the the archery competition takes place during only brand name that could be used was the Olympics. Portraits of cricketer Mat Heineken. thew Hoggard, Marston’s “beer ambassa “But we wanted to offer something else dor”, will be covered up. from the portfolio, which is why John Visitors to the worldfamous cricket Smith’s – Britain’s biggestselling keg beer ground, with its long tradition of ale drink by far – and Strongbow will be available,” ing, will be offered Dutch lager and anony he added. But there will be no point of mous keg bitter and cider. But cask Pedi sale material allowed for the bitter or ci gree will be available in the Lord’s Tavern, der. the bar and restaurant complex alongside The Heineken spokesman pointed out that the main entrance to the ground. many venues are not suitable for cask

26 To advertise in this newsletter contact Neil on 01536 358670 Going Dutch at the Olympics beer as they are either temporary bars or dium while the women's Olympics football lack the necessary cellar facilities. tournament is staged there. Brains spon sors the Wales Rugby team, the Football Mike Benner, chief executive of the Cam Association of Wales and Glamorgan paign for Real Ale, said: “Britain’s brewing County Cricket Club but it will have to bow industry is revered the world over, not out in favour of Heineken at the Millen least at a time when there are now more nium Stadium. An "exclusion zone" will small breweries in operation than at any operate around the stadium, which will time since World War Two. effectively cover most of the city centre “As a grand spectacle showcasing every and neither Brains nor pubs will be permit thing that is great about Great Britain, it is ted to promote beer with banners or pave hugely disappointing that attendees inside ment signs. Brains beer, however, will still Olympic venues won’t have access to a be available at Glamorgan cricket ground range of British real ale. Such a move in Sophia Gardens as the ground which represents a major missed opportunity to now enjoys Test Match status is outside show off one of Britain’s historic indus the exclusion zone. tries.” Other great insights into beer culture and But CAMRA’s annual Great British Beer brewing from Roger can be seen at prot Festival will go ahead as usual during the zonbeer.co.uk/ or by coming to see him first week in August – but as the regular lead a Beer Tasting of LocAle beer at venue, Earl’s Court, will be used for the Chelmsford Beer Festival on Tuesday Olympics, the beer festival will move a 10th July. short distance this year to...London Olym pia. The Pub is the Hub, the organisation set up by the Prince of Wales to support and save the British pub, is working with Tour ism South East to promote pubs close to London during the Olympics. The two bodies have set up a special website: www.greatcountrypubs.com. During the Olympics, Alexandra Palace in North London will be coloured orange and will be run by the Dutch Olympics Com mittee as "Holland Heineken House" for the Dutch team and guests, with Heineken on tap. A spokesman for the committee said the house the first home of BBC Television would "celebrate Dutch achievements and culture". Brains Brewery in Cardiff will have to re move its beer from the Millennium Sta

THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 27 Branch Diary Tuesday 12th June Real Ale Runabout to Crouch Bus departs opposite Railway Newney Green, Fyfield & Aythorpe Station at 7.30pm, fare £9 members/ Roding Bus departs opp. Railway Stn at OAPS, £10 nonmembers. 7.30pm, fare £9 members/OAPS, £10 non Wednesday 15th August Branch members. Meeting at The Woolpack, Chelmsford. Thursday 21st June Visit to Colchester No bus to this meeting which starts at Brewery, Wakes Colne. A visit to this new 8.30pm. brewery founded by Tom Knox & Roger Saturday 18th August Rail Trip to Clark, exNethergate Brewery. The visit Brighton A visit to this great drinking town. will cost £10 including beer and a Meet at Chelmsford Railway Station at barbeque. Bus departs opp. Railway Stn 9.25am to arrange Groupsave tickets at 7.30pm, fare £9 members, £10 non we'll get the 09.40 departure and arrive in members. We can travel to Wakes Colne Brighton at 11.55. via the A130/Braintree if any members on that route wish to come. Contact Brian Saturday 1st September (provisional) Debenham to arrange pickup details. Trip to Faversham Hop Festival We're considering a trip to this big annual event Wednesday 27th June Branch Meeting please let me know if you would be at The Chequers, . Bus fare £5 interested in going. The fare would members, £6 nonmembers. Depart from probably be £22 members, £24 non opposite Railway Station at around 8pm. members, with a departure around 10am. To reduce bus subsidies we will travel to this meeting by taxibus - please Tuesday 4th September Real Ale arrive opposite the station by 7.50pm Runabout to Chappel Beer Festival Bus so that we can phone for enough seats departs opposite Railway Station at to cover us. There will therefore be no 7.30pm, fare £9 members/OAPS, £10 non drop off circuit. members. Tuesday 3rd July Real Ale Runabout to An up to date listing of social events can Kent Romney Street, Wrotham & Ryarsh be found on the web site: Bus departs opp. Railway Stn at 7.30pm, www.chelmsfordcamra.org.uk, or contact fare £9 members/OAPS, £10 non the Social Secretary, Brian Debenham, members. [email protected]. Tuesday 10th-Saturday 14th July Chelmsford Summer Beer and Cider Festival 2012, Admirals Park. See page 12 for more details. Wednesday 18th July Branch Meeting at The Wagon & Horses, Braintree Bus fare £5 members, £6 nonmembers. Depart from opposite Railway Station at 8pm. Tuesday 31st July Real Ale Runabout to Hazeleigh, Southminster & Burnhamon

28 Get updates to our branch diary online: www.chelmsfordcamra.org.uk THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 29 Branch Contacts Thirsty Times Chairman & Essex Brewery News Thirsty Times is published by the Chelms Chris 'Podge' Pollard, ford and MidEssex Branch of CAMRA, [email protected], the Campaign for Real Ale (© 2012) All 01245 354677 rights reserved. Views or comments expressed in this Social Secretary publication may not necessarily be those Brian Debenham, of the Editor or of CAMRA. [email protected], Editor To contribute news or articles con 01245 600294 / 07905 698161 tact Andy Shaw , 01480 355893 (h), 07802 485449 (m), or Chelmsford & Mid-Essex Pub [email protected]. News , Bryan Grimshaw, To Advertise To place an advert or enquire about our rates please contact: [email protected] Neil Richards , 01536 358670 or Chelmsford CAMRA Beer Festival , [email protected] Derek Beaumont, Printed by Portland Print, Tel 01536 511 555 [email protected], Deadline for Autumn 2012 issue (003) 01245 264128 is Thursday 22nd August 2012.

30 To advertise in this newsletter contact Neil on 01536 358670 THIRSTY TIMES 002 SUMMER 2012 31