FREE PLEASE TAKE ONE THE MAGAZINE OF WEST BERKSHIRE CAMRA WINTER 2015/16 Cider at the Catherine Wheel g n i l r i G y n o T : o t o h P The Catherine Wheel, Newbury is West Berkshire CAMRA’s 2015 Cider Pub of the Year. Jeff Evans hosted a beer tasting event at Inn at Home, Newbury, on 6 November Warwick Heskins took over the refurbished variety of draught and bottled ciders, the pub was to launch his latest CAMRA book Catherine Wheel in June 2014. He was keen to at the core of Newbury’s cider scene! stock a variety of local beers and ciders and paid After the presentation, customers enjoyed ‘So you want to be a Beer Expert?’. The event saw Jeff give guests a flavour of what Enterprise Inns a premium for access to bottled sandwiches filled with gammon that Warwick had the book is about, leading them through a tasting drinks from any source. The pub’s draught cider cooked earlier, using Tutts Clump Jazz cider to of five beers, representing five different styles – range is influenced by his dislike of ‘mainstream add extra flavour. Paulaner Original Münchener Hell, Cheddar fizzy pretend cider’. Draught ciders at the Catherine Wheel are Goat’s Leap, Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier, On 20 October, Tim Thomas presented the usually supplied from Herefordshire by Westons and Orval and a Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout – branch Cider Pub of the Year award to Warwick from Somerset by Thatchers and Orchard Pig. For a exploring how each beer was made and how the and Pauline at the Catherine Wheel. Cider Week, starting the previous day, Warwick ingredients and processes determined the colour, Local cidermakers who supply bottled ciders obtained additional draught ciders by Tutts Clump aroma and flavour of the beer in the glass. to the pub, Tim Wale (Tutts Clump), Nick (Jazz), Ciderniks (Ten Years After), Salt Hill Cider If you missed this event, these beers and Jeff’s Edwards (Ciderniks) and Rick Wyatt (Wyatt’s (Autumn Gold) and Aspall (Cyderkyn). book – which is packed with information, tips, Craft Cider), on the right of the photo, brought Other pubs in West Berkshire stocking a range advice and ideas for experiments to try and places cider samples along for a tasting session. of draught real ciders include: Five Bells, Wickham to visit – are available at Inn at Home. Andy Pinkard (left) said it was good to see (2014 Cider Pub of the Year); Bell Inn, Aldworth; a discount on real ale and cider for CAMRA John O’Gaunt, Hungerford; Hatchet Inn, Newbury Answer questions below to win a copy of ‘So members. Rod Holmes (rear) said that with its big and Cow & Cask micropub, Newbury. you want to be a Beer Expert?’ by Jeff Evans. ON OTHER PAGES 1) In which country do the hop varieties Cascade, Centennial and Columbus originate? Swift Halves - Pub and brewery news 2 Swift Halves, Good Beer Guide launch 3 2) Thwaites Nutty Black, Brains Dark and More Swift Halves, LocAle 4 Moorhouse’s Black Cat are three examples of West Berkshire Brewery, Gig Guide 5 which beer style? Betteridge's Brewery 6 3) In which country was the first golden lager Longdog Brewery, Inn at Home 7 produced, in 1842? Cider making in West Berkshire 8 Email [email protected] subject Oxford Pubs, 100 micropubs 9 ‘Beer Expert’ with correct answers by 15 Jan CAMRA Membership, Beer scoring 10 2016 to enter prize draw. Branch officials are Hampshire Downs Hike, Curmudgeon 11 excluded. Results in Spring Ullage. Diary Dates, CAMRA Contacts 12 Tutts Clump Cider Open Day Ullage December 2015 - February 2016 1 Swift Halves See back page advertisement for ■ Wild Weather Ales is open for Christmas beer the brewery shop’s sales at Easter Park, near Tadley, from Monday to extended Saturday. See advertisement on page 10 for more Christmas opening details and 5% beer discount coupon. times. The board games (bring your own) and live Read about the acoustic music evening at the West Berkshire brewery on Friday 11 Brewery AGM, December (6-10pm) is a free Oktoberwest stopped as he cannot obtain further Citra hops event with cask and keg beers bierfest and recent from the USA due to stock shortages. on sale. membership of the Worshipful Company of Three pubs in Wantage stock Indiginous beers. In Recent beers have included Brewers on page 5. www.wbbrew.com Newbury, the Cow & Cask micropub and Inn at collaborations with Welsh Home are futher outlets. breweries: Waen (Message in a Richard Marshall, Hermitage Brewery , reports Kevin mentioned that he is expecting his local ■ Potel 7.5% ABV Stout and that Lodestone mild went very well at the 22nd pub, the Ibex, Chaddleworth, to reopen by Mousse Warning 6.5% ABV Egham Beer Festival, hosted with the Christmas 2016. www.indigenousbrewery.co.uk DIPA ) and Hopcraft (Sunday assistance of North Surrey League Relegation Playoffs CAMRA at Egham United 5.5% ABV Red IPA). West Berkshire CAMRA invites supporters to Services Club. The latest beer our Christmas Party in the Bacon Arms from Hermitage Brewery is (Highwayman’s Bar) on Wednesday 16 Frostbite, a 3.8% ABV pale ale with December (7.30pm). plenty of hop flavour, for supply to the Cow & The branch has ordered a buffet. There Cask micropub. Hermitage Brewery bottled beers will be a raffle for Campaign funds with are available from Inn at Home. plenty of prizes to be won. The highlight of www.hermitagebrewery.co.uk the evening will be a fun, general knowledge quiz hosted by Jeff Evans. The main quiz is ■ Ramsbury Brewery With artwork supplied by Jme Holmes from free to enter with additional spot prize have released Red Newbury, this will be the first Wild Weather beer rounds (£1) for bottled beer prizes. Velvet 4.6% ABV, a in 330ml cans. A collaborative beer with Uprising smooth rich red Brewery of Windsor is planned for January. West Berkshire CAMRA thanks contributors, winter ale laced with www.wildweatherales.com distributors, advertisers, publicans and American hops. readers for their support of Ullage during Christmas Cracker, ■ Richard Scullion led a visit by CAMRA 2015 and wishes you - Merry Christmas 4.1% ABV is described members to Indigenous Brewery , Chaddleworth, and a Happy Hoppy New Year! as light and hoppy on Saturday 21 November (photo page 6). with a refreshing taste. Kevin Brady, who started brewing in 2012, Other seasonal ales to showed visitors around the 2.5 barrel capacity ■ Yule Fuel is the West Berkshire Brewery look out for are: brewery. He provided samples of Old Cadger Christmas special beer, available in bottle (5% Festive 4.7% ABV, a (Best bitter), Nutcracker (Brown ale), Frisky Mare ABV) and on draught (4.3% ABV). Yule Fuel is a chestnut coloured ale; (Blonde ale) and Nosey Parker (Dark ruby mild) rich and hearty winter ale brewed using all Rum Truffle 5.6% from kegs; Double Warp (Double brown stout) English ingredients. Deep red in colour, it has ABV, laced with rum direct from a fermentation tank and his last plenty of caramel sweetness to balance a full and spices and Grand Ammo Belle (American Pale Ale) from mini-keg. berry-fruit hop flavour with raisin and Slam 4.3% ABV, a Kevin explained that brewing of Ammo Belle has liquorice overtones. golden-amber coloured beer brewed to coincide with the Six Nations rugby union tournament. www.ramsburybrewery.co.uk e John O’ Gaunt Inn, Hungerford Proud To Be Part Of e Award ■ Wadworth Brewery has updated its range of Winning INNformal Pub Co & Brewery pump clips. Product Marketing Manager Ellie • Beautiful newly refurbished pub Alderton said ‘We have completely re-thought • Hungerford’s nest selection of real ales & cider and re-styled the clips, choosing a dynamic new • Over 50 bottled beers around the world shape with a clear, domed surface to reflect the • Boasts its very own micro brewery on site premium quality of our ales’. The new clip for • Serving locally sourced, lovingly prepared Wadworth IPA (previously Henry’s Original IPA) and superbly cooked food every day will appear in a few pubs before Christmas and the full range will become more generally John O’ Gaunt, available from January 2016. Coincidentally, Bridge Street, Hungerford, visitors to the brewery may also notice that vessels Berkshire, RG17 0EG in the new brew house have a similarly shaped +44 1488 683535 upper surface. www.john-o-gaunt-hungerford.co.uk www.wadworth.co.uk 2 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire ■ James Hussey has been visiting ■ Mary and Bernard at the Swan Inn , Inkpen pubs in West Berkshire and welcomed Kristina and Gabriel to their team in writing posts about them October. Butts Traditional and Jester organic for the Eat Drink beers are usually available. The pub will close for Great Events blog a winter break from 23 December (2pm) until and website. 3 February (noon). THE ROYAL OAK · YATTENDON On 22 October, www.theswaninn-organics.co.uk A beautiful, authentic country pub with rooms offering: James visited the Award winning real ales from West Berks brewery in the village Queens Arms , East Stunning, Michelin rated, home cooked food Garston for an Open Day Delicious Sunday roasts Fixed price lunch menu Monday to Friday organised by new landlords 10 luxurious guest bedrooms Freddie and Sue Tulloch. This Glorious walled beer garden Al fresco dining under leafy vine terrace featured a tour of new facilities that include 12 3 roaring log fires en-suite bedrooms, the adjacent Queens Lodge 4 private dining rooms for up to 70 guests g n Boules piste i venue and a private estate.