All the latest news, views and essential information from Castle Rock Brewery

No:5 Spring 2015

See pages 2 & 3

www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk Welcome News

Welcome to the first anniversary edition of the Castle Rock Quarter! Sign up now for Beer Looking back at the first four issues, it’s amazing to reflect on what filled In early 2014, Castle Rock’s training and the pages! We haven’t had a problem cramming this issue full either; in development manager, Sarah Halpin, gained the pages that follow you’ll see what has kept Castle Rock BII accreditation to train and test us busy and what is coming up. adults in alcohol retailing and hospitality. Some highlights to pick out are the achievements of the Alexandra Hotel, awarded After months of hard work, the doors to the title of CAMRA of the Year, and the Eagle which was voted Boston’s Best Pub Castle Rock’s ‘Beer School’ are officially open! by the readers of the Boston Standard. The Poppy and Pint in Lady Bay was also awarded third place in the CAMRA Pub of the Year awards - another great achievement. Congratulations to Ralf and Anna, Jackie, and James on their respective awards. A further pat on the back goes to Adrian and his brewing team for adding even more awards to the Castle Rock “Hall of Fame”, this time for Midnight Owl and Red Riding Hood. Visitors to the New Barrack Tavern will see the recent revamp, providing more space on Wednesday home games, and a high quality function room for events. We have also designed, built and opened a training facility above our new brewery yard, which you can learn more about right here. I pass on my thanks to Sarah and the team that completed this project in record time. Last but not least a warm welcome to all visitors to Nottingham who are here for the Sarah Halpin CAMRA AGM. We hope you enjoy your stay takes time out and find time to visit our and enjoy at Beer School Castle Rock beers when you are in and around the area. Since gaining our accreditation with the We know what you’re thinking: beer school This spring, we’ll be working even harder to British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), the sounds heavenly. This is the school you don’t be deserving of your patronage. Vat & Fiddle Visitors’ Centre has seen want to be “out for summer”, these are hundreds of trainees come and go, with an classes where nobody is tardy, where Thanks for your support. Colin Wilde incredible 100% pass rate on personal bottomless beer is literally on tap and license courses. With the walls of the artificial air freshener is swapped for the Managing Director @SheriffTipple Visitors’ Centre bursting at the seams and scent of fresh hops… well, yeah, it is a bit If there are pub or beer industry related issues or Castle Rock staff trained up, Sarah did like that. But the reality is that beer is still any topic you issues you’d like us to cover in the what anyone would do… she built a beer being mistreated or misunderstood, coming issues then please let us know. school. customers are not receiving beer of the best quality, and pubs are still closing.

Castle Rock Brewery The Castle Rock Beer School aims to change Queensbridge Road, Nottingham NG2 1NB that, offering any member of the public the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of this Tel: 0115 985 1615 challenging trade. Sarah says: “I want to turn General enquiries: things around for the pub trade by providing [email protected] stepping stones along the career path. Sales enquiries: Everything learnt in this school will benefit the course-goers for the rest of their lives, [email protected] and in turn that will benefit the wider Recruitment: industry.” [email protected] There are key elements to managing a cellar Castle Rock that simply shouldn’t be taught via diagrams or presentations, but rather in the thick of it. Our former operations director Steve Bramley is designed by freerbutler limited has now seen one of his dreams come true, in the form of a training cellar. The custom built www.freerbutler-gds.co.uk cellar has been created for the use of 2 New beers School Historical Brews This quarter brings three unique beers to students only, where they can get stuck in and learn first-hand how to ‘keep’ beer, our bars, each signifying very important events manage lines and maintain a high quality cellar. We asked Sarah about the importance in history. of the training cellar. She said: “The first step to a perfect pint is using quality ingredients We’re hugely proud of our history, and against the and brewing great beer, the second step is Nottinghamshire is a county very proud of arbitrary use of keeping it properly, and the third is pouring its heritage. Though the traditional power. We’re it correctly. If any one of those is below elements of brewing and inn-keeping creating a beer, standard, then the beer being handed to remain at the forefront of Castle Rock named your customer is below standard.” (and always will), the industry is changing Runnymede every week and we’re changing with it. 800, in On writing this, Sarah has just received the We work upon a fine line. celebration of news that the first group of Cellar Training To one side is the history, the heritage and this hugely students also received 100% pass rate; an the tradition that we are so deeply proud important amazing result for the new venture. of, and to the other is the contemporary, anniversary. the creativity and the excitement of trying Please enjoy a Castle Rock’s ‘Beer School’, formally known something new. pint, and raise a as a Training Centre, is located on glass to equality. Queensbridge Road in Nottingham, only a Brewing historical beers is a great way to minute or so stroll from the rail station, and showcase that. While the importance stories Last but not least, number 19 in the situated beside the brewery and the Vat & behind the beer is historical, the recipes Nottinghamian Celebration Ales recognises Fiddle tap. At Castle Rock Beer School you themselves are forward thinking and the work of one of the most inspirational can take courses on drug awareness, food innovative. people in the county’s history. safety, beer and cellar quality and conflict Victorian architect management. Last summer we launched the Watson Fothergill , Commemoration Collection, a range of and his astounding Anyone can sign up, so please get in beers in commemoration of the First World gothic-inspired touch by emailing War. With 10p from every pint donated to architecture is [email protected] charity, the celebrated this Class is out! range will span spring with a five years of unique session mild remembrance at 4.2%. Watson (2014-2019) Fothergill is to mark the brewed with centenary of Mosaic hops from the war. This the US. Referred May, the fourth to in the brewing beer of the world as ‘Citra on range will be steroids’, Mosaic hops have rich notes of available. Named tropical fruit, stone fruit and earthy pine. The Zeppelin Raids , beer is a traditional mild enhanced by a the German style moreish, fruity taste, and aromas of citrus smoked beer comes in at 4.8% and, with an and blackberry. oaky aroma and lingering sweetness, it’s a Watch out on our website for details of a great way to escape the spring showers. proposed ‘Watson Fothergill’ tour of local The beer has been brewed to commemorate properties that he designed (example below). the strategic bombing from German airships; over 5000 bombs were dropped upon Britain’s towns and cities, with devastating loss of lives.

The Magna Carta is considered one of the most famous documents in the history of human rights. Initially issued by King John of England in 1215, this June we celebrate 800 years since everybody, including the Monarch, became subject to the law. Transferred and adapted across nations and centuries, the document remains a cornerstone of our constitution in the modern era; an international stand 3 Welcome to Nottingham The CAMRA AGM is coming to town From 17th-19th April, Nottingham is hosting the National CAMRA AGM. The event is set to be huge, with thousands of people flocking to our fair city to vote on CAMRA policies and direction, and sample the great pubs and beer of Nottingham.

Welcome to Nottingham, CAMRA members from near and far! CAMRA AGM

Nottingham has long been looking Brewery Tours and forward to this weekend, and at Castle Rock we are thrilled to know that our Events fine city is filled to bursting with real Almost all of our ale enthusiasts. fixed time tours Rock are now fully The Castle Many of you will know that former subscribed, but if CAMRA Chairman Chris Holmes founded you are a CAMRA hallenge Castle Rock, under the name Tynemill, Young Member C back in 1977 - so it’s always been there are still nd important for us to support the goals of Open to all customers a some spaces left. ers CAMRA. For 38 years we have been Please contact CAMRA memb working to offer friendly, welcoming Nottingham pubs, and for 17 years brewing and body likes a CAMRA’s Ray Kirby on We figured no serving our own innovative and [email protected] to more than beer-themed challenge consistently high quality beer. We hope book your place. a CAMRA member, this shines through if you find time to lty card visit some of our Nottingham pubs There will also be plenty going on in our so we’ve created a loya …. during your stay. Nottingham pubs from live music and especially for the AGM the Vat & BBQs to special brewery nights and Pick yours up from We look forward to welcoming all themed food evenings. ck pub and CAMRA members, both in Nottingham Fiddle or any Castle Ro breakfast. and further afield to our pubs during Follow us on Twitter ( @CRBrewery ), omplete it for 50% off c the AGM! like us on Facebook (Castle Rock Brewery ) or visit our website TWO brand new Castle Rock beers to enjoy! (www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk ) Members will be able to enjoy two brand new to find out more. special beers during the event: a single hop IPA brewed with New Zealand hops ‘Idle Valley’ and a modern style mild ‘Watson Fothergill’. As with many things we do, both these beers have a local focus and we’re looking forward to showing CAMRA members across the UK what Nottingham has to offer both with its rich brewing heritage and history. On top of these specials our core range of eight beers will also be available – members will be able to enjoy two new additions to this range: “Red Riding Hood”, our traditional best bitter with a modern twist and “Sherwood Reserve”, a rich but balanced stout brewed with fresh Columbian coffee beans. A more comprehensive idea of what we will have on tap can be seen below!

4 Drinks in Focus Discover World Beers @DiscoverWBeers Follow us to stay in the loop with offers, events and news World beer buyer Wayne Harvey selects his favourites this spring from the Discover World Beers range

Tuatara – Aotearoa Pale Ale Tank 7 is a strong Saison, combining estery, banana filled the refreshing dry character of the aroma - it isn’t a big, boozy This award winning pale ale from traditional Belgian style with real monster that will knock you New Zealand recently landed in our potency. It’s hopped with fruity US off your feet but it certainly packs a punch. bars’ fridges and has been an varieties (Amarillo, Bravo and instant success. The beer takes Magnum to be exact) which gives it a inspiration from famous hop- Wild Beer Co. – Somerset Wild real new world character but it still forward American pale ales but is retains the typical bone dry nature of Wild Beer Co. is a boundary-pushing brewery made from indigenous ingredients. its Belgian forebears. from the South West. They experiment with New Zealand malt and hops create odd ingredients, barrel ageing, blending and a distinctive beer, light amber in spontaneous fermentation. Somerset Wild is a St. Bernardus – Pater 6 colour with a spicy, grapefruit led refreshing sour ale brewed with aroma. The St. Bernardus brewery makes wild, Somerset orchard yeasts and This beer is well balanced and highly some of the best classic Abbey bacteria. drinkable; it will keep you coming back for beers in Belgium. The Pater 6 could The base beer is a Berliner Weisse more! be considered their entry level so expect flavours of sharp lemon, Dubbel, at 6.7% it’s almost almost like a fairly well-known Boulevard - Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale sessionable compared to the Prior brand of Limonata. There’s a lactic Boulevard Brewery is based in Kansas City 8 and the world renowned ABT 12. acidity reminiscent of tart, and is placed in ‘Top Brewers in the World’ The reason why I’ve included this, farmhouse cider too. Incredibly on ratebeer.com. The company was recently rather than its bigger brothers, is refreshing, maybe a little acquired by Duvel, which has allowed because of its drinkability. It’s challenging for some but well Discover World Beers to start sourcing their incredibly smooth, with flavours of worth a try if you have a penchant amazing beers. raisins and caramel and that classic for sour flavours. Castle Rock pub news The Alexandra can now go forwards for The Alex doubles up an opportunity to win ‘Derbyshire pub The Alexandra Hotel in Derby has taken of the Year’. home two amazing titles: Best City Pub Congratulations go to landlord and 2015 and Best Pub Overall 2015, by landlady, Ralf and Anna Dyson-Edge. Derby CAMRA. The Alex was Derby ((l-r) Boston Standard’s Daniel Jaines with Eagle CAMRA pub of the year in 1994, when it landlady, Jackie Clarkson, and staff Tom Rankin, went on to win that year’s The Eagle flies! Kerry Worthington, and Mel Riches title. It’s always great when one of our pubs Aside from the steady stream of activity Derby CAMRA judge pubs on quality, gets recognised, and on this occasion it which makes the Eagle what it is, the pub atmosphere, style and décor, service and was the Eagle in Boston’s turn collect a is renowned for well-kept beer and indeed welcome, community focus, sympathy with just reward. Readers of the Lincolnshire one of the only places in the area where the aims of CAMRA and value for money. weekly Boston Standard voted the Eagle Castle Rock brews are available. the region’s best bar in 2014. All in all, a huge well done to Jackie and Anna & Ralf The Eagle is just a short walk from Boston her staff and to our customers: make sure Dyson-Edge railway station on West Street and the pub you pop in if you’re in the area. has an air of activity about it. It’s light and airy, but even at lunchtimes a popular spot for a tipple or snack. The pub is the base A third for the camp for a number of local pool and darts teams and hosts regular quiz nights (the Poppy & Pint self-proclaimed “hardest quiz in Boston”!) The Poppy & Pint in Lady Bay has taken folk, bingo and open mic nights. Suffice it third place in the Nottingham CAMRA to say there is always something Pub of the Year competition. happening at the Eagle, and the manager, Our congratulations go to James Halfpenny Jackie Clarkson would have it no other and his colleagues for their hard work in way! earning this prestigious award. 5 In Focus New Barrack Tavern We are great believers in the role of the pub in the local community and few showcase this philosophy more than the New Barrack Tavern in Sheffield.

The managers, Kev and Steph Woods, have There are a number of things that make a been running the ‘NBT’ for 11 years, with great pub, and having the right staff is Kev being in the pub trade for 15 years in crucial. Kev adds: “All our staff think of the total. Their wealth of experience and Barrack’s as theirs – they call themselves easy-going nature has made the ‘Team NBT!’” New Barrack what it is today; a friendly local’s pub, welcoming to all visitors: It’s cliché to suggest that this is the kind of “We love everything about the NBT, it’s pub where “everybody knows your name”, home to us,” says Kev. but the team at the NBT work hard to keep that personal touch that is often lost in Like many of our pubs, the warm feeling you today’s world. get when walking in to the New Barrack Tavern is just the ticket amidst a landscape of The combination of tradition and innovation anonymity in large and soulless pubs. is at the heart of what Castle Rock do, and With a wooden bar, curving out to showcase the NBT is no stranger to this, having just a row of real ale hand pulls, a pool table, completed the renovation of its garage into a a multi-award-winning beer garden and walls fully equipped modern function room. adorned in music memorabilia and “Our new function room is a very exciting photographs, there is something for all in this addition for us...specifically as a meeting home away from home. facility for local groups and businesses, but also the bar and catering facilities means it’s Kev says: “We have a varied great for medium sized functions,” says Kev. customer base across many different The function room is already proving groups, and try hard to cater to immensely popular, with bookings coming in everyone’s specific needs and want for a range of events. our customers to feel part of the Drop Kev and Steph an email at family.” [email protected] to find out more about this great new space. The NBT is extremely involved with the local community, running So, excellent staff, customers and Sheffield Wednesday “away days”, environment… what’s next? Beer of course! chess club evenings, comedy nights Over nine handpulls - you’ll find Castle Rock and weekly live music nights. plus some popular local ales.

6 38 years young 1977 was a way back now It was a year of challenges for Britain: a bomb explosion in a London pub injured 14 people, Clough lost out to Ron Greenwood, T-Rex front man and leader of Glam Rock Marc Bolan died in a car accident, a huge firefighter strike put the public on green alert, and the Yorkshire Ripper was at large.

But it was also the year that Fleetwood core…even our MD, Colin Wilde, started out Mac released Rumours, the Sex Pistols as PA to the Managing Director way back released Never Mind the Bollocks (and when. It is elements like this - of real and were ditched by EMI), Star Wars was humble people at the heart of it all - that screened in the UK for the first time, the keeps Castle Rock so strong. This, and of Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee and course our customers, who are gained a grandchild, and always supporting us, being British television had its honest with us, and drinking biggest ever viewing Castle Rock Beer in Castle with The Morecambe Rock pubs. and Wise Christmas Show. Every year we like to celebrate this, and give our customers a So, it was a mixed bag. big ‘thank you’ on our And in the midst of it, a birthday. Back in January we flare wearing entrepreneur offered £1 off a pint for one set up a company called night only, so our loyal On top of traditional cider, fruit ciders and ‘Tynemill’ and opened The customers and friends could five lagers, is an increasing range of Old King’s Arms in Newark. kick back and relax. His aim was simple: Create international bottled beer – responding to The offer applied to all of our massively increased demand. a friendly, welcoming pub and serve high quality beer. beer, which was enjoyed (responsibly) in gallons The pub is just a five minute walk from 38 years on, the making of Castle Rock is still an across the bars. We received Bamforth Street tram stop, and the number the gift of lager and cider 53 bus stops yards away from the front amazing story. While many of the younger Castle Rock from Heineken, Carlsberg door. Kev adds, “We are easy to find – and and Stowford Press, so we like to think very difficult to forget.” folk find themselves sifting through old photographs of a were able to offer the same deal on their products too. Kev and Steph work hard to make the bygone era (think sepia stained, beards, platforms It’s fair to say that the New Barrack Tavern the great pub it is, but night was another to know who they really have to thank, with and wide legged trousers…pints held aloft), remember, filled with live Steph saying... “It’s the customers that make music, quiz nights, give-aways and great the NBT so special”. the reality is that those who sowed the seeds of this company are still very much present. support. Follow the New Barrack Tavern at Though the brewery and pub estate have There were no flares in sight, but still, we Twitter: @NewBarrack both expanded at an incredible rate, Castle felt pretty nostalgic. Now it’s time to Facebook: New Barrack Tavern Rock remains a small company at its start planning the big four zero of 2017… The 2015 Budget Save a Penny Following the Chancellor’s 2015 Budget Lest you feel 1p announcement, the brewing industry was is not worth the chuffed to hear that beer duty is being cut hassle, we think by 1p a pint for the third year running. that if all customers We are giving the 1p saving back to our donated their 1p, customers. Across Castle Rock bars you will see Castle Rock jars of pennies, for the taking of beer buyers! customers could raise When you buy a pint of beer from our pubs, thousands of pounds for charity. please claim back the beer duty and help yourself to a penny, or pop it in the Save or spend a penny, it’s up to you. charity box. Cheers! 7 New beers Creating a Traffic Street Special Follow Dan’s brews on @Traffic_Street Dan Gilliland, brewer of the Traffic Street Specials range, gives us the ins and outs of creating a beer to push the boundaries. Last year Castle Rock Brewery launched a What’s the idea process behind the stout? So what’s in there? new range of brews known as the We’ve been testing the copper out for a few We started out with running high gravity ‘Traffic Street Specials’. weeks and have used it to produce the fourth wort off from Sherwood Reserve and Created in a small fermenting vessel, Traffic Street beer, a 10% ABV Imperial stout. diverting it into the copper, so sugar content known as ‘The Tardis’, the beers are The idea was to really push the boundaries on was really high- about 60% the viscosity of designed and produced by Castle Rock’s what we can achieve ABV wise. syrup. Anyone who tried the beer pre- young brewer Dan Gilliland. fermentation would tell you, it was so Pushing boundaries and flavour sweet and the glass was literally profiles of conventional coated. Then we hopped it with loads brewing, the range has so far of Liberty and Nugget hops. Liberty is seen an extra bitter, dry hopped flowery and spicy; it’s normally used West Coast IPA, a pale ale as a finishing hop in German style brewed with (lots of) herbs, and beers like Bock and Kölsch, and gives a dandelion and burdock beer. it the dark fruit and cherry notes. Nugget has quite high acidity and is This spring sees the fourth in the very herbal and bitter. After that we range grace the bars of threw a load of Columbian coffee Nottinghamshire. ‘Little Bitch’ is beans which are roasted by Stewarts an Imperial stout brewed with [of Trent Bridge] just round the fresh coffee corner. beans and two American hop Where did the name ‘Little Bitch’ varieties. At the come from? time of writing, Most people won’t have noticed but the beer is still the Traffic Street Specials beers are fermenting, but named after songs by the Specials. this robust stout Little Bitch seemed pretty ironic for has flavours of this beer - anyone who drinks it is far dark fruit, from that. coffee, chocolate and bonfire What’s next then? toffee, and will I’m really excited to try a wine beer come in at an hybrid brew. The beer is fermented estimated 10% out and a grape must is added with ABV. more yeast, so you are brewing a wine within the beer. I also want to What’s happening down on experiment with wild yeast further Traffic Street? down the line. We’ve just got a new bit of kit - a five barrel copper kettle. Expect bigger, better and stronger Essentially it means we are taking brews from Traffic Street. a step back in the brewing process which gives us more flexibility. Learn more about There’s more room to experiment Stewarts Coffee with higher ABVs and hopping on page 11. rates and inputs.

8 On the bar Castle Rock announces changes to the Loyalty Card scheme Castle Rock Quarter looks at enhanced benefits for all of our customers

Despite Castle Rock’s rapid growth After that date however, the loyalty scheme Castle Rock Club into a medium sized brewer in the past will be completely removed and no cards We are also pleased to announce that we will four or five years, there has never been will be accepted. continue to reward our loyal and regular any doubt that the company’s success customers through a reinvigorated Castle is down to our customers; particularly However, we believe what we are Rock Club our regulars who frequently enjoy our introducing from the 1st May 2015 Scheme, pubs and love what we do. is far more rewarding for our customers due to launch in The Castle Rock loyalty scheme, previously Bigger savings autumn. known as “One over the Eight”, was This will Each of our pubs will see significant price introduced to thank you, our customers, for give cuts across a wide range of products, with your support. Upon collecting eight stamps, additional benefits to members and include reductions of up to 40p on key lines. customers would receive a free drink based vouchers for £20 savings per year. on a list of qualifying products. Where stocked, our popular session bitter Sheriff’s Tipple will see the most attractive CAMRA members Since its introduction, the scheme has price change. This all means you can enjoy a CAMRA members can also enjoy the saving of become so successful, that it has outgrown wider range of products and experience 20p off a pint in many of our pubs, and our logistics and back office system! Some savings, right there and then. We’ve also Wetherspoons 50p off vouchers will continue quite extreme rumours have been flying committed to a fixed price guarantee until to be accepted on our bars… around and we want to assure you…there is 2016. no truth in those that we have heard! Redeem on merchandise & bottles As we introduce new ways to reward This is what you need to know: For those who are sitting on a fair number of our customers, we will keep you as Up to and including the 30th April, you can completed loyalty cards, we’ve got great updated as possible – still collect stamps on qualifying products. We deals on merchandise and bottles. please look out for updates on your know many of you save up completed cards, local Castle Rock pub’s notice board, so there is a ‘grace period’ during which time Visit our website to find and of course check our Facebook and you can still redeem your card - Twitter feeds. this runs from 1st-31st May. out more.

9 Castle Rock Awards Beer of the Year 2014/15 Castle Rock’s Liv Auckland gives some insight into Beer of the Year behind the scenes!

Rumour has it that Castle Rock’s It has to be said that on the night there was annual Beer of the Year awards night one brewery which received an especially used to be quite the wild one; all night vigorous round of applause. Set up by Rob parties followed by 5am breakfasts. Witt after 6 years of home-brewing, we first featured Totally Brewed on our bars in May 2014. After taking home Midland Regional These days, Beer of the Year is a slightly Gold at the Robin Hood Beer Festival for calmer affair, although there are still moments ‘4 Hopmen of the Apocalypse’, the brewery of madness I assure you. Still, we have a great has begun to expand. It was with enormous time celebrating the vibrant brewing industry pleasure that we awarded Totally Brewed with Since moving to Nottingham a few months of the UK. NewBrewery of the Year; Rob and his team ago, Alex and Nick changed their brews up a show just how thriving and exciting this bit and (causing a slight panic here at head Voting for Beer of the Year started just before industry is. office) revealed that Citra Pale is no longer Christmas but we didn’t see any numbers until available. Luckily, one of their latest beers the 17th January. It’s an exciting time at head Bradfield Brewery, family-run and based on a ‘Snake Eyes’ is very similar to Citra Pale, which office - suddenly a mountain of votes appears farm in the Peak District, is permanently we all enjoyed a cask of on the night. on my desk and the count begins! There are featured on the bar at the New Barrack Tavern Still, well done boys, we are as thrilled as ever always some surprises, some which aren’t in Sheffield, and its beers are probably just as for you both. even a little surprising, and some forms filled popular there as our own (sob!). This year in by right jovial customers… Bradfield took home LocAle Brewery of the Each year the directors of Castle Rock select Year, showcasing how important it is to build the brewery they have been most impressed Only one award of the evening took a step authentic relationships in an industry that is with in the past year (if anyone is wondering away from brewing. Supplier of the Year was always changing. awarded to Santander, selected by Castle Rock how that looks, it’s a quiet room of frowns, chewed biros, and thumb twiddling). They for their amazing support over the last twelve This year, Black Sheep’s ‘Black Sheep Ale’ took take into account everything - the beers, the months. home third place in Beer of the Year. Brewed developments, the people, the ethics - and with more crystal malt than a usual best bitter eventually come to an agreement. Colin Wilde says: “Banks are often much gives the ale a rich flavour and darker maligned as a general rule of thumb these colouring. Second place was awarded the days, but we have nothing but praise for Fuller’s Chiswick Bitter; a real ale which dates This year, North Yorkshire based Black Sheep Santander and the relationship team headed back to 1930. Light and refreshing, with Brewery was awarded the trophy. Castle Rock by Jon Bennett. They have been supportive, biscuit malt and crisp, hoppy flavours - chairman Geoff Newton announced the award flexible and proactive in helping our business this award demonstrates how, when you get a by noting “they’re great friends of ours at develop and grow and these efforts certainly beer just right, it will stand its ground across Castle Rock, and offered to donate some beer deserve our recognition.” many generations. tonight before even knowing they had been shortlisted- so cheers for that.” This year we introduced a new award: Cider of Back in November, we collaborated on a brew Congratulations to you all and our special the Year. It’s no surprise that the first winner called ‘Flame Out’ with Alex and Nick of Black thanks go to Pip for the winning speech! of this award is Cornwall based. Cornish Iris Brewery. We’ve been friends with the guys Orchards ‘Vintage Dry’, at a powerful 7.2%, for a long time, and it’s been really exciting to If you missed out on your chance to vote, took home the award. If you’ve yet to delve watch them become so established. Black Iris keep your ear to the ground at the end of into the world of real cider, give this has already been awarded NewBrewery and the year… . ‘connoisseur’s cider’ a try: medium dry and LocAle Brewery in the past, and this year it matured over the winter months to bestow was their ‘Citra Pale’ which took home first Below: The award winners pictured with vintage qualities. place Beer of the Year. Castle Rock’s Geoff Newton and Liv Auckland

10 Beers Crafted coffee beans Earlier this year we added the delectable Sherwood Reserve to our permanent range of beers. Brewed with Columbian coffee beans, it is a rich, chocolatey stout at 4.5% ABV. The three kilos of Columbian coffee What makes Stewarts coffee different? beans are roasted with love and I import coffee from all over the world and attention by Stewarts of Trent Bridge, then create the roast and blends here on site. a ‘green’ micro-roaster located just Supermarket coffee is months old before you get it home. Here it's normally just a few days down the road from the brewery. so it’s an incredibly fresh product. Our aim is Stewarts Coffee is also served in many to develop long term relationships with of our pubs, including the complementary industries and people Poppy and Pint, the Canalhouse and throughout Nottingham as well. We want to the Stratford Haven. be a brand that everyone knows for great coffee and for caring about the local area. Let’s have a chat with the latest roaster recruit, Mark Roberts: What’s an average day like in the roaster? Mark Roberts, My average day is a mix between roasting, Stewarts Coffee of Trent Bridge Markybobs, How did you come to work at sampling and experimenting with our coffee, Stewarts? combined with sorting orders for customers. Any plans you can let us in on? I fell into coffee roasting. I got really excited We try to be a very social company and use We are always scheming on ways to bring our about coffee and just learned as much as Twitter and Facebook to talk about coffee coffee to people. We are going big in video possible. with our customers and coffee lovers. over the next month, releasing a series of My experience in marketing combined with We also attend events and have people come “how to” videos helping home brewing. that passion gave me the opportunity to down to visit to see a roast and grab some We’re also launching a new project called come and do both here at Stewarts. great coffee. “The Roaster Sessions” where we have local artists come down and sing us a few songs. Which blend is your favourite? We are working with Acoustic Roots record Hmmm it’s a tough question. label and hoping to work closely within the I think our Italian blend is a incredible Nottingham music scene. fantastic well rounded coffee. It ticks all the boxes and is great as an espresso, Americano or with milk. I do have a soft spot for our Mexican limited edition as that’s beautiful at home in my Moka pot. More awards for Castle Rock beers For the second year running, Midnight Owl has won an award at a national level and vindicates its position as one of the best winter warming black IPAs in the East Midlands and beyond.

This strong, dark and hoppy ale picked up a Bronze at the National Winter Ales Festival at the Roundhouse in Derby (Old Ales/Strong Milds category). It was another excellent event in the unique surroundings of the Roundhouse and we were only too pleased to collect an award for one of our most popular seasonal ales.

At time of writing, Red Riding Hood has just been named one of the runners up in the Champion Beer of Nottinghamshire held by Nottingham CAMRA, and hosted at our lovely Canalhouse.

Congratulations to Adrian and the brewery team for their continued hard work in making sure that Castle Rock’s beers are Good Beer Guide editor, Roger Protz, and Derby 'Beer King' Les Baynton, as good as they are. with Castle Rock’s head brewer Adrian Redgrove and manager Pete Hopwell 11 Unique Partnerships The John Van Geest Cancer Research Centre Back in 1994, Castle Rock acquired an unloved property in Beeston, Nottingham. Castle Rock director Neil Kelso (pictured right), has been closely involved with the development of Castle Rock pubs for decades, with a speciality for taking over derelict properties and ‘turning them into pubs’. He did just this with the Victoria Hotel - owned by Neil and his wife Linda since 2001. The Victoria Hotel is a traditional, real ale pub with an unwavering reputation in the Nottingham community. Many pubs strive to raise money for charity, but the work of Neil and Linda has made an overwhelming difference to one very local and truly worthy charity: the John Van Geest Cancer Research Centre. Castle Rock’s Liv Auckland spent an afternoon at the world leading John Van Geest Cancer Research Centre, learning how the centre is working to ‘Crack the cancer code’.

In 2010, I was studying for my Bachelor’s The Jon Van Geest degree on Clifton Campus, Nottingham Trent Cancer Research University. It slipped past without my Centre on Clifton knowing, until recently, that a hugely Campus is a important building was being constructed. facility that all Professor Bob Rees, Director of John Van Geest Cancer Research Centre Nottinghamians It’s a campus I know well, but on visiting the should be supporting. The centre is world and complain that our money is spent on centre, I found myself tucked away in a leading, first class and filled with some of the administration and wage costs. Quite frankly, mysterious place where history is made. Sure, brightest brains on this planet. The running the centre needs donations. A £10 donation I may have almost fainted (in-front of actual cost of the centre is supported by the could allow the centre to sequence a gene, scientists) at the sight of brain tumour cells, university, so 100% of all donations go while £100 would pay for the costs of but what I was able to witness was truly directly into research. Many of us donate to screening tissue from 100 patients with astounding. national and international cancer charities, breast cancer, and £1,000 could pay to test the immune system of 100 patients with breast or prostate cancer.

The Victoria Hotel ‘VicFest’, a 16 day festival, has raised thousands for John Van Geest, and Neil and Linda can be assured that the money raised is spent where it is needed: on research. Sue Dewey, Head of Fundraising for the centre (and one of the most charismatic women I’ve ever met) says ‘They are a joy to work with and I wish we had more like them – so if anyone else out there wants to partner up with us to help raise money and profile for something that will affect very many of us, please get in touch. We have a lot of fun raising money for a serious cause… “100% of all donations go Please help us to crack the cancer code.” directly into research” At Castle Rock we are laying plans to raise the profile of the centre, and will be raising money where we can. In the mean-time, take a moment to learn more and get involved at www.ntu.ac.uk/vangeest

12 Editor’s Picks Full listings on our website - Upcoming Events updated daily Sunday 24th May April 2015 May 2015 Poacher Garden Party The newly refurbished garden will see a Easter Weekend MILD IN MAY TRAIL satellite bottle beer & cider bar, BBQ from Forget ‘spring cleaning’ and cooking Friday 1st - Sunday 31st May 6-9pm, and live music from Harry and the up a storm for the family; it’s time Pedestrians (weather permitting, follow to celebrate the four day weekend Saturday 2nd May @lincpoacher to stay up to date). National Civil War Centre Lincolnshire Poacher, 12pm-11pm, with all sorts to enjoy… The long awaited Civil War Centre in Newark is free entry Full listings can be found at finally opening its doors to the public. Britain’s www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/event deadliest conflict will be marked this Bank NATIONAL WINE DAY holiday weekend with thousands spilling into the Monday 25th May Thur 2nd April town for re-enactments and the official opening Mini Beer Festival: of the museum. The Fox & Crown is home to the Monday 25th May (Bank Holiday) • The Bread & Bitter kick off the Easter Kings Lifeguard of Foote Regiment for the Ladies Night celebrations at 6pm with a beer fest over five weekend, visit www.nationalcivilwarcentre.co.uk Ladies Night in the Hop Loft is back for the days, showcasing Champion Beers of Britain or www.kingslifeguard.co.uk to learn more and bank holiday. Bubbly, Butlers in the Buff, the from the last decade with a total of 16 real follow @TheFoxandCrown to keep in the loop . best of local beauty and entertainment from ales, plus real ciders and craft beers. a Robbie Williams tribute…leave your Thursday 2nd April-Monday 6th April Friday 8th - Saturday 9th May worries at the door, ladies! Mod & Punk Weekend Call 01509 214 017 to book your tickets. Good Friday (Fri 3rd April) Bringing back the seventies with live music Swan in the Rushes, 7pm, £5 per ticket • Tuck into a ‘Mothership’ Pie & Pint for just from Forever Mod (9pm Friday) and Reasons £8 at the Swan in the Rushes . The Swan’s EEK to be Cheerful (9pm Saturday) at the home BRITISH CHEESE W Easter themed competitions will kick off too, onday 1st June of Sheffield Wednesday. Tuesday 26th May - M such as Name the Bunny & How Many New Barrack Tavern, free Eggs…all proceeds go to charity. Wednesday 10th June • Four piece rock band WalkWay take to the AMERICAN CRAFT BEER WEEK stage at the New Barrack Tavern , 9pm Poacher turns 26 Monday 11th to Sunday 17th May 26 years young! Join us in celebrating 26 years • Celebrate Belgian Beer Day at the The best brews for the USA available in Kean’s Head , with a special menu to match of our most beloved Poacher, with free cake, bottles and keg across Castle Rock pubs. savings on Castle Rock beers and live music Many of the pubs will be showcasing Saturday 4th April from the Old Nick Trading Company (9pm). All-American menus (burger in a Krispy Lincolnshire Poacher, from 5pm • Live music at the Fox & Crown from Kreme, anyone?) with beers to match. ‘U.S.’, a Nottingham based four piece Visit our website to find out more and be sure to follow @DiscoverWBeers to stay in the loop… June 2015 Easter Sunday (Sun 5th April) • All our pubs will be serving up their Saturday 13th June Thursday 14th May Sunday menus, from roasts to pizzas to NBT Charity Festival salad. Book a table at your Castle Rock local Poppy & Pint Birthday The 601 Club brings bands and DJs to the and recharge The Poppy is 4 years old! Celebrate in the NBT, with two stages, a BBQ and more. All • Adults Easter Egg Hunt at the best of Lady Bay with live music, drinks and profits go to Western Park Cancer Hospital. Swan in the Rushes from 12pm, with food offers, and a charity raffle. New Barrack Tavern, 3pm Easter themed prizes Poppy & Pint, 5pm • Live music from Beatles tribute the ‘Fab 2’ Saturday 14th June at the Lincolnshire Poacher , 9pm Saturday 16th - Sunday 17th May Father’s Day Festival • Free chocolate egg with any kid’s meal at Lady Bay Arts Festival Classic and modified cars and bikes show in the Bread & Bitter and the The renowned Lady Bay Arts Festival is back the private car park. Whatever your thing, Stratford Haven for 2015 and better than ever. The bring it along and show it off. Enjoy a burger • Warm up with a free hot cross bun when Poppy & Pint once again is a host of the from the flamin’ BBQ and bop to some you buy a hot drink at the celebration, find out more at: music. A free gallon of ale goes to the owner Swan in the Rushes www.ladybayarts.org.uk of the highest voted vehicle. Golden Eagle, free entry ++++ GREAT BRITISH BEEF WEEK Monday 18th - Sunday 24th May Tu esday 21st - Monday 27th April Vegetarian Week Friday 26th - Sunday 28th June Good, fresh, locally and ethically sourced Summer Beer Festival Wednesday 29th April veggie dishes created across Castle Rock Join in the summer festivities at the Golden Wine Tasting pubs. The Bread & Bitter offer 50p off all Eagle’s annual mini beer fest. With twelve Enjoy a wine tasting evening, with a cold veggie dishes, the Swan in the Rushes real ales in the garden, plus a BBQ and live table buffet, including rustic breads and Veggie Pit & Pint is only £4.50 all week, and music from 2pm (Sat & Sun), it’s a must for canapés. veggie dishes at the Lincolnshire Poacher the whole family. Golden Eagle, 7.30pm £15 include a free drink. Golden Eagle, free entry FATHER’S DAY - Sunday 21st June Visit www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/fathers-day • Gift Packs £8.95, Available from your Castle Rock local www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/event 13 Available at your Castle Rock local Top comments Ode to the Owl In the middle of the night ye may feel not quite right, Well what’s it matter to me, I dinna give a hoot! Tweets... But the hoot’s from the Owl; Thanks for all your tweets, And when the Owl begins to Screech; retweets, follows, likes, and lovely comments. Oooooooooooooooooooooo! Keep them coming! The spectre O the tree; “Excellent new Castle Rock Sends a shiver Brewery pub at East right through me; Midlands airport. You’re spoiling us!” - @mr_sh My glass is filled to the brim ore “Delicious lunch at the and I’m lost for speech; Kean’s Head with And the Owl begins to Screech! @pixie1214 in Nottingham today. Cheers guys, By Mike Higgins awesome stuff!” - @iChef007

“Golden Eagle - Never fails Up & Coming Brews to delight me” - @loftyimp Here’s a look at what’s to come in the next three months. APRIL - JUNE 2015

4.2% abv 4.8% abv 4.0% abv 4.5% abv 4.2% abv Citrusy session mild, German-style smoked beer A mid-strength, full German-style wheat beer Golden bitter brewed with brewed with Mosaic hops with an oaky aroma, notes flavoured bitter with fruity with hints of white local honey for a delicate from the USA. of dark fruits and a subtle, notes on the palate and a chocolate. Naturally cloudy sweetness. Celebrating the life of the lingering sweetness. smack of hops in the finish. and vegan friendly. revered Nottinghamshire- AVAILABLE FROM MAY AVAILABLE FROM JUNE AVAILABLE JUNE born architect. AVAILABLE MAY AVAILABLE APRIL - JUNE Annual One-off Seasonal Seasonal

All of our beers contain Gluten from Malted Barley and Wheat. Some of our special and one-off beers may contain additional allergens, please check our website for further details 15 All of our pubs follow the latest allergen legislation. Castle Rock Pubs Further details are available in each establishment. ALEXANDRA HOTEL BREAD AND BITTER CANALHOUSE 203 Siddals Road, Derby DE1 2QE 153-155 Woodthorpe Dr, , NG3 5JL 48-52 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7EH Tel: 01332 293993 Tel: 0115 960 7541 Tel: 0115 955 5060 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] F: Alexandra Hotel T: @Alex_Pub_Derby F: Bread Bitter T: @breadandbitter F: Canal House T: @canalhousebar CASTLE ROCK TAP DERBY TUP EAGLE ROOM & KITCHEN 387 Sheffield Rd, Chesterfield S41 8LS 144 West Street, Boston, Lincs PE21 8RE Tel: 01246 454316 Tel: 01205 361116 First Floor Departure Lounge, East Midlands Airport e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] F: The Derby Tup T: @TheDerbyTup F: The Eagle T: @TheEagleBoston FOREST TAVERN/MAZE FOX AND CROWN GOLDEN EAGLE 257 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FT 4-6 Appletongate, Newark, Notts NG24 1JY 21 High Street, Lincoln LN5 8BD Tel: 0115 947 5650 Tel: 01636 605820 Tel: 01522 521058 email: [email protected] • web: www.themazerocks.com e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] F: The Maze T: @themazenotts F: The Fox & Crown Newark T: @TheFoxandCrown F: The Golden Eagle Free House T: @GoldenEaglePub KEAN’S HEAD LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER NEW BARRACK TAVERN 46 St. Mary’s Gate, Nottingham NG1 1QA 161-163 Mansfield Road, Nott’m NG1 3FR 601 Penistone Road, Sheffield S6 2GA Tel: 0115 947 4052 Tel: 0115 941 1584 Tel: 0114 234 9148 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] F: Kean’s Head T: @keanshead F: Lincolnshire Poacher T: @lincpoacher F: New Barrack Tavern T: @NewBarrack NEWSHOUSE POPPY AND PINT ROOK AND GASKILL 123 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7HB Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay, Notts NG2 5DX 12 Lawrence Street, YO10 3WP Tel: 0115 952 3061 Tel: 0115 981 9995 Tel: 01904 655450 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] F: The Newshouse T: @NewshouseNotts F: Poppy & Pint T: @PoppyandPint F: The Rook and Gaskill T: @RookGaskillYork

STRATFORD HAVEN SWAN IN THE RUSHES VAT AND FIDDLE (The Brewery Tap) 2 Stratford Rd, W. Bridgford, Nott’m NG2 6BA 21 The Rushes, LE11 5BE 12-14 Queensbridge Rd, Nottingham NG2 1NB Tel: 0115 982 5981 Tel: 01509 217014 Tel: 0115 985 0611 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] F: Stratford Haven T: @stratfordhaven F: Swan Rushes T: @swanrushes F: Vat and Fiddle T: @VatandFiddle

(Hands On VICTORIA HOTEL Pub Company) WETMORE WHISTLE WILLOWBROOK Dovecote Lane, Beeston, Nott’m NG9 1JG 93 Wetmore Road, Burton on Trent, DE14 1SH 13 Main Rd, Gedling, Nottingham NG4 3HQ Tel: 0115 925 4049 Tel: 01283 541064 Tel: 0115 987 8596 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] F: The-Victoria-Hotel T: @TheVicBeeston F: The Wetmore Whistle T: @wetmorewhistle1 F: The Willowbrook T: @WillowbrookCRB

F: Castle Rock Brewery Core Castle Rock Beers T: @CRBrewery

3.4% 3.8% 3.8% 4.3% 4.4% 4.5% 4.7% 5.5% Brewed to be a A national award- A well balanced, American-style red ale A full-bodied Brewed with fresh Blonde and beautiful A national champion. traditional session ale winning blonde beer. award-winning dark brewed with dark premium bitter of Columbian coffee single malt golden ale Strong India Pale Ale. with a malty bitter American hops give a mild with some crystal malt, plus typical East Midlands beans. Flavours of rich refreshing on the Lots of everything so taste. refreshingly crisp, bitterness. El Dorado and Kohatu character. Perfect chocolate and coffee palate. proceed with caution. citrus finish. Full-bodied but not hops. bitter-sweet balance. are in the nose, and F: Sheriff Tipple overly sweet. the taste is smooth F: Elsie Mo F: Screech Owl and lasting. T: @SheriffTipple T: @Elsiemocrb T: @ScreechOwlCRB The next issue of Castle Rock Quarter is published in July The seasonal beers will include Watson Fothergill (April), Zeppelin Raids (May), Hemlock Bitter (May-Jul), Skylarks Reserve (June-Aug), Runnymede 800 (June) - for more information turn to Page 15