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THe MAGAZINe OF WeST CAMrA AUTUMN 2018

Outstanding Community Pub awards Over 100 nominations were received for the 2018 Community Pub of the Year award. To recognise their important role in different environments, the award is shared between the Cottage Inn , Upper , the Old Apprentice and the Cow & Cask , Newbury. Saturday This is the fifth time that the Cottage Inn has 8th September 2018 been recognised and reflects huge support from NORTHCROFT FIELDS customers for Gary Bush and his team. 12 noon ONWARDS One nomination stated ‘Gary has made the #n outside very family friendly – on the big field, • LIVE MUSIC raf 18 perfect for kids to run around in, there is a new • DELICIOUS FOOD Y climbing frame and other play equipment, and • OVER 100 BEERS & CIDERS BU OU R a fenced area with goats, chickens and rabbits • A GREAT LOCAL DAY OUT Y ETS TICK E which the children love’. Burns Night, bonfire LIN ON k token tra drin night, Tour de Berkshire charity cycle ride and FREE ex online h every wit rchased classic car rallies at the ‘genuinely cherished icket pu t C’s t to T & community asset’ featured in many Subjec The Cottage Inn - Gary Bush nominations. www.newburyrealale.co.uk /NewburyRealAleFestival  /NewburyAleFest  /NewburyAleFest Previous winners, The Tally Ho , community pub’. The What’s On blackboard at the front of the pub displays the wide range of Newtown and the Three Horseshoes , Visit the West Berkshire CAMRA stand at were the other country pubs with strong cases. events including live music, Bingo night Newbury Real Ale Festival for special From Newbury, the Lamb and the Plough (Thursdays) and Karaoke night (Sundays). membership offers - details on page 4. on the Green were well supported but it was the Many charities are supported including Guide extensive list of facilities, meetings and events Dogs for the Blind. There are four darts teams, also show commitment to the community. that earned the award for the Old London two pool teams and two football teams are Andy Pinkard, CAMRA’s Branch Chairman Apprentice . sponsored. said ‘Traditionally, the pub has always been at Ken and Caroline Amor are proud of what With its award, the Cow & Cask showed that the heart of a community. The three pubs they have achieved in their three and a half years small is beautiful for the micropub’s inclusive recognised here are outstanding examples of and say ‘it really does feel like a proper and welcoming environment, hosted by landlord Ian Batho, allowing conversations and how a pub can become a catalyst for wider support networks to develop. Without community interaction and support.’ room for a pool table or darts to be played safely, the crib team has thrived, Berkshire Awards winning several awards in the Crib League and sharing Broken Dream, a breakfast stout, brewed by Siren their skills with beginners. Craft Brew, based at Hogwood Industrial Estate, Conveniently situated near the station, Finchampstead, football and rugby supporters often call was awarded 2018 in to discuss their team’s performance Supreme and celebrate or drown their sorrows. Champion Beer of The charity events and monthly quiz Britain at the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF). ON OTHER PAGES See page 9 for Swift Halves - Pub and brewery news 2,3 more Champion Gig Guide 4 Beer awards. Beer & Cider Festivals 5 The Nag’s Head, Ullage milestones 2008-2018 6 Reading is Pub Profile - Angel, 7 The Campaign for R eal Ale W est Berkshire November/December 2008 CAMRA’s Central Cholsey to Woolhampton hike 8 Good Beer Books Southern region CAMRA has r ecently customs, traditions and range of bottled beers. published ‘A Beer a Day’ anniversaries that fall on These are also illustrated written by our local beer each day of the year . on his website Pub of the Year. Home Brewing / Champion beers 9 exper t, Jeff Evans and ‘Good Ever y day has a page www .beersnale.co.uk Beer Guide 2009’, the headed with the date, Jeff Evans will be signing 36th edition. event and matching beer copies of his book at the The ‘GBG’ features the best together with its West Berkshire CAMRA The Hungerford 4,500 pubs in Britain under national flag and Christmas social on T uesday Local pub quizzes / CAMRA membership 10 countr y and county headings in website. Jeff’ s writing 16 December from 8pm. the middle par t of the guide. pr ovides fascinating The venue is the Angel, There is a description of each information on each Hungerford and non- pub together with a wealth of event and tasting members are also most Club is Runner Up Karen Bowen, Branch Boak & Bailey + Curmudgeon columns 11 useful details, including the full notes for the matching beer , which welcome to attend. address and telephone number , is often illustrated. Please check our website for further details opening hours and beers ser ved. For example, 14 December www .westberkscamra.org.uk Press Officer, enjoyed There are also symbols to identify commemorates a seasonal event, Christmas gift packs, which include regional Club of facilities at the pub including beer Bankside Fr ost Fair and the membership and either of these good beer books, Diary Dates, CAMRA Contacts & Festivals 12 gardens, real fir es, real draught matching beer is Fuller’ s Jack are available at the CAMRA online shop fr om Broken Dream at GBBF

the Year.

1 Ullage September - November 2018

Swift Halves Instead of a Bavarian style event, there will be a ‘Not OktoberWest’ beer festival with live music and street food at the brewery’s taproom on Saturday 22 September from noon. Additional beers will be from breweries such as Arbor, Burnt Mill, Wild Beer, Wild Card and Põhjala (Estonia). NB Tickets are expected to sell out in advance.

g ■ Congratulations to the Catherine Wheel , n i l r i Newbury, for reaching the final national stage in G y

n the Turnaround category of ei publican o T

– partnerships annual awards. The Enterprise Inns o t

o (ei) pub is free to source bottles and cans h P independently and has Fridge Takeovers planned ■ Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker, 2014 Supreme for Oxford’s Tap Social Movement and Champion Beer of Britain, was the 500th distinct Finchampstead’s Siren Craft Brew. beer to be served at Newbury’s micropub, the Warwick and Pauline Heskins will mark their Cow & Cask , on 18 July. Sensibly, Ian Batho had first wedding anniversary with a special beer at ordered two casks as the first one was soon the pub’s autumn beer and cider festival drained! Charity donations, made for Boltmaker (27-30 September). t-shirts and fridge magnets / bottle openers ■ West Berkshire Brewery has expanded again! generously supplied by the Keighley based brewery, 18 new items (8 x 120 hl + 4 x 240 hl Fermenting raised over £70 for Myeloma UK. Purple Cow Vessels, 4 x 240 hl Bright Beer Tanks, a buffer & Cask polo shirts can be purchased at the pub. tank and a new brewery whirlpool) have been delivered from Parma, Italy (1 hl / hectolitre = 100 litres). These will allow the brewery to increase its own production and the volume of contract brewing and packaging. The opening times for the Describing his staff as ‘beer fanatics’, Warwick brewery’s Taproom & will let them attend Newbury Real Ale Festival on Kitchen at the Old Saturday 8 September with some members Dairy, , have been extended to include running the pub’s pie stall and gin bar at the Wednesday evening – see advertisement on back festival. The Catherine Wheel may close that page. Shaun, the new Head Chef, is adding pies, afternoon and reopen later for a ticket only party. salads, bar snacks and sandwiches to the existing A week long ale festival at the pub, from menu of pizzas and burgers. Saturday 1 September, will precede this. The seasonal A pre-Christmas beer festival and a second bus ■ Kevin Brady packaged the Special Edition beer, 3.6% ABV Session trip from the pub to a brewery are also proposed. from the CAMRA volunteers brewday at Pale Ale is brewed Indigenous Brewery , , on 19 May, with Vic Secret, ■ The White Hart Inn , , for a launch at the Cow & Cask on 19 June. Galaxy, Chinook and closed in 2015. In August, Christie & Co’s website The 4.4% ABV Best Bitter appeared darker than Summit hops with showed the pub’s leasehold as Under Offer and planned! Drinkers liked the cask version and additions of the campaign to save the pub’s website shows Kevin may brew it again. The volunteers, who elderflower for a ‘Here to help and support a new future’. deliver Ullage to pubs, received a bottle each. floral aroma. www.savethewhitehart.org

NEWBURY’S FIRST MICRO PUB

Cow & Cask is available for 1 Inches Yard private hire, and Market Street Real Ales given enough notice Newbury e J ohn O ’ Ga un t I nn, H un ger ford we will try very hard RG14 5DP Dog & Family Friendly to have “Your Proud To Be P ar t O f e A war d Favourite Micro Winning INN for mal P ub Co & B rew er y Brewery Ale” on the stillage. • Beautiful newly r efurbished pub Although we • Hunger for d’s nest selection of r eal ales & cider are a “Micro Opening Hours • Ov er 50 bottled beers ar ound the world Pub” we can Mon Closed Tue 5-9 • B oasts its v er y o wn micr o br ew er y on site Squeeze, Jimmie, Wed 5-9 Squash or Thu 12-2, 5-9 • S er ving locally sour ced, lo vingly pr epar ed Shoehorn Fri 12-2, 5-10 and superbly cooked food ev er y day 20-25 persons in Sat All Day 12-10 Sun Closed and make them John O’ G aunt, comfortable. Discount for CAMRA Bridge S tr eet, H unger for d, We can also card holders Ber kshir e, R G17 0EG provide a Tel: 01672 541224 +44 1488 683535 few seats!!! 07517 658071 www.redlionbaydon.co.uk www .john-o-gaunt-hunger for d.co.uk

2 The West Berkshire

SOE in 1943. To thank all those pilots for downloaded from the country pub and game protecting our hop and barley fields, Arkell’s restaurant’s website which also has details of a celebrate the RAF’s centenary with a Moonlight £1.25 million investment by Yattendon Group special edition. For Moonlight 100, more English PLC to add 10 rooms, a restaurant extension and hops and barley were used to give the golden outdoor dining. www.potkiln.org 4.5% ABV ale a fresh English hoppy zing and a subtle smooth caramel finish. ■ The Bull , , was closed when Arkell’s 3B, Hoperation IPA and Moonlight Alan Haselden’s group hiked from Cholsey to the were served from the Arkell’s brewery bar at the Old Boot Inn (see page 8). However, the Bull is Great British Beer Festival with brewer Alex reopening on 29 September after an extensive Arkell behind the bar on the Tuesday (trade day). refurbishment. www.thebullinnpub.com ■ A CAMRA group enjoyed a visit to Two Cocks Brewery , on Saturday 21 July, hosted by Caroline and Les (front centre left in photo). On a bright and hot day the group were grateful for the shade of the barn and the chance to sample a range of four beers tapped from the cask in the cool room. 1643 Cavalier was popular with golden ale enthusiasts while those preferring dark There are now 41 LocAle pubs in our branch ales enjoyed 1643 Puritan Stout. Traditional bitter serving beer from breweries within a 25 mile drinkers had a choice of 1643 Leveller or 1643 radius. r

Roundhead. www.twococksbrewery.com u o

f [email protected] o w T See also the LocAle page on our website:

■ Congratulations to the King Charles Tavern , ©

s

r www.westberkscamra.org.uk

Newbury, for achieving the highest possible rating e k c i V in a recent Cask Marque assessment. A changing LocAle Pubs - WEST of A34 a n range of eight cask ales are served at the Cheap i g r The Bell at Boxford Boxford o

Street corner pub. kctavern.com e G

: The Blackbird Tally Ho Manager Paula Woof with o t o

■ The Old London Apprentice , Newbury, is ‘Hotel Inspector’ Alex Polizzi (right) h

P The Blue Ball holding a Race Night for the pub’s annual charity The Coach World’s End, - Guide Dogs for the Blind - on Friday 5 October. ■ The Tally Ho , , was briefly featured in an episode of Channel 5’s The Hotel The Downgate Hungerford Inspector, presented by Alex Polizzi. On arrival at The Eastbury Plough Eastbury the free house she commented ‘Looks like a nice place to have a pint’ and was impressed with the The Five Bells Wickham three ‘immaculate’ B&B rooms. View at The Fox at Peasemore Peasemore www.my5.tv (season 14, episode 1, 19m 40s in). The John O’Gaunt Inn Hungerford www.thetallyhohungerford.co.uk The Red House ■ Andrew and Kimberley McCartney took on the Royal British Legion Hungerford Craven Arms , Enborne in 2007 after being The Tally Ho! Hungerford Newtown regulars there for many years. The pub’s chef ■ The new Loddon Brewery taproom in Dunsden stayed on when new licensees took over the The Three Swans Hotel Hungerford Green, four miles north east of Reading, has Wadworth country pub in August. opened with indoor and outdoor seating. Locally Brewed Real Ale Opening times are Thursday – Saturday from ■ In August, publicans Don and Sue Law took 10am – 6pm (7pm Fridays) with extension until retirement leaving the future of the , 11pm possible when people are present. Charnham Street, Hungerford in doubt. The property was sold by Greene King to the adjacent ■ Ramsbury beers are brewed car dealership. with Kennet Valley water from a chalk filtered aquifer ■ The Langley Hall Inn, Wo rld’s End, Beedon and barley and wheat grown closed in 2014. A recent planning application on their estate. Triple Hop (18/01564/FULD) to build two semi-detached and 506 both featured in the houses on land where The Coach is sited, has Great British Beer Festival. raised concerns over the future of the village’s New beers to look out for are Wiltshire Weiss, remaining free house pub. a 4.5% ABV wheat beer and Full English, a 4.4% Facebook: @TheCoachBeedon ABV golden best bitter. Note that labels are changing due to rebranding. ■ Oliver and Caroline Taggart, who previously ran the Malt Shovel, Upper , left the ■ Arkell’s first brewed George , Lambourn at the end of July. The new Moonlight to celebrate publicans of the Arkell’s pub are Terence and the 80th birthday of Andrea Daly. Existing staff were retained with the One of Newbury’s oldest and finest Inns former Chairman Peter addition of Conor as manager. Enjo y West Berkshire‘s Good Old Boy Arkell OBE. Moonlight And our weekly guest beers from some of the referenced his night-time ■ The Pot Kiln , , has introduced street areas finest producers Great Fresh Food served daily flying of a Lysander plane food by Leaf or Sizzle from a trading pitch, on with the RAF and the Sundays from 4-8pm. A rambler map can be Bath Road, Speen, RG14 1QY (01635) 521152 www.hareandhoundshotel.net

Ullage September - November 2018 3 ■ Tutts Clump cider has improved productivity with Gig Guide new equipment for bottling, filling and packaging. Ace Space , St. Nicolas Strawberry and Dark Fruit Road, Newbury. Tickets: are new additions to the range Hogan Music, Newbury. of 4% ABV fruit flavoured ciders. www.acespace.org.uk Tim Wale advises that Tutts Clumper 8.5% 14 Sep - Megson 19 Oct - Holy Moly & the Crackers ABV medium dry cider will be available soon. ■ False Sense of Security - a 4.6% ABV session 16 Nov - Sarah McQuaid Also Unplugged Open Mic on 1st Friday IPA - is a new core beer from Wild Weather Ales . of month Also at the Rowbarge’s summer beer festival was Sublemonal Message - a 5.5% ABV lemon sour Chequers Hotel , Newbury – 3pm Sundays saison. Jazz - Pay at the door on the day 2 Sep, 7 Oct, 4 Nov, 2 Dec Pete Allen & Wild Weather has been paired with Twisted his band Barrel Ale (Coventry) and Anspach & Hobday Enquiries: 01635 44806 (Bermondsey) to brew #Collabageddon beers in Newbury Jazz Platform an annual scheme by Elusive Brewing. Tim Wale, Rowbarge Summer Festival FB: @NewburyJazzPlatform at The Lamb , Newbury ■ The Hermitage Brewery ‘Grow Beer’ project Tutts Clump Cider has been approved by Jazz featuring Gavin Wilkinson’s involved 25 local residents planting hops in the SALSA, the Safe and Local Supplier Approval house band. spring. In 2019, the hops will be picked to make a scheme that helps producers supply their 3rd Wednesday of each month: green hop beer for participants. products to national buyers. 19 Sep, 17 Oct, 21 Nov. Entry £2 Bottled ales are supplied to the White Horse, Check the @tuttsclumpcider The Angel , Woolhampton Hermitage. Facebook: @hermitagebrewery Facebook page for details of Jazz from 8pm Saturdays the Open Day at Travellers www.jazzangel.co.uk ■ Newbury Real Ale Festival, organised by Newbury Rest Farm in October. 29 Sep - Lea Lyle & Thatcham Hockey Club, returns to Northcroft 27 Oct - Julia Titus Fields on Saturday 8 September (noon). This year’s 24 Nov - Yvette Byrne ■ CAMRA desi gnates October as Also Live Sunday music sessions 2pm theme is Celtic Connections with beers from a cider & perry month. Ro d Holmes is , Wales, Scottish Highlands & Islands. planning a visit to Crazy Dave’s Cider The Monument , Newbury - Fridays & Saturdays Local breweries featured include Betteridges premises in Holyport for members interested 22 Sep - Bottlekids (Hurstbourne Tarrant), Butts () in seeing the cider making process. Check 20 Oct - Beatle Juice and Hermitage. www.newburyrealale.co.uk www.westberkscamra.org.uk 26 Oct - The Faith Healers www.camra.org.uk/cider-month-events and 17 Nov - Syn City Rockers @WBCAMRAcider on Twitter for details. Open Mic night with Oli Hill on Thursdays Document House , Newbury 12 Oct - Wise Monkeys Cask Ale Week Lock Stock & Barrel , Newbury 29 Sep - Dirty Deeds 20-30 September 2018 The Lion , Newbury 15 Sep, 3 Nov - Mash Cask Marque was formed in 1998 to improve 28 Sep - Arthur Ebeling beer quality with training and accreditation 6 Oct - Beatle Juice schemes. Sponsors include 27 Oct - Ilkley Lads The West Berkshire CAMRA festival stand offers Arkell’s, Fuller’s and Greene The Newbury , Newbury tokens for two free pints to new members. All King. Cask Ale Week was Weekly on Thursdays - Sion Whiley members can enter a free draw for prizes including introduced by Cask presents Open Mic night on the the 2019 CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Marque in 2009 to roof terrace encourage drinkers to try Old London Apprentice , Newbury cask ale. ■ CAMRA’s Good Beer 20 Oct - Matt Bate Guide 2019 is published This year’s events include a competition to 17 Nov - Stealer on 13 September. The win a limited edition Cask Ale Week 2018 24 Nov - Fubar Guide will be on sale for t-shirt. This can be won by signing up for the 2nd Friday of each month is Folk Night an introductory price of World’s Biggest Ale Trail and visiting 12 Cask The White Hart , Thatcham – Saturdays £10 at a launch event that Marque accredited pubs between 20-30 22 Sep, 24 Nov - Extra Covers will be held in Newbury September. 29 Sep, 3 Nov - Fubar on Tuesday 25 A smartphone with the free CaskFinder App 6 Oct - Upraw September. Check our is needed to scan a barcode in each pub. 13 Oct, 8 Dec - Stressed Out website for venue after For full details visit 10 Nov - Roy Jones Band publication date. caskaleweek.co.uk/competitions Fox Inn , Hermitage www.westberkscamra.org.uk 21 Sep - Joe Dooley

13 Oct - Mudslide Morris & the Revelators 27 Oct - Dukes Blues Social Pubs listed in the Good Beer Guide are chosen Media More pubs with live music: on the basis of beer scores submitted by Hungerford area : Railway Tavern, @WBCAMRAcider West Berkshire CAMRA members. Wheatsheaf Members are encouraged to login and @WBCAMRA Campaign for Real Ale @UllageBeer Newbury area : Canal Bar, submit beer scores via whatpub.com every @WBCAMRA @BerkshirePubs CAMRA Catherine Wheel, Nags Head time they visit a pub in the UK. @insidebeer @campaignforrealale Thatcham area : Mill, Swan

4 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire ■ Celebrate Arkell’s 175th anniversary at Arkell’s Beer Fest at Kingsdown Brewery, Swindon on Saturday 15 September from 12-8pm. Entry tickets and brewery tours can be booked from the bee r : cide r : gin : pie beer festival link on www.arkells.com

■ Burghfest – the third annual beer ‘I t’s al ways and music festival is at the Recreation Ground, Burghfield Common on 21-22 September. beer o’clo ck All money raised goes to Thames Valley Air at Th e Ambulance. The website lists the local beer and ciders. There are discounts for booking in Ca th erine advance. www.burghfest.co.uk Wheel ’ ■ Cholsey village’s 10th Choko Beer Festival on Saturday 29 September features over 30 beers and WES TBER KSHWI RESCT ABMERRKSA HCIIRED CEAR MPRUA B OF THE YEA R ciders. www.chokobeerfestival.org.uk PUB OF THE YEAR 2018 &2 0CI1D5 E R/ P2 U0B1 7OF THE YEAR 2015 / 2017

■ The Ascot Racecourse beer festival , 5-6 October, is organised by CAMRA Berkshire 6 cas k ale s with at lea st 4 loc al South-East. Situated in the Grandstand, around 18 bo xed c ider s 200 real ales and 30 real ciders and perries will be served by CAMRA volunteers. Half price tickets 120+ gin s in ou r ‘Gi n Yar d’ b ar for CAMRA members can be booked via Cr aft Br itish & in tern ational keg b eer s ascot.co.uk using promotion code CAMRA2018. ascotbeerfest.org.uk. Meet Tim Thomas (showing Loc al b ot tled cider s Ullage) by the cider bar at 2.30pm for the West Berkshire CAMRA social on Saturday 6 October.. 130 bo ttled cr aft and con tinen tal beer s CAM RA disc ou nt a vail able ■ The 32nd Swindon CAMRA Beer Festival is held at STEAM, the Great Western Railway Qua li ty pies by Piem ini ster Museum, near the station, 25-27 October. Meet Andy Pinkard there at 1pm on Saturday 27 35 Cheap Stre et, Newbury . RG 14 5D B 016 35 569 89 7 October to join the West Berkshire CAMRA social. www.swindon.camra.org.uk www.thec ather ine wheel. com

THE OLD LONDON APPRENTICE

We pride ourselves on being a traditional community pub where there’s always a warm welcome from Ken & Caroline

Bingo - 8ursday Live bands - Saturday Karaoke - Sunday Function room available Bu9ets, Christmas parties & lunches catered for Four real ales including Harvey’s Sussex Best, Fuller’s London Pride & Wadworth 6X CAMRA discount

2 Hambridge Road, Newbury, RG14 5SS | Tel: 01635 41483 www.oldlondonapprentice.co.uk

Ullage September - November 2018 5 Ullage milestones as editor marks 10th year Tim Thomas took over from Jeff Evans as editor of Ullage with the FREE PLEASE TAKE ONE Sept/Oct 2008 bimonthly issue. Ten years ago, Ullage was a 4 page newsletter printed in black and white. Richard Lock, handling production and design of Ullage since 2000 introduced a stylish new masthead for the Jan/Feb 2009 issue. The Sept/Oct 2010 issue saw the The Newsletter of West Berkshire CAMRA May/June 2014 )

size increase to 6 pages. The f f i r G r

Tally Ho! Community Champion! e t e May/June 2011 issue increased to 8 P m i x

The Tally Ho, Hungerford Newtown, is the West Berkshire CAMRA 2014 Community Pub of the a M

Year. The renovated pub, on the A338 between Hungerford and the M4 (J14), reopened in November @ /

pages. The May/June 2014 issue was m 2013 as a community enterprise owned by local shareholders. In this seventh year of the award, more o c . r e

nominations were received than during any previous year. t t i w t ( the first to be printed in colour and The award to the Tally Ho n i f f

was made on St George’s Day, i r G

Wednesday 23 April, during r e t

included a 4 page supplement CAMRA’s Community Pubs e P

m

Month which recognises the i x important contribution that a M

supplied by Roy Bailey, a former : e

local pubs make to their g a m

community. I Ullage editor, to commemorate 40 Presenting the award, Richard Scullion, West Berkshire CAMRA chairman, Cheers! 40 years years of the local CAMRA branch. said ‘It's wonderful to be presenting this award to of local CAMRA transformed from a bimonthly the Tally Ho! It truly is a Ullage community pub, run by The original Newbury branch of CAMRA was the community for the founded on 16 June 1974. newsletter into a quarterly magazine c

with the Autumn 2014 issue. The size

increased to 12 pages with the Winter CHEERS TO  

2014/15 issue and the regular Gig  FORTY YEARS

  Guide column was introduced. by Roy Bailey Tim & Meg Thomas with Tim’s $ $$ $$ $$ award for editing 50 issues. The new CAMRA ‘bubble’ logo was I hate Tim Thomas, the Editor of Ullage! $$ $$ $ $ $ $ $ He is one of those people who would not let $$ $$ $$ $$ (December 2017) introduced to the masthead in me enjoy my dotage in peace sitting in front $$ $$ $ $ $ $ of the fire and watching repeats of Last of the $ $  $$ Summer Wine on digital TV, while sucking wine $$ $$$$ gums. Instead he expected me to agree to one Autumn 2017. $$ $$$ $$$$ of his madcap schemes to promote the cause of real ale across West Berkshire and the world $ $$ $$$ Having taken early retirement, the volunteer opportunity to edit beyond by guest-editing this special supplement. $$ $$ $ $ $ H $$ $$$ $ Ullage , with assistance from Jeff Evans, was a new challenge for Tim $$ $

$$ $$$$$  who was previously employed in an IT role. $$ $$$$$$ $$ $$ $ $$  Rewards for Tim and Richard’s efforts include plenty of positive $$ $$$ $$ $$$ $$ $ $ $ $$ $ $$ $ $$ $ $ $ $ $ feedback from readers and finding that Ullage was Central Southern $ $ $$   $ $ $$$$$$$$$ $$ $$ $ $$ Gi g$ $ G $$ u i d $ e $ $$$$ $ $$$ $$$$ $$$

$$ $$ $ $ $ $$ $ $ $ $$$ $$$$$$$ $ $$$ region’s entry to CAMRA’s 2018 Branch Magazine of the Year $$ $$$$$$ $$ $$ $ $ $$$ $$ $ $ $$ $$ $ $ $ $ $$$ $ $ judging round. $$ $$$$$ $ $ $ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$ $$ $

$$ $$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$ $$ $ $ $ $ $$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $$$ $ $$$ $$$ $ Fre e$ P L eAS e TAK e ONe $$ $$ $

$$ $$ $ $ ======$$ $$ $ $ ======$$ $$$$$$$$ ======$$ $$ $$$

======FREE PLEASE TAKE ONE ======$$ $$

====== =   THe MAGAZINe OF WeST BerKSHIr e CAMr A AUTUM N 2017 $$ $$ $$ $

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$$ $ $$ $$ ====== = $$ $ $$ $$$$$ Ch amp io n W est B erk sh ir e B e e rs $ $$ $$ $ $$ $$ ======V =o lu =n t ee r = = =$$ ======$ =$ =$$$$

THE MAGAZINE OF WEST BERKSHIRE CAMRA WINTER 2014/15 ======op=p o =rt unit=== ies fo r == $==$ =$$$ = $$ $$ $$$$ ====== = Ass isStatn ut rEdd aiyto r and $$ $$ $$$$$

======9 =th S =ept e =mb =e r 2 =017 =$ =$ =$$ $$$$ $ Cow & Cask - Berkshire’s first Micropub opens ======ANOdRvTeHrCtRisOiFnTg Manager $$ $$ $$ BUY ======F IEL D S 12 PM = YO == =$ = = CAMRA members turned out in strength to L to R: Ian Batho, Steve Kelly, Kevin Brady, Chris Reynolds & Richard Scullion in the Cow & Cask 14/11/14 ONWARDS TI UR ======CK E ==$ ==$ =$$ $$$ support the opening of Berkshire’s first micropub, No experiencOeN reqTuSi red. FR EE L IN $$ $$ $$ ======extra E the Cow & Cask, 1 Inch’s Yard, Newbury on wit drin h e ve k toke $$ $$$ ======Gain us =eful ==== tsickkilryl sonl ann d == = Friday 14 November. Branch Chairman, Richard et pur ine $$ $$ $ chase ======Sub d Scullion suggests that Newbury could be the new ject to T&C’s $$ $$$$ real ale Mecca with three CAMRA Good Beer assist CIN ASSOMCIATIORN WITAH... . ======$ $$ $$ $ $ $ $ Guide pubs and now a micropub. ====== =$ =$ $ $$ James Lynch, former CAMRA national Help needed in Nov, Feb, $ $$ $$$$ $$ = Chairman, described the Cow & Cask as ‘a Ed Cowan, Clare Candy, Olly Ford-Lane, Katy Hudd, Will Twomey, Griff Maggs and James Macaulay www.newburyrealale.co.uk $$ $$ $$

cracking little pub’ and ‘a wonderful place to May & Aug. $$ $$$ ======meet’. Licensee, Ian Batho, has downsized from $$ $$$$ West Berkshire Brewery won two category Head= Br ew= e r Will Tw o===mey and fi ance Katy Th e br ewe ======ry’s C EO S imo n Lew is s aid ‘We’re the Woodpecker, , and was kept busy For more information $ $$ $$$ awards in CAMRA’s 2017 Champion Beer of H udd= (Ne= w lyw eds sin== ce 1 9 August ) w ere === h on oure d to === see bo th ales win aw =a rds in s ==uch = = = pouring pints from Downton Brewery and $ Britain contest – Silver (Mild) for Maggs’s among brewer=y staff ce=lebr==ating after the ==an important com ===petition’. ======Ramsbury Brewery casks. Other local breweries p lea se co ntact editor@ $ $$ $$$ $$ = were a=nnounce==d on 8 Augu =st (Trade == See page 5 = for other ph =otos and awards == = == supplying casks include Wild Weather Ales Magnificent Mild and Joint Bronze (Best results $ $$ $$$ $$$ Day) a=t the Gr= eat British =Beer Festival. = from the festival. (Silchester) and Indigenous Brewery Bitters) for Good Old Boy. westberkscamra.o r g.u k $ $$ $$ (

6 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire

U Pub Profile #63 The Angel Woolhampton There has been a pub, originally a coaching first floor rooms inn, situated here for centuries. The last which are used building was demolished in 1931, to enable for staff the widening of the A4. accommodation. For many years the Angel’s ivy-clad exterior Outside seating at the was a recognised feature when passing through front is available on a Woolhampton. The last refurbishment led to a raised patio, fitted with smartening up of the building, both inside and glass screens to reduce out, and the ivy has gone. It is now as busy as wind and traffic noise. ever, catering for its loyal locals and the regular A gentle ramp for passing trade that its roadside position attracts. wheelchairs enables disabled customers to enter the pub easily and a The pub does not offer pub games or quizzes, wide bar greets visitors. but its regular music sessions are very popular. Three ales are normally on offer, typically On Sunday afternoons live music kicks off at 2 Sharp’s Doom Bar, Fuller’s London Pride and pm. Monthly events are Salsa dancing and Tapas Wells Bombardier, but these regularly change. night (last Friday) and Jazz night (last Saturday). To the left of the bar is an area for drinking, To summarise, The Angel is a pub where the called the alcove. It contains a large TV and accent is on food, drinks and music in pleasant there is another TV in the bar area. The main surroundings. The number of vehicles seen in dining area is to the right of the bar. the large car park are further evidence of its well-deserved popularity. Chris Reynolds

The Angel, Bath Road, Woolhampton, RG7 5RT Telephone 0118 971 3827 The pub is owned by Enterprise Inns (now email: [email protected] EI Group plc), Britain’s largest pub company. website: www.angelwoolhampton.co.uk The current landlord and landlady, Alan and Facebook: @theangelwoolhampton Sandra Bleeks, have been in place for a couple of Pub opening hours 10:00 to 23:00 daily years and employ a team of over a dozen staff. They are also in charge of two other pubs, which Kitchen hours Breakfast 10:00 to 12:00 keeps them very busy. Lunch 12:00 to 15:00 With another food-based pub in the village, On one wall there is a Bar Snacks menu with Evening 17:00 to 21:00 I asked what made The Angel stand out, and was a choice of 6 items all at £3.95, and nearby there told by manager Matthew Burtenshaw that is a tempting Specials board. The three a la carte ‘The pub unusually offers a daily carvery menus (Lunch, Evening and Sunday) each list alongside the extensive lunch and evening menus. around 10 starters and 15 mains at a fixed price Customers like the uncluttered restaurant and the for two or three courses. (£15.95 or £19.95). fact that they are not rushed. The pub is spacious Behind the pub, accessible only from inside, and welcoming to dog owners and feels more is an outside deck and a large secure garden with like a pub than a restaurant. On Sundays the plenty of seating and a couple of Wendy houses three-meat carvery takes place at an outside deck and other equipment to entertain children. where customers can go to fill their plates.’ A large function room, with seating for 40 The view of the pub’s broad frontage includes people, is available for hire.

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Ullage September - November 2018 7 Cholsey to Woolhampton hike Alan Haselden

Following the mid-afternoon match and with event was the versus Sweden football the sun still beaming fiercely, we ventured south match beamed live from Samara via the TV through Highwood Copse to Stanford Dingley to projector. There was an impressive win for visit the Old Boot Inn. It’s a traditional free house England, but more impressive was the comprising three, partly segregated, rooms, a Berkshire-brewed cask ale offer from Elusive, A torrid, humid heatwave gripped much of conservatory and pleasant and extensive rear Siren and West Berkshire breweries. Our round Great Britain in July and on the first Saturday garden. Three West Berkshire ales - ‘Good Old comprised Siren’s 3.6% light fruity ‘Yulu’ and my two friends / colleagues donned hats and Boy’, ‘Maharaja IPA’ and ‘Mr Swift’s Pale Ale’ - Elusive’s 5% malty sun cream (at the very least) to hike a 20 mile were being served and we went for a half pint American red ale ‘Level cross-country route through the West round of each. It’s noteworthy that the Inn’s new up’ and each was in Berkshire heart of the North Wessex Downs, owners organise weekly events, including pie excellent condition. an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Our night on Mondays and fish night on Fridays. Lofty ceiling, industrial The final stretch of our hike threaded lanes early morning meeting place was Reading’s grey metal structures and footpaths through and the grounds Hope Tap (J D Wetherspoon) and here we and glass panels may of Douai Abbey, and by 6pm, with gentler evening devoured a full breakfast with unlimited make WBB feel like the sunlight and longer shadows, we reached coffee. After a short train ride to the (former reconstructed Reading Station, at Woolhampton, for the Berkshire) village of Cholsey, we began our Station, but it is quality Rowbarge. Owned by Brunning & Price, it has an hike following sun-baked byways over rolling ale and community that extremely large open garden, reaching down to chalk downs and winding footpaths through matters most and WBB the tranquil Kennet lush woodland and wildflower meadows. can do both extremely and Avon canal. well. The cask ales were from Upham, White Horse, Tring, Timothy Taylor and North Yorkshire breweries. Sitting in the front lounge area, we opted for a round of Upham’s 3.9% ‘Fields of Gold’, a smooth -brewed session ale, Just short of noon, we arrived at ’s which served as a gratifying finish to a sweltering staunchly traditional Bell Inn and enjoyed a good day of exploration in the Berkshire countryside. couple of hours relaxing with two successive pitchers of West Berkshire Brewery’s ‘Maggs Magnificent Mild’, the hike team’s favourite beverage. This superlative 3.8% dark mild is available all year round at the Bell in addition to cask ale from other local breweries such as Arkell’s and Loose Cannon. Further, we couldn’t resist the homemade bread rolls with choice YATTENDON fillings and, before long, CAMRA member Chris Reynolds is also A beautiful, authentic country pub with rooms offering: a convivial bustle Membership Secretary of West Berks Ramblers Award winning real ales from West Berks brewery gradually welled up at in the village and will be leading the following walks: Stunning, Michelin rated, home cooked food the pub formed of locals Delicious Sunday roasts and visitors from afar. Sun 23 Sept 9.30am: 9.5 mile walk from Childs Fixed price lunch menu Monday to Friday Court Farm, Common. Lunch at 10 luxurious guest bedrooms A fair few of them Glorious walled beer garden The Bell Inn, Aldworth. relaxed out on the Al fresco dining under leafy vine terrace 3 roaring log fires benches in the side Thu 11 Oct 9.30am: 10.6 mile walk from 3 private dining rooms for up to 70 guests garden; life doesn’t get Sheffield Bottom Lock car park. Lunch at The Accreditations include : better than this! Volunteer, . Muddy Stilettos – Best Boutique Stay 2017 Being typical Englishmen, we continued our Alistair Sawday’s Special Places To Stay 2017 Thu 6 Dec 9.30am: 10.4 mile walk from Frilsham The Michelin Guide 2017 hike in the blazing midday sun via Burnett Copse Recreation Ground. Lunch at the White Hart, The AA Good Pub Guide 2017 and Ashampstead Green to Yattendon where we . Country & Town House - Great British & Irish Hotels 2017 joined the vigorous throng of football fans in the THE SQUARE, YATTENDON, BERKSHIRE RG18 0UG Contact Chris on 01635 226826 or joyfully congested new premises of West TELEPHONE: 01635 201 325 07979 804637 about a trial ramble. EMAIL: [email protected] Berkshire Brewery (WBB). The afternoon’s big WWW.ROYALOAKYATTENDON.COM

8 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire Home Brewing blog, book and podcast Andy Parker was an experienced home Andy Parker answered questions from Simon brewer and won the Craft Beer Co UK Home Pipola and signed copies of Essential Home Brewer of the Year award, for American Red Brewing. (The backdrop for the photo, at the in 2014, before he started Elusive Brewing at CAMRA festival bookshop, is Bennets Bar, Finchampstead in 2016. Andy is a member of Tollcross, Edinburgh, where the interior has the British Guild of Beer Writers and hardly changed since 1906.) About u s regularly contributes interesting posts to his During questions, Andy revealed plans to Since 2 006 w e’ve b een Musings of an Elusive Beer Geek blog: increase the size of Elusive Brewing by taking lovingly c rafting aw ard-winning, www.graphedbeer.com additional space on Hogwood Industrial Estate, bottle c onditio ned c ide r i n which is also home to Siren Craft Brew. Saying Written by Andy West B erkshire. W e m ake i t t he ‘We’ll never be a big brewery’ , Andy added that old fa shioned w ay – b y h and. Parker and Graham he would like to open an Elusive taproom with Wheeler, CAMRA’s That’s w hy w e c all i t – a retro gaming arcade. Essential Home Brewing ‘Proper C ider ’ Earlier on Friday, Mike and Cal visited is a practical pocket Andy and Steve at the brewery to record an Available i n W aitrose guide to creating world episode for their By The Mashtun podcast. beers at home. The Download or listen via: well-designed book is Get in touch kaiju.fm/by-the-mash-tun relevant for first-timers Tel. 0 118 97 4 4649 CAMRA’s Essential Home Brewing can be Tweet. @tuttsclumpcider and experienced home facebook.com /tuttsclumpcider purchased from the online CAMRA bookshop brewers looking to develop their repertoire. It w ww.tuttsclumpcider .co .uk for £11.99 (members £9.99) via – https:// includes a balanced range of shop.camra.org.uk/essential-home-brewing.html 30 recipes supplied by breweries including West Berkshire (Dr Hexter’s Healer), Wild Weather (Tornado Top Hat Wheat) and Elusive (Level Up Champion Beer American Red). The book was launched at Beer Merchants of Britain 2018 Tap, Hackney Wick, on 17 July. Weeks later, at the Winners announced at the Great British Beer Festival, on Friday 10 August, Great British Beer Festival Supreme Champion Gold - Siren Craft Brew - Broken Dream The Castle Inn· (Stouts) Ⅲ Silver - Green Jack - Ripper (Barley Wine) West Berkshire CAMRA Community Pub of the Year 2010 Bronze - Mordue - Workie Ticket Ⅲ Good Beer Guide 2011-14 & 2016-18 (Best Bitter) Ⅲ Cask Marque accredited since 2002 Other category winners Ⅲ Five real ales including one from Gold West Berkshire Brewery Greene King - XX Mild (Mild) Ⅲ Open all day - every day Orkney - Red MacGregor (Bitter) Hot soup and a roll 2.30-5.30pm Dark Star - Revelation (Strong Bitter) Ⅲ Family and dog friendly Salopian - Oracle (Golden) Ⅲ Good value food Colchester - Brazilian (Speciality) Ⅲ Quiz Mondays at 8.30pm

Bronze (Golden) Cold Ash Hill ·Cold Ash ·Thatcham ·Berkshire RG18 9PS Andy Parker, Elusive Brewing (left) & Simon Pipola Windsor & Eton - Knight of the Garter Tel: 01635 863232 ·www.thecastleatcoldash.co.uk at the Great British Beer Festival Follow us on Facebook

We are in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2018 (10th year running)

West Berkshire CAMRA member Jeff Evans is the TTRADITIONALRADITIONAL Meals served evenings and lunch times beer writer behind the BESTBEST (except Mondays) Inside Beer website. BBII EERS,RS, Closed Sunday evenings Updated daily, Traditional Sunday Roast lunches www.insidebeer.com SSUMPTUOUSUMPTUOUS STOUTS,STOUTS, includes The Beer Buzz WINTERWINTER En Suite Guest Rooms & (news), Events & Festival WWARMERSARMERS Function Room available listings and exclusive features. AANDND SU SU EERR Choice of 3 Cask Ales There are archives for Pub of the Month / RREFRESHERSEFRESHERS Beer of the Month, including those below. ‘Pie and Pudding Club’ every Wednesday! Jun: Élesztőház, Budapest, Hungary Shepherd Neame 1698 West Berks CAMRA Pub of the Year 2008 and 2015 Jul: Princess Louise, Holborn, London Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout VVisiti sit ourou r brewerybr ewer y anda nd distilleryd istiller y oorr buybu y ata t ramsbury.comram sbu ry.c om Aug: Birch Hall Inn, Breck Hole, The Six Bells, The Green, Beenham North Yorkshire Reading RG7 5NX Tel: 0118 9713368 Email: [email protected] Camerons Strongarm ૽૽૽૽ www.thesixbells.co.uk AA Inn

Ullage September - November 2018 9 Local pub quizzes – part 1 The optimum pub quiz team may include men and women with your friends to form a team and compete in one of the quizzes listed a variety of ages, interests and skills although it is still possible for below for an entertaining and educational evening? Individuals can often a small team of friends of similar ages to win a well set quiz. find a team welcoming a random extra player by talking to the organiser However, as many regular teams rarely win a prize it shows that the before the quiz starts. enjoyment of meeting up and playing is more important than Thanks to pubs who have submitted details of their regular quizzes actually winning. for this list. Any pubs missing from part 1 can email If you have never taken part in a pub quiz before why not contact [email protected] for inclusion in part 2.

Pub Location (Nth of month) Quiz master Booking Team Fee Prize Rounds, Picture Day & Time size pp round?, Music r? Hind’s Head Tues 8pm Leigh 01189 712194 Max 8, £1 *1 7, N, Y

Red Lion Baydon 1st Sun 7pm ?01672 541224 4-6, £2 *2 6, maybe, N

White Horse Hermitage 1st Weds 8pm 01635 741141 Max 6, £1 *3 8, N, N (Graham Marrs) Tally Ho Hungerford 1st Tues 7.30pm John Willmott 01488 682312 Max 4, £1 Entry monies 7, Y, N Newtown (Paula Woof) Cow & Cask Newbury 3rd Weds 8pm Varies No 4, £1 Entry monies 4-6, maybe, maybe

Lion Newbury Thur 8.30pm Kieran No. Arrive early! 8, £1 *4 7, Y, Y

Two Watermills Newbury Tues 7.30pm *5 Speed 01635 800310 *6 Max 8, £1 *7 X, N, N Quizzing West Berkshire Yattendon varying Weds 7pm Verity Bartlett Online *8 Max 8, £15 *9 Case of 12 beers 5, Y, maybe Brewery (Taproom)

Notes: 1 Half time prize £20 bar tab, Cash accumulator chance basis. But if £150+ in pot:1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes for top 3 teams. 2 50% to guest charity & 50% to winning team. 5 Smartphone based quiz www.speedquizzing.com 6 Tables booked 24 hrs in advance 3 ‘6 for 3’ meal voucher, entry money goes to charity chosen by winning team get bottle of house wine 7 £40 vouchers + chance of £100 cash bonus. 4 individual £10 raffle prize if random question answered correctly. Entry cash 8 Enquiries: Katy Twomey 01635 767098. Tables can be booked online accumulates - winning team wins: their entrance money back, 50% or 100% of cash on wbbrew.com/product/quiz-night/ 9 Cost includes meal + 1 pint of beer.

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10 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire the prime objective was to get hold of smaller mudgeon competitors’ tied estates and distribution networks. Promises may have been made about The Great maintaining production at original sites, and Craft keeping brands going, but they were rarely The problem Sell-Out worth the paper they were written on. The more recent ones, however, are about with Nostalgia The past few years have seen a growing acquiring beer brands, not outlets, and so there It is possible to be fascinated by the past trend of successful craft breweries founded is much more of an incentive to maintain the while at the same time welcoming change. in the modern era being acquired by the brand equity. Inevitably, in many cases, it will You might get the impression from some of major international brewers. We have seen end up being eroded over the years by changes what we write, and the images that we share on such well-known brands as Goose Island, in recipe and production methods, but if they’re our blog and on Twitter that we are hopeless Lagunitas and Ballast Point being taken not careful the buyers end up destroying the nostalgists, but it’s not quite that. over in the US, plus Meantime and Camden value of their own purchase. It’s also hard to see There is sometimes a yearning there –a desire in this country. Recently, there were reports the takeover of a start-up only a few years old as to step into that photograph from 1938, or to that Heineken was planning to buy a stake quite as much of a loss as that of a business that know what a particular beer from 1912 might in craft favourites Beavertown. has been established for several generations and have tasted like – and because we’ve ended up This has resulted in widespread become part of its local community. specialising to a degree in recent beer history disappointment, even a sense of betrayal, Every small business start-up has a we do dwell in the past. amongst craft beer fans. Selling out to ‘the man’ life-cycle, and there will come a time when the But what’s missing is the sense of melancholy. is, for many, hard to forgive. On the other hand, owner wants to move on. Most micro-breweries We don’t, as it happens, believe in the Good if the owners are offered well over the book eventually just shut up shop because the owner Old Days. Slops in the mild, buckets of sawdust value for their company, they can’t really be has become too old, or unwell, or has lost and phlegm, and ladies only in the lounge, if at blamed for seizing the chance of a comfortable interest, or isn’t making a worthwhile profit. all? Fascinating, but hardly desirable. retirement. It also contains an element of railing If you look at the micros from the first couple of We’d love to taste Boddington’s as it was in against fate. It may be regrettable, but it’s simply decades of CAMRA, few are still in existence in 1970 — it sounds delicious — and we’d be a fact of business life that the most likely any form. Companies like the remaining family pleased to see more decent mild around in outcome for a successful start-up is to be taken brewers, who have been in existence for a pubs. Historic recipes intrigue us, and can be over by a larger competitor. Very few go on to hundred years or more, are very much the revelatory. spread their wings and fly independently in the exception, not the rule. At the same time, we wouldn’t expect way that BrewDog has done. Brewing remains an industry where, anyone to start a brewery in 2018 with mild There’s a strange reluctance to recognize any compared with many others, the barriers to and bitter as the core of its business if all the merit in beers produced by the major breweries. entry are very low, as shown by the fact that indicators are that the money is in hoppy pale In the 70s and 80s, CAMRA was very critical of over 1,500 new breweries have been set up in ales and lager. Tastes change, and so beer the market dominance of the then ‘Big Six’, but this country in the present century. The loss of changes, and styles, brands and individual it always accepted that they did produce some some favourites may be regretted, but we are beers come and go. That’s as it should be. It’s excellent real ales. Yet many craft fans are likely in the future to see the cycle of cool new healthy. unwilling to touch anything in which the big start-up turning into corporate acquisition The same goes for pubs. One of the boys have had a hand. But surely it’s entirely repeated over and over again. arguments of 20th Century Pub is that pubs possible for a big company to produce a good have changed a lot more over the course of the beer, just as a small company can make a poor The Curmudgeon column appears in last couple of hundred years than is sometimes one. This comes across as an exercise in cutting Opening Times , Stockport & South acknowledged: they are not a fixed point off your nose to spite your face. Manchester CAMRA’s bimonthly magazine. around which the world moves, but part of the This wave of takeovers is significantly Comments on his articles can be left on the world, reflecting its trends and tendencies. different from those that occurred in the British website curmudgeoncolumns.blogspot.com (‘Pubs aren’t what they used to be’ was brewing industry in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Then, probably first uttered about ten years after the first pub came into existence.) We are not appalled by gastropubs, craft beer bars, micropubs, industrial-style taprooms or any of the other new mutations. CAMRA eD Disiscounts Adaptability and reinvention is evidence that l Al co Members eanjoy discounts uant CAMRA the pub lives, and has a will to keep living. e t R It’s exciting to find a well-preserved pub, and beer fe stivals, Wetherspoon Spubs ( * witAh voucher) and pubs beclow: we would certainly rather people didn’t h R

mindlessly trash historic interiors, or knock Aldermaston: e M m

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That doesn’t mean we believe there’s any C per half pintBrimpton: point in scrambling to fix pub culture as it was Three Horspere pinst hoes in 1882, or 1958, or 1983, or at whichever Hungerford: arbitrary point someone might decide is when John O’Gaunt Inn perfection was achieved. This pub offers CNAeMwRAb mureym: bers a discount Terms and conditions Catherine Wheel We’re Boak and Bailey Cow & Cask We’re geeks in general, but especially about Gun, beer and pubs. We write under the names Hatchet Inn * Jessica Boak and Ray Bailey. We live in King Charles Tavern Old London Apprentice in the UK. We’ve been blogging about beer since 2007. Wickham: Five Bells www.boakandbailey.com

Ullage September - November 2018 11 West Berkshire CAMRA

Chairman/ Andy Pinkard Membership: Tel 07989 382676 (M) [email protected] [email protected] Secretary : Mike Avery Tel 01635 820481 (H) [email protected] 2 Sutton Road, Speen, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 1UN Vice Adrian Bean Chairman: [email protected] Treasurer : Alison Chetwynd [email protected] Press Officer: Karen Bowen [email protected] Webmaster: Tony Girling [email protected] Pubs Officer: Paul Worsley [email protected] Pubs DB/ Kevin Brady Beer Surveys: [email protected] Cider & Perry Rod Holmes Coordinator: [email protected] Shop a nd T apro om Ullage Tim Thomas Ope ning H ours Editorial : [email protected] Sho p Ope n D aily: Ullage Richard Lock 10am t o 6 pm Design : [email protected] Ta proom O pen D aily : Printing: Clere www.clere.uk.com 10am t o 6 pm, Weds - S at u ntil 1 1pm Local Trading Standards office: Tel 01635 519930 Kitc hen O pen: Facebook: West Berkshire Campaign for Real Ale Tues - S un 1 2pm t o 3 pm, www.westberkscamra.org.uk Weds - S at 6 pm t o 9 pm Phone: 0 1635 7 67090 Email : i [email protected] o. uk wbb taproom Beer Festival Diary

Avail ab le f or pr ivate to urs CAMRA run or supported beer festivals provide excellent opportunities for sampling a wide Please ca ll 0 1635 7 67090 o r range of real ales, from all over the UK and Email : tapr ooman dki tchen@w bbr ew.co. uk overseas. Here are some of the major and most accessible festivals for West Berkshire drinkers. See page 5 for more festival details. 5-6 October West B erkshire B rewery S ho p, T ap room & K itche n. Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival The O ld D airy, Y attendon , B erkshire, R G18 0 XT Ascot Racecourse, Ascot SL5 7JX www.ascotbeerfest.org.uk

12-14 October 10th Hampshire’s OktoberFest Basingstoke Cricket & Sports Ground Fairfields Road, Basingstoke RG21 3DR Diary Dates 2018 www.hampshireoktoberfest.co.uk The following is a list of all forthcoming meetings of the West Berkshire branch of CAMRA. Some are 25-27 October ‘social’ meetings, lively and friendly occasions where we enjoy a few beers; others are ‘branch’ meetings, 32nd Swindon CAMRA Beer Festival 2018 which are slightly more formal and where we discuss beer and pubs issues. Unless stated, our meetings are STEAM Museum, Fire Fly Avenue, open to all-comers – and new members are particularly welcome! Swindon SN2 2EY www.swindoncamra.org.uk Tuesday 25 September Saturday 6 October Saturday 24 November Good Beer Guide 2019 Launch Ascot Beer Festival Social ‘Support Salisbury’ Ale Trail 8-10 November Venue TBC. See page 4 & 2.30pm Cider Bar (page 5) 12.30pm Village Freehouse 21st Oxford Beer & Cider Festival Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford OX1 1BX website for details. Saturday 27 October Thursday 13 December www.oxfordcamra.org.uk 7.30pm Swindon Beer Festival Social Christmas Social & Quiz Wednesday 3 October 1pm See website for details Royal British Legion, Branch Meeting Pelican Lane, Newbury Wednesday 7 November The Old Bell, 7.30pm Branch Meeting Wash Common, Newbury Blue Ball, Kintbury Design | P rint | W eb All meetings start at 8pm unless otherwise stated. A unique mix of in house cr eativ e Check our website for further details: www.westberkscamra.org.uk and prin t pr oduc tion

Ullage is published by the West Berkshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale and is copyright of CAMRA. The opinions expressed in this publication 10a Arnhem R oad Newbury RG14 5RU are those of the contributor and are not necessarily endorsed by the Production Team or The Campaign for Real Ale. Every effort is made to ensure that +44 (0)1635 43026 cler e.uk.com the information contained in Ullage is correct, but the publishers accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions.

12 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire