Celebrating the Real Ale Scene in Sussex Sussex Drinker Winter 2016 Free
4th CAMRA Spring Equinox Festival Horsham Drill Hall, 24-25 February 2017
PUBLISHED AND FINANCED BY THE SUSSEX BRANCHES OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE 2 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Spring Equinox Beer Festival 4th CAMRA Spring Equinox Festival Spring Equinox Horsham Drill Hall, 24-25 February 2017 Beer Festival Tickets for the Friday 6-10pm session are £7, Saturday 12-4pm session £6 and Saturday 6-10pm £5, which will include a souvenir glass, plus a free pint for card-carrying CAMRA members. Hot and cold baguettes and snacks will be available at all sessions. Tickets are available from Beer Essentials, the Malt Shovel and the Anchor Tap in Horsham, and from Dark Star in Partridge Green. Postal applications (cheques payable to CAMRA North Sussex) to The Treasurer, 19 Felbridge Avenue, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 7BD. For more info, including a beer list in due course, contact [email protected], or www. northsussex.camra.org.uk, or facebook @ northsussexcamrabranch, or twitter @ camraequinox.
We are delighted to announce that the 2017 CAMRA North Sussex Equinox Beer & Cider Festival will start with a Friday evening session, followed by two Saturday sessions. The venue remains the Drill Hall, Denne Road, Horsham town centre, RH12 1JF, which is about 15 to 20 minutes’ walk from the railway An ever changing range station, maybe less from the bus station. The of five cask conditioned Five Bells ales that always includes Smock Alley beer list will have over 50 beers, with a one mild, one session balanced mix of winter and spring ales bitter, two best bitters West Chiltington available. All of our excellent branch brewers and one strong bitter. West Sussex Plus one changing craft will be featured, plus other local favourites and RH20 2QX some gems from further afield. Those who like keg beer, Hacker Pschorr genuine Munich lager, 01798 812143 cider and perry will also find a strong selection and Westons Old Rosie of both available. Live music will feature at the Cider on gravity. Saturday evening session only, with an Homemade traditional Arun & Adur excellent local act booked. food, plus 5 en suite CAMRA bedrooms. Country A £1 donation will be made by the Branch to a All of this in a very Pub of the local charity for any returned souvenir glasses, traditional pub! Year 2016 along with the value of any donated surplus www.thefivebellsinn.com tokens. Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 3 WILKES HEAD Church Lane, Eastergate, West Sussex, PO20 3UT Tel: 01243 543380 www.wilkesheadeastergate.co.uk Historic 17th century Inn
20 minute walk (1.3 miles) from Barnham mainline station 10% Discount Six Ales always on tap In the Good Beer Guide Xmas Party Cask Marque Approved Secluded beer garden Menu with this advert Open Every Day All Day. Food 12-2.30, 6.30-8.30. Sussex CAMRA Pub of the Year 2014
4 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Contributors: Peter Adams, Paul Bangs, Allan Bartram, David Cowley, Kris Cymer, Stuart Elms, Peter Harrison, Pat Higgins, Robin Hill, Keith Milborrow, Peter Mitchell, Peter Page Mitchell, Steve Layfield, Max Malkin, Steve Obey, Guy Parfect, Jason Philips, Ian Robertson, Paul Sanders, Michael Schouten, David Seall, Peter Spooner, Nigel Watson, and Jack Wilkinson.
News of new developments and updates on the village local with a fascinating collection of Sussex pub scene will be gratefully received by local memorabilia and pictures on display the Editor for consideration in Scratchings. The inside, plus a range of military artefacts added standard disclaimer on p. 46 applies to all by Joe. The unusual bar game of Ring the Bull items. can still be played in the main (right-hand) bar.
■■ BARNHAM ■■ BELLS YEW GREEN Work finally started in August to convert the Harvey’s tied former Barnham Bridge Inn to a Tesco house, the Express store. Built in 1906 opposite the station Brecknock entrance to serve the large cattle market that Arms, sells stood nearby, the pub closed in 2010 and was IPA and a boarded up, becoming increasingly derelict as seasonal years went by. After sale to Tesco the interior offering. It’s was quickly stripped out but then all work well worth a visit for it’s well kept beers. The pub is just a short walk from Frant Station.
■■ BEXHILL ON SEA Bexhill residents have been stopped for nearly 2 years. The loss of the wondering if Barnham Bridge Inn left Barnham residents they will ever with only one pub - the Murrell Arms (see see a gleaming below), although pretty soon of course they will new have 3 supermarkets! Wetherspoon’s The Murrell Arms on Yapton Road has been pub, but now, 18 months after being granted awarded Fuller’s Master Cellarman status in planning consent, there’s some signs work has recognition of started at the former Picture Playhouse Cinema high standards in Western Road. However, local press reports of indicate that it won’t be opening in 2016. cellarmanship ■■ BOGNOR REGIS and bar The Belle Vue Hotel is under new ownership management. and renamed the Pier Hotel Bar & Diner. The Real Ales on unused hand pumps have been ripped out. sale are London Pride, HSB and a changing Fuller’s seasonal beer. The Alex has re-opened after refurbishment and has had a fourth hand pump installed. However, Customers of the Murrell are delighted that until trade picks up they are only using two of both Fuller’s and landlord Joe Murphy have them, which when visited were dispensing resisted any temptation to change the pub Sharps Doom Bar and Bath Gem. significantly and it remains a traditional 2-bar
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 5 Come along to The The Spotted Cow Spotted Cow at 1 High Street Angmering to savour a Angmering Real country Pub with West Sussex Home cooked Fresh BN16 4AW Food. 01903 783919 We have been awarded Open: a Finest Cask Marque Mon-Thu 11-3, 5.30-11 for our Real Ales, Fri-Sat 11-11 usually 6 on tap to Sun 12-10.30 enjoy. Meals: Mon-Sat 12-2, 6.30-9 In 2014 we are the Sun 12-3, 6.30-8.30 proud winners of The thespottedcowangmering Pub of the Year, South & South East in Bloom.
www.spottedcowangmering.co.uk
6 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued
■■ BOLNEY the third handpump has a changing guest. Three The Eight Bells has been sold and a new Legs, Old Dairy and Weltons have all featured. licensee will move in during October. ■■ CHICHESTER ■■ BRIGHTON The Four Chesnuts, formerly in the Good Beer The Aquarium, Steine Street, Brighton is now Guide, has had a more up and down recent called the Plotting Parlour serving coffee and history, and closed in August following the cake in the afternoons before switching to departure of the tenant. The pub is controlled by cocktails in the evening. Punch Taverns and they are currently advertising the tenancy – misspelled as “Four The Brighton Rocks, a cocktail bar, in Rock Chestnuts” - on their website at £6,350 Place, has a lease available for £125,000. ‘Ingoing’ plus rent of £24,000. It is not known if The Crown & Anchor, Preston Road, Brighton and when it may reopen. The Chesnuts has been has six pumps permanently dispensing three the long-standing home of the Chichester Folk Long Man beers and three varying guests such Song club, who have now moved to the as Arundel and Langham. Chichester Inn.
The Hikers Rest, Coldean Lane has closed and The Chantry is the new name of the re- will reputedly become a restaurant. Although furbished former Slug and Lettuce in South saved from closure in 2015; having been sold Street. The pub now has four handpumps and by Punch to its previous tenants this change has on visiting was selling Sharps Doom Bar and happened under the Permitted Development Ringwood Razorback with LocAle guests Dark regulations amendment. Star Original and Langham Halfway to Heaven. It also has craft keg beers from Brew Dog and A change of use under Permitted Development Camden Brewery. has also been used at the former Dyke Pub & ■■ CRAWLEY Kitchen (see separate article on page 35). With The , Northgate, has closed again, the Dyke failing as a food-led pub in an area of Black Dog and Enterprise Inns are seeking a new licensee. Brighton close to Hove it remains to be seen if a restaurant will be a success in this area. The Brewery Shades has been voted North Sussex Cider Pub of the Year The Monty, formerly the Montpelier, Montpelier Place, has the lease available for The Half Moon, Southgate is temporarily £55,000. closed whilst it is being changed into a Greene King managed house. The Norfolk, Western Road, Brighton is now renamed the Revelator – a Southern USA The White Hart said goodbye to licensees themed bar. Stuart and Angie, and it is now a Harvey’s ■■ CAMBER managed house. The Owl (formerly the Green Owl) has ■■ COWFOLD increased its beer offering and is concentrating The Hare & Hounds has now been let out. An on local brews. Long Man Best Bitter is a enthusiastic young couple have taken on the regular, and a changing seasonal beer comes pub. from the nearby Romney Marsh Brewery, while
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 7 THE INGLENOOK HOTEL 255 Pagham Road, Pagham, West Sussex, PO21 3QB Tel: 01243 262495 email: [email protected] • 16th century Grade II listed hotel, owned and run by the Honour family for over 40 years •
Stagecoach bus No. 60 stops outside and runs every 15 mins from Bognor Regis or Chichester In the 2017 Good Beer Guide • Five ales always on tap • Bar Snacks • Large, secluded beer garden • Acclaimed restaurant specialising in local line-caught fish, Selsey crab and lobsters, plus seasonal menu and homemade specials • Comfortable, en suite accommodation • • Private Functions • Wi Fi Western Sussex CAMRA Pub of the Year 2015 & 2016 Superb ales from local and regional brewers, including Dark Star, Magic Rock, Downlands, Siren, Oakleaf, Thornbridge, Marble, Ilkley, Oakham and many more
8 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued
■■ DURRINGTON ■■ EAST PRESTON The North Star, a busy food led Ember Inn, The Clockhouse Bar is a welcoming free house returns to the 2017 Good Beer Guide still at the sea end of the village and is a new entry to offering a good selection of ales from the the 2017 Good Beer Guide. Owned for some Mitchell & Butler portfolio and usually years by former local CAMRA branch secretary Harveys Sussex Best Bitter or another LocAle. Colin Bradshaw, it ■■ EASTBOURNE has three ale Old Town’s 12th century coaching inn, the pumps often Lamb, has upped its game in recent months and including have gained LocAle accreditation from the Skinner’s Betty local CAMRA branch. They serve a selection of Stoggs, one Harvey’s draught beers and well regarded food. from The last remaining pub in Eastbourne’s theatre Hammerpot (Bottle Wreck Porter in winter) land, the Buccaneer, has six handpumps with and/or another LocAle. four likely to be active at any one time. As well ■■ FAIRLIGHT as the regulars at least one is a changing beer The Cove closed its doors early in September. chosen from Mitchells and Butlers guest beer Nothing definite is known about its future, and list: we particularly liked Purity’s Mad Goose although there are rumours circulating the from rural Warwickshire. The manager was village, Sussex Drinker will not publish formerly at Harvey’s Blackboys Inn so knows anything until something is confirmed. all about good cellarmanship. CAMRA members receive a 20p a pint discount when ■■ FELPHAM showing their membership cards. The Old Barn currently has four hand pumps dispensing their regular beer, Dark Star The Lodge Inn, St Anthony’s Avenue, has been Hophead and two guests plus a real cider. On a reduced to a pile of rubble. Closed and recent visit these were Flack Manor Flack moribund for in excess of 5 years, it never sold Catcher, Fullers Red Fox and Lilleys Red real ale, but it does mean that another local pub Rabbit cider. They also had one cask on gravity has been consigned to history. dispensing Cottage Memphis Belle.
The former Cavalier, has just been completely The George offers two regular beers; Dark Star refurbished. However, it is very unlikely that it Hophead & Fullers London Pride. There is a will re-open as a pub, with a wine bar being third handpump which in the winter dispenses a mooted. It is though, as yet, unclear what type guest beer and in the summer a changing cider. of business will actually occupy the site. ■■ FINDON ■■ EAST CHILTINGTON The parent group of Black Horse is in The freehold of the Jolly Sportsman pub and receivership and the pub has now closed. restaurant is available for £715,000. ■■ ASHURST WOOD ■■ EAST GRINSTEAD The Three Crowns reopened in September, as The Open Arms has new owners. The Ship Inn ‘La Pergola’ Italian Restaurant & Bar. No has reopened after being refurbished. Fred news as yet as to whether real ale will be sold. Jones has returned to run the Sportsman.
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 9 10 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued
■■ FLETCHING occupying one of the three handpumps. The The Rose & Crown, High Street is for sale with others had Long Man and Three Legs beers, on a price tag of £500,000 for the freehold. that occasion American Pale Ale and Red Ale respectively. Real Pizzas, baked in a wood fired ■■ FRAMFIELD oven by a real Italian, are served from 1 to The Hare and Hounds has been revamped and 10pm. They’re open every day except Monday. redecorated by new owners, a family who come from a pub in Eastbourne. Following the article in the previous edition of the Sussex Drinker, the Jolly Fisherman has ■■ HALNAKER not been able to serve real ale consistently, The Anglesey Arms has been made an Asset of despite the intention of its proprietors to keep Community Value by Arun District Council polypins in the café. We offer apologies to any following a successful application by Halnaker of our readers who visited in search of real ale Parish Council and found none. ■■ HASTINGS ■■ HORSHAM It’s not every day we report on a newly built The Black Jug have hosted a Meet the Brewer pub but in Hastings the Conqueror’s March, event with Long Man Brewery which attracted on the junction people from a wide area around Horsham. of The Ridge and Stonestile The Queens Head (Hall & Woodhouse) has Lane, has reopened after a short refurbishment and is now opened its under new management. doors. It’s very much a food pub which offers a large seating Sadly, the Tanners Arms will not reopen as a area in different sections and a large car park. pub and will be converted for residential use Up to five beers from the wide range of after the developers successfully challenged the Marston’s portfolio are on offer. On a recent Asset of Community Value, with Horsham DC visit Ringwood Boondoggle and Banks’s Bitter agreeing that there were sufficient pubs within a were enjoyed. reasonable distance.
Three young enthusiasts, inspired by the We welcome Sarah and Bob to the Boar’s brewpub and craft ale movement in the States, Head, Worthing Road, currently they are reopened the running traditional hours until they settle in. Imperial in They sell beers from the usual Hall & Queens Road Woodhouse range, and have a full really good with a looking day and evening menu. Please check completely with the pub for opening times. different line- up. Using new The Bear, Market Square, has reopened after a stainless steel short closure, again selling ales from the Hall & equipment on Woodhouse range. site they’re brewing their own ‘Brewing The Anchor Hotel, Market Square, has Brothers’ ales. On a visit, shortly after opening, reopened after a refit, with six hand pumps in Brewing Bros Extra Pale at 5% was found place of the preceding four. These sell some
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 11 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued beers from the Greene King list and some local ■■ LOWER HORSEBRIDGE beer, plus one cider. In August the White Hart was listed as an Asset of Community Value, after being ■■ HOVE nominated by a group of local residents not An application to convert what was the Alibi, wanting to lose their local. In September 22 Victoria Terrace, Hove into a shop is under planning consent was refused for a developer’s consideration with Brighton & Hove City plans to Council. demolish this ■■ ISFIELD historic pub and The Laughing Fish is now open for Post Office replace it with services provided by Ridgewood Post Office, six dwellings, on Thursdays between 10 am and noon. including two on the car park opposite, much to the relief of ■■ JEVINGTON many in the area. It remains to be seen what will The Eight Bell’s first beer festival in August happen next but the pub remains open as we go was a great success. As it’s not on a bus route or to press. It serves affordable food with Harvey’s easy to cycle to it’s not been on some of our Sussex Best Bitter and Sharp’s Doom Bar on correspondents’ itineraries. However the the handpumps. excellent food and beer line-up has encouraged some of us to ■■ PEASE POTTAGE take a healthy The Black Swan, has reopened after walk over the refurbishment Downs from ■■ PEASMARSH Willingdon, The Horse & Cart Inn was reopened after which takes just restoration by new owners in the Summer. It over an hour. now offers three local beers. A recent visit saw Four Long Man, Three Legs and Romney Marsh. handpumps dispense regular and changing There is an extensive menu featuring home beers, including from local micros, all in good cooked pub favourites, including pizza. shape. ■■ PORTSLADE ■■ KIRDFORD The Stanley Arms, a regular in the Good Beer The tenancy of the Foresters is available. Guide and Ale Trail, is back on the market with ■■ LEWES a freehold price of £400,000. The White Hart Hotel is for sale at £2,000,000 ■■ RIPE (Two million pounds). Since the sale at auction of the Lamb Inn a ■■ LITTLEHAMPTON couple of months ago it is unclear who has The New Inn is a first time entry in CAMRA’s purchased the pub or what the new owner’s Good Beer Guide. The only GBG listed pub in intentions are. An earlier offer to the residents the town. James Crossley keeps an ever of Ripe to purchase the pub from former changing list of beers from Enterprise Inns. A owners, Shepherd Neame, failed to provide the board by the bar gives what’s coming in the necessary funding. There has been no further future. communications from the residents of Ripe
12 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued with the local Branch, although The Lamb still busy beer festival was held in September which has a current Asset of Community Value included live music and a hog roast. attached to it for at least another 2 years. ■■ STORRINGTON ■■ ST LEONARDS ON SEA The Moon has recently been accredited with The Dripping Spring may well have a new the cask marque. They are able to get ales from landlord by the start of the new year, however the SIBA delivery list. On a recent visit, they the Tower remains a must for lovers of real ale had Langham Sundowner and Sadler’s Mellow and cider with six beers on offer and cider and Yellow, a 4.1%, pale ale. Both ales were in very perry also on the bar. With beers from near and good condition. Sharp’s Doom Bar is the far it is always interesting to see what is on regular ale. Thatchers Cheddar valley cider was offer. also on sale.
The North Star has been selected once again ■■ TWO MILE ASH for the Good Beer Guide. Rother Valley beers The Bax Castle won the award for Marstons are often Family Friendly Pub for the South for 2016. available ■■ WIVELSFIELD GREEN along with The current owners of the Cock Inn, David & Harveys Jo Hunter, who bought the community pub Sussex from Punch eight years ago, have put the pub on Best Bitter the market for £650,000. Both the Hunters and and Nick Earee from agents Fleurets are Timothy Taylor Landlord both being regulars. anticipating selling the pub as a going concern. The pub is always busy and the staff David is quoted as saying “It’s definitely not knowledgeable. Loyalty cards are offered. going down the line of becoming a Co-Op or ■■ SCAYNES HILL anything like that!” At the Inn on the Green, the lease is available ■■ VINES CROSS for an undisclosed price. The Brewers Arms has now reopened and ■■ STONE CROSS resumed its normal trading hours of 12 until 11 Harveys each day following a fire that saw the pub have closed for a time. The interior had been well completely refurbished with the original layout intact. The refurbished Harveys Sussex Best Bitter was in good form the Red plus there are always a couple of guest beers on Lion in the offer. summer. ■■ WOODGATE It’s now The Prince of Wales at Woodgate has been manager run rather than a tenancy, which seems made an Asset of Community Value by Arun to be the trend for larger establishments. Food District Council following a successful now features more prominently, putting the new application by Aldingbourne Parish Council dining room and kitchen to good use, while the bar areas and new outside seating continue to cater for drinking customers. To celebrate a
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 13 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued
■■ WORTHING five real ales on pump. Lately Bass Best bitter Harveys superb Old Ale arrived late September and Wadsworth 6X have been the rotating 5th at the Parsonage Bar & Restaurant and will beer. remain for the season. The Sir Timothy Shelley is a welcome Les Johnson’s newcomer to GBG 2017. This Wetherspoons new micro-pub pub always offers at least two ales from local on South Street, micro-brewers in Sussex, Surrey or Hampshire. immediately Look out for regular ‘meet the brewer’ north of West evenings. Worthing station, is now open and has been named the The Royal Oak lease is up for sale. Green Man Ale & Cider House. The Wheatsheaf has been refurbished and has The Selden Arms Winterfest will take place reopened. from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th January. This Lancing’s annual event always features an impressive newest real ale range of ales and is very popular with locals and outlet, the those from further afield. Stanley Brooksteed Alehouse, is a Alehouse have new entrant into been awarded the Good Beer CAMRA Guide after Sussex & being open for only two years. Steve and Surrey Pub of Hannah Bennett offer at least three real ales, the Year and will now compete with the winners with Downlands Devils Dyke Honey Porter and of other regions in the Super-regional Round, Langhams Arapaho being particularly popular the last sixteen of the national Pub of the Year with the locals. There are also several ciders competition. The results of this round are available. embargoed until the publication date of At the Castle Ale House all ale is £3 a pint until December’s What’s Brewing. For more further notice. information on the PotY competition go to www.camra.org.uk/pub-of-the-year- ■■ WISBOROUGH GREEN competition-procedures. The Wisborough, The Hare & closed on Hounds makes 3rd August, a welcome has reverted return to to Hall & CAMRA’s Woodhouse Good Beer ownership Guide. A central under its former name the Bat & Ball, and has Worthing pub reopened. in the Enterprise stable. Tenant Pete Wilson has
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 14 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 15 Bus to the Pub
The Sussex Bus to the Pub Group Join us on our travels!
The Sussex Bus to the Pub group (BttP) November has been running since May 2009 and now attracts participants from many Thursday 3 Lewes; Lewes & Barcombe: meet areas of our fine county, so if you too Lewes bus station for 11.35 Compass 122 to would enjoy visiting different pubs with Barcombe for Royal Oak. Return to Lewes on fine ales and informal convivial company 13.55 Compass 122 to Brewers Arms (GBG) in without the constraints of the car, then search of Bonfire Boy. BttP may just appeal! Itineraries and the Thursday 10 Lagness & Bognor; Meet number of pubs visited vary but often it Chichester bus station to catch 11.38 is possible for participants to dip in or Stagecoach 600 to Lagness for Royal Oak out of a trip to suit. Often there is a short (Fullers) then carry on to Bognor for Hatters paved or metalled road walk from the (GBG). Later back to Nyetimber for Inglenook nearest bus stop to the pub. If it is more (GBG & Branch PotY). Return to Chichester via than an half mile then we will show an Stagecoach 600 which runs every 20 minutes approximate distance and if it is across until 18.40. footpaths which could be muddy or ; uneven, then you will also see a walking Wednesday 16 Billingshurst & Horsham boot symbol. Either 10.30 Metrobus 23 to Washington for 11.12 Compass 100 to Billingshurst OR 11.03 With so many good pubs struggling to train from Barnham. Visiting both the Kings survive in the current economic climate Head & Kings Arms. Buses depart for Horsham and County Council budget cuts hourly at 58 past the hour for Malt Shovel threatening the subsidised bus services (GBG) or / and Anchor Tap (Dark Star). that serve many rural communities, join Wednesday 23 Brighton; Meet Quadrant us in ‘supporting them’. from 11.30 onwards. Choice of pubs to visit to Local Bus timetables can be found at: be decided on the day by the participants. Brighton & Hove www.buses.co.uk Compass Bus www.compass-travel.co.uk December Emsworth www.emsworthanddistrict.co.uk Friday 2 Staplefield, Cuckfield & Haywards Metrobus www.metrobus.co.uk Heath; 9.58 Metrobus 271 from Old Steine Seaford & Dist. www.journeysolutions.co.uk Stagecoach www.stagecoachbus.com/south Brighton OR 10.57 from Perrymount Road Sussex Bus www.thesussexbus.com Haywards Heath to Jolly Tanners (GBG) arr 11.12. Cuckmere Valley www.cuckmerebuses.org.uk Then 12.19 to Cuckfield for Rose & Crown / Talbot / Wheatsheaf. Then 14.41 Metrobus 89 to Some of you reading this may also be Haywards Heath for Lockhart Tavern ( Dark interested in Pete Brown’s bi-monthly Star). Trains to London Pubs (TTLP) group Friday 9 West Marden & Chichester; Meet at (see the Diary Dates). Chichester bus station (front lay-by opp rail station & Foundry ph) for 10.55 Emsworth &
16 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Bus to the Pub
District 54 to West Marden for Victoria (GBG) Compass 123 to Newhaven for Hope (GBG) then Christmas Ales Festival on the day. Return to on to Jolly Boatman. Then catch B&H 12 to Chichester at 14.59 for Chichester Inn (GBG) Rottingdean for Queen Victoria (GBG). (bring CAMRA membership cards ) and Dolphin & Thursday 16 Horsham; Meet Maltshovel (GBG) Anchor (w/sp). at noon, then on to Piries Bar (GBG) and Anchor Thursday 15 Laughton & Lewes; Meet 11.30 Tap (Dark Star). at John Harvey Tavern then 12.20 Compass 143 to Friday 24 Littlehampton; Meet George (w/sp) Laughton for Roebuck. Return to Lewes at 14.35 at noon then a walkabout. Pubs to be visited to be for Snowdrop (GBG) and other good pubs in decided on the day by the participants. search of Harveys Christmas Ale. Please be aware that, due to this programme Thursday 22 Worthing; Meet Brooksteed (GBG being planned months in advance, bus time & Sussex PotY) at noon. Then somewhat later tables could be changed or, worse still, cut Anchored (GBG) and other good pubs. completely by the time any trip actually takes Thursday 29 Shoreham; Meet Piston Broke at place. 11.30 then onwards to Old Star (GBG) and Duke of Wellington (GBG). All members on the mailing list will be notified January of any changes as soon as I know about them. It is for this reason that it is in your best interest Thursday 5 Lewes; Meet Swan ( Southover High to join the mailing list at: beermatsRus.max@ St ) at noon, then on to the Kings Head and a crawl mypostoffice.co.uk, alternatively phone Max on round some of the pubs we rarely visit. 01243 828394. Thursday 12 Petworth & Byworth; Either 11.05 Stagecoach 1 from South St Worthing OR 10.45 Compass 99 from West St Chichester to Petworth square for a short walk to Stonemasons Inn (GBG). Return to the square for bus to Byworth for Black Horse (GBG). Thursday 19 Brighton; meet Mike J at noon at Waggon & Horses for an interesting crawl to some of the Brighton pubs not often visited. Wednesday 25 Newdigate; 12.15 Metrobus 21 from Crawley bus station (stop H) to Parkgate (Newdigate) for Surrey Oaks (GBG & East Surrey PotY). Return to Crawley at 14.21 for Brewery Known locally as Ypres Castle Inn Shades (GBG). Wipers this 17th century pub offers five Gungarden February real ales and locally Rye produced food. East Sussex Thursday 2 Steyning & Lancing; 11.55 B&H 2 Nestled behind Ypres TN31 7HH from Shoreham High St to Steyning for Norfolk Castle the pub is ideally Arms (GBG), return to Shoreham at 13.40 then located to enjoy the 01797 223248 www.yprescastleinn.co.uk catch a Stagecoach 700 to Lancing and walk up to surrounding views from Stanley Ale House (GBG). the pretty beer garden. Live music is provided Wednesday 8 Newhaven & Rottingdean; every Friday & Sunday Meet Alan at Lewes Bus Station for 11.05 night.
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 17 The White Dog Inn Village Street, Ewhurst Green Robertsbridge, East Sussex Welcome to The White Dog Inn. A traditional family run village inn – TN32 5TD enjoyed by visitors and regulars alike – Open: Mon-Fri 12-11.00pm, and always offering a warm, inviting and Sat 12-11.30pm, Sun 12-11pm friendly atmosphere. Meals served: Mon-Fri 12-2, 6.30-9, The White Dog Inn has something for Sat 12-2.30, 6.30-9.30, everyone, whether it’s a quiet drink by the Sun 12-2.45, 6.30-9 open fire, a lazy day in our garden with the 01580 830264 children or some superb pub food. www.thewhitedogewhurst.co.uk
18 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Bru News
raspberry wheat beer, and a coffee milk stout (both 5% ABV), while the collaborations have continued with two Brighton-based operations. Bison Beer Crafthouse used the brewery’s kit for its DIPA (8.5% ABV with orange zest), while the Lost and Found Microbrewery used it for Golden Pale Ale (GPA) and a super-hoppy American Pale Ale (APA). The Information here is generally supplied brewery is currently working on by the Brewery Liaison Officers refinements to its best-sellingSussex (BLO) named at the end of each Gold, having brewed some in the report. The Brewery Liaison summer using the original yeast strain. Coordinator for London & South East The next new beer will be Brenden’s Area is Peter Page-Mitchell. This Session IPA, the first of a planned report is compiled and edited by range of ‘hop-forward’ brews. The Peter Adams, Deputy Brewery Liaison forthcoming seasonal beer, Autumn Coordinator for Sussex. Breeze (5% ABV), will be a pumpkin based ale available from mid October, 1648 with the mighty Barley Wine (10% East Hoathly, 01825 840830. ABV) aged in wooden whisky barrels Shoreham Farmers’ Markets. As a www.1648brewing.co.uk again available at Christmas in very co-operative we are always looking The Brewery’s regular beers limited quantities. forward to new members joining the Signature (4.4%) and Triple BLO Jeff Vinter Champion (4.0%) are still selling well team in a variety of roles. The recent beer festival at Steyning Cricket Club this year. We are extremely proud of ASHDOWN ALES our Sacred Solstice (4.3%) winning was a resounding success, thanks to all Withyham, 01892 770532 the bronze award at the SIBA Festival who came and participated. [email protected] this year, so look out for the darker BLO Nigel Watson BLO Jason Phillips version Winter Solstice (4.3%) that is brewed with smoked barley and a ALEHOUSE & KITCHEN hint of ginger spice in the background. Worthing, 01903 238392. BALLARD’S The ever popular and full bodied Richard, the manager of the Alehouse Nyewood, 01730 821362. www.ballards-brewery.co.uk Warrant Porter (4.8%), with a and Kitchen, has recently left and his gentle hint of rye, is back to be replacement has not been in contact BLO Barry Woodward enjoyed as the colder nights draw in. despite our efforts. The brewery The brewery also has a new arrival of remains active but we are unaware of BARTLEBYS Champagne yeast which will go into a its specific plans at this time. Brighton, 01273 275012 new, as yet unnamed, brew which is BLO Tim Walker [email protected] planned for launch towards the end of BLO Allen White next February. ARUNDEL BLO David Platt Ford, nr Arundel, 01903 733111. BEACHY HEAD www.arundelbrewery.co.uk East Dean, 01323 423313. 360° The brewery appointed a second www.beachyhead.org.uk Sheffield Park, 01825 722375. brewer in July, Brenden Quinn, who The brewery continues to remain www.360degreebrewing.com made a name for himself with busy even in these uncertain and BLO Jason Phillips speciality beers at London craft challenging times. The Parson’s breweries Gipsy Hill and Fourpure, a Porter is gaining in popularity as it ADUR role which he will be able to develop becomes available in more outlets. The recent very successful Eastbourne Steyning, 01903 867614. further at Arundel. Brenden joins Paul beer festival was helped out by Roger www.adurbrewery.com Williams at the mash tun; Paul’s the brewer coming to the rescue No changes for the Adur Brewery, expertise having helped the brewery when ale was not delivered by a beers are still selling well at the usual to get where it is today. Recent couple of other microbreweries. As outlets and at the Steyning and ‘specials’ have included Big Love, a SussexSussex Drinker:Drinker: Winter Winter 20162016 1919 20 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Bru News the Beachy Head sheep centre, (where produce beers that represented their BRIGHTON BIER the brewery is situated), has closed, an bars. Involved were Brighton Beer www.brightonbier.com auction is to be held for the livestock. Dispensary, Black Dove and Brew BLO James Eddleston The brewery will provide a bar for this Dog Brighton. The brewery can now event. Unfortunately the annual concentrate on brewing more of their BURNING SKY bonfire celebrations at East Dean have own beers again and will be focusing Firle, 01273 858080. been cancelled this year. As the on some darker styles over the winter www.burningskybeer.com brewery always provides the bar many with some Belgian and German ales. The run down barn next door to the people will be deprived the extra Recent brews included a Green Hop brewery has now been beautifully chance of sampling Beachy Head ales. Pale made with fresh picked Fuggles restored and will be used as a Everything is now ready for the open hops from a Hove garden and a dedicated barrel store used for aging day at the end of October and a new Breakfast Stout using Small Batch various beers. strong bitter is planned to be brewed coffee beans. The cask 4.8% Porter will be available by the end of the year. BLO Peter Mitchell once again from November to BLO Tony Harman January. BEER ME A number of bottled conditioned BEDLAM Eastbourne, Belgian Café. 01323 bottles will be available around Albourne, 01273 978015. 729967. Christmas, including a very small www.bedlambrewery.co.uk The winter seasonal, beer.me IPA release of the Imperial Stout that In the usual merry-go-round of will be available from November. has been ageing in Oak since April; A breweries, the young and talented There will also be Christmas beer this Saison Reserve aged on brewer Horacio was tempted away to year, which has been maturing away gooseberries and a special release Brewdog. (He was sent with a few since September. blended Saison that has been aged layers of Bedlam T shirts to survive BLO Scott O’Rourke for two years in white wine barrels. the Aberdeenshire winter). A 3.5% Saison that has been aged in Meanwhile, the not so young Paul, the BLACK CAT white wine barrels will be available in former Headmaster from Dark Star, Framfield, Uckfield. keg later this year or early next year. turned up at Bedlam and has refused www.blackcat-brewery.com BLO Ruth Anderson to leave - the brewery are offering a Black Cat have just installed two new prize for the best suggestion of what fermenters to double output to meet CROOKED BROOK they can do with him. current demand and to offer their Copthorne, 07595 262247 Meanwhile, the proudly obsessive complete range of beers all year. They www.crookedbrook.co.uk Head Brewer, Fabio impressed groups also provide the opportunity to make In September, Simon and Juha decided of brewery visitors from the nearby seasonal ales and experiment with to sell the brewery. More details on Hurst Festival with his ability to talk new recipes. The order has been their website. Anyone interested without taking a breath about the placed for the 10-barrel plant which should contact info@crookedbrook. science of malting, hop growing and will increase output four-fold from the co.uk brewing. end of January. Black Cat beer was BLO TBC Bedlam’s harvest ale, 4.4% Pilgrim invited to the Great British Beer was brewed and sold in record time. Festival for the first time this year, has DARK STAR The purpose of this green hop beer is featured at many local beer festivals Partridge Green, 01403 713085. to help the brewing team to top up and was particularly delighted to win www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk their tan as they harvest the Sussex both the Premium Strong Ale This year’s Hopfest took place over and Pilgrim hops from their own bines category and overall champion at the the first weekend in October and on the Albourne Estate, the fact that SIBA South East Region Beer raised several thousand pounds for it’s been very well received by beer Competition 2016. The Dark Star Foundation. Thanks to lovers has been a bonus. BLO John Packer all who played at, cooked at, served BLO Peter Mitchell beer at and of course attended for BRICK HOUSE making it a great weekend. Keeping BEERCRAFT Patcham, Brighton. with the music theme, we shall be Hove [email protected] welcoming the super talented Jarrod www.beercraftbrighton.co.uk There is nothing new to report on Dickenson to play at the brewery in Local bars have been ‘gypsy brewing’ this brewery. BLO TBC March, fresh from supporting The over the summer on the pilot kit to Waterboys and Bonnie Raitt. More
SussexSussex Drinker:Drinker: Winter Winter 20162016 2121 22 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Bru News info on that can be found on the Dark BLO Bill Turner BLO Mac McCutcheon Star website. Meanwhile, aside from festival FIREBIRD GOLDMARK organising, the test brewing kit has Rudgwick, 01403 823180. Poling, nr Arundel, 01903 297838 / been in full flow, working on some www.firebirdbrewing.co.uk 07900 555415. www.goldmarks.co.uk new additions for the 2017 beer line- The latest two beers to be launched Goldmark have fitted a sixth 2300 up, as well as the brewing team were Harvest Ale, 4.5% ABV (cask) litre fermenter to meet demand. debating which favourites we keep on brewed with green hops and Firefest Vertigo Pilsner continues to grow the brewing schedule – I would like to Marzen, 5.5% ABV (craft keg and in sales and will be available in cans for say it was a series of meetings bottle), a Bavarian style amber lager - Christmas. The beer is brewed and resulting in an answer, but it was more ready for the Oktoberfest season. The canned in the brewery. like a series of friendly squabbles recent Big Nibble event held in Mark has brewed some new beers to resulting in compromise. For the Horsham Carfax was a great success. add to the canned range available remainder of this year, we shall be The next event is the Winter Brew from the website, Humbucker brewing Crème Brulee, Winter Fest to be held at the brewery on Double APA 8.5% ABV and Mosh Solstice and Imperial Stout Saturday November 26. The day will Pit IPA 5.6% ABV add to the alongside our permanent brews. include beer tasting, live music, food #BeersThatRock range. The report would not be complete and a bouncy castle for accompanied Black Lion Porter 4.8% ABV is back without wishing our outgoing MD, youngsters. Christmas Ale 6.5% for the winter together with Secret Paul Reed, all the very best as he ABV made with English malts will be Santa 4.6% ABV. Pubs are advised to retires from the business to no doubt available in bottle for the first time pre-order as these sold out well spend more time with the grandkids. this year and launched at the Brewfest. before Christmas last year His leaving party was attended by a This season’s Old Ale, 4.5% ABV in BLO Jim Waterston vast amount of people including both cask and bottle, plus all the current and past employees as well as regular ales will be available to GOLDSTONE a few brewers. purchase in the well stocked shop, Ditchling, 01444 257053 / 07748 BLO Clive Watson there will be the usual Christmas 153735. offers on the day. All are welcome. The Amarillo (4.5% ABV) and Ruddy DOWNLANDS much awaited bar is now complete, it Duck (4.1% ABV) have been ordered Small Dole, 01273 495596. is spacious and comfortable and is for the sixth CAMRA Real Ale & www.downlandsbrewery.com complemented by a juke box and Cider Festival at the Spa Valley Railway BLO Roger Coton table football. The brewery now has based in Tunbridge Wells, taking place extended opening times at weekends. in October. Seacider production is still EWHURST ALES Check Facebook for details. For craft dominating the company. Ewhurst Green, 01580 830049. ale enthusiasts Firebird will have a BLO Paul Free www.ewhurstales.com market stall on the two Saturdays in Regrettably nothing to report, as the run up to Christmas again in the GREYHOUND despite a number of attempts to Carfax in Horsham. For rugby fans the Smock Alley, West Chiltington, 07973 contact the brewery, there has been brewery will be showing all big 625510 no response. matches of the Six Nations from www.greyhoundbrewery.co.uk BLO Kris Cymer Saturday 4th February 2017, beer and f:greyhound brewery Rugby - what's not to like? Details and t:@greyhoundbrew FILO times of all events will be available on Thanks to all that came to visit the Hastings, 01424 420212. the brewery Facebook page. brewery’s bar at this year’s CAMRA www.filobrewing.co.uk BLO Roger Tofts Worthing beer festival, in October at With the festive season approaching, the new venue, where brewery bars FILO’s Our Auld Ale (6.5%) and FRANKLINS were set up for the first time. There Cardinal (4.6%) will be making a Bexhill, 01424 731066. was good feedback, the brewery did welcome return to supplement the www.franklinsbrewery.co.uk well and the team enjoyed talking to regular beers; Churches Pale, The brewery is moving to new customers about their beers. The Crofters, Gold and Old Town Tom, premises in Ringmer where they will brewery was delighted when Amber which remain as popular as ever in be installing a bottling plant. Until then Eyes Golden Ale won Overall Beer various pubs throughout Sussex & there is little to report, but watch out of the Festival. Kent. for further announcements. Core beers: Blonde Bird Golden
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 2323 Bru News
Pale Ale 3.9% ABV; Amber Eyes distribution team and production St Leonards-on-Sea, 01424 572050 / Golden Ale 4.2% ABV; Good close to its all time high. As ever Lee's 07708 259342.. Ordinary Bitter 3.8% ABV; B-46 head is full of development plans that www.hastingsbrewery.co.uk Dark Amber Ale 4.6% ABV; await the right opportunity, but the There is still no news of the Seasonal: July to October Tree Frog team was very pleased with its re-commencement of brewing. Hoppy Pale Ale 4.9% ABV. appearance at the newly created BLO Peter Page-Mitchell Available from the end of October: brewer stands at the Worthing Beer Booster American Brown Ale Festival and the opportunity to HEATHEN BREWERS 4.4% ABV; Blackbird Porter 5.4% showcase its latest creations, the Haywards Heath, 01444 456217 / ABV; Rainbow Eyes Copper Ale highlight probably being the 5% ABV 07825 429428. 5.2% ABV, through the autumn with RIPA, and to further its mission to www.heathenbrewers.co.uk further new beers planned for the end get all of Worthing writing with Award winning Hoppler Effect of the year. Hammerpot pens! 2017 looks bright made an appearance at the BLO Ray Pilkington for the Vinery! Eastbourne beer festival and the BLO Tim Walker collaboration brews with Top Notch GRIBBLE went down very well at the The Gribble Inn, Oving, 01243 786893. HARVEYS September celebrations of the 175th www.gribbleinn.co.uk Lewes, 01273 480209. anniversary of the railway coming to Gribble Brewery continues to flourish www.harveys.org.uk Haywards Heath. Bottles of the 7.5% with a new beer for Christmas in Harvey’s have reintroduced the Aged Chuffer smoked ale are development. Plans for a new fruit apostrophe to their name. This available from the Grape & Grain in beer were aborted, however. Both the coincided with the rebrand, which the town and will be ready for Sussex Quadhopper (4% ABV) and included new pump clips whilst still drinking by Christmas. Pig’s Ear (6% ABV) appeared at the retaining some tradition including the One of the Heathens visited Nottingham Robin Hood Beer and wonderful Sussex phrase ‘won’t be namesake US brewers Heathen Cider Festival in October. druv’. Brewing in Vancouver, Washington BLO Chris Wright The brewery collected a number of State, receiving a very friendly accolades at the 2016 World Beer welcome from the American tribe. A GUN Awards, including ‘World’s best strong 'Double Heathen' collaboration brew Hawthbush Farm, Gun Hill, Heathfield, porter’ for the Prince of Denmark; is under discussion. Other new beers 07900 683355. UK’s best bitter over 5% for Tom include Heathen Marmalade, a [email protected] Paine; UK’s best pale barley wine for 5.8% bitter made with, er, marmalade. Two new beers have now joined the Elizabethan Ale; UK’s best porter BLO Ruth Anderson permanent range: Velo Dog Strong for 1859 Porter and the UK gold Pale (5.5% ABV) brewed using pale medal for the Lewes Castle Brown HEPWORTH malts and a mix of U.K. and U.S. hops Ale. Well done, thoroughly deserved! Horsham, 01403 269696. and Base Ejection Smoked Rye As I am sure most of you will be www.hepworthbrewery.co.uk (4.7% ABV) which uses German beech aware, Harvey’s have reintroduced The brewery is now fully up and smoked malt to give a subtle keg beer, last available in 2000. Gold running at the impressive new smokiness that combines with the Bier (4%) and Malt Brown (4.8%) Adversane site. Finishing touches are spiciness from the rye. are now available on keg and in a can. being put to the Brewery shop which A limited edition beer, a Sorachi / A third beer Black Stout (4.8%) will should be opening in time for the Simcoe Double IPA (7.4% ABV) is also be available on keg in the near Christmas period, although this will currently available in key kegs only. future. Sussex Best Bitter is also initially only be on Thursdays, Fridays The brewery's trading area continues available in a can and is proving very and Saturdays. The visitor centre with to expand and now includes regular popular in the Harvey’s shop! bar is also nearing completion and deliveries to London. The Sussex Champion beer, should be open for visits in the New BLO Steve Obey brewed using only Andrew Hoad’s Year. ‘Sussex hop’ from Salehurst in Sussex The new site includes separate plant HAMMERPOT is now available in a bottle from the for Goodwood Estates, Laine's and Poling, nr Arundel, 01903 883338. brewery shop. Beer Counter (Ridgeway) Breweries www.hammerpot-brewery.co.uk BLO Ruth Anderson who should all be brewing soon. This Good times at Hammerpot, with new will free up some capacity on the blood added to the sales and HASTINGS BEER CO Hepworth plant, currently used for
SussexSussex Drinker:Drinker: Winter Winter 20162016 2424 Bru News contract brewing, to be used on their open seven days a week and offer a KISSINGATE own products. range of beers, most of which are not Lower Beeding, 01403 891335 Most of the plant in Hepworth's locally available elsewhere, along with www.kissingate.co.uk Brewery is presently that from the ciders. Kissingate’s October Festival was Horsham site, but there is to be a new BLO John Quick another huge success despite some steel masher and some conditioning heavy showers early in the day. Visitors tanks are to be replaced. It is also HURST from near and far enjoying the late planned to add another bottling line Hurstpierpoint, 07866 438953. afternoon sun included a delegation to the existing facility. www.hurstbrewery.co.uk from Isle of Man CAMRA Branch. A Cask sales have increased slightly over Regrettably nothing to report, as total of 14 beers were on offer the last few months. Daws IPA is despite a number of e-mails and throughout the day including new now permanently available as a keg phone calls to the brewery, there has collaboration beer Hop Collider and bottle conditioned product, and been no response. 4.0% ABV and Kissingate’s Green will occasionally appear in a cask BLO Steve Floor Hop 5.5% ABV. Gary said he was version. The current seasonal ale is particularly grateful to CAMRA Red Export, and Old Ale is due to ISFIELD members who harvested hops from be launched in November and Framfield, 01825 750633 / 07803 their gardens for this year’s green hop available through to March. There will 716758. brew. The Hope in Carshalton also be the spiced Christmas [email protected]. (CAMRA London Pub of the Year Cracker at 4.8% ABV for the festive After a good summer Ethel Red, 2016 winner) ordered a one-off season. (4.4% ABV), is now available up until special beer Smoked Out Stout BLO Chris Stringer Christmas or into the New Year 5.0% ABV which showcased alongside depending on demand. The first batch a Windsor & Eton brew at their award HIGH WEALD of Flapjack Oatmeal Stout, (5.3% winners’ presentation night. East Grinstead, 07836 291430. ABV), was brewed last month and Kissingate will also provide five special [email protected] after its six week maturation period beers for the Pigs Ear Beer Festival The summer has been a time of will be available from early-mid which will be held in late November. consolidation at High Weald with a December and on sale throughout There are two new beers ready for move to a larger unit on the same the winter. Get your orders in early to launching before the year is out. One premises and continued promotion of avoid disappointment will be Black Cherry Mild En Plus the four core beers through markets, BLO TBC 6.5%. ABV. The other is a closely free houses and other outlets over an guarded secret. The production of increasingly wide area. The beers have KEMPTOWN core beers remains at full stretch as also featured at festivals ranging from Brighton, 07967 681203 always. The next big brewery event is small village events up to the very [email protected] Kissingate’s Christmas Festival to be large CAMRA Nottingham festival BLO Keith Newell held on Saturday 17th December, where they vied with over 1200 other 11am to 8pm, no tickets required. cask ales. Membership of SIBA’s KILN Information can be found on the BeerFlex scheme has helped to get Burgess Hill, 07800 556729. brewery website ‘Events’ page. High Weald beers into a larger range www.thekilnbrewery.co.uk BLO Roy Bray of pubs. Alongside the already established BLO Jonathan Samways Boardwalk, Brewlin Rouge and KITCHEN GARDEN Bricks and Porter,there two new Sheffield Park, 01825 790775 HOP YARD brews; one is the recently released www. kitchengardenbrewery.co.uk Forest Row, 07769 313410. Mischief Maker which is a hoppy BLO Jason Phillips [email protected] red ale (3.8% ANV) which is getting No new developments to report this good reviews, the other beer is being LAINE quarter. Golden Ale (5.0% ABV) released on 1st November, Slide The North Laine, Brighton, 01273 continues in full production, using Away, described as a juicy west coast 683666. plant at the Westerham Brewery and pale ale (4% ABV.) www.drinkinbrighton.co.uk/north-laine is supplied to local outlets. The Forest Bricks and Porter won the Sussex The brewery underwent a re-launch Row 100-litre plant is used for the Micro Beer of the Festival at at the end of September, with a new bottle-conditioned version and test October’s Eastbourne Beer Festival. name – Laine Brew Co; a new brews. The busy bar and shop are BLO Paul Free brewery capable of producing 40,000
SussexSussex Drinker:Drinker: Winter Winter 20162016 2525 Bru News pints per week and six new beers. trading. Cafe at Field, Preston Barracks, Lewes The six new beers are: Bestest, a Road, Brighton. Ebulis, their 4.3% cask bitter made using British LONG MAN elderflower bubbly is now infused hops; Doubloon Golden Ale, a 4% Litlington, 01323 871850 / with sea-buckthorn berries giving it cask ale made with US hops; Source 07976 777992. an extra fruitiness and bright orange Pale Ale, a 4.1% keg everyday beer; www.longmanbrewery.com colour as the leaves on the trees start Ripper Session IPA, a 4.9% hoppy The brewery was delighted with to fall. They are soon to depart on the keg; Neon Angel, an ever-changing QUADRUPLE success in the World biggest Old Tree Apple scrumping range of keg beers, high in alcohol and Beer Awards: Best Bitter: United adventure yet, aiming to harvest 2500 hops, the current version is a 9.2% Kingdom’s Best Bitter up to 4%. APA: litres of juice from small orchards that double IPA; Word, a 4.4% real lager; United Kingdom’s Best Pale Ale. Old would otherwise go unharvested. Revelator, a 5.9% keg full on IPA and Man: United Kingdom Silver, Mild BLO Andrew Coleman Twisted Lips, a series of sour beers. Dark Ale. Long Blonde: United The current version is a 4.1% Kingdom Silver, Golden Ale. PELLS BREWING CO-OP Tropical Sour. Scary Man is back! This popular dark The Elephant and Castle, Lewes. BLO Ruth Anderson seasonal makes its annual return for BLO TBC October. Inn Keeper will make its LANGHAM second appearance as a December POLARITY Lodsworth, 01798 860861. guest beer. After a successful debut in Worthing, 07872 105300 www.langhambrewery.co.uk 2015 this fruity winter warmer www.polaritybrewing.co.uk Busy times up at Lodsworth, the two returns for its second seasonal slot. Polarity Brewing are now up and new fermenters are now in use along- The brewery wishes a fond farewell to running having launched their first side a new conditioning tank ready for their drayman Richard Flowers. beer Rosetta’s Comet IPA at the keg plant. The new seasonal beer BLO Scott O’Rourke Worthing Beer Festival, which sold is Autumn Ale 4.4% ABV, a smooth out before the close. Currently they reddish amber with a subtle honeyed OLD PRENTONIAN are ‘cuckoo brewing’ at Riverside, who finish.Decennium 4.0% ABV is blond Sompting, 07708 690237. have been kind enough to and zesty and still selling well. All good at OPB, the small but accommodate them until they have BLO Peter Luff elegantly formed web site is now live their own set up and premises. They as above. are working on their second beer LISTER’S They had beer in the Worthing beer which will be a Traditional English Ale Ford, 01903 885950 / 07775 853412. festival and are supplying The King’s (T.E.A.) with an orange twist and also www.listersbrewery.com Arms in Arundel for a meet the have a Smoked Wheat Bier and a This month sees the beginning of a brewer type event in November. Apart darker ale in the pipeline for the new very special partnership for Lister’s from that, focus is on continuing to try year, so watch this space! with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. In and grow, get more suppliers etc. They BLO Gemma Mackay honour of the brewery’s namesake, are also considering whether a pet dog Lister, they will be donating 5p venture into the micropub/brewpub PIN UP from every pint and every bottle to market would be viable. Southwick, 01273 411127. Battersea. New packaging promoting BLO Tim Walker www.pinupbrewingco.com the partnership is hitting pumps and Ten members of the Brighton & South shelves now. There will be more OLD TREE Downs Branch visited the brewery in exciting news about this in the coming Brighton, 07413 064346. September and were given a look- months, so watch this space. Lister’s Preston Barracks, Lewes Road, round by Jonny Booth, the brewer. range of beers continues to be Brighton. They saw the new mezzanine floor available up and down the country Old Tree are soon to be launching and fermenting vessel for the new key with new wholesalers on board in their Kefir Beer, probiotic beer kegs that the brewery is filling. The Kent and the Midlands as well which will be one of their three main brewery continues to prosper with a continually expanding the local drinks as soon as it’s finished. They mixture of craft and cask beers, with market. also have Blackberry and Apple Mead bottling due to be brought in-house BLO Glenn Johnson (Melomel), an ancient mead brewed soon. Outside bars at music festivals with raw Callune Honey and wild continue to be a profitable outlet for Littlehampton yeast. All are available at Silo, Gardner their beers. The Brewery appears to have ceased Street, Brighton and their BrewHouse BLO Adrian Towler
SussexSussex Drinker:Drinker: Winter Winter 20162016 2626 Bru News
RECTORY Udimore Road, Brede, East Sussex Brewer Jordan’s new son, is now Streat, 01273 890570. thethreelegs.co.uk info@ permanently available in cask. A 5% BLO TBC thethreelegs.co.uk Rye IPA will also be available in the Sales of all beers remain very good, autumn, along with a 5% White IPA RIVERSIDE both to pubs and from the Brewery flavoured with bitter orange for Unit 6, Beeding Court Business Park, Tap at the brewery and brewing Christmas. Shoreham Road, Upper Beeding, West remains at full capacity. The seating In their keg and can range, Session Sussex, BN44 3TN, 01903 898030 layout at the Brewery Tap has been IPA won Best Innovation in Beer at www.riversidebreweryltd.co.uk changed for the winter, to provide the recent Beer Marketing Awards, The brewery provided four casks of some cover. A log burner has also and their new Island Records ale at the Riverfest festival in been installed to keep customers Jamaican Porter, at 6.2% ABV, Shoreham over the August bank warm and cosy during the colder infused with coconut, rum and vanilla, holiday weekend, which all sold out on months. is particularly worth trying. the Saturday. As the brewery is only a Two special bottled beers are BLO Mike Head few miles up the road they were able currently available, Foreign Extra to restock for the Sunday and Monday Stout, 6.6% ABV and Wheat, 4.7% UNBARRED sessions. The first batch of Mead has ABV that has been aged in Hove, 07850 070471. now been bubbling away nicely since Chardonnay wine barrels. Both are www.unbarredbrewery.com the start of August and should be selling very well, but might last until Jordan’s latest beer was a White IPA ready by the end of October. Leaping Christmas. However, to be sure of that went down a treat at the Lord, 6.65% ABV, will be the dark trying one of these, it would be best Watchmakers Arms in Hove. For winter seasonal beer. It has been to get there soon. Christmas there will be 200 bottles of racked and is slightly spiced, mmmm BLO Peter Harrison Brighton Strong, a 7.8% AVB the smell of Christmas, again it will be Belgian style strong ale infused with ready by the end of October. Riverside TOP NOTCH honey. Bison and Quaff in Brighton are have entered into an agreement with Haywards Heath, 07963 829368. likely stockists. the guys from Polarity Brewing who www.topnotchbrewing.co.uk BLO Mike Head are using their brew kit and premises Having promised to re-brew Mayday until they are fully up and running with Oatmeal Red, 4.3% ABV, it proved WELTONS their own. Their first beer an IPA, to be a popular decision, selling out Horsham, 01403 242901. Rosetta’s Comet is conditioning in the early in the lunchtime Saturday www.weltonsbeer.co.uk Riverside warm room and was session of the Eastbourne Beer Weltons is now the largest producer launched at the Worthing Beer Festival. of real ale in Horsham. The bar in the Festival, where the last cask of Risky Shift 4.8% ABV hoptimised brewery is finished now and there will Riverside’s Rambling Monarch, pale ale appeared at Worthing Beer be regular monthly Friday evening their summer seasonal beer was Festival. Five U.S. hops; Chinook, drinking sessions. There will be more available..... Last of the Summer Beer, Mosaic, Centennial, Citra and Simcoe brewery events and the brewery will maybe a TV opportunity. added in six different hop additions to be open for off sales on Saturdays, see BLO Phil Boiling create the perfect hop profile! website for details. New beers include The brewery is hoping to announce an All Black PA with New Zealand ROTHER VALLEY some interesting collaborations over hops and beers brewed to enjoy while Northiam, 01797 252922 / 07798 the winter/spring period and is watching Rugby, such as Golden Taf, 877551. looking forward to being a regular Azuri, Gold, Le Coq, English Pride, www.rothervalleybrewery.co.uk supplier to Dark Star’s Lockhart 4.9% Red Rose Mild, Tamashanta [email protected] Tavern in Haywards Heath over the Scotch Ale in 80/- style and Tipperary A new winter ale will be available in coming months. Stout. Look out for a beer in March November and December called In BLO Keith Newell brewed for WW1 and WW2 hero Ira Excelsis. This is a 6.0% ABV strong Jones. The whisky rye beer and the Dr fruit beer. Next year another of the TWO TRIBES Frenches Old Remedy Porter, both Hop Resurrection series is being Horsham, 01403 272102 around at 8.2% are aging nicely. Ray planned, more details to follow. www.twotribesbrewing.com Welton reports that the free of beer BLO Dawn Lincoln [email protected] tie legislation recently introduced is A slightly tweaked version of Jago starting to work for small brewers. THREE LEGS IPA at 4.2% ABV, named after Head BLO Nigel Bullen
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 2727 Cider House Notes CIDER HOUSE NOTES
As we come into the new season, and during E. Sussex Cider and Perry Month (October), we can • South Downs Cider, E. Sussex welcome in the new Regional Cider • Sunny Jim Cider, W. Sussex (but made in Coordinator for Surrey and Sussex, Paul Surrey) Sanders, who was confirmed in post on Friday • Uncle Stoat’s Handcrafted Sussex Cyder, 7th October at the last APPLE meeting. E. Sussex If the next Regional Cider Competition is held • Village Green Cider, W. Sussex next March, at the next Sussex Branches Beer • Wobblegate Cider, W. Sussex and Cider Festival (yet to be confirmed, but • Surrey Garden Cider Company, Surrey rumoured to be taking place 23-25 March), it • Vachery Cider Company, Surrey will be his task to coordinate it, so please give • Old Rudgwick Cider Society (ORCS), W. him all the support that he needs to make it Sussex, a community orchard production. happen and run smoothly. There are also a few very small producers To this end, I am listing here all the cidermakers about, but as they keep changing I have not that I know of in Surrey and Sussex and would included them here; quite often they only ask everyone to let him know of any produce for their own use anyway. amendments or additions to this list. To contact him, email [email protected] The number of cidermakers in Surrey and Sussex has risen dramatically over the 10 years • Appledram, W. Sussex (winding down on or so that I was RCC; I think there were only production prior to retirement!) about 6 in total in 2005. This seems to be • Battle Cider, E. Sussex (not heard of/from echoed in the number of breweries and for a while) microbreweries starting up all over the place • Bignose and Beardy, E. Sussex too. • Black Pig Orchards Cyder and Perry, W. On a separate note, John Batcheldor of JB cider Sussex has been ill recently, and currently on treatment • Dreymans Cider, W. Sussex for cancer of the colon; he would like to express • Hunts of Sedlescombe, E. Sussex (mainly many thanks for the labours of everyone in bottled) picking apples for him over the last couple of • JB Cider, W. Sussex weekends, especially Ursula and her team and • Oakwood Organic Cider and Perry, E. Paul Rickard and his team. North Sussex Sussex Branch will be helping out in the orchard on the • Pookhill Cider, E. Sussex 23rd October, too. • Portslade Wild Thing, E. Sussex • Seacider, W. Sussex Date for your diary: Wassail at White Horse, Maplehurst, 7.30pm then on to JB’s orchard, • Silly Moo Cider, Trenchmore Farm, W. Saturday 7th Jan 2017. Sussex • Slugbite cider (aka Hurst Brewery’s cider), Jackie Johnson
28 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Pressing News PRESSING NEWS
Hello, my name is Paul Sanders and I’m the as much as what is happening in our cider and new Regional Cider Coordinator for Surrey and perry world. I will try to not preach to the Sussex (RCC). I have volunteered to take over converted or train you to suck eggs, however I the role from Jackie Johnson, and I thank her feel that a lot of real ale drinkers (myself for all her hard work over the years. included) do not know what real cider and perry is, which I feel means they are missing out, For those of you who do not know me I am the although that probably leaves a lot more cider Chairman of the North Sussex branch. I live in for the rest of us to drink. Crawley, which places me right in the middle of the region. I have to confess to not being an If you have any information about pubs serving expert on cider and perry, but I am willing to real cider/perry (I’ll come back to ‘real’ this in a learn! I have a feeling there are some members later article) and new commercial producers, out there who will make my education happen, please e-mail me at the address listed in the OK I’m hoping. mast head page.
I intend to make these reports both Paul Sanders informational, and I hope educational, as I Regional Cider Coordinator Surrey & Sussex intend to let you know what I learn about cider,
A traditional low- 17th century coaching inn Plough & in a historic market town The Bull Inn beamed one bar pub En-suite bed and breakfast 27 High Street with a raised restaurant Attic Rooms accommodation Battle area and an attic room High Street Selection of real ales East Sussex upstairs where food is Rusper including beers from local TN33 0EA also served. HORSHAM breweries 01424 775171 Parts of the pub date Good home made food from RH12 4PX locally sourced suppliers [email protected] www back to the 15th (01293) 871215 thebullinnbattle.co.uk Themed food nights Century. Open: 12-11 Open: Live Music, jamming Mon-Thu 11-11.30pm Extensive garden at the Mon-Sat; sessions, check www for Fri & Sat 11-12.30am rear of the pub. 12-10.30 Sun details Sun 11-10.30pm
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 29 Diary Dates
CAMRA EVENTS IN BOLD. For FREE inclusion in this column, contact the Editor; for PAID advertisements contact Neil Richards. Copy-by date and contact details on p. 46. Nov 12-13 Open Press Day, Village Green leaves from the stop outside Chichester Bus Cider, Fen Cottage, East Street, RH10 4QA, Station, opposite the rail station and Foundry from 8am until 9pm. Open days with lots of pub at 10:55am, also picking up in West Street apple pressing, free BBQ lunch, free Apple four minutes later. Juice, free cider in exchange for hard work, or if anyone wants to pop along and just watch they Dec 17 Kissingate Xmas BeerFest from 11am are welcome to the lunch and some apple juice. to 10pm at the brewery in Lower Beeding. www.kissingate.co.uk. At least 12 beers on Nov 18 Train to London Pubs, TTLP32. West stillage including 3 new release specials, plus London: Acton, Ealing and Hanwell areas cider, perry, wine, tea, coffee and soft drinks. including the Aeronaut, Ealing Park Tavern and Festive food throughout the day and evening, with a bit of luck two new local micropubs. To and a BBQ if the weather permits. be included on mailout list contact Pete Brown, 01243-552908, [email protected]. Dec 29 Horsham Pub Crawl. All welcome to com. join North Sussex members, on a visit to a number of Horsham pubs. Contact Nov 25 Xmas ales night at Welton’s brewery [email protected] for more details. in Horsham, RH13 5PX, where many of their 12 Xmas beers will be available. Jan 7 Wassailing at JB’s Orchard. Meet at the White Horse, Maplehurst, RH13 6LL, from Nov 26 Firebird Brewfest. Christmas ale 5pm, before heading to the orchard 7.30ish 6.5% plus Old ale and Festive 51 should all be available. See Firebird Brewing Facebook page Jan 21 Train to London Pubs, TTLP33. A for more details. visit to as many of the weekend-only Microbrewery Taps around south London as we Dec 4 Ballard’s Brewery Annual Charity can get to in the day, e.g. Clarkshaws, Mondo, Walk. Brewery open for beer sales from 10.00, Brixton in SW, Hop Stuff, Monkey Chews, followed by cross-country (or road) walk to Canopy in SE. To be included on mailout list several local pubs. Western Sussex CAMRA contact Pete Brown, 01243-552908,peteb@ bus will run from Worthing and points along the custardtowers.plus.com .’ coast to the Brewery and back. Seats for the bus by advance ticket purchase only, price £11 per Jan 27-29 Selden Arms Winterfest, 41 seat. For more information or to purchase bus Lyndhurst Road, Worthing, BN11 2DB, 01903 tickets contact Pete Brown, 523361. 30 real ale festival focussing on dark 01243-552908,[email protected] beer and one off specials.
Dec 9-11 Victoria Inn at West Marden winter Feb 24-25 CAMRA SPRING EQUINOX beer festival. There will be a Bus to the Pub trip FESTIVAL, Drill Hall, Denne Road, Horsham to this event from Chichester on Friday 9th RH12 1JF. New Friday 6-10pm session, then December. Emsworth & District bus no 54 Sat 12-4 and 6-10. Contact camra.equinox@ gmail.com for more details.
30 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Save Your Pub The Dyke pub, on the corner of Dyke Road and The Dyke Pub & Highcroft Villas, in Brighton, has become an upmarket furniture store almost overnight. The Kitchen former Tamplins pub was built in 1896 on the done absolutely everything we can to keep the site of a former site of a pub called the Windmill pub going. I’ve thrown the book at it and I’ve Inn, named after William Trusler’s mill, whose have used my whole 30 years of experience to name it adopted before becoming the Dyke try and make it work but it still hasn’t turned Road Hotel, then the Dyke Tavern. It is around. If you went there on a Saturday evening reputedly haunted by a ‘Grey Lady’ ghost. Of it was a ghost town – that was the problem.” recent memory it was a ‘basic’ hostelry until around 2008. Under ownership by Martin There are fears that this could be a half-way Webb’s Pub & Kitchen Ltd, it became the Dyke house towards the premises becoming Pub and Kitchen focusing on food and residential; Keith Newell chairman of Brighton specialising in wood fire cooked pizza. & South Downs Branch of CAMRA has contacted the Chair of Brighton & Hove City According to pub campaigner Dale Ingram this Planning Committee to express his concerns demonstrates a need for reform in the planning about the issue and he was assured that he laws to protect pubs. Application for change of would be notified regarding any future planning use was made under the Town and Country applications and decisions with regard to the Planning (General Permitted Development) closed pub. (England) (Amendment) Order 2016 (SE2016/332). The amendment requires developers looking to use their permitted development rights to send a notice to the local authority notifying them of a change of use of a pub to retail premises, offices or restaurant/cafe.
If no response is received by the developer from the local authority that the pub has been listed or nominated as an ACV (Asset of Community Value) within 56 days the change of use can take place. However unlike other planning applications there is no obligation to make this public, therefore the pub-goers and other interested parties are unable to take pre-emptive action.
A campaign group Save the Brighton Dyke, has been formed as apparently it was still possible for an ACV to be awarded, a petition has been launched on www.change.org/p/brighton-hove- city-council-save-the-dyke-pub.
Martin Webb said the pub was struggling to make a profit over the last 18 months. “We’ve
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 31 Beer Festival Reports The fourteenth Eastbourne Beer Festival was Eastbourne held at the Winter Garden from the 6th to 8th October, it could well be the last for a while in Beer Festival the current format, as the redevelopment of the dead heat. The top Speciality / Unusual Beers Devonshire Park means that the Winter Garden were Canterbury Brewers’, Foundry Red Rye will be closed from October 2017 and that when and runners up Bingham’s Brewery’s, Vanilla it reopens a substantial part of the Stout, (Winner of Champion Beer of Britain accommodation usually used will no longer 2016). exist. We were surprised and pleased to host a group The total number of tickets sold was 3,837, with of American brewers and other interested Friday and Saturday evenings sold out as usual, persons at one of the sessions. They were on a but room for people to buy tickets on the door tour of UK breweries and brewpubs and with a for Saturday lunchtime and Thursday evening. gap in their schedule, decided that a visit to our 11,882 pints of beer were consumed and 2,200 festival would be the best use of their time. pints of cider and perry, a drop in the former but Good to report that they declared themselves an increase in the latter. most satisfied with their decision. The Three awards are voted for by those attending. photograph below shows the group from The Beer of the Festival was Bad Kitty, by America with festival organisers Phil Cozens Brass Castle, a brewery from Malton in North and Peter Adams. Yorkshire making its debut at this year’s festival. The Beer of the Festival from a Sussex Microbrewery was Bricks and Porter from Kiln Brewery of Burgess Hill, another brewery making its debut this year. The third award, for the best beer brewed outside Sussex, went to Oakham Brewery for its Green Devil IPA.
CAMRA holds an annual Champion Beer of Britain competition. Members nationwide vote for their favourite beers in a number of different categories. When the votes are totalled up, the top beers in each region are tasted by panels of judges at various beer festivals. The top two go There is a chance that a date for a festival next through to the next round from where the year in September may become available, winners are tasted in the final at The Great before the Winter Garden closes for the British Beer Festival in August. redevelopment programme.
Two categories’ tasting heats were held at If not a different venue will mean a different Eastbourne, Best Bitters and Speciality / type of festival, likely to be smaller, which will Unusual Beers. The top Best Bitters were West definitely have to happen for 2018. Berkshire Brewery’s, Good Old Boy with joint runners up Sixpenny Brewery’s, 6D Best Bitter and Surrey Hills Brewery’s, Shere Drop in a
32 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Beer Festival Reports New Look Worthing Beer Festival – A Huge Success!
previous venue. The Saturday night session has historically been the quietest session but this was also very busy with around 500 people there to round off a highly enjoyable and refreshingly new look event.
Numerous customers gave highly positive feedback as they left the festival complimenting the team for having the vision and CAMRA Arun & Adur held Worthing Beer determination to make it happen which was Festival in Assembly Hall, a much larger venue, very satisfying for all involved. Our volunteers this year which many thought was risky as the were all outstanding and are having a deserved average attendance at beer festivals across UK rest before we begin planning the next festival has declined in recent years. However, the real but we can certainly be very optimistic about ale scene in Worthing is stronger than ever with the future of Worthing Beer Festival which is numerous pubs and micro-pubs serving great now firmly on the map. ale and cider so the beer festival committee Mike Taylor were confident that the town could support a Branch Chairman & Beer Festival Organiser larger event and set about making plans.
We are a country pub situated The Sussex Oak deep in the heart of Sussex. Here you will find a large 2 Church Street selection of local and national ales on 8 hand pumps. Warnham We have an extensive food Nr Horsham menu prepared from fresh RH12 3QW local ingredients. Fresh local food served After months of planning the festival took place lunch and dinner Monday to Sunday. on 14th and 15th October and the results were incredible. The festival sold a total of over 1800 In the CAMRA 2017 Good Beer Guide tickets, signed up 133 new CAMRA members and CAMRA Good Pub and the vastly increased range of 103 real ales Food Guide and 25 cider/ perries were all but sold out. Large Garden and field. The Friday night session was the busiest as Celebrating 15 years in the Good Beer Guide expected having sold a staggering 750 tickets, a Come and celebrate Great Beer in front of our roaring log fire number that was impossible to achieve at the 01403 265028 The-Sussex-Oak-at-Wareham Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 33 Spotlight on Breweries
Greyhound Brewery a small whole grain Greyhound Brewery has brewing kit. Gradually won Silver at the 2016 over the next couple International Beer years the equipment was Challenge. increased in size to 200 Congratulations to Nick litres, all kit moved out to & Sarah Allen of the garage and the beer Greyhound Brewery, recipes were refined. In West Sussex who have the summer of 2014 they won a silver award for received delivery of a their Blonde Bird, second hand five barrel Golden Pale Ale at the brewery from Grain Brewery in Norfolk. In 20th International Beer November 2014 carried out their first test brew Challenge in only their in their double garage where the brewery second year of brewing! remains today and after a few changes and minor adjustments their first beers were sent out The competition this year saw more than 700 of to local pubs in March 2015. the world’s finest beers representing around 30 countries from all over the world. All countries The vessels have now been increased in size to well known for their beer making traditions seven barrel capacity. They supply cask were of course represented, but also Australia, conditioned and bottled beers to local pubs, New Zealand, Ireland, Brazil, Italy and Spain. restaurants and beer festivals. The judging took place under strict rules, with a keenly observed blind tasting of the full range Ray Pilkington of entries by a panel of 60 of brewers, beer Harvey’s producing new keg beers writers, retailers, importers and Camra The Lewes based champion of cask ale, members. Harvey’s is to produce three new keg beers; Nick and Sarah started brewing as a hobby in Gold Bier (4%), Malt Brown (4.8%) and Black 2012, initially making beer in their kitchen with Stout (4.8%). With many of the recently 34 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Spotlight on Breweries established small breweries majoring on keg while the Long Man Best Bitter won in the beer, it would appear that Harvey’s are after a Bitters up to 4% ABV category. slice of this market. The brewery’s Long Man Long Blonde and its Harvey’s spokesman Bob Trimm said “We Long Man Old Man beers also achieved silver wanted to make a range of new beers that medals in the Golden Ale, Old Ale and Mild people wouldn’t necessarily expect to see from categories respectively. Harvey’s but still maintains our reputation for quality beers.” Head brewer Jamie Simm said: “We are immeasurably proud of the four awards we It should be remembered that Harvey’s have achieved at this year’s World Beer produced keg beer up to the year 2000 when the Awards. It’s a great reward for the hard work kegging equipment was damaged by flooding. that the production team put into creating consistently good beer. The extract from below is taken from Harvey’s website: “We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel when it “Harvey’s Brewery is renowned throughout the comes to brewing, we are simply trying to South East of England for its wonderful range create quality beers that we and other people of traditional cask ales. These ales are like to drink.” unpasteurised and are known as the champagne of beers. We believe this is achieved by selecting The brewery has achieved a total of 17 awards the finest raw materials and combining them since it was first founded in 2012. with unique ‘local’ conditions brewed within a Based in Litlington, East Sussex, Long Man traditional brew-house.” Brewery takes pride in its environmentally Your writer for one sincerely hopes that renown conscious ethos. Barley is grown on is not is damaged by Harvey’s latest venture. surrounding farm land and electricity is generated by solar panels, while waste Paul Free products, such as water and spent grain, are re- used, composted or fed to livestock. Long Man Brewery scoops four medals at World Beer Awards Duncan Ellis, director of Long Man Brewery The Long Man Brewery snatched four coveted and third generation farmer at the Church Farm awards at the World Beer Awards this week. base, said: “We believe that by looking after the land around us and sourcing everything we can from within the vicinity of our brewery, we can produce the very finest of Sussex ales as well as giving back to the land and community that we rely on to sustain our business.”
In 2014, the brewery teamed up with Eastbourne’s Curious Beer Club to produce Craft Pier, in an attempt to raise money following the town’s pier fire . The Sussex-based brewery took first place for its American Pale Ale in the Pale Ale category Up to £100,000 from beer sales were donated to
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 35 Spotlight on Breweries support businesses affected by the fire. recognisable brand, it has a global appeal because of the mods and the rockers. The brewery has won a string of regional and national awards in the past, such as a bronze “I think the market for craft beers will keep medal in the Best Bitters and Pale Ales category growing and growing, if you look at the States in this year’s SIBA South East Regional Awards for example. and a silver medal at the International Beer Challenge in August 2015. “I think the market will become more competitive and then pubs and wholesalers will The company was also a finalist in the Sussex become more discerning in what they buy.” Small Business category at the Sussex Business Awards last year. The brewery began life in 2012 in the Hand in Hand brewpub in Upper St James’s Street In 2015, Long Man also started exporting its before moving to a new brewery with 7,500 products to Sweden and Finland, with further litre per week production in Roedean Road. plans to export to other parts of Europe. Their beers are now widely available around the Brighton brew in running to be city, including at their own pub The Brighton named best in the world Beer Dispensary in Dean Street, and are now A Brighton brewer’s experimental beer is in the spreading around the country including as far running to be named best in the world after away as Scotland. scooping a gold medal at a prestigious industry awards ceremony. Mr Whitehurst said the company was now preparing for its first exports to Japan and Italy Brighton Bier’s Downtown Charlie Brown won in time for the autumn and joked that their the best experimental beer in the UK title at the World Beer Award haul placed them 39th in the World Beer Awards. Rio Olympics medal table.
The makers scooped two gold medals and a He added: “We would have already sent some bronze at the competition which received more beer to Japan but we are having trouble keeping than 1,500 entries from around the globe. up with demand.
Company bosses say the awards will raise the “We will definitely look at expanding the global profile of the company as they prepare brewery, whether at the current site or a new for their first international export later this year. site, we need to look at the best way of doing that.” Brewery founder Stephen Whitehurst said the brewery would look to expand its operation in Brewery head’s taste for change order to meet demand. After 16 years at the helm of Dark Star brewery former MD and founder Paul Reed has decided He added: “We were competing with some of to move on to another challenge as part of the the biggest and most-recognised brewers in the team at Bedlam Brewery. industry including Brewdog and Beavertown and to show that we are at their level is going to Bedlam Brewery was launched in early 2015 help with spreading our name further afield. and in a short period an ambitious and talented team have come together including German “We’re lucky because Brighton is already a
36 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Spotlight on Breweries born and trained head brewer Fabio Israel. and attracts a great many thirsty drinkers, especially on Saturdays. One litre bottles are Dark Star is based in Partridge Green while available to take out and can be brought back Bedlam is in Albourne near Hurstpierpoint. for refilling. Apart from Tom’s wine, Paso Primero, several other wines are sold as well as Fabio’s influence has seen Bedlam launch its their bottle conditioned beers, local bottled first Lager brew, a German styled Pilsner, cider and apple juice. brewed to 4.2% and available on draft and by the bottle. The current beers on offer are Pale 3.7%; Red 4.2%; Dark 4.5% English IPA 5.5% and Wheat All of the energy required for brewing comes 4.7%. They are all available on draft and bottle from solar panels, they plant and harvest their conditioned. our own hops and supply local farmers with all of their spent grain and hops for free, which On 27 August, 20 South East Sussex CAMRA they then use as feed for their cattle. branch members visited and were treated to both excellent hospitality and beer. The full Three Legs Brewing Company report and photos are on the Branch Reports on The brewery started about 3 years ago as a their site. collaboration between three university friends, Ben, Sam and Tom who share a passion for The brewery photos above shows Ben and Sam brewing. Ben and Sam brew the beer and Tom makes wine in Spain, then imports it to the UK.
The brewery had humble beginnings, consisting of just a 120 litre plant, based in an old metal shipping container. Brewing was occasional and often experimental but they soon realised that what they were making was proving very popular. Things then got serious when they moved to the adjacent and current converted farm barn and it quickly became a full four barrel plant.
Initially they supplied a few country pubs and the beers were very well received and as production increased so did the outlets. Their beers also started to appear at festivals, both Camra and pubs, as far afield as Worthing and now make a regular appearance at the Eastbourne Winter Gardens festival in October. behind the bar, with the brewery in the Ever enterprising, they then started to sell direct background, plus the well stocked bottle bar. to the public at the brewery. Thus was created Peter Harrison the Brewery Tap, complete with full length bar and external seating. It is open Thursday 12.00 to 6.00 and Friday and Saturday 10.00 to 7.30
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 37 Pub Awards
Bull, Ditchling is Pub of the Year Brooksteed Alehouse,Worthing The Bull at Ditchling has won two awards in the The Arun & Adur branch were delighted to Morning Advertiser organised Great British learn that Nick & Paula Little of the Brooksteed Pub Awards including that of Pub of the Year. Alehouse in Worthing have gone forward to the Super-Regional round - last sixteen - of Licensee Dominic Worrall and his team were CAMRA's National Pub of the Year presented with the overall award by comedian competition, having prevailed in a very close Katherine Ryan at a glittering ceremony held in competition for the Regional round against the London’s Park Lane on the 5th October. Surrey Oaks in Newdigate.
The pub also took the title of Freehouse of the Amongst the other fifteen pubs are several Year from the awards which involved 88 finalist former overall winners, so the competition from across 16 categories. herein gets ever stronger :- Dominic Worrall and his wife Vanessa took • Cross Keys, Thame (Central Southern) over the pub in 2003; Mr Worrall said the • Stanford Arms, Lowestoft (East Anglia) success of the pub was down to its staff and the • Old Oak Inn, Horsley Woodhouse (East support of its regular customers. Midlands) • Hope, Carshalton (Greater London) The Bull is a stylishly-converted 16th century • Baum, Rochdale (Greater Manchester) pub at the heart of Ditchling village inside the • Rifle Volunteers, Maidstone (Kent) South Downs National Park with low timber • Cricketers, St. Helens (Merseyside & Cheshire) beams, open fires and deep leather sofas. • Steamboat, South Shields (North East) • Volunteer Arms (Staggs), Musselburgh The real ales on sale will normally include (Scotland & Northern Island) offers from another of Mr Worrall’s business • Salutation, Ham (South West) interests, namely the Albourne based Bedlam • Arvon Ale House, Llandrindod Wells (Wales) brewery. Incidently the pub was named after a • Bottle Inn, Marshwood, Dorset (Wessex) papal edict and not the animal. • Earl Grey, Leek (West Midlands) • Swan with Two Necks, Pendleton (West Paul Free Pennines) • George & Dragon, Hudswell (Yorkshire)
Branch chair MikeTaylor commented that ''he was thrilled at what Nick & Paula have achieved after only opening the Brooksteed Alehouse in September 2014''
38 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Pub Awards
Five Bells, West Chiltington Bill & Joan have been at the pub, situated a mile On Saturday south of the old village centre, since 1983 - 11th June, firstly as tenants of the former King & Barnes Mike Taylor, brewery - then, after a brief stint at another of the CAMRA that brewery’s top pubs in Horsham, they Arun & Adur returned in 1989 having purchased the freehold. branch Chair, Ever popular with CAMRA members and thus presented a regular in the Good Beer Guide, Bill offers mine hosts five ales - always including a mild, a range of Bill & Joan Edwards with the Country Pub of bitters, old ale or porter in the winter - and a the Year award for 2016, to the great delight of traditional cider. a packed bar. This 2016 award is not the first that Bill & Joan The Five Bells is a traditional pub, highly have received from this branch, whilst Bill – regarded by its locals and visitors alike for the who was born in the Queens Head in nearby quality of its ales, the food which is always Barns Green - previously won the prestigious K freshly cooked and the genuine warmth of the & B ‘best kept cellar’ award in consecutive welcome. It is dog friendly and also has five en- years at both the Five Bells and the Rising Sun suite rooms. during the 80’s!
Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 39 Presentations
Black Cat Brewery Western Sussex CAMRA – Yapton Black Cat, from Palehouse Common, near Beer of the Festival presentations Uckfield, have been winning top awards despite (1) Vibrant Forest Brewery being one of the smaller breweries in Sussex. The Yapton Beer of the Festival was awarded to Vibrant Forest Brewery in the heart of the In July they belatedly received their award for New Forest for their Radicale Salted Best Beer of the Festival as Black Cat Original Liqourice. Now, Vibrant Forest are one of beat about one hundred others at last year’s Spa those micro-breweries who produce a wide Valley Railway Beer and Cider Festival. range of ales, all of them reaching a degree of In the photo are excellence in their field. A healthy gathering of Paul and Kate Western Sussex CAMRA members travelled on Wratten at the Saturday 6th of August to Lymington to reach railway’s the secluded brewery. Tunbridge Wells On arrival terminus. Paul and we settled in Kate generously with pints of brought along four the lovely different casks to refreshing help celebrate with Belgian Zuur festival volunteers (sour) and and members of the Belgian Wit. West Kent and Also, joining South East Sussex us that day CAMRA branches. were another Left: Kevin Robinson, head of Vibrant Paul only took over CAMRA lot brewing at Black Cat two years ago. Forest Brewery. Right: Glenn Johnson, Chairman of Western Sussex CAMRA of the South This isn’t just a ‘one-off’ as the brewery’s Tzar Hampshire Russian Imperial Stout (6.8%) won ‘Overall variety to present Kevin with the Southampton Champion’, this time at the South East Region Beer Festival beer of the festival award for their Beer Competition, organised by SIBA, the Oat and Coffee Stout. Society of Independent Brewers, in July, Well nothing would do after that, but to drink competing with over 150 others. some more of the beautiful beers of the Vibrant Unless you attended, you’ve just missed this Forest, with Cydonia and the afore-mentioned year’s Spa Valley Railway Beer Festival so will Oat and Coffee on cask and a variety of other have to wait until next October to experience taps and bottles available, including steam and old diesel trains, complete with real Wheatwave, Simcoe, Amarillo and Vienna Rye ale buffet cars, running along the heritage line Ale. between the main site at Tunbridge Wells West There was also barrel-aging much in evidence to bars at Groombridge and Eridge stations. We with wooden casks of Bourbon Oktober, Rum hope to report this year’s winning beers in the Oat and Coffee and Whisky Oktober Laphroaig next issue. 2006 in tongue-lolling view.
40 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 Presentations
(2) Langham Brewery Philip Wildsmith On a sunny August Bank Holiday an assortment At a meeting on 11th October, former Branch of CAMRA members visited Langham Chairman, Philip Wildsmith was appointed Brewery for their Live at Langhams day of Honorary Life President of Western Sussex beer, music, beer, food, more music and more CAMRA, in recognition of his 27 years service beer. This time there is an added element as as branch chairman. This award had been Langham have scooped the Locale of the unanimously agreed by members at a previous Festival award at Yapton Beerex back in May formal meeting and other committee members for their very lovely Jester EPA. For anyone without Phil’s knowledge, whilst he was away. who doesn’t know about Jester, it is named for the Jester hop variety, which is relatively new Phil was presented with an engraved silver tray on the scene and beginning to increase in and two different bottles of Taylor’s vintage availability, as an all-English hop which can port, a tipple for which Phil is known to have a compete with the ‘new world’ hops from the particular fondness, to applause of all present. US and NZ for refreshing citrus-fruity Phil was heard to say in response “My gob is bitterness and clarity of flavour. Hence EPA, as well and truly smacked” which he was duly English Pale Ale. reminded was the shortest speech he had ever made as a CAMRA branch officer. In the back yard is the performers area, the hot food counter and a bar selling Langham’s full range from the pale and hoppy Hip Hop and Florale, through their Saison and Arapaho (APA) to the full on challenge of the Black Swallow and the Aegir Baltic Porter.
Brewery Shades, Crawley North Sussex branch have awarded their Cider Left to right: Pete Brown - Branch Secretary, Western Pub of the Year to the Brewery Shades in Sussex CAMRA; Saulo Parreira - Brewer Langham Crawley. Nicki has an excellent range of ciders Brewery; James Berrow - Owner / Head Langham always available, notably those from Village Brewery; Lesley Foulkes - Sales, PR, Accounts and admin Green of nearby Turners Hill. Langham Brewery Presenting the Branch Secretary Pete Brown presented the certificate to certificate for Langham’s Yapton Jester win to Nicki is Paul applause all around. The details of the speeches Sanders, North themselves are lost in the bottom of a glass of Sussex Branch Aegir somewhere, but the day carried on with Chairman. more beer, until it was time to go home.
Guy Parfect Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016 41 Contact Information
Sussex Branches of CAMRA Surrey & Sussex Regional Director: Chris Stringer, 01403 270505 (Horsham) [email protected] Sussex Area Organiser: Peter Page-Mitchell, 01424 422128 (St. Leonards-on-Sea) [email protected] Beer Festival: venue to be confirmed, March 2017 Sussex Drinker: Winter 2016. No. 88 POTY: Brooksteed Alehouse, Worthing COTY: Albatross RAFA Club, Bexhill-On-Sea Circulation 13,250 Published by Sussex Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale Arun & Adur Editor: Nigel Watson, 07555 167804 Andy Shaw [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.aaa-camra.org.uk Advertising: Neil Richards MBE Email: [email protected] Beer Festival: Worthing, Oct 2017 www.matelotmarketing.co.uk POTY: Brooksteed Alehouse, Worthing Tel: 01536 358670 Mobile: 07710 281381 Brighton & South Downs Next Publication Date: 3 February. Copy by 1 January John Kirkland, 01293 519844 [email protected] Copy Submissions: The Editor invites submissions that www.brightoncamra.org.uk celebrate the real ale scene in Sussex. Beer Festival: South Downs, Lewes, June 2017 Please keep to a maximum of 700 words. POTY: Gardener’s Arms, Lewes Please use plain text or Word files. Please send good quality pictures separately, COTY: Keymer and Hassocks Club preferably in JPG format. North Sussex Standard Disclaimer: Paul Sanders, 07778 035971 Views expressed in this magazine are those of the individual authors and not necessarily supported by the editor or CAMRA. [email protected] All content © Sussex Branches of CAMRA www.northsussex.camra.org.uk Your local Trading Standards Offices are: Beer Festival: Equinox, 24-25 Feb 2017 POTY: Malt Shovel, Horsham East Sussex: St Mary’s House, 52 St Leonards Road, North East Sussex Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 3UU Tel: 01323 418200 Fax: 01323 418227 (Sub Branch of South East Sussex) Email: [email protected] John Packer, 07841 669096 Website: www.eastsussexcc.gov.uk [email protected] West Sussex: Details of all complaints are passed to South East Sussex West Sussex Trading Standards Service by CACS Phil Cozens, 01323 460822 Citizens Advice Consumer Service [email protected] Tel: 03454 040506 Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index www.southeast-sussex-camra.com /getadvice/consumer_service.htm Beer Festival: Eastbourne, Autumn 2017 Brighton & Hove: POTY: Tower, St Leonards-on-Sea Bartholomew House, Bartholomew Square, COTY: Albatross RAFA Club, Bexhill-On-Sea Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1JP Tel: 01273 292523; Fax: 01273 292524 Western Sussex Email: [email protected] Max Malkin, 01243 828394 Website: www.brighton-hove.gov.uk [email protected] Campaign for Real Ale Ltd 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW www.westernsussexcamra.org.uk Tel: 01727 867201 Fax: 01727 867670 Beer Festival: Yapton, May 2017 Website: www.camra.org.uk POTY: Inglenook, Nyetimber
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