SWALE ALE WINTER 2016 THE FREE MAGAZINE OF SWALE CAMRA

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SWALE CAM RA OF T HE YEAR 2013 SWALE CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2014

38 CHAIRMAN’S CHOW

Welcome to the latest edition of Swale Ale. We are beginning to consider for entry Things have been busy in the branch with a in the next Good Beer Guide and would lot of hard work going in to the organisation encourage all Swale Members to get involved. of our beer festival in October. I hope you enjoy reading this edition of Swale Ale and wish you all the best for the festive It was great to see many familiar faces at the season. Festival. I would like to thank all who were involved in the planning and particularly Paul Irving Lin Gates as festival organiser. It was excellent that Jonathan Neame was able to attend the festival and that we also had many of our publicans and brewers supporting the event. The number of pubs offering real ale in Swale DID YOU KNOW....? continues to expand with extended ranges in the Red Lion (Sittingbourne) and the Kings After winning the Nobel Prize, Niels Bohr Arms (Minster). We also have our fourth was given a house with free beer. micro, the Admiral’s Arm in Queenborough, Bohr’s house had a direct pipeline to a with another new pub due to open in brewery next door, giving him free beer Faversham in December (in the old Able Glass on tap whenever he wanted. shop).

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Swale Ale © Winter 2016 Published by the Swale Branch of the Ltd (CAMRA).

Circulation: 2,250 Any opinions expressed within these pages are those of the individual authors only and do not Editorial Committee and Contributors: represent those of CAMRA or any of its officials. Gary Holness, Paul Irving, Matt Deller, The existence of this publication in a particular Steve Bennion, Tony Tippins, Mary Cross, outlet does not imply an endorsement of it by Andy Kitney, James Cousins Swale CAMRA.

Advertising: Matt Deller Design & Layout: Ascent Creative Printed by: Abbey Print, Faversham All correspondence to: Les Bailey, 58 Wallers Road, Branch Details Faversham, Kent, ME13 7PL Chairman: Paul Irving Secretary: Linda Gates Email: [email protected] Social Secretary: Howard Gates www.camra-swale.org.uk Treasurer: Les Bailey www.issuu.com/swaleale Pubs Officer: James Cousins Twitter: @CAMRAswale Press and Publicity Officer: Matt Deller Facebook: CAMRAswale Membership Officer: Alex Earl Telephone: 01795 538824 SWALE BREWERY NEWS

To help beer lovers get into the festive spirit the brewery has released this year’s vintage of the popular seasonal beer, a full-bodied winter ale featuring a warming combination of fruits and spices. Christmas Ale blends pale and crystal malts with Target and Challenger hops for bitterness, and Goldings hops for aroma. In keeping with Shepherd Neame’s long heritage, the festive ale has a traditional packaging design, with a vintage, Dickensian- style bottle label and pump clip. SHEPHERD NEAME Head brewer Richard Frost said: “Christmas is Once again we would like to express our about tradition, and as Britain’s oldest brewer thanks to the brewery for their wonderful we are very proud of the special beer we have support of the Swale Beer Festival. created for the festive season. It is a glowing amber winter beer with a heady, fruity nose In October the pilot brewery together with - the perfect accompaniment to the sticky branch members brewed Swale Fortieth Ale pudding sweetness of festive fare.” to celebrate our 40th anniversary. Festival goers were able to enjoy this straight from Christmas Ale is available on draught (ABV the cask and the ale is now being distributed 5.0%) during December. It is also available across a number of the breweries pubs. now in 500ml bottles (ABV 7.0%)

VICTORY FOR THE BLACK PRINCE

Black Prince, our mild Kent ale, has won gold in the SIBA regional awards. There’s no stopping him now.

WANTSUM. THE REBEL BREWERY OF KENT Fighting the good fight for real ale, made from the finest ingredients 4 www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale BOUTILLIERS MADCAT The brewery continues to go from strength The brewery continues to grow steadily to strength and recently brewed a Green and the employing of a customer service Hop Saison (East Kent Goldings), for the representative and sales manager is working Green Hop Festival. It was available on cask well. September saw strong sales of their throughout the festival, and afterwards at the green hop beers at both the Faversham Hop Furlongs Alehouse and The Paper Mill. For Festival and the Green Hop Festival. The the Swale CAMRA 40th Anniversary Beer two green hop beers all sold out with just Festival they brewed a Porter based on an two casks remaining that were sold at the 1850 recipe, the beer went on to win Beer Brogdale Apple Festival. of the Festival and is currently available in bottle. Jet Black Stout and Mild are now both available, mild production was stopped Their full range of beers can be found on temporarily to allow for brewing of the two cask at the following pubs across Swale and green hop beers. beyond: Furlongs, Paper Mill, Lifeboat, The Two Halves, The 39 Steps, The Tankerton A seasonal/winter beer will be available from Arms - and their bottled beer is on sale in mid-November, which will probably be a dark Whitstable and Canterbury. They plan to bitter around 4.7%. step up cask production this month. The Mad Cat Beers have recently been spotted brewery also had a successful beer festival in the White Horse, Sittingbourne; The on Saturday 17th September as part of the Bull, Newington; The Flying Dutchman, Faversham Food Festival and participated Queenborough; The King’s Arms, Minster with two beers in the inaugural Ale Trail. It is still an ambition to undertake bottling on site in the future.

HOPDAEMON A special Festival Ale was brewed for the Faversham Hop Festival and Green Demon was one of the 30 beers selected for the Swale 40th Anniversary Beer Festival in October. The brewery hopes to brew a couple of specials in the coming months using some interesting ingredients and we’ll update in the next issue. A new bottled beer called Vincent Price Black Cat was launched as part of a big Halloween promo at the Curzon, Canterbury featuring a special screening of Theatre of Blood with talks and Q & A session afterwards.

www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale 5 What constitutes THE BERRY

10 years at the Berry! WALMER Upcoming Events

Multi-award Winning Pub Where You are invited to our You Will Find: Real Ale, Real Cider Quiz Nights: 2nd Friday of each and a Real Fire! month

Up to 11 Cask Ales Plus 6 Key Keg

Ales. Always 6 Ciders Available Opening Times: Mon: 11:00 - 23:30

Tues: 14:00 - 23:30 Also serving “Si’s Pies,” Delicious Wed: 11:00 - 23:30 Hand Made Pork Pies and Scotch Thurs: 12:00 - 23:30 Eggs Fri-Sat: 11:00 - 23:30 Sun: 11:30 - 23:00

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

www.theberrywalmer.co.uk Tel: 01304362411

23 Canada Road, Walmer, Kent CT14 7EQ

14 THE SEARCH FOR CAMRA’S BEST DESIGNED PUBS CAMRA has launched its National Pub The competition includes five categories: Design Awards 2016. Held in association with Historic England, the awards recognise high • New Builds standards of architecture in the refurbishment • Refurbishment and conservation of existing pubs, and the construction of new ones. • Conversion to Pub use “Whether it’s a converted theatre or a • CAMRA/Historic England Award Victorian Coaching House, we are looking to • Joe Goodwin Award discover the best pub interiors and exteriors that Great Britain has to offer. The CAMRA The work on entries should have been Pub Design Awards competition is open completed in the period between 1 January to all pubs in the UK, and buildings can be 2015 to 31 December 2015 and entries closed nominated by their owners, landlords, local on 31 August 2016. CAMRA branch members, or anybody else that thinks the pub deserves to win.” Sean Murphy, organiser of CAMRA’s Pub Design Awards FESTIVALS & However Sean added that “entrants should bear in mind that they may be required to provide additional photographs and plans PUB EVENTS of the building during the judging process, White Cliffs’ Festival of Winter Ales so the pub licensee should always be made 3-4 February 2017 aware of, and approve of, the entry.” Maison Dieu (Town Hall), Biggin Street, Dover, Kent, CT16 1DL CAMRA’s National Winter Ales Festival 2017 ADVERTISE WITH 21-25 February 2017 St. Andrews & Blackfriars Hall, SWALE ALE AND St Andrews Hall Plain, Norwich, REACH OVER 2000 Norfolk NR3 1AU Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival REAL ALE DRINKERS 14-15 April 2017 Winter Gardens, Fort Crescent, Margate, CT9 1HX

If you own or manage a pub, bar or restaurant and Updated for serve real ales, it’s never been BRANCH DIARY easier to get your business in 2017 Wed 14 December 2016, 8pm – 9.30pm front of more than 2,000 people. Admiral’s Arm, Queenborough Wed 11 January 2017, 8pm – 9.30pm FULL HALF 1/4 Golden Hope, Sittingbourne PAGE PAGE PAGE Wed 8 February 2017, 8pm – 9.30pm Vaults Cask & Kitchen, Faversham £70 £40 £30 Wed 8 March 2017, 8pm – 9.30pm Brown Jug, Upchurch To book your place, email Wed 12 April 20167, 8pm – 9.30pm [email protected] The Bowl, Charing

www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale 7 www.spitfireale.co.uk /spitfireale

GOLDEN ALE Tropical fruit, citrus & pine aromas SWEET MALT BASE Challenger, Centennial and Saaz hops

SOFT BITTER FINISH 4.1% SWALE PUB NEWS

BRADLESMERE FAVERSHAM (CONTINUED) The Red Lion has changed hands and on By the time of reading this, a new pub is likely a recent visit had four beers on tap. In a to be near opening in Faversham. The pub departure from the previous owners, the will occupy the site of Able Glass in Preston majority of beers are national brands such as Street. Owned by Whitstable Brewery it is Greene King and Pride. likely to serve a range of their cask and keg beers as well as guest beers. DODDINGTON The Chequers Inn is changing hands. GRAVENEY The Freewheel continues to draw in many cyclists and is offering workshops, cycle EASTCHURCH charity rides and quizzes. Serving a selection The Wheatsheaf has re-opened. of Canterbury Ales. The Coppice Pub is now offering a selection of Goachers Beers. HALFWAY The Heritage continues to serve a range of EASTLING local and national ales. Weekly Tempting Tuesdays with all beers just £2.60 a pint from Carpenters Arms hold a curry night on 4.30pm and quiz night from 8pm. the last Saturday of each month. Regular beers are Spitfire Gold & Kent’s Best with Masterbrew as an occasional choice. HERNE HILL The Red Lion has recently both changed FAVERSHAM hands and been refurbished. It is with great sadness that we report the HOLLOWSHORE death of Les Koncsik at the Crown & Anchor, one of the longest serving landlords in Kent. Shipwrights Arms continues to serve a good The future of the pub is uncertain. selection of Goachers ales. The Elephant continues to offer a good range LOWER HALSTOW of local and national beers and recently the Dark Star Green Hopped IPA proved to be The Three Tuns has hosted a Titanic Brewery particularly popular. take over but also continues to serve a very good range of Kent ales. Furlongs Ale House have recently stocked Boutilliers beers including the excellent 6.8% India Brown Ale. They have also had a number LYNSTED of national beers from microbreweries such as The Black Lion was serving Goacher’s Fine Marble (), Salopian (Shrewsbury) Light and Best Dark at our August branch and Gipsy Hill (London). They continue to meeting. offer a CAMRA discount on ale and cider. The Phoenix continues to organise regular MILTON REGIS events (check the website for details) with a The Three Hats continues to serve up to range of enterprise beers being served. four beers. Regular themed food evenings, including a Thai evening, are proving popular. The Three Tuns in Tanner Street has had a The ACV for the Three Hats has now been makeover. approved. The Vaults Cask & Kitchen offered a huge selection of guest beers during the Faversham MILSTEAD Hop Festival including their popular The Red Lion is still for sale. Hopdaemon bar. Continued overleaf...

www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale 9 MINSTER SITTINGBOURNE (CONTINUED) The Kings Arms has changed hands and is The Ypres Tavern is serving two guest beers serving up to eight beers, mostly from the from national breweries. Recent guests have national range but also featuring Mad Cat. included St Austells Trelawny. The White Horse now serves a range of Mad NEWINGTON Cat ales. The Bull is now serving a selection of Mad Cat beers. STOCKBURY The Harrow is being sold by Shepherd NEWNHAM Neame. Reportedly on the market for £310k The George continues to serve a choice of freehold. Shepherd Neame beers and regular events are scheduled throughout the winter. STALISFIELD The Plough Stalisfield hosted a successful QUEENBOROUGH Beer Festival over the August Bank Holiday The Five Bridges serves a range of Marstons Weekend. Recent beers have included Mad beers. Cat Red Ale and Old Dairy Red Top. The Flying Dutchman is now serving two Mad Cat ales. TEYNHAM The Tenancy of The Dover Castle has been The Admiral’s Arm opened in October. This, advertised. the fourth micro-pub in Swale, is located close to the harbour and High Street. Four ales The Swan continues to serve local beers. are dispensed either straight from the barrel or through hand-pump. Recent breweries Lots of further detail on Swale pubs can be featured include Boutilliers, Stag, Shiny and found on www.whatpub.com. If you notice Batemans. Around eight ciders are available anything that is out of date or have any pub as well as a selection of gin. news please let us know. SITTINGBOURNE The Fountain has changed tenants. The Golden Hope continues to serve a good selection of local and national ales and recently took part in the Autumn Weatherspoon’s Beer Festival. The Globe & Engine has now opened as Lang’s Cocktail Bar. No reports yet of any cask ales being sold. The Paper Mill has held a series of event including meet the brewer, tap takeovers and a green hop weekend. All proved popular with regulars and visitors alike. The Bull, closed for a number of years, is reportedly sold. The Red Lion has reopened after a short period of closure. Linked to the Three Hats in Milton Regis, currently two ales are available but hopefully more will be available soon. The revitalisation of this historic town pub is most welcome.

10 www.camra-swale.org.uk

ASCOT BEER FESTIVAL A DAY AT THE RACES

Well another day out with the lads and ladies until we arrived at the entrance, an impressive of Swale CAMRA but this time we’ve gone building to say the least. Now the first hurdle upmarket, Nigel (See the Paper Mill Ad of the the “Bag Check”, then the “Ticket Check” and previous edition of Swale Ale) even wore a finally security which was impressive, tough, tie with his suit. So the plan is we all meet professional and plentiful, hell they even had up at designated coach stops early Saturday soldiers there! GBBF was easier to get into. morning. This is when my first issue occurs, thank heavens I set off early, engineering So fully in beer festival mode my first thought, works on the track mean replacement buses where do I go for a glass/tokens? rather than the usual quick train trip. So no café breakfast for me this time, caffeine levels are dropping through the floor barely running on time, grumpy meter off the bottom and climbing. Coach arrives on time and is a very nice one, and a comfy seat soon has me nodding off on the two hour journey, no one complained about my snoring so they’re being nice. Finally I awake and knew we’d reached the right neck of the woods when we passed the Ferrari and Maserati Dealership and then passed the folly at the end of someone’s garden, the house was just on the horizon. At last we’d reached Ascot Racecourse. Well, first decision of the day had to be made do we take our coats or not… we’ll only end up carrying them once inside the beer hall! I decided that I’d carry mine if I had to as it was a lot colder than expected and it was a long walk back from the beer hall, isn’t it always. Finally we set off towards the venue from the coach park passing the various “racing stables/yards/offices” (no idea what they were but they looked impressive and busy)

12 www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale got and £1.50 a half. First half is a Gorlovka Imperial Stout from Acorn Brewery, not the wisest choice I’ve made but it’s one on my list and it’s on the first bar. Grumpy meter is sliding down quicker than the half of Coconut Crocodile from Ascot Ales, that’s followed up by a half of the Supreme GBBF Champion Beer, the Vanilla Stout by Bingham’s Brewery, feeling very warm towards my fellow drinkers the gassy-tap lager is £5 a pint - there is justice at a beer festival. Then the grumpy meter gets a good kick – a bacon roll, two rashers of unsmoked cash and carry cheapest back bacon in a barely fresh Okay we’re told to go through to the race roll for £5, can’t blame the stall the pitches stands so follow the signs past an even bigger must cost a fortune. Now wishing I’d done a military presence, okay they were collecting packed lunch! Went and bought my official for the forces benevolence fund, past the festival glass to take home again at a sensible champagne bar, getting scared now exactly price, thank you again Ascot CAMRA. Now how much a pint are these beers going to the wander around, keep bumping into the cost, security is obvious by the colour of same people, Ice Cold Alex…. (Should’ve worn their ties and suits obviously to deal with the his coat) would make a great film title and “HOW MUCH A PINT!!!” brigade, every one of Matt who’s looking far too happy for his own these security personnel has the air of an ex- good, something about beer, horse racing and NCO about them, tough and no nonsense. being there with his better half. Here they Finally we arrived at the beer hall! Except come again the ladies with the cigar boxes, it’s not a hall just the covered area under helps explain the openness of the stands, I the racing stands and as cold as the outside finally understand why they are here, selling was, thank you common sense the coat feels to the gamblers with the dead-cert winner, wonderful – feeling sorry for those who’ve left looks like the racing is about to start. their coat behind – okay no more sympathy, Dilemma, do I place some bets or not, decide now off to find the glasses and tokens. First I won’t place some cash on Frankie Dettori nice surprise of the day a plastic pint glass, to win as I know what winning feels like and not the soft sided ones but a good quality don’t want to go down that road again. For acrylic one almost as good as Swale CAMRA’s a laugh I join the syndicate and put in £1 for own ones but these are FREE!! Next is the the 100-1 shot, then I wander further down second surprise of the day, vouchers by the the bars noting where the beers I want to half pint best buy £15 for ten Vouchers (£3 a try are. Finally I found the German beer hall, pint – smaller quantities did cost more) damn lots of morning suits no CAMRA Signs so good pricing if the beer list is anything to go don’t stay in there long enough to buy a Real by in the nice glossy tasting notes booklet. German Lager. Feeling a little peckish I buy Each “Bar” has a wall of about ten beers a currywurst with sauerkraut that’s another behind it with three to four staff working in £6 on mediocre food, the sausage wasn’t that co-ordinated chaos to serve a very strange spicy only very salty… food theme does seem group of people, a mix of beer anoraks, to be salty sells beer, they have even given beer geeks (like me), beer lovers (aren’t we out free pork scratching. all), casually dressed Norms and then the Finally my wanderings lead me track side strangest group of all the morning suit and where I get to watch a Masterclass in how to cocktail dress brigade (armed with their ice walk on soft ground in high heels – on tip toe! filled stylish quality plastic bag and a bottle of Even more cocktail dresses and hats, it works Prosecco, Bollinger or Moet). The dress sense for Royal Ascot week but doesn’t work for that these females appear to be following Ascot Beer Festival just looks silly, but isn’t suggests either extensive thermal undies, anti- that true of all fashion statements - you know freeze for blood or a lack of sense over style – you look good but everyone thinks you’re an none appear to be shivering either – scary. idiot for wearing that! The Beer…. Oh! The Beer! Well kept and being served by people who know what they’ve Continued overleaf...

www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale 13 Whilst everyone watches the race I’ll go find more off my beer list. Well the racing was not interesting me, yes Frankie was winning races, and I had only lost £1 after all. So the beers kept calling and this lead to another ten tokens I’d managed to sample eleven beers at that point. Then worked my way through another five halves then decided I’d had enough and would stop, five vouchers left what to do… Cash out the vouchers, well I got given £9 so kept quiet and walk outside £1.50 better off than I expected. Waited to see if anyone was heading back then sauntered back to the bus.

Overall Impression – A great festival, well and everyone had a great time well except managed, excellently staffed with a great Alex… frozen and not successful with the range of beers that were well kept and horses. presented, the venue was an amazing place though not that warm on the day, catering It was well organised and worked brilliantly was an issue but think the lower beer prices as a day out as well as a beer festival trip, gave a false impression of overcharging. can’t wait for the next one…. Aintree maybe… Reality is it is and should be an expensive somewhere near Munich in September. venue, it is Ascot after all not the local Hopefully another Brewery tour or two. donkey derby. The transport was fantastic Tony Tippins

Our branch toasted 40 years of campaigning with a special beer festival SWALE at the end of October. The two-day celebration was hosted at Kemsley Village BEER Hall near Sittingbourne, the first such event organised by the group in more FESTIVAL than 15 years.

14 www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale It was a fantastic weekend, with more than 30 real ales and ciders on offer from across Kent and further afield. CAMRA members were welcomed from other Kent and London branches, a number of whom turned up to help volunteer and make the weekend a success. Unsurprisingly Friday night turned out to be the most popular, with punters being entertained by Hastings based band Tea Chest Blues. Saturday saw a steadier flow of visitors with local band Jumbo Gumbo in full swing throughout the afternoon. We were also paid a special visit by Shepherd Neame Chief Executive Jonathan Neame, and special thanks to the brewery for their marvellous support in sponsoring the glasses and brewing the commemorative “Swale Fortieth Ale”.

Visitors were asked to vote for their favourite tipple over the course of the festival and the winning ale was the Ruby Anniversary Porter brewed by Faversham-based Boutilliers which was specifically brewed for the event. Runners up were Wantsum’s Montgomery, named after the SS Richard Montgomery shipwreck off Sheerness, and Fyne Ales’ Jarl. Thank you to all who came along and we hope to see you all again in 2017!

www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale 15

FAVERSHAM HOP FESTIVAL This year’s Faversham Hop Festival was held over the weekend of the 3rd & 4th of September and we ran our street bar in cooperation with Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable Branch as usual. The bar was stocked with beers and ciders sourced from several breweries from across Kent. As in previous years we were grateful for the invaluable support of Tonie Prins of The Hopdaemon Brewery, who allowed us to store our stock in his cold room. Without his assistance we would find it difficult to present our beers at the right temperature to serve. This year Hopdaemon also produced a Hop Festival Special, a blend of two of his beers and this proved to be very popular, selling out Overall this year’s Hop Festival was very not long after midday on the Saturday. successful and we sold twenty firkins of beer Our thanks also to The Three Tuns, Lower and twelve boxes of cider, by Sunday evening Halstow, The Three Hats, Milton Regis and we were dry. We hope that all our customers Furlongs Alehouse, who provided barrel enjoyed our offerings this year and hope to sponsorship and who continue to provide see you again in 2017. ongoing support for this event. Gary Holness

www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale 19

NEW MICROPUB ON THE BLOCK

The Admirals Arm, Queenborough opened What process have you gone through? on October 21st, proof that the Micropub revolution is continuing to build in Swale, this After many months visiting Micropubs being the fourth to open following The Paper across Kent we finally decided this was for Mill, The Heritage and The Furlongs Alehouse. us. We made the decision on the Thursday, visited the premises over the weekend and Serving craft ales, cider and a fine array of had planning permission in by the Tuesday. gins, this place is certain to be a big hit with Despite a few objections along the way it was local ale lovers. all wrapped up in about six weeks – we were very lucky. Shortly after the doors opened for the very first time, we thought we’d get the inside Tell us about the name and the theme of the story. We spoke to owners Chris and Rachel place? Collier to find out what we can expect. Admiral Lord Nelson was said to have learned What is your background? many of his seafaring skills in the waters around Queenborough and is said to have Chris became a cellar boy at the Ship on shared a small house with Lady Hamilton in Shore when he was just 13 years old. A Queenborough. Nelson, lost his arm in the few years later he ran his own business Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, hence the refurbishing pubs and we have previously ran name. The nautical nature of our décor has bars together locally. Recently Chris has been led to many regulars popping in with various working as a lorry driver. items that you now see dotted around the place, it’s very much work in progress. Why this venture? Due to health reasons Chris was unable to What range of beers do you hope to have? continue driving for a living. We had become We intend to serve a good selection of both fans of micropubs and had been encouraged local and national beers. Rachel is from by others to think about it. We liked the idea so expect the occasional cask of and the ethos and thought why not. Batemans, which proved popular on opening night. There is an extensive selection of ciders Micropubs seems to be getting more and too from across the UK and over 15 gins so more popular. Why do you think this is? there really is something for everyone. For us it’s about getting back to old pub values. There is a real sense of community in Micropubs and it brings people together in a positive way. Continued overleaf...

www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale 21 Romney Marsh Brewery What can punters expect when they visit? CHRISTMAS GIFTS NOW IN To quote one of our regulars, you can expect a warm and friendly atmosphere, with great conversation and fine beers.

What are your opening hours? Mon – Thu: 16.30 – 21.00 Fri – Sat: 12.00 – 23.00 Sunday: 12.00 – 21.00 Bole Gift Sets Mixed Cases How was your opening weekend? We couldn’t have asked for a better turnout. Despite the place looking like a building site in the morning, we opened at 2pm as planned and from the moment the doors opened we were inundated with friends and locals. We were overwhelmed by the support from other Micropub owners too who came along to offer their congratulations (including Martyn Hillier from the Butcher’s Arms). 8 Pint Kegs Marsh Souvenirs

In a years’ time what would you like to look Brewery shop open Fridays 9.30 - 5.30 back and say? + Saturdays 10.00 - 13.00 Tel. 01797 362333 What a great question. We’d love to say that Unit 7 Jacks Park, Cinque Ports Road, we’d served lots of good beer and that all Mountfield Industrial Estate, our new customers have become our friends. Cheesy we know! New Romney, TN28 8AN ‘w.romneymarshbrewery.com SWALE CAMRA AT THE GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL

Promoted by CAMRA as the World’s Largest “Pub” the Great British Beer Festival CHAMPION BEERS impressed many thousands of real ale, cider and continental lager followers from Mild Category: all four corners of the UK and from across William Black - William Brothers the waters. The festival caters for all needs, Bitter Category: tastes and age groups. Obviously the 900+ Boltmaker - Timothy Taylors ales is always a plus point but to complement this there is always a good attendance from Best Bitter Category: some of the long standing UK breweries, Shere Drop - Surrey Hills food stalls, CAMRA merchandise, live Golden Ale Category: music and bands throughout the five day Mosaic City - Golden triangle extravaganza. Strong Bitter Category: It is always one of the favourites on any 77 - Heavy Industries members beer festival calendar because of the gathering with friends and colleagues at Speciality Category: the event. If you have yet to visit this annual Vanilla Stout - Binghams festival I truly encourage you all to do so, if nothing else it will certainly be an experience Supreme Winner 2016: Andy Kitney Vanilla Stout - Binghams

22 www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale

A VISIT TO THE ST AUSTELL BREWERY

The new St Austell Brewery visitors centre The recently established small batch brewery was opened in April 2016 with its official allows members of staff to experiment with inauguration on July 6th. various ingredients to produce 6000 pint batches. These batches are available in The visitors centre is split into two sections; around 40 pubs across Cornwall and at the a restaurant come bar with a welcome area occasional beer festival, a selection are also displaying St Austell’s proud history and the bottled and available in the shop, where actual brewery tour area. What is very clear CAMRA members can enjoy a healthy 20% from the moment you arrive - St Austell off or taste in the experience bar. You get 6 prides itself in providing quality employment samples per person. My personal favourite to local people and being an integral part of was the Cashmere IPA this is an excellent the community. beer! On my visit back in July I was impressed Once you have completed your visit, the by the warm welcome by the staff and excellent restaurant provides excellent local their historical links to the brewery over the fare with provenance. The Tribute battered generations. They have a genuine passion for fish and chips is rather good all washed down St Austell, whether it’s their ales or how the with another fine ale. brewery operates. The brewery experience is excellent value The welcome area displays St Austell’s for money and great day out, I recommend proud 160 year history in a fantastic collage wholeheartedly. of pictures depicting key milestones in it’s history. Here you can also view the bottling James Cousins plant where their prized offerings are packaged and dispatched around the world. Due to health and safety reasons visitors are not permitted to enter the main brewery but instead you are welcome to view the St Austell’s small batch brewery. This experience has interactive touch screens, mechanical devices and display stands that detail the ingredients and processes that make beer! You can smell the real hops, the malts, touch the processes and then sample the end products at the sampling bar, my favourite bit!

24 www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale www.thethreetunsrestaurant.co.uk

Traditional Kentish Country Inn Quality food prepared daily from the finest local produce served in a warm and friendly atmosphere . Kentish Ales & Ciders always available.

The Street, Lower Halstow, Sittingbourne, Kent. ME9 7DY 01795 842840 [email protected] THE BEAR Faversham

The Bear Inn, 3 Market Place, Faversham, Kent ME13 7AG, Tel 01795 532668

Chris & Marie Annand and staff welcome you to this historic 15th Century inn in the heart of Faversham.

Immaculately kept Shepherd Neame beers

Traditional home made lunches served every day

Join us for our popular Quiz Night held on the last Wednesday of every month

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23 GREEN HOP FESTIVAL

If you were fortunate enough to be in There are more than 20 breweries in the Canterbury over the weekend of the county so the choice was very impressive 23rd September 2016 you will no – more than 35 for this year. Of doubt have ‘stumbled’ on the course they were all very different Kent Green Hop Beer Festival as each brewer created their at the Dane John Gardens. own recipe with the variety of The annual fortnightly green hops. Kent Green Hop celebration being part of Beers are made with fresh, or the Canterbury Food and green, Kentish hops – instead Drink Festival was the of using hops that have been only occasion and location dried as is more traditional when all (or nearly all) in brewing. The beers have Kent Green Hop Beers a characteristic fresh taste were available in the same because the hops used contain place at the same time. To many of the oils that are complement the beer there normally lost when hops are dried. was also local ciders, meads and The hops are used within 12 hours English wines along with plenty of of being picked. Perennial plants, every local Kent food produce and craft stalls in spring hop shoots reappear and are guided marquees across the former Roman cemetery by string upwards supported by their iconic ground. Almost every brewery in Kent hop poles and harvested at the end of the produced at least one beer for the occasion. summer. As has been featured in previous articles in Swale Ale individual hop varieties give beer bitterness and differing characteristic aroma. Traditionally hops are taken directly from field to the oast house (kiln) to be dried and then packed. More modern kiln buildings have replaced Kent’s famous oast houses. In the process of drying Green Hop Festival Canterbury some oils which otherwise contribute towards the beer’s taste and aroma are lost. The idea of Green Hop beers is that the hops are wet and therefore retain all oils and aromas in a different form, thus creating a unique and seasonal product. Brewers work closely with the hop growers to quickly harvest the hops and get them into the mash tun, ideally within twelve hours. We have heard of some achieving this in only three. Obviously the hops are not dried and so a vast quantity is required for each brew. During the festival and for a few weeks after the event our members tasted a few of these wonderful beers across Kent pubs. All were wonderful in their own right. Unless you are lucky to have a landlord who stores and conditions these beers throughout the year, make a date in your diary for next year’s event. The Green, Lower Halstow, Kent. ME9 7DS Andrew Kitney [email protected] www.thegreenfarmhouse.co.uk Updated from article published in 2014

www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale 27 BEERY JAUNTS So, why visit Cheltenham? For the racing? For the Regency architecture? No! For the beer of course!

September 2016 saw the first Cheltenham The beers I had were in excellent condition Beer Week (CBW) and I spent a couple of – a little bird tells me that Grant Cook, the days in this attractive, historic spa town landlord is a perfectionist – it shows! Added during the celebrations. bonus: CAMRA members discount on Mondays. Rather than having a beer festival at a single venue, there were a whole host of events at Whilst in the town of course pubs in the many different and diverse venues – pubs, Good Beer Guide (’17) have to be explored. breweries, restaurants, shops etc. across the Two more of these were taking part in CBW. town. Events included beery walking tours, Three others, (two pubs and one club) were beer masterclasses, meet the brewer events, not. Of the ones that were not part of CBW beer and food pairings, tutored beer tastings, The Cheltenham Motor Club had some whisky and beer pairings, brewery tours, and excellent beer from Left Handed Giant, more. Some 80 events at 27 venues. Stroud and Moor. The Kemble Brewery Inn, (which is not a brewery) had been awarded The intention of the organisers was to CAMRA branch winter (’15) pub of the season promote the growing Cheltenham beer scene, award. Beers from Bath Ales, Wye Valley and to celebrate, discover and explore good Prescott breweries. Moran’s Eating House beer in whatever format (cask, keg, bottle had two beers on pump, - a Tiny Rebel and or can) and to promote sensible drinking for one from Timothy Taylor. The beers were in enjoyment and conviviality. good condition, but as the name suggests this In attending any event one venue concentrates on food. tends to partake On the way to the Station a of the beer styles that you slight diversion was made to prefer but an event such The Royal Union which was as this also provides the in the 2016 GBG but does opportunity to sample many. not appear in the ’17 guide. One of the venues taking part The landlord, Robin was very in CBW was The Sandford welcoming and was holding Park Alehouse, which was his own Gloucestershire Beer awarded CAMRA National Festival with 8 handpumps Pub of the Year award 2015 – all from local breweries – and deservedly so! amazing isn’t it, when you’ve got a train to catch you A very welcoming pub with find an excellent pub! Only 10 handpumps – Oakham managed to sample five of Citra (4.2%), Purity Mad the seven, Twelve Bells Best Goose (4.2%), Wye Valley Bitter (3.8%), Great Western Moose River Butty Bach (4.5%), Tiny Rebel Cwtch (4.6%), (5%), The Tap Old Dairy Gold (3.9%), Force Dark Star Revelation (5.7%) were some of the Yankee Zulu (4%) and Goffs Lancer (3.8%). beers on offer. Also very good, reasonably All were very good AND I caught the train! priced home-cooked food was offered. Mary Cross

28 www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale

THE GOOD BEER GUIDE SELECTION CRITERIA

With the 2017 edition of the Good Beer for paper forms and we will enter your scores Guide recently launched, have you wondered for you. how CAMRA selects pubs for the Guide? Having collected thousands of beer scores Each CAMRA branch is responsible for the over the year, we generate a report in January entries in its area within the county and each giving the average, best and worst scores for listed pub must consistently serve real ale each pub and a confidence factor based on (and real cider if offered) of good quality. the number of scores received. The Branch To help us do this, we collect beer quality Committee uses these data to draw up a list information through CAMRA’s National Beer of eligible pubs with the highest average Scoring System (NBSS) in which members score, supplemented by other sources of are asked to contribute scores for pubs information, and then visits them to update throughout the year. the pub details ahead of a selection meeting in February. All branch members are invited to It is easy to score your beers in NBSS. Log that meeting at which we select our quota for in to CAMRA’s online pub guide, WhatPub the next Good Beer Guide. (www.whatpub.com) using your membership number and the same password that you use To make this work better, we need many to enter the CAMRA national website. Search more members to enter their scores. We for the pub and enter a score for each beer value the opinions of all members whether that you drank in the Submit Beer Scores active or not and we need as many opinions panel on the right of the screen. as possible for as many pints in as many pubs as possible. This is so we can have confidence There is plenty of help and information about in the statistics. We ask members to score NBSS on the Beer Scoring tab. WhatPub is the pubs continually not just once or twice. optimised for use on a smart phone and a NBSS works across the country not just in our downloadable app is planned, so you can branch. If you are not a member but would score your beer in the pub while you drink it! like your opinions of beer quality. If you don’t have online access at all, then ask CAMRA HQ your NBSS Coordinator at a branch meeting

GOOD BEER GUIDE 2017...AVAILABLE NOW!

The Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) best-selling beer and pub guide is back for 2017. Fully updated with the input of CAMRA’s 180,000+ members, the Guide is indispensable for beer and pub lovers young and old. Buying the book directly from CAMRA helps us campaign to support and protect real ale, real cider & real perry, and pubs & pub-goers. The new Guide will be published in September 2016, you can order a copy now (details below). HOW TO ORDER* Post: Complete the form on this page and send to: CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans AL1 4LW Phone: To order by credit card please phone 01727 867201 during office hours Online: Please visit www.camra.org.uk/shop

Your details (please complete in BLOCK CAPITALS) Postal Charges† I wish to buy the 2017 Good Beer Guide for £11 (CAMRA Members only) plus p&p UK £2.50 UK’s Best-Selling Beer & Pub Guide EU £7.50 EDITED BY ROGER PROTZ I wish to buy the 2017 Good Beer Guide for £15.99 plus p&p Rest of the World £10.00

Name

Address

Postcode Further discounts * available at Phone Number CAMRA Membership Number www.camra.org.uk/gbg I wish to pay by cheque (payable to CAMRA). Please remember to add postal charges to all orders †Please note postal Please charge my Credit/Debit card. Please note that we are unable to accept payment via American Express. charges stated apply Card Number to orders for one copy of the Expiry Date CSV Number (last 3 numbers on reverse of card) Good Beer Guide 2017 only. Full details available at Name of cardholder Signature www.camra.org.uk/shop

30 www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale Ypres TAVERN

Guest Ales Selected from a range of superb local and national ales. Have a particular favourite? Ask us and we’ll get a barrel in! Live Music Showcasing the best live acts from the local area every Friday and Saturday night. Home-cooked Meals Available Monday to Saturday, 11:30am - 2:30pm.

Open 10am ‘til late Find us at the top of Sittingbourne High Street.

A MEMBER OF 01795 423218 yprestavern.co.uk THE PHOENIX TAVERN Founders and home of Always a great e Timothy Taylor selection of real Appreciation ales on the six Society hand pumps, fi ve lagers, cider and wines from Corney and Barrow. Food served every day lunch and evening, all day Friday and Saturday and Sunday to 4.30pm. All prepared on the premises with care and skill by our team of chefs. Inglenook fi res in winter and lovely garden in summer A S, Cask Marque F, K M B Accredited 01795 591462 • www.thephoenixtavernfaversham.co.uk THE THREE TUNS BEER FESTIVAL

August Bank Holiday weekend saw the Three Tuns regular Kent Beer and Music Festival. Amongst the list of nearly 20 beers, the Caveman Citra and Gadds’ No. 5 proved particularly popular. Canterbury’s Brewers’ Itzamna packed a punch at over 9% and was a tasty chocolate porter. The music included the John Doe Trio. Landlords Carol and Chris said that the festival exceeded all expectations with real ale drinkers getting through 27 firkins of beer over the three days. Drinkers also got through 360 litres of real Kent cider.

Commenting, Chris and Carol said “The support of our Kentish Beer and Cider festival by CAMRA members was exceptional; we met members from branches all over Kent including many from our own Swale Branch some of whom visited every day of the festival. As well as the real ales going down well, real cider sales also increased significantly. We would like to thank everyone for their help and support of this event; which means we can continue to run it for years to come. Matt Deller

www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale 33

CONTEMPORARY PUB AND EATING HOUSE With log fires, comfy arm chairs, restaurant & private dining room, courtyard & garden. Set in Conyer which is part of the fabulous Swale walking area with the Saxon Shore Way and Swale Heritage Trail. Dogs & children welcome.

Great Cuisine from our light lunch menu to dining à la Carte with a wide selection of dishes prepared by our chef from locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Always ask if you have any special diet requirements. Awarded 5 stars for food hygiene.

Food served daily ~ see our website for times, menus, Special set menu days, jazz & blues evenings, etc Weekend breakfast menu ~ served 10am to 12:30pm

FREE HOUSE with good range of cask ales, lagers & wines

including Adnams, Masterbrew, Old Dairy Red Top, Guest Ales Read about us in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. CASK MARQUE

www.shipinnconyer.co.uk The Ship Inn Conyer email [email protected] Conyer Quay, Teynham TABLE BOOKINGS t 01795 520881 Kent ME9 9HR

34 www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale

KENT BEERS!!

“There’s more in the barrel”

Musket Brewery is an independent, Maidstone-based Micro Brewery located at Loddington Farm, Linton, brewing premium REAL ALE at realistic prices. The Musket brewers are CAMRA members, who provide these carefully brewed ales for your enjoyment.

MUZZLELOADER FLINTLOCK FIFE & DRUM

4.5% Kentish Ale 4.2% Best Bitter 3.8% Golden Ale

TRIGGER POWDER BURN MATCHLOCK 3.6% Pale Ale 5.0% Kentish Porter 3.8% KENTISH MILD

(Autumn/Winter brew!) Musket Brewery offers a significant promotion campaign on initial orders, to help increase turnover for the licensed trade. Musket has earned a well-deserved reputation for providing

GREAT beers, supported by exemplary customer service!

Contact Musket Brewery to find out more!!

007799667711 2277 2277 88 oo rr 0011662222 –– 774499993311

[email protected]

“There’s more in the barrel” at

www.musketbrewery.co.uk DDS Scheme Furlong's Ale House BEER STYLE: RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT

Often described as one of the most impressive beer styles, the Russian Imperial Stout is a particular favourite of mine. Not many breweries produce this style of beer but there are some exceptional examples available. Many of these are brewed in Europe or the USA but are readily available in bottles. The Russian Imperial Stout has a fascinating history dating back to the 18th Century. It was originally brewed in England to be exported to the Court of Katherine the Great, Tsarina of Russia. Beer historian, Pete Brown, explains that Katherine was a great fan of Imperial Stout and it therefore became popular in her Court. The high alcohol percentage (typically from 8-14%) reflects that originally it needed to withstand freezing temperatures as it was transported to Russia.

Russian Imperial Stout was originally brewed in London by Thrale’s Brewery and in later years by Courage and brewed as Courage Imperial Russian Stout. Typically it is a very rich and smooth beer and perfect for a winter’s evening. It is rare to find a cask Russian Imperial Stout but examples include Old Dairy’s Tsar Top, Gadd’s Imperial Russian Stout (10%), Organic Imperial Russian Stout (7.4%), Dark Star Imperial Stout (10.5%) and Itchen Valley’s Russian Winter (5.3%). These are all worth seeking out although are mostly occasional brews. A particular favourite of mine is Blue Monkey’s Silverback in the USSR (10%) and available in bottles. If you want something really strong then try and get hold of the Dutch Browerij Frontaal Deer Hunter – at a fantastic 13.4%. (Please drink responsibly!) Paul Irving

THANKS FOR HAVING US We offer our thanks to the following for hosting our last four Branch meetings: Black Lion, Lynsted Three Tuns, Lower Halstow The Castle, Oare Blacksmiths Arms, Wormshill

www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale 37 DUDDA’S TUN CIDER FLARESERIF 821 BT KENT TO THE CORE LIBRA

OUTLINED VERSION

84113-duddas-tun-cider-a5-ad.indd 1 11/11/2016 15:06

GOOD GOD, I NEED A BEER

Greetings Gentle Reader. Since the last of is to know about anything and are inspired to Obadiah’s ramblings concerning the fabled go solve the problems of the world. Alas as John Barleycorn I have delved a bit deeper the potion wears off by the morning the urge into the folklore of the beer god. Now I to do these great deeds also wanes as does know most of you will consider the erstwhile the memory of how the problems would be CAMRA member to indeed be a beer god but solved!! in this piece, I want to explore a few deities that are even older!! Staying in the Land of the Red Dragon we also find Habonde the Welsh Goddess of During research (believe it or not some of Abundance (pictured above). In addition my burblings are actually researched!), I to this she was a Goddess of the harvest, discovered that there are over 100 gods joy, health, fertility. Ale is her sacred brew. associated with beer, drinking, barley etc. To honour the goddess on the first Monday across the world with virtually every day in July a lunch of ale brewed eight months being a celebratory day for one or other. So, previously is prepared and shared around the if you are looking for an excuse for a beer, town to bring prosperity to all. Sounds to me ancient gods feast days are perfect! Check like a great excuse for not going into work the dates out on the interweb. Here are a few on a Monday ‘Sorry boss but I can’t come in gods that stood out from the crowd. today as I have to honour the harvest goddess by drinking ale’. Seems fair enough to me. Let me start in Obadiah’s ancestral homeland (at least on pater Spillages side of the tribe) Obadiah likes this next god. He is called in with a goddess of the barley called Silenus and in ancient Greek mythology he Cerridwen. According to the Mabinogion (a is the god of beer, drinking companions and collection of Welsh folklore tales), Cerridwen drunkenness. He is often depicted as a fat possessed The Cauldron of Inspiration, the man, balding with a beer belly and is normally brews from which would give the drinker the drunk (no comments now please) and is gift of knowledge and stimulus. I am assuming carried around by Satyrs (wood-dwelling this must be a strong ale as after a few pints creatures) who I assume ran the ancient of the stuff most of us know everything there equivalent to Uber cabs! Does anyone know Continued on page 42...

40 www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale For the Best in Quality and Service 16, 19, 25, 31, 35, 49 and 53 Seat Executive Coaches 01227 794345 [email protected] www.regentcoaches.com Unit 16, St Augustines Business Park, Swalecliffe, Kent, CT5 2QJ where can I get some obliging Satyrs for enormous pot to brew it in. To assist him Saturday night!?! were his nine daughters who were said to be of unsurpassed beauty and dressed in Next we come to a goddess who will be white robes and veils and helped brew beer familiar to CAMRA members, no I don’t mean with their father. It seems that Aegir’s halls Flo the barmaid at The Ratchet & Ball Bearing were a great place to be as the beer flagons I talk of none other than the glorious Ninkasi. would automatically refill themselves when Ninkasi is the ancient Sumerian goddess of they became empty. You have got to hand it beer and brewing who is said to have given to those Vikings. If you are going to have a the world the secret of making good beer. mythology, why not have one where beautiful She also has the power to satisfy human young maidens brew beer that magically desire and sate the heart! Now I know what refills its self in your glass! you are thinking, you didn’t know there was I could go on for pages about beer gods a goddess of a pickled egg in a bag of crisps (please don’t I hear you cry) but before I go did you. Well dear reader you learn something I just want to mention one more god with new every day! Anyhoo - so high was Ninkasi whom I think we have all been familiar with in the pantheon that she was head brewer to at one time or other. I talk of the wonderful the gods themselves and would brew beer for creation of the late Sir Terry Pratchett – the other gods daily. Billious, the Oh-god of Hangovers. The The Sumerians were one of the first peoples followers of whom wake up after a night of to write stuff down and on a clay tablet, made heavy drinking, open their eyes and whisper around 1800 BC has been found The Hymn ‘oh-god’ in his honour! to Ninkasi which essentially contained the Toodle-pip. first recipe for making beer. I am not going to regale you with the whole hymn but here is a Obaddiah Spillage flavour with the last couple of lines, “Ninkasi, you are the one who pours out the filtered beer of the collector vat, It is [like] the onrush of Tigris and Euphrates.” Humm, not great at poetry these ancient Sumerians but perhaps the poet had been honoring the goddess too much the previous night! Now no self-respecting article about beer gods would be complete without mentioning Norse mythology so here we go. The Norse god Aegir was the brewer to the gods. He got the job after Thor brought him an

42 www.camra-swale.org.uk [email protected] CAMRAswale CAMRA Xmas 2016 A5 FLAT.pdf 1 06/10/2016 09:17:48

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K Enjoy over 300 Norfolk Come and experience and other UK real ales, our extensive ciders, perries and collection of quality international real ales or explore our beers all hosted in a fringe festival 14th Century at the selected Grade I listed building City Centre pubs

WINTER ALES Festival 21st - 25th february 2017

Tuesday 21st CAMRA Members Preview 5:30pm - 10:30pm Wednesday 22nd to Saturday 25th Noon - 10:30pm The Halls, St Andrews Plain, Norwich NR3 1AU Find out more: www.nwaf.org.uk @WinterAlesFest Winteralesfestival