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THe MAGAZINe OF WeST BerKSHIre CAMrA SPRIN G 2019 www.westberkscamra.org.uk @WBCAMRA @WBCAMRAcider @UllageBeer @WBCAMRA

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app. Dogs are welcome. The nine en suite double, While Dave went on to found West Berkshre Brewery, John’s brewery was a 5 barrel plant called single and family rooms, bookable via the website, Sam Trueman’s in Medmenham which supplied will open a few weeks before the pub. westberkscamra.org.uk his pub, the Crown & Anchor, Marlow, until 2002. Since the White Hart closed in September A new window in a rear outbuilding will allow 2015, the ‘Save the White Hart Inn’ group has visitors to view Saviour’s 4 barrel campaigned for the retention of the plant, sourced from Tenbury Wells. pub and recently posted ‘ … we The first beers planned are Saviour would like to express our support for Gold (5% ABV), a classic pale ale this venture.’ on the campaign brewed with Maris Otter pale malt group’s website: from Warminster Maltings and www.savethewhitehart.org English Fuggles and Goldings hops. Saviour Bitter Andy Pinkard, CAMRA’s branch chairman, (3.5% ABV), will be brewed with Northdown said ‘The pub is the vital hub of a vibrant hops from Worcestershire. community, and it's very good news that the White In December 2018, webmaster Tony Girling Regulars are invited to join the Saviour Pennies Hart is reopening. As others have recently converted the West Berkshire CAMRA beer club (£20 p.a.) for a 50% discount on its own demonstrated in our area, a committed and website westberkscamra.org.uk to use ales. A range of other beers at the White Hart innovative publican is the basis for the successful WordPress, an open-source content includes Fuller’s London Pride as a permanent reinvention of pubs.’ management system. cask ale on one of the four handpumps. Wine Opening hours: Mon-Thu 4-10pm; Fri-Sat Now any committee member can add content drinkers will find a zesty selection of wines by the 12-11pm; Sun 12-5pm. or update existing pages on the new style website glass with discounts on bottles to take home. www.saviourwhitehart.co.uk Tel: 01488 657545 which is already proving popular. The website has links: to breweries and cider ON OTHER PAGES makers in our branch area; to neighbouring Swift Halves - Pub and brewery news 2,3 CAMRA branches and to WhatPub for pub Swift Halves - News, Gig Guide 4 searches and beer scoring. Swift Halves - Festivals, LocAle 5 The 'All Branch Committee' tab lists committee Pub Profile - The Downgate, Hungerford 6 members and enables messages to be sent to those Reading Ale Trail 7 with key roles. It also highlights current volunteer Mild (Jeff Evans), Trappist Beer Experts 8 opportunities like Social Secretary and Ullage East London Tryanuary ale trails 9 magazine Advertising manager. Ian Clayton's new book reviewed 10 A meeting for all interested in specifying and Boak & Bailey, Curmudgeon, Liverpool 11 developing the branch's website further has been Diary Dates, CAMRA Contacts & Festivals 12 arranged for Tuesday 16 April 7pm at the Hungerford Club.

Ullage March - May 2019 1 Swift Halves ■ The 4.8% ABV Milk Stout from Ramsbury Brewery is described as ‘smooth & thick, bitter & sweet, dark 2019 West Berkshire CAMRA & rich’. Outstanding Community Pub Blindside, Ramsbury’s (previously unrecognised) seasonal 3.9% ABV light copper ale, dry hopped with Mosaic, was named to tie in with the Six Nations Championship. In 2018, the Cottage Inn, Cow & Cask and Old London Apprentice shared the ■ The Winterbourne Arms , near Chieveley, has Outstanding Community Pub award. been closed since spring 2017. A planning For 2019, the branch is looking for a application 19/00346/FULD to West Berkshire new pub to gain this award and receive Council for conversion of the pub to a residential valuable publicity. dwelling has expiry dates of 6 March (Standard Any previously unrecognised town or consultation) and 8 April (Statutory). A Save the country pub in our area can be nominated. Winterbourne Arms campaign aims to spread Factors influencing the award include charity awareness and gain support to fight the closure of support, team games, noticeboards, group the pub – twitter.com/ArmsSave meetings and activities like beer festivals, quizzes, trips, live music and performances. ‘Saving your local pub’ a comprehensive toolkit Anyone, including the publican, can for campaigners can be downloaded from ■ In the main bar of the King Charles Tavern , nominate one or more pubs. Please send pubs.camra.org.uk/savingyourlocalpub Newbury, new red banquette corner seating, details, by 30 June, to Mike Avery, Branch provides seating for groups of up to ten. The rear Secretary, whose contact details are on the room has been redecorated and can be hired for back page or by using the online form at parties etc. Kealey has introduced a typical East www.westberkscamra.org.uk/nominate End dish of pie, mash and parsley liquor to the new menu which includes burgers and British classics like jam roly poly. kctavern.com

■ Kirsty has introduced daily happy hours at the Lion , Newbury, with beers reduced to £3 pint and free pool (not Tuesdays) between 5pm - 7pm. Facebook @thelionatnewbury

■ Hermitage Brewery Hocktide ale will be ready ■ At the Old London Apprentice , Newbury, for the Hungerford festival after Easter. The 4.5% Sunday roast lunches, with a choice of meats, are ■ Wild Weather brewers Jamie Duffield and Chris ABV fruity ale is dry hopped with Fuggles. served on alternate Sundays from 3 March (£10). Price talked about the brewery’s new branding at Lodestone Mild, 3.8% ABV, is full flavoured and The monthly music quiz, set by Colin Jones, is on the Grumpy Goat, Harris Arcade, Reading on smooth. In addition to the brewery’s favourite Tuesday 12 March, 9 April and 14 May at 8pm. 16 February. The largeer 440ml cans with colourful Maris Otter pale malt, chocolate and crystal malts artwork by Mark Bell (@markbellillustration) provide the flavour, colour and body. The Mild ■ A new monthly quiz at the Craven Arms , now have space for a near horizontal ‘tattered beer style is described by Jeff Evans on page 8. Enborne, is on the first Monday of the month flag’ logo. from 4 March at 7pm for 7.30pm. ■ Peter’s Porter, a popular seasonal ale from Arkell’s Brewery of Kingsdown, Swindon, is a 4.8% ABV smooth and dark porter. After Head Brewer, Alex Arkell's 2018 New Zealand visit, he brewed Pioneer NZ IPA. The 3.8% ABV session IPA is now also available in cans.

■ The Cow & Cask , Newbury, Christmas raffle

CAMRA Discounts raised £200 for Priors Court School. Additional Jamie, Chris, Tim & Mike – Nag’s Head, Reading Members enjoy discounts at prizes included beer and cider kindly donated by CAMRA beer festivals, local producers. Wild Weather’s founder, Mike Tempest, later Wetherspoon pubs Over 50s looking for friendship or company joined the group at the Nag’s Head, Reading, (* with voucher) and pubs below: are welcomed at Cow & Cask Companions on where a cask of their hazy 4.5% ABV American Aldermaston: Wednesdays (11.30am – 1.30pm) with games and Pale Ale ‘We bring scientists, you bring a Hind’s Head drinks, including tea and coffee, available. rockstar?’ soon sold out. The group photo Brimpton: includes Tim Lloyd (Tim’s Beer Reviews on Three Horseshoes ■ The planning application for partial residential YouTube). Newbury: redevelopment of the Bell at Boxford was refused New equipment at the brewery includes a Catherine Wheel (18/02816/FULD). black mash tun and a hop torpedo for hop dosing. Cow & Cask Wild Weather’s core beer range includes: Gun, Wash Common Hatchet Inn* ■ The Monument , Newbury, will shut for a few Shepherds Warning - hopped with Citra; Full of King Charles Tavern days from 18 March for removal of an internal Beans (currently Irish Cream coffee stout); King Old London Apprentice wall enabling the pool table to be repositioned at Street Pale; King Street IPA and changing fruited the rear. lactose sours e.g. Damn Dead Gooseberry.

2 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire ■ Entry and prize details for the Grumpy Goat’s ■ On Mondays, the Catherine ■ The Nag’s Head , Newbury, reopened under new 4th Home Brew competition (closes 31 March) Wheel , Newbury, offers 50p off all management on 15 February. Up to four cask ales are at: thegrumpygoat.co.uk/brewcomp4 locally produced beer and cider on are available. Daily opening hours are 12-12 draught and from bottles or cans. (9.30pm Sundays). Twitter: @NagsNewbury An alcove houses a fridge, full of local bottled ciders (photo). ■ On 15 January, BBC South Today featured Mark See page 5 for Easter beer festival Genders, landlord of the Five Bells , Wickham, details. thecatherinewheel.com discussing the importance of barley ‘the soul of beer’ for the pub with its INNformal microbrewery. Familiar from years ago at the ■ A new walking tour of Henley-on-Thames (now closed) Rising Sun, Stockcross, Glen and highlights the town’s rich brewing heritage. Double-Barrelled Brewery - Luci Kelly are now running Mark’s pub. INNformal The 75 minute tour, led by Blue Badge guide Szechuan Porter was described as ‘a delicious new ■ Mike and Luci Clayton-Jones founded Bobbie Latter, takes walkers to key brewing Double-Barrelled Brewery in Reading after a take on their excellent Black Pepper Porter’ by sites and pubs and is supported by local brewer Mark Brown. www.fivebellswickham.co.uk year long trip, via 29 countries, to visit some of and pub operator Brakspear. the world’s best breweries and hop farms. The ■ The lease for the Old Bell , Wash Common, brewery is on an industrial estate, accessible on Brewery, New Street which closed late in 2018, is offered via Fleurets. foot from Wigmore Lane, off the Oxford Road, c. 1900 midway between Reading West and Tilehurst ■ Brighton based beer writer and radio stations. Brewing began in October and the broadcaster Emma Inch was named Beer Writer spacious Tap Room opened in December of the Year 2018 at the British Guild of Beer featuring a 12 line keg list. Tap Room hours are Writers’ annual awards ceremony on 22 Friday 3-8pm, Saturday 2-7pm. Monthly brewery November. The Brewer of the Year award was tours, eg Saturday 6 April, can be booked online. shared between John Keeling, recently retired doublebarrelled.co.uk from Fuller’s and Jaega Wise, Wild Card Brewery. The tour starts at 11am on the last Sunday of The Long Live the Local Award for Best Writer ■ Kevin Brady has brewed the month at the Hotel du Vin, New Street, site about Pubs went to Jessica Boak and Ray Bailey. two new beers for of the Brakspear brewery for nearly two Further award details: www.beerguild.co.uk Indigenous Brewery of centuries until it closed in 2002. For a limited Chaddleworth. time, a complimentary pint, from Brakspear’s ■ Long Live the Local is a campaign backed by Britain’s Beer Alliance to celebrate the positive Chinwag is a 4% ABV microbrewery, within the Bull on Bell Street, is role that pubs play in our lives and communities Best Bitter and Tickety-Boo is a offered to walkers at the Bull or the Angel on and to highlight the tax pressures the industry 4.2% ABV Golden Ale. the Bridge. The tour costs £10 and places must faces (VAT, Business Rates and Beer Duty). www.indigenousbrewery.co.uk be booked in advance on 07770 933117. www.longlivethelocal.pub

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35 Cheap Stre et, Newbury . RG 14 5D B 016 35 569 89 7 www.thec ather ine wheel. com

Ullage March - May 2019 3 ■ The Loddon Brewery Taproom at Dunsden Gig Guide Green Farm, near Reading, opens at 10am from Thursday to Saturday with closing time varying Ace Space , St. Nicolas according to customer demand. Road, Newbury. Tickets: With the retirement of Steve Brown, Hogan Music, Newbury. www.acespace.org.uk after 15 years as Head Brewer, Jake 16 Mar - Mawkin + Katherine Priddy Bartleet-Perry moved from Bradford 23 Mar - Paul James & The Drowned Brewery to take over in November Lovers ■ West Berkshire Brewery has adopted stylish new 2018. Jake's first new beer is being 13 Apr - Urban Folk Quartet branding. See back page advertisement for new released in March. Citra Quad, a 4.4% 17 May - Alden Patterson & Dashwood pumpclip design and Taproom opening hours. Unplugged Open Mic - 1st Friday of month ABV session IPA, is hopped four times to give Have a Great Day, the next intense flavour and aroma from the Citra hops. Chequers Hotel , Newbury – 3pm Sundays seasonal cask ale is a 4.2% ABV Jazz - Pay at the door on the day 31 Mar, 21 Apr, 19 May - Pete Allen & Rye Pale Ale with ‘a subtle spice ■ Bingham’s Brewery vegan-friendly cask stouts his band. Enquiries: 01635 44806 flavour, caramel, citrus and and porters are available from the Tap Room at 2b Newbury Jazz Platform pine aromas with a refreshingly High Street, Twyford crossroads, on Fridays and FB: @NewburyJazzPlatform dry, peppery finish. Complex, Saturdays until 9 March. New permanent tap room at The Lamb , Newbury resinous and bitter’. premises are sought. binghams.co.uk Jazz with Gavin Wilkinson’s A salted caramel edition of Maggs’ Magnificent house band. Mild is due to follow. 3rd Wednesday of each month: ■ Tutts Clump is a 20 Mar, 17 Apr, 15 May 7.30pm Entry £2 On 21 January, known as ‘Blue Monday’, a #BrewMonday event was held at the brewery’s hamlet in the parish of The Angel , Woolhampton Bradfield. The new Jazz from 8pm Saturdays taproom, raising almost £200 for Samaritans from www.jazzangel.co.uk the sale of cakes. Bradfield Cyder ties in 30 Mar, 27 Apr, 25 May - to be confirmed with Tutts Clump The Monument , Newbury - Fridays & Cider’s sponsorship of Saturdays Bradfield Golf Club’s 9 Mar - Jaw Breakers Cyder Cup. 15 Mar - Gary Myles Tim Wale reports that ‘ Due to our new 23 Mar - Street Corner Talking pressing line we were able to increase our 30 Mar - Dusk Till Dawn 6 Apr - Stuart Marsh production by around 30% in 2018 making 13 Apr - JJ & The Jukes around 80,000 litres of cider and 10,000 litres of 20 Apr - Iron Lotus perry. We have launched a second round of fund 27 Apr - Bottle Kids raising to purchase an automatic canning 4 May - Shakedown Prophets 11 May - Upraw machine ... ’. www.tuttsclumpcider.co.uk 18 May - 13 Lies 25 May - Butt Monkeys ■ Look out for Dave Bailey with stocks of Open Mic night with Oli Hill on Thursdays Tickets sold ouf for the #Tryanuary beer festival Green Shed Cider at the Newbury Farmers’ The Lion , Newbury at the taproom on Saturday 26 January featuring Market on the first Sunday of every month. 8 Mar - Sound Newbury (pop videos) Twitter: @greenshedcider 23 Mar - Iron Lotus original roots / blues music performed by guitarist 6 Apr - Straw Dogs Mark Harrison with Charles Benfield on double 24 May - Iron Lotus bass. Bond Brews, Two Cocks Brewery and Elusive ■ Rick Wyatt (Wyatt’s Craft Cider) partnered Lock Stock & Barrel , Newbury Brewing were among the festival beer suppliers up with an old school friend to take his cider 3 Mar - Dirty Deeds whose brewers attended. to the next level. They secured premises at 16 Mar - The Soultones Brewery tours can be booked online for Broadview Farm, Cold Ash and during the 27 Apr - Pink Mac Saturday 23 March, 13 April and 11 May. autumn pressed 6,500 litres. They will soon Document House , Newbury www.wbbrew.com commence trading as Pang Valley Cider . 17 May - Wrong Jovi The Starting Gate , Newbury 6 Apr - Juice The Newbury , Newbury Thursdays - Sion Whiley presents Open Mic night on the roof terrace Old London Apprentice , Newbury 2nd Friday of each month is Folk Night 16 Mar - Mo Chairde (Irish music) 29 Mar, 31 May - Iron Lotus acoustic About u s 6 Apr, 25 May - Rick & Nick 27 Apr - Iron Lotus Since 2 006 w e’ve b een grea t b eer s fr om lovingly c rafting aw ard-winning, The White Hart , Thatcham – Saturdays oxf ord shire since 2 003 bottle c onditio ned c ide r i n 9 Mar - The NeverNevers West B erkshire. W e m ake i t t he 23 Mar - Mash 27 Apr - Fubar old fa shioned w ay – b y h and. 11 May - Monkey Dolls That’s w hy w e c all i t – Fox Inn , Hermitage ‘Proper C ider ’ 18 May - Jukes Blues Available i n W aitrose More pubs with live music: Hungerford area : Railway Tavern, Tally Ho, Wheatsheaf Get in touch Tel. 0 118 97 4 4649 Newbury area : Canal Bar, Tweet. @tuttsclumpcider Catherine Wheel, Cross Keys visit u s online facebook.com /tuttsclumpcider Thatcham area : Castle at Cold Ash, Swan loddonbre wer y.c om w ww.tuttsclumpcider .co .uk

4 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire

Beer Festivals ■ The branch social at the 9th Wantage Beer & See advertisement on ■ The 10th Twyford Beer Festival , raising money Cider Festival , 15-16 March, is on the starting page 1 for more details. for the male cancer charity Orchid, moves to Friday. Meet Tim (with Ullage) at Newbury To join the branch Stanlake Meadow, Waltham Road, closer to station for the 11.58 train to Reading, changing social at the festival in Twyford Station. Sessions are Fri 7 (5-11pm) and for Didcot and then X32 bus to Wantage (arrive Reading, meet Tim or Sat 8 June (12-10pm). £5 entry includes glass. 13.43). CAMRA members gain free festival Andy (with Ullage) at twyfordbeerfest.co.uk entrance at The Beacon civic hall. Saturday’s Six the CAMRA bookstall on Nations rugby games will be shown live. Thursday 2 May at 7pm. www.whitehorsecamra.org.uk ■ Clive and Kinga have organised a live music ■ The branch social at the 9th Newbury festival weekender with camping and some Racecourse Beer Festival , 12-13 April, is on the special ales and gins at the Craven Arms , There are now 40 LocAle pubs in our branch closing Saturday. Meet Chris Reynolds (with Enborne, on 4-5 May (Bank Holiday weekend). serving beer from breweries within 25 miles. Ullage) in or near the festival marquee from1pm. thecravenarmsenborne.com [email protected] See advertisement on page 7 for festival details See also the LocAle page on our website: and CAMRA discount for advance tickets. ■ The Bracknell Ale & Cider Festival returns to www.westberkscamra.org.uk Bracknell Rugby Club on Sunday 26 May (Bank LocAle Pubs - WEST of A34 ■ Craft Theory - beer and music festival returns Holiday weekend) with real ales, ciders, wine, to South Street, Reading on 19-20 April. food and live music. The Bell at Boxford Boxford crafttheoryfestival.co.uk Tickets via festival.bracknaleevents.co.uk The Blackbird Bagnor The Blue Ball Kintbury ■ The Easter beer festival at the Catherine Wheel , ■ Also on 26 May is the Fox & Hounds , The Coach World’s End, Beedon Newbury, from 18-22 April, will feature local Donnington, Hog Roast and Ale festival with The Downgate Hungerford beers and ciders with live music #behindthegate. live music from The Side Project. The Eastbury Plough Eastbury www.foxandhoundsnewbury.co.uk The Five Bells Wickham ■ Session times and prices (including glass and The Fox at Peasemore Peasemore programme) for the 24th Reading Beer & Cider ■ The Donnington Valley Hotel hosts a 'Taste of The John O'Gaunt Inn Hungerford Festival are: Thu 2 May 4.30-11pm £5; British' food and wine festival on Saturday 1 June The Red House Marsh Benham Fri 3 May 11am-11pm £11; from 12pm to 3pm. The event will also feature Royal British Legion Hungerford Sat 4 May 11am-4.30pm £10; cider makers and breweries including Ramsbury, The Tally Ho! Hungerford Newtown Sat 4 May 6-11pm £10; Two Cocks and West Berkshire. The Three Swans Hotel Hungerford Sun 5 May 12-7pm £5. Tickets £5 on the door. Tel 01635 551199. Locally Brewed Real Ale

THE OLD LONDON APPRENTICE COTTAGE INN UPPER BUCKLEBURY

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

Bingo - :ursday Live bands - Saturday A West Berkshire CAMRA Community Pub Karaoke - Sunday of the Year: 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017 & 2018 Families welcome - Outdoor Play Zone Private parties and bu;ets catered for + Paddock with hens, goats & rabbits Private function room for hire Great circular walks from the pub to the Pang valley & Bucklebury Common Sunday lunches every other Sunday Lounge and separate bar with Sky Sports & BT Sport (check with pub for dates) 5ree Cask Ales including Good Old Boy Four real ales including Harvey’s Sussex Best, Tue-Fri 12-3 & 5-11 Food 12-2 & 6-8.30 Fuller’s London Pride & Wadworth 6X Saturday 12 - late Food 12-2.30 & 6-8.30 CAMRA discount Sunday 12 - 8 Lunch 12 - 3

2 Hambridge Road, Newbury, RG14 5SS | Tel: 01635 41483 26 Broad Lane, Upper Bucklebury RG7 6Q 01635 864544 www.oldlondonapprentice.co.uk www.thecottageinnupperbucklebury.co.uk

Ullage March - May 2019 5 Pub Profile #65 The Downgate Hungerford There is much to explore in Hungerford, a historic town surrounded by an area of outstanding natural beauty. Some visit the famous antique shops, many others enjoy the waterways or the variety of walking and cycling trails that are available. Whatever the reason for your visit, please do find time to call in at the Downgate pub, with its welcoming village inn atmosphere, located at the edge of Hungerford Common and within a short distance of the railway station. The Downgate started life as a beer retailer in the early 1800s and a full alcohol licence was not granted until 1958. Up until the late 1980s, there was always an off-sales counter on the exterior of the building. Over the years it has been variously known as the Spotted Cow and the Royal Exchange and has been owned by a number of breweries including the Phoenix Brewery of Newbury. It was bought in 1994 by Arkell’s Brewery who had it refurbished and have owned it ever since. A more detailed will be offered water and treats. Towels history of the pub can be found on are provided to dry your dog on a the website pennypost.org.uk (search rainy day and it must be one of the few ‘hungerford pub’). pubs that offer dog beds! There is The current licensee, Lauren Weir, ample car parking outside the pub and took over the pub in 2017 from David nearby on the adjacent common. and Janet Yates, who ran the pub for Lauren is keen to foster a community some 13 years. Lauren is only in her spirit and raises funds for the mid-twenties but has held a licence Hungerford charity, CHAIN, which for several years and is the youngest undertakes voluntary work and related licensee in the area. activities for the benefit of elderly, sick Her parents’ nearby pub for 17 or disabled people in and around the years till 2015, the Plume of Feathers local area. (now the Hungerford Arms), is where Lauren interior has been redecorated in neutral colours Christmas and Summer Solstice walks are worked previously. . Before that, her father with a modern light feel. There is a restored hard organised by the pub which have been well managed Fuller’s flagship pubs in the City of floor throughout, with the exception of a lower supported. Lauren intends to put on an outdoor London, including the Counting House, so drinking and dining area known as ‘The Pitt’ real ale and cider festival and paella party in the Lauren has been exposed to the licensed trade which is carpeted, has an original fireplace, and summer. Given that the pub has an outdoor for most of her life. is the only area where dogs are not allowed. seating area with expansive views of the Lauren explains that when she took over the Arkell’s beers available include keg Hurricane common this should prove to be very popular! Downgate she wanted to run it as a traditional Ale with cask 3B, HOPeration IPA and All in all, no day or evening in Hungerford British country pub. With no noisy games Moonlight on hand pump. For variety, a seasonal would be complete without a visit to this friendly machines, television or piped music, the Arkell’s cask ale may substitute for one of these. and highly recommended traditional hostelry. emphasis is very much on good beer, good food The pub is CAMRA LocAle accredited and as a Mike Avery and good conversation. Traditional pub board mark of quality has Cask Marque status. games are provided and are proving to be Lauren strongly supports local traders and popular and fun. In keeping with her aims, the ensures that as much of the menu as possible is comprised of locally sourced produce and ingredients. Menus change frequently and in addition to deliciously cooked starters, mains and desserts, light snacks are offered. The Sunday roast is very popular and advanced booking is advised. If beer is not your tipple, a varied selection of wine, from old world to new world, is available to accompany your food. Lauren explains that the accent is on providing high quality pub food at an affordable price. She The Downgate , 13 Down View, appointed a new chef in January and there are Hungerford RG17 0ED plans to expand the menu during the course of Telephone: 01488 682708 this year. Website: thedowngate.com The pub is understandably popular with Facebook: @TheDowngatepub walkers (with or without dogs) and cyclists due Opening & Meal Times to its location at the edge of the Common. Closed Monday Cyclists are offered the opportunity to top up Tue - Sat: 11.30 - 11 (Food 12 - 2.30; 6.30 - 9.30) their water bottles whilst your four legged friend Sunday: 12 - 9.30 (Food 12 - 4)

6 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire Reading ale trail 2019 includes the Rowbarge During their time in Reading, Paul and Jennie Rayner visited all 24 pubs on the 2017 Reading Ale Trail for the reward of commemorative t-shirts. It was a social time meeting other trail-goers who were made

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Now living in Newbury, Paul explains how to : o t o visit 16 or more pubs of Reading Ale Trail 2019 by h P travelling cheaply with a Reading Buses simplyNetwork group ticket. His ‘Carbon-Neutral At the Allied Arms launch event in Reading, a Beer Blog’ (fueledbybeer.wordpress.com) steady stream of people visited to obtain a booklet provides details, an interactive Google map and and drink real ale or cider before covering the WhatPub links. B&W pub photo in the booklet with the matching One of Newbury’s oldest and finest Inns colour sticker and moving on to another trail pub. Enjo y West Berkshire‘s Good Old Boy Full details, with FAQs, can be found at And our weekly guest beers from some of the areas finest producers readingcamra.org.uk/aletrail with the latest Great Fresh Food served daily information on the Reading Ale Trail Facebook Bath Road, Speen, RG14 1QY public group. (01635) 521152 www.hareandhoundshotel.net

SPRING TRIAL S WEEKEND FRID AY 1 2 & SA TURD AY 1 3 APRIL

Pubs 1-8: The Central Reading part of Paul’s trail starts at the Fox & Hounds, Caversham, where hopefully some booklets remain and the first sticker can be obtained for drinking real ale or real cider. Pubs 9-16: Paul suggests starting his Newbury to Reading West route at the Rowbarge, Woolhampton, the only pub in the West Berkshire CAMRA area on this year’s trail. Crossing into Reading & Mid Berks CAMRA area, the next pub is the Fox & Hounds, Theale, voted Britain’s most dog-friendly pub in 2017. While 16 pub stickers earns respect and two

FEA TURING THE BEER FEST VAL 2019 BEERS • ALES • CIDERS • LIVE MUSIC free half-pint vouchers at Reading Beer & Cider Festival, Paul provides three further itineraries for CAMRA DISCOUNT those wishing to visit more distant pubs, like the HALF PRICE GRANDST AND TICKETS FOR CA MRA MEMBERS . Bell, Waltham St Lawrence, in order to claim a CALL OR USE PROM O CO DE CA MRA 19 ONLINE * distinctive t-shirt for visiting all 24 pubs on the 2019 trail. 01635 400 15 The closing date for completed ale trail ne wbur yr acec ourse.co.uk booklets is 4 April 2019. A total of 700 booklets were put on sale, for a £1 refundable deposit, at #DDF Spring Trials the Nag’s Head and the Alehouse in Reading and *Applies to full price ‘Gr andstand’ tick ets only . Discount not av ailable with any oth er of fer . Of fer ends 5pm (teleph one bookings) or midnight (online) on 1 1 April the Fox & Hounds in Caversham, on 9 February.

Ullage March - May 2019 7 Beer style guide: Mild by Jeff Evans It’s hard to believe today but mild was the A typical recipe for mild is based on a most popular beer style in Britain until the generous use of malt – both pale malt to provide 1950s. It was a drink closely associated with most of the brewing sugars and darker malt to heavy industries – the beer that miners, add roasted grain character and colour. Hops YATTENDON steelworkers, foundry men and farmers provide a gentle balance of bitterness rather than A beautiful, authentic country pub with rooms offering: reached for in search of both taking over. But these are not Award winning real ales from West Berks brewery refreshment and nourishment rules, just generalities. Some in the village milds are, perversely, fairly Stunning, Michelin rated, home cooked food at the end of a sweaty day’s Delicious Sunday roasts toil. The decline in such bitter, and some milds are not Fixed price lunch menu Monday to Friday even dark. There’s a type of ale, 10 luxurious guest bedrooms industries has been mirrored Glorious walled beer garden with the traditional amber hue in the decline of mild. Al fresco dining under leafy vine terrace of a bitter, but with only gentle 3 roaring log fires Being ‘mild’ in alcohol, the 3 private dining rooms for up to 70 guests hopping, that falls into the beer offered tired workers the category known as ‘light mild’, Accreditations include : welcome opportunity of sinking Muddy Stilettos – Best Boutique Stay 2017 and then there are also milds Alistair Sawday’s Special Places To Stay 2017 a few pints without feeling too that are not so easy on the The Michelin Guide 2017 much the worse for wear, The AA Good Pub Guide 2017 alcohol. Whereas most milds Country & Town House - Great British & Irish Hotels 2017 although this is not actually contain about 3–3.5% alcohol, where the name comes from. THE SQUARE, YATTENDON, BERKSHIRE RG18 0UG some are quite strong, heading TELEPHONE: 01635 201 325 Neither does it come from the EMAIL: [email protected] up towards 6% and more. WWW.ROYALOAKYATTENDON.COM fact that the beer is traditionally not as highly hopped as other beers, so it is milder Editor’s notes: Local milds include Magnificent in bitterness, although both these attributes do Mild, Indigenous Brewery Baldrick and sum up what mild is mostly about. Instead, Hermitage Brewery Lodestone Mild. historically, mild was simply a beer that was fresh, CAMRA promotes mild throughout May as opposed to one that had been allowed to age which makes it a good month for any pub to and therefore had a more demanding, sour introduce mild. There are a few pubs where it can flavour. It had a mild taste. This, of course, doesn’t usually be found: the Bell Inn, Aldworth; the Six explain how the beer is made today, or the Bells, Beenham; West Berkshire Brewery ingredients that shape its character. Taproom, Yattendon and the Nags Head, Reading. CAMRA member Chris Reynolds is also Membership Secretary of West Berks Ramblers and will be leading the following walks: Sun 3 Mar 9.30am: Park in Impstone Road, Pamber Heath. 9.5 mile walk with lunch at Wannabe Trappist beer experts! The Plough, Little London. After judging Czech beers in Prague, Jeff surprising delicateness’ . Although not mentioned Sun 24 Mar 9.30am: Meet at Childís Court Farm, Evans returned to Newbury to host a Trappist on the label, Jeff explained that the 11.3% ABV Ashampstead Common RG8 8QT. 10.5 mile walk beers event at the Inn at Home on 8 February. beer is subtly spiced with some ground coriander. with lunch at The Bell, Aldworth. David Marklew greeted around 20 ticket As mentioned in the Technicalities section on Thu 9 May 9.30am: Park by byway in Green holders with a glass of Arbor stout before page 167, ‘Strength is a prominent feature of Drove, Upper Enham. 10.7 mile walk, with lunch introducing Jeff whose latest book is Trappist and abbey beers, but what is remarkable at The George, St Mary Bourne. ‘CAMRA’s So you want to be a Beer Expert?’. about most examples is that they are not thick or Contact Chris on 01635 226826 or Jeff mentioned the 12 breweries allowed to use cloying. The reason for this is that brewers use 07979 804637 about a trial ramble. the Trappist label. The latest is Mount Saint sugar in many brews…’. Bernard Abbey of Leicestershire which Potential beer experts can buy Jeff's book introduced Tynt Meadow in 2018, the third beer from shop.camra.org.uk or via good bookshops. of the tasting. Various Trappist beers are stocked by Inn at Page 168 of Jeff’s book has details for 11 of Home, 150 Bartholomew Street, Newbury. the breweries and includes a photo of Orval www.innathome.co.uk monastery in the south of Belgium where the only beer produced for general sale is a pale ale. A favourite of Jeff’s, The Castle Inn· Cold Ash Orval with its distinctive Ⅲ West Berkshire CAMRA bottle and label, was the Community Pub of the Year 2010 first beer in the tasting. Ⅲ Good Beer Guide 2011-14 & 2016-19 Also tasted from chilled Ⅲ Cask Marque accredited since 2002 bottles were La Trappe Ⅲ 25+ gins & 6 real ales including one from Dubbel, Chimay Triple / West Berkshire Brewery Blanche and finally Ⅲ Open all day - every day Trappistes Rochefort 10. Ⅲ Family and dog friendly In the Taste Off Ⅲ Good value food section on page 169, Jeff Ⅲ Quiz on Mondays at 8.30pm describes Rochefort 10 Charity meat raffle on Fridays ‘A masterclass in strong Cold Ash Hill ·Cold Ash ·Thatcham ·Berkshire RG18 9PS beer, this red-amber ale Tel: 01635 863232 ·www.thecastleatcoldash.co.uk skilfully combines complex Follow us on Facebook Jeff Evans fruit and spice with a

8 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire Two East London Tryanuary Trails s a m o h T m i T

: o t o h P

, g n i l r i G y n o T

: a r e Mike Avery, Richard Scullion, Jennie Rayner, Frank Jessett, Chris Reynolds, Tony Girling and Paul Rayner m

a - Hamilton Hall balcony C

At noon on Saturday 19 January , a group of At 2pm on Saturday 5 January , Tim Thomas Finally, after a bus ride, a core group enjoyed West Berkshire CAMRA members met up joined up with Ullage’s hiking trails PieMinister pies and Block Brewery Pale Ale with former branch chairman Richard contributor, Alan Haselden and his group at (brewed in the cellar) at Hoxton’s Wenlock Arms, Scullion and members from other branches, the Pembury Tavern, Hackney Downs. a cosy traditional pub south of the Regent’s Canal. at the Hamilton Hall, for the Central They had just completed a hike northwards The Wenlock Arms reopened in 2013 after a Southern region annual London ale trail. from Hackney Wick to White Hart Lane, campaign to save it from demolition. See also Tim’s ‘Hackney Wick to Hoxton’ post The ornate Wetherspoon pub, with a balcony Tottenham, following the River Lea for part of the on www.beereurope.blogspot.com level, is the former ballroom of the old Great route. Pints of Railway Porter and pizza slices Eastern Hotel at Liverpool Street station. provided welcome refreshment at the refurbished This year, John McLaughlin researched a route pub which is now owned and operated by Five via Shoreditch to the Camel, Bethnal Green and Points Brewing Company whose brewery is on south to the Mahogany Bar of Wilton’s Music the other side of Amhurst Road. Hall, tucked away in Grace’s Alley, between Wapping and Whitechapel. A project of ‘conservative repair’ to the semi-derelict Wilton’s buildings began in 2012 and won building and conservation awards in 2016. Cask ales enjoyed on the trail included Five Points XPA at the Camel, Cloudwater Red Ale at the Kings Arms and Redemption Rock the Kazbek at the Dog & Truck, Aldgate.

Alan Haselden (left) and hiking group - Mare Street Next, at 4pm, the nearby Cock Tavern, a pub built by Truman’s in the 1930s, now serves 24 draught beers and ciders from its L shaped bar. Before a move to Hackney Wick, Howling Hops brewery was housed in the pub’s large cellar. A longer walk, via Dalston’s colourful Ridley Road Market, led to the compact Railway Tavern, which often serves cask ales from West Berkshire Brewery.

We are in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2019 (11th year running)

Meals served evenings and lunch times (except Mondays) Real Ales Closed Sunday evenings Dog & Family Friendly Traditional Sunday Roast lunches En Suite Guest Rooms & Function Room available Choice of 3 Cask Ales

‘Pie and Pudding Club’ Several of our every Wednesday! customers are featured in the 2019 CAMRA West Berks CAMRA Pub Good Beer Guide of the Year 2008 and 2015

The Six Bells, The Green, Beenham Reading RG7 5NX Tel: 0118 9713368 Email: [email protected] 01672 541224 ૽૽૽૽ www.thesixbells.co.uk AA Inn www.redlionbaydon.co.uk

Ullage March - May 2019 9 Ian Clayton’s book of pub memoirs NEWBURY’S FIRST MICRO PUB Ian Clayton’s current local is the Junction in Castleford, West Yorkshire. Maureen Shaw and Neil Midgley reopened the pub in 2010 and made it into the Home of Beers from the Wood where real ales are served from handmade wooden casks. Cow & Cask is available for 1 Inches Yard Their tale is told by David Litten in his book private hire, and Market Street ‘From Junk to Junction’ which also has a foreword given enough notice Newbury by Roger Protz. The pub’s website we will try very hard RG14 5DP to have “Your thejunctionpubcastleford.com has further details. Favourite Micro A brief and entertaining YouTube video - Brewery Ale” accessible from the ‘Watch’ tab of on the stillage. Although we www.route-online.com - features Ian Clayton are a “Micro Opening Hours reading brief extracts from ‘It’s the Beer Talking’ at a Pub” we can Mon Closed Tue 5-9 launch event inside the Junction. It ends with the Squeeze, Jimmie, Wed 5-9 snippet ‘The best pub is the one you go back to, it’s Squash or Thu 12-2, 5-9 Shoehorn Fri 12-2, 5-10 called your local, and I’m lucky, I’ve had a lot of locals!’ . 20-25 persons in Sat All Day 12-10 and make them Sun Closed Ian Clayton’s ‘It’s the Beer Talking’ (264 pages, comfortable. Discount for CAMRA paperback, £12.99, ISBN: 978-1901927-74-0) We can also card holders published 28 February 2019, can be obtained provide a Tel: from bookshops or direct from Route Publishing few seats!!! 07517 658071 www.route-online.com

In a previous book, ‘Bringing it all back home’, Yorkshireman Ian Clayton wrote about one of his loves - music. His latest book ‘It’s Join u p, jo in in, the Beer Talking: Adventures in Public Houses’ celebrates two more - pubs and ale. jo in the cam pai gn The writer and broadcaster draws on stories from over 40 years of adventures in pubs and the Fr om book reflects the pleasure and importance of these as little as wonderful, communal meeting places. As Roger £25 † Protz says in his foreword, ‘Ian’s book is brimming a y ear . T ha t’s les s with laughter, tall stories, great memories and than a pint a endless rounds of wonderful beer. It’s also a call to month! arms to save this unique institution.’ Asked if he had a memorable link between Pr ot ect the tr aditions of gr ea t British pubs and e verything tha t

beer, music and a pub, Ian mentions the night he goes with them b y joining t oda y a t www.camr a. or g.uk/joinup ✂ bought a pint of Tetley’s Bitter (costing 19p!) Or ent er y our details and c omplet e the Dir ect Debit f orm belo w and y ou will r ec eiv e before playing Curved Air’s Back Street Luv on a 15 months membership f or the pric e of 12 and sa ve £2 on y our membership subscription

Rock-Ola jukebox in the Blackmoor Head, Alt erna tiv ely y ou can send a cheque pa yable t o CAMRA L td with y our c omplet ed f orm, visit www.camr a. or g.uk/joinus, or call Pontefract, his local in the early 1970s. Ian’s book 017 27 7 98440 .* All f orms should be addr es sed t o Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Ha tfield R oad, S t Albans, AL1 4L W. Your details: Dir ect Debit Non DD includes the bigger story of how playing this song Title ...... Surname ...... Single Membership £25 £2 7 (UK) led to a long-lasting friendship with Burt, a For ename( s) ...... Joi nt Membership £3 0 Triumph Tiger owner, who he would sup ale with Da te of Birth ( dd/ mm/ yyyy) ......

£32 (Par tn er a t the same addr es s) in pubs the length and breadth of Britain. Addr es s ...... For c onc es sionary r ates please visit www.camr a. or g.uk Ian remembers drinking lovely flat pints of ...... Pos tcode ...... or call 017 27 7 98440 .

Courage Best in the Angel, St Giles High Street, as Email addr es s ...... I wish t o join the Campaign f or R eal Ale , and agr ee t o Da ytime T el ...... abide b y the Memor andum and Articles of As socia tion he was a regular customer at Ray’s Jazz Shop, 180 which can be f ound on our w ebsit e. Shaftesbury Avenue, nearby. Nowadays the Angel Partner ’s Details (if Joint Membership ) is a Sam Smith’s pub like the Chandos, Leicester Title ...... Surname ...... Signed ...... Square, another London pub that Ian likes. For ename( s) ...... Da te ...... Da te of Birth ( dd/ mm/ yyyy) ...... Applica tions will be pr oc es sed within 21 da ys. Ian says ‘The Greystones, in Sheffield 11, is a Ins truction t o y our Bank or cracker. It’s a proper locals bar catering for all ages. Building Society t o pa y b y Dir ect Debit It has superb Thornbridge beers. It’s a pub for the Please fill in the whole f orm using a ball point pen and send t o: This Guar ant ee should be detached Campaign f or R eal Ale L td. 230 Ha tfield R oad S t. Albans, Herts AL1 4L W and r etained b y the pa yer . community it serves but it also embraces the world Name and full pos tal addr es s of y our Bank or Building Society Servic e User Number The Dir ect Debit To the Manager Ba nk or Building Society 9 26 129 Guar ant ee far beyond, as all good locals should, and they l This Guar ant ee is off er ed b y all banks and Addr es s building societies tha t ac cept ins tructions FOR CAMRA OFFICIAL USE ONL Y to pa y b y Dir ect Debits feature music from all over the world.’ This is not part of the ins truction t o y our Bank or Building Society l If ther e ar e an y changes t o the amount, da te or fr equenc y of y our Dir ect Debit T he Membership Number Ian mentions that his book features plenty of Campaign f or R eal Ale L td will notify y ou 10 Pos tcode working da ys in adv anc e of y our ac count Name being debit ed or as otherwise agr eed. If beers adding ‘ My old mate Tetley Dave, a landlord you r eques t T he Campaign f or R eal Ale Name( s) of A ccount Holder Pos tcode Ltd t o c ollect a pa yment, c onfirma tion of the amount and da te will be giv en t o y ou of renown, used to say, ‘There’s no such thing as bad Ins tructions t o y our Bank or Building Society at the time of the r eques t l If an err or is made in the pa yment of y our Bank or Building Society A ccount Number Please pa y Campaign F or R eal Ale Limit ed Dir ect Debits beer, if it’s kept right’. My mate Paul has just started fr om the ac count detailed on this ins truction subject t o the Dir ect Debit b y T he Campaign f or R eal saf eguar ds as sur ed b y the Dir ect Debit Guar ant ee . I unders tand Ale L td or y our bank or building society , you ar e entitled t o a full and immedia te tha t this ins truction ma y r emain with Campaign F or R eal Ale brewing Henry Smith beer for the Robin Hood in refund of the amount paid fr om y our bank Br anch Sort C ode Limit ed and, if so , will be pas sed electr onically t o m y Bank/ or building society Building Society . l If y ou r ec eiv e a r efund y ou ar e not Pontefract. It’s brand new but I like it already. Signa tur e( s) entitled t o, y ou mus t pa y it back when The Campaign R eal Ale L td asks y ou t o Ref er enc e l You can canc el a Dir ect Debit a t an y time Further afield I love Mikkeller beers in Denmark, Date by simply c ontacting y our bank or building society . W ritt en c onfirma tion ma y be the beer they brew for U Fleků in Prague, Altbier in Banks and Building Societies ma y not ac cept Dir ect Debit Ins tructions f or some types of ac count. requir ed. Please also notify us.

Düsseldorf, all of em! At home I pour a bottle of †Pric e of single membership when pa ying b y Dir ect Debit. *Calls fr om landlines char ged a t local r ates, c os t ma y v ary fr om mobile phones. ✂ Ne w Dir ect Debit members will r ec eiv e a 12 month supply of v ouchers in their firs t 15 months of membership . Orval as a treat before bedtime.’

10 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire mudgeon What Goes Around, Pub Life: Comes The Weegie Around and the Sixty years ago, most pubs in the UK had Marbles a compartmentalised interior layout. An old pub in a quiet part of a busy city, Typically, they would have the standard and an elderly regular, watery-eyed and demarcation between public bar and 'best pale as paper, is sunk in his usual seat room' – the term 'lounge' was not yet in The Liverpool Scene waiting for something to happen. general use. Some had a three-level division He looks at the TV, then at his newspaper, between public, saloon and lounge, with The Roscoe Head, Liverpool, is one of only then at his watch. He stares into space, and subtle gradations in clientele and ambiance five pubs that have appeared in every edition perhaps into the past. He lines up the spare between the three. Plus, there could be a of CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide. beer mats, then shuffles them out of line again. whole variety of other rooms such as news Jeff Evans described it as ‘ a small but Then, at least, some real excitement: a mixed rooms, tea rooms, games rooms and, at the beautifully formed sidestreet local ...’ for the group of twentysomethings enters, laughing time, ladies’ rooms . October 2018 Pub/Bar of and chattering. They are all tall, stylish, and But, since then, the Month in his distinctly Mediterranean. pretty much all this has www.insidebeer.com The Regular’s glittering eyes track them across been swept away by website, sadly now the pub carpet. Two per cent of a smile appears knocking pubs through on his thin lips. into a single-bar layout. discontinued but still available online. The Visitors are quietly excited to be in a Real The main reason always English Pub, staring at the ceiling, the ornate given for this was that it On Thursday 10 bar, the prints and mirrors. reflected a more January, Mark Geeson They all thrust bank notes at one woman, democratic and led a group of CAMRA apparently the best English speaker, and shove egalitarian society in members to the Roscoe her towards the bar as they take over the table which the old class Head and later to Ye next to the Regular. divisions no longer Cracke, in nearby Rice The Regular, his neck long gone, slowly turns applied, and there’s Street, off Hope Street. a his entire torso so he can watch them. The certainly some truth in Ye Cracke, Liverpool illustration: Ed Farrell @edwardrolf (Twitter) pub once frequented by smile increases by another degree. that. But it also made John Lennon and his pubs easier to manage 'Where you from?' he gargles in their direction. College of Art friends. and supervise, plus in the 1960s and early 70s The Visitors freeze and mutter attempted More photos and details of both pubs can translations at each other. The second best there was the factor that public bar prices were subject to government price control, which be found in a post about the trip on English speaker, bearded and quiffed, acts as www.beereurope.blogspot.com by Tim Thomas. spokesman. could be circumvented by turning the entire pub into a lounge. 'We come from Greece.' However, it didn’t always work out quite as The Regular nods – of course, he thought as intended. In many cases, rather than everyone much. happily mixing together in the same pub, the 'Well, me – I’m a Weegie.' class division moved from one between Silence. Baffled blinking. different bars to one between different pubs. 'A Glaswegian.' The middle classes used one pub, the working Further muttering. classes another. But, according to a recent 'I’m from Glasgow.' report, a growing number of pub operators are Ye Cracke, Liverpool Mark Geeson (right) Bulbs light up. realising that there is a need to cater for 'Ah! Glasgow! Yes, we know it! Alex Ferguson! different audiences within a single venue, and Celtic football club!' are thus returning to the concept of pub 'zoning'. It’s all too easy if you’re not careful for A lucky guess, apparently, as the Regular is not one aspect of a pub to take over the whole offended, but after this breakthrough, conversation stalls. place and alienate many potential customers. There are two obvious divisions between Lagers and gins are sipped as the Greeks look different customer groups that often rankle in anxiously at each other – when is it acceptable pubs today. One is showing big-screen TV to start talking among themselves again? sport, which brings in a specific crowd who After an uncomfortable while, the Regular may well put a lot of money across the bar, but AWARD-WINNING BEER shifts some phlegm about, and leans closer. deters those who just want a quiet drink. And hand cr aft ed fr om our o wn R amsbury E sta te malt 'So,' he says, 'here’s what I’m wondering…' allowing children, while key to the concept of fr om eas y- drinking tr aditional golden ales , 'Yes?' family dining, is something that that those 'When are the English going to give you back who prefer an adults-only environment feel to an IPA bur sting with hops or those Elgin Marbles?' uncomfortable with. Plus, if legislation a smoo th cr aft lag er , And with that, the conversation really catches permitted, there would be a strong argument our br ewery has a tast e f or light. for a division between smoking and every pala te. We’re Boak and Bailey non-smoking areas. We’re geeks in general, but especially about The Curmudgeon column appears in beer and pubs. We write under the names Opening Times , Stockport & South Jessica Boak and Ray Bailey. We live in Bristol www.ra msb ur y.co m Manchester CAMRA’s bimonthly magazine. 01672 541407 in the UK. We’ve been blogging about beer Comments on his articles can be left on the since 2007. ST OCK CL OSE F ARM, ALDBOURNE, WIL TSHIRE, SN8 2NN website curmudgeoncolumns.blogspot.com www.boakandbailey.com

Ullage March - May 2019 11 West Berkshire CAMRA

Chairman/ Andy Pinkard Membership: Tel 07989 382676 (M) [email protected] [email protected] Secretary : Mike Avery Tel 01635 820481 (H) [email protected] 2 Sutton Road, Speen, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 1UN Vice Adrian Bean Chairman: [email protected] Treasurer : Alison Chetwynd [email protected] Press Officer: Karen Bowen [email protected] Webmaster: Tony Girling [email protected] Pubs Officer: Paul Worsley [email protected] Pubs DB/ Kevin Brady Beer Surveys: [email protected] Cider & Perry Rod Holmes Coordinator: [email protected] Ullage Tim Thomas Editorial : [email protected] Ullage Richard Lock Design : [email protected] Printing: Clere www.clere.uk.com Local Trading Standards office: Tel 0345 404 0506 Facebook & Twitter: @WBCAMRA www.westberkscamra.org.uk

Beer Festival Diary CAMRA run or supported beer festivals provide excellent opportunities for sampling a wide range of real ales, from all over the UK and overseas. Here are some of the major and most accessible festivals for West Berkshire drinkers. See page 5 for more festival details. 15-16 March 9th Wantage Beer & Cider Festival The Beacon, Portway, Wantage OX12 9BY www.whitehorsecamra.org.uk 22-23 March Winchester Beer & Cider Festival Guildhall, Broadway, Winchester SO23 9GH www.winchesterbeerfestival.org.uk Diary Dates 2019 12-13 April The following is a list of all forthcoming meetings of the West Berkshire branch of CAMRA. Some are ‘social’ 9th Newbury Racecourse Beer Festival meetings, lively and friendly occasions where we enjoy a few beers; others are ‘branch’ meetings, which are newburyracecourse.co.uk slightly more formal and where we discuss beer and pubs issues. Unless stated, our meetings are open to 2-5 May all-comers – and new members are particularly welcome! 24th Reading Beer & Cider Festival Christchurch Meadows, Caversham RG4 8DH Sunday 10 March Tuesday 16 April www.readingbeerfestival.org.uk Reading Ale Trail social Website meeting then Branch meeting 26 May Meet: Newbury Wharf bus station 10.20am Hungerford Club, Hungerford RG17 0HY Bracknell Ale & Cider Festival 7pm (website - see page 1) 8pm (branch) Bracknell RFC, Lily Hill Park RG12 2UG Friday 15 March festival.bracknaleevents.co.uk Wantage Beer Festival social Saturday 13 April Details: page 5 2pm Newbury Racecourse Beer Festival social Details: page 5 1pm Sunday 24 March Ale Trail social c/o Reading & Mid-Berks CAMRA Thursday 2 May Starts: Fox & Hounds, Theale 11.15am Reading Beer & Cider Festival social Walk to Rowbarge, Woolhampton via Butt Inn Details: page 5 7pm Design | P rint | W eb A unique mix of in house cr eativ e Check our website for further details: www.westberkscamra.org.uk and prin t pr oduc tion

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

12 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire