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TAPLER NEWSLETTER OF MID CHILTERNS CAMRA AUTUMN 2017 www.midchilternscamra.org.uk

TRING BREWERY DUNSLEY FARM, TRING

THE CHILTERN TAPLER AUTUMN 2017

GREAT BRITISH BEER CONTENTS FESTIVAL 2017 – BRIAN KILBEY p. 3-4 – Great Japan Beer Festival The ‘Big One’ of indoor festivals is still the p.4– Mad Squirrel News & Brews Great British Beer Festival at Olympia for its 40th anniversary. As always, it is organised and run by p.5 – Letter(s) To The Editor & October Is around 1,000 volunteers from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). During the festival Olympia will host Cider And Perry Month tens of thousands of thirsty visitors with a number of p.6 Spooky Ales For Halloween & XT bars serving real ale from hundreds of breweries of all shapes and sizes across the UK and The World, as well Brewery News & Brews as brewery bars where you can try both well-known brews and limited edition beers from some of the UK’s p.7 – The Chiltern Brewery Donation best real ale brewers. Look out for the cider and perry bars. You will even find English wines and British gins. p.8 Tring Brewery News & Brews Around 1,000 different drinks to try. The festival opens at 5pm (noon for trade visitors) and closes at 10.30pm p.9 – Vale Brewery News & Brews on Tuesday 8th; from noon to 10.30pm on Wednesday, p.9/10 – Two Great Evenings In Historic Thursday and Friday; and from 11am to 7pm on Saturday 12th – then it is the volunteers’ turn. You can Hull get to Kensington (Olympia) station by Overground, Southern or bus. Find more information on p.10 - Chiltern News & Brews http://www.gbbf.org.uk/. Check if your local pub, or one nearby, is running a coach. Members of the p.11– ABC News & Brews MidChilterns branch will be there on Wednesday 9th

from noon so if you wish to “Meet the Gang” or get p.12 – Free Beer Brings An Exceptional some useful low-down on the festival then call Dave Turn Out Badminton (Chairman) on 01494 581797.

p.12/13 - Battle Of Britain Day 2017 p.13 – Harvest And Autumn Ales & Cask Ale Week 2017 p.14 – Ley Hill Music And Beer Festival & Summer Beers 2017 p.17 – Membership Rates p.19 – Beer Festivals And Other Upcoming Events & Beer Reading Recommendations p.20 Caring For A Man’s Best Friend p.21 – Diary Dates & Contacts p.23 – Marsworth Steam And Classic Vehicle Rally & The Trooper Valiantly Battles Through To The Bucks Title

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GREAT JAPAN BEER FEST 2017

- ROY HUMPHREY

When asked if I would like a free flight to a foreign beer festival, the answer was only going to be yes. Fast forward to Thursday 1st June, where I found myself, with companion Brian, in the First Class lounge of Heathrow’s Terminal 5, drinking champagne whilst awaiting a flight to Japan!

Some eleven and a Half hours later we landed at Hadena Airport near Tokyo. Our base for the weekend was Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, which is located in Meguro, a suburb of Tokyo. The high standards set by this hotel are difficult to describe here, the best way is to look at their web-site for yourself. As we had arrived three hours early for check in and had been well fed on the flight, we managed to persuade a waiter in the restaurant that we did not require any food and would just like to drink beer.

Later we ventured out in to Meguro for a bite to eat and a few beers. A five minute walk away is Beer Pub Scent, run by Yoshi and ably assisted by Kensai. The bar, which has been open for just over a year, specialises in Japanese real ales and craft keg beers which are rotated regularly. Yoshi, aged 35 is part of a new revolution in the beer scene in Japan and his efforts are to be applauded. Check it out on (http://scent.tokyo/) or better still, pop in and see Yoshi if you are in the area.

The beer tasting festival, which is held in the Ebisu Garden Hall has three sessions, two on Saturday and one on Sunday, and we had pre booked tickets for all three sessions. As we collected our tickets, we were befriended by a steward who was amazed that we had travelled so far to visit the festival. After collecting our glass and programme (with English supplement) we made our way to the main hall. Here we found 44 stands, the vast majority brewers but also a few importers were present. Over ninety beers of all styles were available, with a seemingly normal starting strength of around 5% up to Craft Ale Star, a British style barley wine at 12%. For the first session I tasted mainly Pale Ales of different styles, my favourite being OH!LA!HO BEER Captain Crow Extra Pale Ale. During the second session I decided to concentrate on fruit beers. There was a large selection, including orange, lemon, pineapple and passion fruit. My favourite however was The Brewmaster Cabos & Honey. For the last session, I sampled different styles including wheat beers, red ales, pilsners, stouts and saisons. IseKandoyaBrewery Golden Dragon, a session beer at 4.0% came out on top for this session. So, of the 35 tasters that I consumed, and they are tasters rather than specific measures, the top beer of the festival for me was Captain Crow Extra Pale Ale.

On the site of the festival, there was once brewery that produced Yebisu beers. During the break in sessions on the Saturday, we visited the Museum of Yebisu Beer where there is a collection of old brewery posters, bottles and some models of the brewery buildings. Official tours are available which include a beer, but beer was not on the agenda at that moment.

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We found some time for some sightseeing with a visit in to Tokyo to see the Emperor’s Palace on the Sunday. The following day we took the bullet train (and yes they do run on time) to Sendai. Here we took a sightseeing trip on the loop bus and enjoyed fine views of the town from the castle ruins as we drank Yebisu beer.

What an incredible few days. Not just a beer festival, but an amazing adventure for me! MAD SQUIRREL BREWERY NEWS & BREWS

The Mad Squirrel shop is being extended, work has already started at the premises next door, which have been acquired, the plan is to have a "pizzeria", similar to that in the Wycombe shop. MAD SQUIRREL CORE CASK RANGE IS AS FOLLOWS:

HOPFEST, PALE ALE, 3.8% ABV, OG 1.0375 Hopfest (literally a festival of hops) is a new world pale ale with purpose. Dedicated to bringing you the very freshest, fruitiest hop vibes. Headlined by Citra, with Centennial and Chinook supporting, Hopfest is a pure rave of citrus refreshment. DE LA CRÈME, MILK STOUT, 4.0% ABV, OG 1.040 Dark as a moonless night and smoother than Morgan Freeman in a velvet suit, De La Crème uses added lactose sugar to bring sweet chocolate, caramel and cream flavours to your attention. More than just another milk stout, De La Crème is really the crème de la crème. MISTER SQUIRREL, PREMIUM BITTER, 4.0% ABV, OG 1.040 An old school bitter for the 21st century, Mister Squirrel is classy liquid. It is a balanced and respectable brew, with vintage notes of toffee, vanilla, and nuts. A beer like they used to be, Mister Squirrel is proof that these are the good old days. $UMO, American Pale Ale, 4.7% ABV, OG 1.046 Named after the two heavyweight hops that battle it out in this brew (Summit and Mosaic), $UMO will wrestle your taste buds with a flavour combo of tropical fruit, dank herbs and weighty bitterness. Other beers may enter the ring but $UMO will be the last brew standing. London Porter, Dark Ale, 5.0% ABV, OG 1.0520 A dark and foreboding ale, London Porter is a brew of mystery and intrigue. Hidden within its shadowy depths are lurking notes of coffee, chocolate and smoke. Just like its namesake city, there is always more to discover in London Porters unlit complexity. Roadkill, Opaque IPA, 6.5% ABV, OG 1.060 An Opaque, New Style IPA. A huge, juicy, new world hop profile is joined by the additions of wheat and oats and served completely unfiltered and un-fined for an attractive hazy yellow colour, low bitterness and high fruitiness.

OCTOBER IS CIDER & PERRY MONTH - BRIAN KILBEY

It is all hands to the press for our traditional cider/perry producers at the moment because they need to get next year’s product underway. The fruit is collected, washed and milled to pulp. The pulp is pressed and the juice put into vats to ferment over the winter. We will start to see the resulting ciders/perries in spring next year. Look out for ciders from our local producers Millwhites in Bourne End () and Radnage in Marlow (); our LocAle brewers usually wholesale and/or retail good choices. We hope you have noticed that the number of outlets stocking the real draft stuff grows every year. In addition to our year-round cider-stocking pubs, we ask other pubs to support our May and October campaigns so giving more customers the opportunity

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THE CHILTERN TAPLER AUTUMN 2017 to try cider and perry - and more and more do. The widest choice (10 – 20 varieties) can be found at our cider pub-of-the-year, The Rising Sun (Berkhamsted) who will be rotating 20 different choices during the month Our runner-up, The Generals Arms (), will be rotating a dozen.

Ask at your local if real cider and/or perry will be on in October, these others should have it: The Anchor (Bourne End), The Bell (), The Black Cat (), The Black Horse Inn (Chesham), The Blue Ball (), The Boot & Slipper (Amersham), The Craft Beer Shop (), The Crown (Berkhamsted), The Crown (Ley Hill), The Crown Inn (), The Eagle (Amersham), The Fox & Hounds (), The Full House (Hemel Hempstead), The Gamekeepers Lodge (Chesham), The George & Dragon (Chesham), The Harte & Magpies (Coleshill), The Jolly Cricketers (), The Kings Arms (Amersham), The King’s Arms (Tring), The Mad Squirrel Brewery Shops (Amersham, Berkhamsted, Chesham and Potten End), The Pheasant (Chesham), The Plough (), The Plough (Potten End), The Queens Head (Chesham), The Red Lion (Chesham), The Red Lion (Marsworth), The Robin Hood (Tring), The Squirrel (Penn Street), The Three Horseshoes (Cheddington) and The Valiant Trooper (Aldbury). The Crown (Ley Hill) will hold a Cider Fest on 6th and 7th October.

LETTER(S) TO THE EDITOR – IN REFERENCE TO LETTER FROM B.NORRISH IN SUMMER EDITION

Dear Editor,

As a 'young' CAMRA member, i.e. under 50 who only joined in the 1990s I missed out on the early days of CAMRA and the terrible state that the beer in our pubs was in back in those days. I and all of the other young CAMRA members have the likes of you to thank for saving decent beer and bringing it back to our pubs. Thank you Bob and your CAMRA colleagues who tirelessly campaigned in the 1970s and 80s.

Regarding the term 'craft beer', I completely agree with Bob that this term is not a good one as it is without a proper definition. The trouble is that until it is defined, there is no better alternative to describe what is a very large and fast growing part of the beer scene in this country.

Yes at the recent CAMRA National AGM it was agreed not to embrace the term craft beer but there was no motion passed to say that we should ignore it either. We cannot stick our heads in the sand and ignore these modern brewers and beers using techniques that have come here from the USA, now common in London and spreading to the rest of the UK, big cities first.

I agree that a well brewed real ale served in perfect condition is the pinnacle of the British brewer's trade. I make it my business to visit as many different pubs as I can and where I know that the real ale is likely to be kept well then I will happily drink and enjoy it. I am all too often however disappointed when served a week- old, flavourless, flat, tired pint of real ale from one of the national brewers trying to please the largest audience possible. In these particular pubs I would be far more likely to enjoy a modern, kegged beer where it doesn't matter if it's sat there for a week, or more. Granted, modern keg beers tend to be colder and fizzier than most real ale drinkers are used to, but they need not be.

When Bob talks about the word keg being an alternative swearword, I dare say that was justified thirty years ago. THE KEY POINT HERE is that most of the new beers being served from kegs today are very, very different from Watney's Red Barrel, Whitbread Trophy and all of those mass produced, bland beers from back then. Dare I ask, has he even tried any new beers from keg or even a tin? These days I drink with my eyes open, I just like good beer, I really don't care how it gets into my glass, so long as it was made, kept and served conscientiously by people who care. It is the opposite attitude of some of the ‘old guard’ that will be the death of CAMRA. Yours sincerely - Mike Coombes, beer fan first, CAMRA member second, Maulden, Bedfordshire

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SPOOKY ALES FOR HALLOWEEN, TUESDAY 31ST OCTOBER – BRIAN KILBEY I wonder how many kids on Trick-or-Treat or adults partying in fancy-dress down the pub know where these traditions come from? It is hard for us to realise what Halloween used to mean to ordinary people centuries ago but, at one time, people really believed that the souls of those who died each year hung around until All Hallows (Saints) Day, and All Hallows' Eve was those souls’ last chance for revenge on their living enemies: the kids play this role now. To avoid being recognised by any vengeful soul on the prowl, the living wore masks or costumes to disguise their identities (sometimes as Saints). Lanterns (now pumpkins) were left outside cottages because it was thought the dead souls gathered around them so would not come inside the building.

Most of the Halloween ales give a nod to this history, look out for Greene King’s Gangly Ghoul, St Austell Bucket of Blood and Wychwood’s Hobgoblin – the granddaddy of them all. Moorhouse’s have Black Cat Reserve, Blond Witch, Ruby Witch, White Witch and Pendle Witches Brew. I can only find Rebellion Pickled Ghoulies on our Locale brewers’ websites. Look for them at your local pubs and shops. XT BREWERY NEWS & BREWS

XT will be at the Great British Beer Festival this year with their own bar – giving beer lovers the chance to try a wide range of XT and Animal beers in the country’s biggest beer festival. XT has been selected to represent the growing force of smaller, independent craft breweries and give the big boys a run for their money. XT will be showcasing their beers alongside established names such as St Austell and Fullers. As a special feature, the brewery have teamed up with the UK’s leading hop merchant Charles Faram and the most innovative English Hop Farmers to bring an exclusive new beer to the festival. The beer will be brewed with all new varieties of English hops –part of an extensive programme by British growers to challenge and beat all the imported New World varieties. It will be a great addition to the festival to show that the smaller British craft breweries and hop growers are a serious force against the trendy imported American and New World beers and hops. Collaborations are a great way for brewers to share and grow ideas – XT have teamed up with two of the country’s leading independents and will brew a new series of 3 beers – The first will be with Windsor and Eton’s: Uprising Brewery - Having apprenticed with the masters of brewing at Windsor before starting XT, Russ will be returning to work alongside the team to produce 2 new beers under the Animal and Uprising brands. Look out for some unusual ingredients .. one beer will be brewed at Windsor and a return visit will see the second beer brewed at XT

The second collaboration is with super trendy Manchester brewer – Wild Side – the northerners will be brewing at XT in July – a truly wild brew under the Animal Brewing brand will test the skills of the north / south coalition.

The latest Animal beers to be sampled in local pubs will be: SWALLOW – East Coast Pale Ale @ 4.7ABV A pale beer brewed with pale amber malt . Loads of Columbus and Bravo are layered throughout the brew which is generously dry hopped with Citra at the end. This ale has a fruit bouquet of peaches, mango and passion fruit with citrus and peppery notes throughout, all tied together with subtle hint of mild coffee.

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FANTAIL; NZ Amber 4.6% Brewed with no less than six different speciality malts and wheat then topped off with New Zealand Green Bullet and Motueka and a special dry hop addition with even more Motueka.-Layers of lemon, lime and raisins find you throughout with a scattering of peppery notes. Paired sweet biscuity malts, Fantail will really dance on your pallet leaving with a hoppy lemon/lime farewell.

Snoozing away slowly since Christmas in large oak casks, the mighty Imperial Stout at 8.6% has been aged in different casks including whiskey, rum, brandy, and sherry barrels. This will be sold in champagne style bottles as a bottle conditioned beer, a real unique drink perfect for storing in your own cellar at home or enjoying on that special occasion.

The Brewery Tap Room – now has longer opening hours, a wider choice of draught beers and there will be rolling series of events including wine tastings, beer and food matchings, a Belgian Beer night, plus many more – check the brewery web site and Facebook for more info. THE CHILTERN BREWERY DONATE £300 TO HORATIO’S GARDEN AT STOKE MANDEVILLE HOSPITAL

Buckinghamshire and the Chiltern’s oldest independent brewery, The Chiltern Brewery based in Terrick near Wendover, presented a cheque for £300 to charity, Horatio’s Garden on Friday 19th May for their project to create and care for an accessible garden sanctuary in the spinal injuries unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The donation comes from money raised from every pint sold of their special limited edition ale from earlier this year – Pride of Bucks & Berks. Head Brewer Tom Jenkinson said. “This is a proud moment. Our bucolic setting here in the beautiful is a constant inspiration and reassurance to us - from the tastes and names of the ales to our logo and branding. We really hope that the creation of a peaceful green space at the hospital can act as an important solace and stimulus to patients and their relatives and friends.”

Mike Mackenzie, Patron of Horatio’s Garden was delighted to accept the cheque on behalf of Executive Trustee, Treasurer of Horatio’s Garden, Victoria Holton, who said “The funds raised will help bring to fruition a beautiful garden sanctuary to patients with spinal cord injuries and we’re hugely grateful to The Chiltern Brewery for supporting Horatio’s Garden at Stoke Mandeville”.

Brothers George and Tom Jenkinson and The Chiltern Brewery team were voted ‘The Pride of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire Life’ last year in the prestigious annual Food and Drink Awards from leading regional magazine title Buckinghamshire & Berkshire Life. This special award recognises individuals and businesses which actively and proudly promote the great local food and drink produce that Buckinghamshire and Berkshire offer, so they decided to launch a beer – Pride of Bucks & Berks - in tribute.

Dark amber with a smooth roast malt taste and a citrussy aroma, the ale used the best Class A Maris Otter, Crystal and Roast Barley malts combined with Goldings, Fuggles and Cascade hops to produce a classic English best bitter.

About - The Chiltern Brewery is a second generation family business based in Terrick, near Wendover, Buckinghamshire and started brewing in 1980. George and Tom and their team take terrific inspiration from their beautiful rural surroundings and the geography and history of the county. A fox and beech tree feature on

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THE CHILTERN TAPLER AUTUMN 2017 the company logo and beer names for their fine English Ales include John Hampden’s Golden Harvest Ale 4.8%, Beechwood Bitter 4.3% and Three Hundred’s Dark Old Ale 5.0%.

From its inception 37 years ago, the ethos at The Chiltern Brewery has been to brew natural, wholesome beers using 100% British ingredients - the best malt and hops with great provenance and to mirror age old brewing methods.

Horatio’s Garden is named after Horatio Chapple - a schoolboy who wanted to be a doctor and volunteered at the spinal centre in Salisbury. Joe Swift has designed the third Horatio’s Garden at The National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The spinal centre cares for 150 newly injured patients each year including teenagers and children. The capital appeal for £850,000 will create a main garden, a garden room, greenhouse and a children’s area for young people with spinal cord injuries. The build is due to start later this year and will take approximately six months to create. www.chilternbrewery.co.uk http://www.horatiosgarden.org.uk - Twitter: @Chiltern_Brewer Instagram: chilternbrewery Facebook & YouTube For all marketing enquiries:- Sally Dorling Marketing Foods 01844 202884 [email protected] TRING BREWERY NEWS & BREWS

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF TRING

Some of you may not be aware that Tring Brewery is 25 YEARS young this October. The first beer brewed back in 1992 was Ridgeway Bitter which is still enjoyed in many local pubs. Much has changed over these years not only in the styles that we now produce but also in the number of breweries that offer such choice to the consumer. We remain ever grateful to our loyal customers.

In order to celebrate a quarter century of filling your flagons, we plan to celebrate in style. We are going to be combining this with our annual mission for 2017; raising money for Herts Air Ambulance, to which we have themed our monthly specials.

Starting this coming Saturday, we will be selling raffle tickets which will be placed in a firkin in the shop until the draw on October 14th. The first 25 winners will be invited, along with a guest, to a special brewery tour to be held on the evening of 16th November. Party with us in style, at a knees up all-inclusive of food, and of course, bountiful amounts of ale. The finale of such an event will see prizes drawn for 3 attendees chosen at random. Prizes are as follows:

1ST PRIZE – YOUR BREW: Working in collaboration with our innovative brewer, Sam, the lucky winner will become the architect of their very own ale. Brewed on the 200 litre test kit, the beating heart of innovation at Tring Brewery, the winner will create and design a hop and grist make-up of their desired brew. This beer will see a launch in bottles in our brewery shop & of course, the winner will receive four cases all for themselves.

2ND PRIZE – BEER FOR A YEAR:Comprising of 5 litres of beer per month, you will be able to quaff all of our range during 2018. Enjoy and share with your friends and family... or not!

3RD PRIZE - £100 SHOP VOUCHER: Spend in our shop on anything you like, including tours.

Now in the brewery shop is our bespoke (butchered in half with an angle grinder) raffle firkin, donned with the proud, bright red & white colours of Herts Air Ambulance, you won't miss it! Now fully operational (decorated 'all pretty like'), raffle tickets are available from the shop counter to enter our prize draw – cheers & best of luck!

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MANSION MILD COMES TO KENSINGTON

Many avid beer fans will already be aware, the UK’s biggest CAMRA beer festival is fast approaching and once again, Tring beer will grace the pumps (and hopefully your glasses) in the nation's capital!

From Tuesday 8th till Saturday 12thof August, CAMRA will be occupying the London Olympia venue in order to celebrate the highly anticipated Great British Beer Festival. Now in it's 40th year and showing no signs of losing momentum, GBBF will be offering punters the chances to enjoy many different beers from all over the UK, and, with the inclusion of international bar, the World!

Last year the Tring Team journeyed to Olympia on the trade day, a day in which the award winners were announced. In our most prestigious win to date our barley wine, Death or Glory, not only achieved GOLD in it’s respective category (Barley Wine & Strong Old Ales) but then went on to grab BRONZE CHAMPION BEER OF BRITAIN. 3rdBest beer in Britain – can you believe it?

This year our deep, dark, luscious mild; MANSION MILD has been selected to take pride & place on the epic beer listing for the weekend. Our core range MANSION MILD is a 3.7% mild, velvety smooth with sweet, chocolaty overtones. This beer is a fantastic traditional session beer – perfect for those having a ‘session’ at GBBF this year, see you there! VALE BREWERY NEWS & BREWS

Summertime, and the living is easy….. It’s beer festival time once again and the brewing team have come up with some corkers to get you in a sunny mood!

A Bigger Boat 3.8% - American Red

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat” One of the greatest ad libbed lines in cinema history.

Our brewers have been at it again, brewing up a deep red beer with yank hops which will definitely “swim up and bite you on the ass!”

Contender 4.1% Deep Golden

Brando is Terry Malloy, he could have been a Contender, instead he’s just a bum. The film geeks in the Brewhouse sock it to you with this golden thirst quencher with a big hoppy punch - D’ya Geddit??

Play it Sam 4.3% Straw

It’s “Play it Sam”, not “Play it again Sam” - It wasn’t spoken by Bogie, but by Ingrid Bergman. It’s Casablanca, enough said! Soft pale malt blended with big USA hops. The begining of a beautiful friendship.

Our Brewery Shop in Brill (HP18 9TY) is open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturday 9.30am - 11.30am - why not visit us to peruse our range, wide selection of Foreign bottled beers, wines and ciders.

TWO GREAT EVENINGS IN HISTORIC HULL – ANDREW GRAY

A few months back a work assignment gave me the first opportunity to visit Hull , of which so many ex Hull residents proclaimed to be the best city in the UK! Something I admit to having doubts about. Well what a treat I had – Hull of course is the 2017 UK city of Culture and there are numerous events to celebrate the honour.

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The architecture around the old city is a fine as anywhere in the UK and the narrow cobbled streets lend a feel of a bygone era. My other aim was to see what Hull pubs I could explore and the choice was overwhelming as various guides listed at least 15 first class historic ale houses within the old town area.

Amongst those I visited were Ye Olde Black Boy - Though this amazing 18th century pub is known to have been frequented by slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce, its name has nothing to do with the slave trade. It dates from the time when the premises were used by a tobacco merchant, the ‘black boy’ being the pipe smoking American Indian which was adopted as a symbol by that trade. Today it is CAMRA’s only Heritage Pub in Hull and has fascinating images of the city over the years decorating its wood-lined walls.

LION & KEY

The Lion and Key first opened as a pub in 1817, These days it offers a selection of five mainly local real ales and three real ciders, as well as a sizeable offering of spirits from all over the globe and some imported bottled beers.

WM HAWKES

From the outside Wm Hawkes looks like something from a Dickens film. Venture inside, however, and you are rewarded with a fantastic little, low-ceilinged, two room boozer with a choice of ten real ales and ciders and dozens of bottles of exotic spirits. The rooms are lit by candles and lined with many antiques.

YE OLDE WHITE HART

Not many pubs can lay claim to being the location of the start of the English Civil War – and that honour belongs to Hull’s Ye Olde White Harte alone. It was in an upstairs room, in 1642, that prominent Hull citizens decided to refuse Charles I entry to the city, an edict that lead directly to the outbreak of the civil war.

Others visited included Manchester Arms with classic Victorian décor the Sailmakers Arms and Walters. Others I could have visited were the Wellington, Minerva, Whalebone, Hop and Vine – all the pubs visited and researched stocked a fabulous variety of different beer styles, local beers and a choice of quality bottled ales. I hope some of you get the chance to sample some of Hull’s culture and classic pub scene.

CHILTERN BREWERY NEWS & BREWS

It’s 4 special seasonal or limited edition ales in 3 months from The Chiltern Brewery this autumn. Seasonal Chiltern Gold for August marks the end of the generally lighter and golden beers for 2017 and attention turns to darker – and generally stronger ABV - ales. However, the ‘build up’ to award winning 300’s Old Ale 4.9% in late October is a gentle and highly pleasurable one, via pale amber Kop Hill Ale 3.7% with its honey and fruit aromas, and spicy Copper Beech 4.4% - well rounded and hoppy. Kop Hill Ale is specially brewed for the famous car hill climb event in Princes

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Risborough founded in 1910. Can anyone break Count Zborowski’s 1922 record we wonder?

Bottled John Hampden’s Golden Harvest Ale 4.8% is a harvest ale of the finest classical style brewed with the aromatic fruitiness of a single famous English hop for balance – Fuggles. It has won a total of 6 awards including a Gold Star at the Great Taste Awards 2016. It’s certified Gluten Free too.

The Chiltern Brewery has a great website where you browse and order this and other bottled and draught beers in 8¾ pint Mini Casks, for delivery along with many foods made with their beers www.chilternbrewery.co.uk Their easy to use Click & Collect service on draught ales also makes life that little bit easier too!

There will be an exciting new bottle-conditioned ale in late autumn and the return of Glad Tidings Winter Stout 4.6% with its tastes of chocolate and spice in October – a 10 time award winner! Sorry as we are to see the summer go, autumn is a very very exciting time for new ales.

The King’s Head

The full range of The Chiltern Brewery’s ‘fine English ales’ are available at The King’s Head in Market Square Aylesbury - the brewery’s tap. This historic inn, dating back to 1455, is well worth a visit and you will also find a number of carefully selected guest ales and craft beers there too.

A seasonal food menu is served at lunchtimes six days a week with Sunday Roast Lunches on a Sunday 12-6pm and evening food from 5pm to 9pm from Wednesday to Saturday. ABC NEWS & BREW

It's Business as usual at the Aylesbury Brewhouse. With brewer Ben Amos now fully into the swing of things continuing to produce an interesting range of limited edition craft beers. Over the next couple of months drinkers can expect a mix traditional styles and more modern twists on some classics.

Good ol' Days - 3.5% - A doff of the cap to a great British beer style thankfully making its way out of the doldrums. This example of a traditional dark mild is rich, malty and full of flavour belying the low ABV.

California Dreaming - 3.8% - Aylesbury Brewhouse Co. Welcomes in the summer months with a beer inspired by the Californian Sun. California Dreaming is a West Coast pale ale showcasing the best of vibrant American hops with a crisp clean finish. A perfect summer session ale.

Odin's Ravens - 4% - Named for Huginn and Muninn the ravens that fly all over world and bring information to the Norse god Odin. Odin's Ravens is an Oatmeal Stout brewed with flaked malted oats and plenty of roasted character malts that give a smooth full bodied mouthfeel and a hint of sweetness that set it apart from other stouts.

Bharat- 4.5% - Bharat is the Hindi name for the Republic of India where the majority of the worlds root ginger is grown. This ginger infused golden ale balances aromas of citrus and tropical fruits from new world hops with the tang of root ginger that results in a refreshing and seriously drinkable beer.

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FREE BEER BRINGS OUT AN EXCEPTIONAL TURN OUT

The inaugural Chiltern Samaritans Charity Cycle Ride took place on Saturday 3rd July. Organisers were thrilled with the turnout. Over 400 cyclists left the start line, some 60% more than had been anticipated. Perhaps it was the offer of a Free Pint by Malt The Brewery for all who took part!

Malt The Brewery agreed to support the Samaritans earlier in the year, after their success last year, raising over £6,400 for the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity.

“These organisations do a fantastic job, and no one knows when they might need them” said Jenny Watson, Co-Founder at Malt The Brewery.

In addition to offering ‘Free Beer’ Malt The Brewery also promoted the event amongst their customers and brewery club members, The Maltsters. Resulting in a good number signing up for the ride, including some for the 80 mile route!

The event was an obvious choice for Malt The Brewery. “We have lots of cyclists visiting the brewery at the weekend’ said Nick Watson, Founder of Malt The Brewery “We believe real ale tastes even better when you’ve worked hard for it!” said Nick, pictured at the ‘Rehydration Station’ with Brewery Club members Graham Gray and Graham Auld who took part in the event.

In all, over 400 people took part. Organisers are still counting the proceeds, keen to see how much of an impact the event has had. Simon Rubin, of Chiltern Samaritans said, the sportive was organized in order to find new ways of raising much needed funds to run the Chiltern Branch. “We were delighted with the support from Malt The Brewery. The offer of a free pint of beer was very generous.” They expect the money raised to exceed £10,000. Twice their target!

For more information on Malt The Brewery, please go to: http://www.maltthebrewery.co.uk or for the very latest from the brewery visit thttp://www.facebook.com/maltthebrewery

For more information on Chiltern Samaritans, please contact Simon Rubin [email protected] Phone: 07803 231286

For more information on Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity, please go to: www.rbhcharity.org

BATTLE OF BRITAIN DAY, FRIDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER–BRIAN KILBEY

Sunday 15th September 1940 was the decisive air battle that saved Britain from invasion, with around 1,500 aircraft involved. There will be a commemorative air show on the 22nd and 23rd At Duxford Imperial War Museum.

Brewers still produce special ales so we can honour ‘The Few’. Some of our local pubs will put on Shepherd Neame Spitfire or Spitfire Gold– available year round. There are other beers: Wolf has Battle of Britain in bottles or cask to support the Royal Air Force Association’s Wings Appeal. LocAle brews include Tring’s Squadron Scramble; Chiltern Brewery has Battle of Britain Old Ale in bottles - a donation is made to the RAF Halton charities.

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Look for one of these at The Bell (Chartridge), The Black Cat (Lye Green), The Black Horse Inn (Chesham), The Boot & Slipper (Amersham), The Craft Beer Shop (Little Chalfont), The Crown (Berkhamsted), The Crown (Ley Hill), The Full House (Hemel Hempstead), The Gamekeepers Lodge (Chesham), The Generals Arms (Chesham), The George & Dragon (Chesham), The Greyhound (Wigginton), The Jolly Sportsman (Chesham), The King’s Arms (Amersham), The Kings Arms (Tring), The Pheasant (Chesham), The Plough (Hyde Heath) and The Rising Sun (Berkhamsted).

HARVEST AND AUTUMN ALES– BRIAN KILBEY

Before the days of refrigeration, brewing was impossible in summer because the yeast went mad in the heat and produced all sorts of disgusting tastes. Typically, the unskilled brewery labourers were laid-off and went to work in bringing the harvest home.

The breweries restarted their year-round beers in the autumn but a few brewed Harvest Ales with that year’s fresh hops. Harvest Ales are rare but there are a few like Goody Good’s Harvest and Green Hop Genesis, Shepherd Neame’s Green Hop Ale and XT brewery’s Fresh Hop ONE - a LocAle choice.

The idea of a special Autumn Ale is reasonably new but most of them are worth finding. We can look forward to our LocAle brewers’ offerings; Chiltern Copper Beech, Fuller’s Red Fox, Rebellion Red, Tring Squadron Scramble (doubles as a Battle of Britain Ale), Vale Red Kite and others I don’t know of.

Many pubs/shops are putting on these real ales as autumn guests, often from LocAle brewers, and the ones I know about (or assume from past experience) are: The Bell (Chartridge), The Black Cat (Lye Green), The Black Horse Inn (Chesham), The Boot & Slipper (Amersham), The Chequers (Amersham), The Craft Beer Shop (Little Chalfont), The Crown (Berkhamsted), The Crown (Ley Hill), The Eagle (Amersham), The Full House (Hemel Hempstead), The Gamekeepers Lodge (Chesham), The Generals Arms (Chesham), The George & Dragon (Chesham), The Hen & Chickens (Botley), The Jolly Sportsman (Chesham), The King’s Arms (Amersham), The King’s Arms (Tring), The Pheasant (Chesham), The Plough (Hyde Heath), The Potters Arms (Winchmore Hill), The Queens Head (Chesham), The Red Lion (Marsworth), The Rising Sun (Berkhamsted), The Robin Hood (Tring), The Saracens Head (Amersham), The Squirrel (Penn Street), The Swan (Ley Hill), The Two Brewers (Chipperfield) and The White Lion (Little Chalfont).

You will find Autumn Ales at autumn beer festivals such as The Black Horse Inn’s mini-Fest from 29th September to 1st October. Details of others in this Tapler and on our website. NATIONAL CASK ALE WEEK (21ST SEPTEMBER – 1 ST OCTOBER) – BRIAN KILBEY

Cask Marque’s annual event is crucial for the pub trade and helps the Campaign for Real Ale. Every local real ale pub I visited told me they will be supporting Cask Ale Week, some with special events like tastings, ‘tempting the lager drinkers’ and ‘Meet the Brewer’ evenings; MidChilterns CAMRA will be organizing some socials so keep an eye on the website. I doubt that any real ale pub does not support the week. They don’t need to be Cask Marque accredited. Pubs putting on events can register them on http://caskaleweek.co.uk/add-event/ and so increase their publicity. Logos can be downloaded from http://caskaleweek.co.uk/info-media/download- logos-and-templates/.

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THE CHILTERN TAPLER AUTUMN 2017

Drinkers are not forgotten, you can register for a free pint on http://caskaleweek.co.uk/ nearer the date. I am confident that some beer festivals are being planned such as The Black Horse Inn (Chesham) mini-Fest from 29th September to 1st October.

LEY HILL MUSIC AND BEER FESTIVAL 2017– BRIAN KILBEY

This August bank holiday will be the 12th annual Music, Beer & Cider Festival so get there early if you want to bag a table on Ley Hill Common. The music starts around 2pm on Saturday 26th August (three bands) and resumes on Sunday 27th (three different bands) and Monday 28th (three different bands) - If the kids are getting bored there is face-painting for them.

There will be over 60 real ales, ciders and perries from The Crown and The Swan pubs and their beer tents from Saturday to Monday 30th. You will find freshly cooked outdoor food on the Sunday and Monday, at other times the pubs will have their usual menus. If you want to leave the car at home the Number 73 bus runs every two hours during the daytime on Saturday from Chesham - last bus back is 16:30. Regrettably there are no services in the evenings, Sundays or bank holidays so you will need a taxi or designated driver. If you need more information please contact Nigel Byatt on 01494 783075.

SUMMER BEERS 2017– JARED WARD-BRICKETT As this is published, we, the British beer drinker will be in the midst of one of the best sunny summers of recent memory, and as such; will have mighty thirsts to quench. Looking through my Untappd check-ins and back to previous years I have put together my personal list of favourite summer beers. This list has been curated from my own drinking experiences over the last three or so years, and whilst my palette can certainly be observed to be different today, there are certainly trends that can be followed throughout. Taking in an overview of the beers, there are common styles that have proved to be stalwart summer go-to’s. Pales, Saisons, Fruit Beers, Goses & Lambics dominate my summer check-in activity, with many of the beers falling under multiples of the aforementioned style lines. Those listed as follows are quintessential summer beers, search them out and drink them down in the stifling heat – cheers! PALES

THE BEST: MAGIC ROCK – HIGH WIRE – 5.5% West Coast Pale Ale

A stone cold classic from one of the fastest growing breweries in the UK. Dry with a consistently brilliant bitter hoppy bite, leading to a crisp, clean finish. ALWAYS have a can of this in the fridge.

THE REST: VERDANT – BLOOM 6.5% IPA

BUXTON – WYOMING SHEEP RANCH 9% DIPA

CHORLTON BREWING COMPANY – 5.7% HULL MELON INDIA PALE LAGER

YEASTIE BOYS – GUNNAMATTA – 6.5% IPA dry-leafed with earl grey tea

BEAVERTOWN – BLOODY ‘ELL – 7.2% IPA with blood orange juice & zest

FOURPURE BREWING CO – JUICEBOX CITRUS IPA – 5.9% orange zest IPA

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THE CHILTERN TAPLER AUTUMN 2017

SAISONS

THE BEST: TO Øl – ROSES ARE BRETT – 6% Red Saison brewed with raspberries

Fruity and spicy, this herbaceous farmhouse beer has been dosed with raspberries to enhance it’s already abundant refreshing qualities, pouring with an aesthetically pleasing deep red hue.

THE REST: PARTIZAN – BLACKCURRANT & JUNIPER SAISON 4.7%

FRUIT BEERS

THE BEST: MIKKELLER -SPONTANTRIPLEBLUEBERRY – 10% lambic with 1500 gram blueberries per 1 litre

You read that right, 1500 grams of blueberries per 1 litre. This beer is the fruitiest fruit beer you will ever have. The tart, vinous complexity and deep viscosity allows this beer to be drunk like a full-bodied wine. You won’t believe you are drinking beer. Simply stunning.

THE REST: BUXTON/OMNIPOLLO – LEMON MERINGUE PIE – 6% Lemon Fruit Beer

DUGGES/STILLWATER ARITISINAL – TROPIC THUNDER – 4.5% Sour Ale fermented on Mango, Passionfruit & Peach

GOSES

THE BEST: MAGIC ROCK – SALTY KISS – 4.1% Gose flavoured with Gooseberry, Sea Buckthorn and Sea Salt

Quite simply put, my favourite beer of all time. It won’t change your life, but it will offer layers of flavour and instant liquid gratification each and every time. Pictured below, paired with the ‘Johnny Vegas’ burger (garnished with a slice of black pudding & a petite jam donut) from Annie’s Burger Shack in Nottingham.

THE REST: BEAVERTOWN – TEMPUS PROJECT EL MARIACHI – 5% El Mariachi Tequila Barrel Aged Gose Infused with Lime & Sea Salt

WILD BEER CO – SLEEPING LEMONS – 3.6% Gose Infused with Salt-Preserved Lemons

WESTBROOK BREWING CO – KEY LIME PIE – 4% Lime Infused Gose

MODERN TIMES BEER – FRUITLANDS – 4.8% Blood Orange & Hibiscus Gose

LAMBICS & OTHER SOUR BEERS

THE BEST: BRASSERIE-BROUWERIJ CANTILLON – ROSE DE GAMBRINUS – 5% Framboise Lambic

A Holy Grail for beer hunters with an international cult following; Cantillon are one of the most highly regarded Belgian family brewers in the world. Rose de Gambrinus is a raspberry lambic (framboise), utilising the

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THE CHILTERN TAPLER AUTUMN 2017 maceration of frozen raspberries in 20 month old lambic for months at a time. After maceration, the fruited beer is blended into two-thirds it’s quantity with young lambic; the resulting product is pure decadence.

THE REST: MAD HATTER – TZATZIKI SOUR – 4.3% Tzatziki Kettle Sour

LINDEMANS/MIKKELLER – SPONTANBASIL – 6% Blend of 1 & 2 Year Old Lambics fermented on Oak with Fresh Basil Herb

8 WIRED – HIPPY BERLINER – 4% Berliner Weisse with US/NZ hops

TABLE BEERS

THE BEST: THE KERNEL – TABLE BEER – 3.4% Table Beer

The Kernel were the first brewery to dig it’s heels into the now renowned ‘Bermondsey Beer Mile’ and they have been setting benchmarks ever since. A brewery shrouded in the sophistication of being understated, this beer takes on the namesake of its style and incidentally is the best example I have enjoyed to date. Low ABV and massive amounts of aroma & flavour allows this uber-sessionable beer to set a very high bar for other brewers attempting to perfect the style.

THE REST: MIKKELLER – DRINK’IN CUCUMBER BERLINER – 2.7% Cucumber Berliner Weisse

WILD CARD

MIKKELLER – NELSON SAUVIN DRY HOPPED BRUT – 9% Dry Hopped Belgian Wild Ale Aged in Chardonnay Barrels

Could you fit anymore buzzwords in one beer? Mikkeller are not to be taken lightly when they throw around these big hitting brewing techniques, a ballast for innovation since their inception in 2006, the Danish brewery have been continually hitting the mark on many ambitiously formulated and expertly executed beers.

Combining the trendy Nelson Sauvin (NZ) hop with a refined, traditional continental style this beer is dry and estery with massive character. To finish, Mikkeller have fermented with champagne yeast and aged in white wine barrels. Get a 750ml sharer bottle of this to celebrate a special summer celebration, or to take centrepiece of an alfresco dinner party.

HONOURABLE MENTION

SALOPIAN – DARWIN’S ORIGIN – 4.3% Bitter

It would be remiss not to mention something simple, something entrenched in British tradition, something that can be appreciate regardless of budget, occasion or company – a humble cask bitter. Initially brewed in 2009, the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, this beer pays homage to Shrewsbury’s own pride and joy. As if to take a brief from the theory of evolution, Salopian have produced a fantastic copper coloured bitter, a style that is the perfect embodiment of traditional British beer, and have hopped with amongst others, Galaxy and once again, that oh-so trendy Nelson Sauvin.

The finished ale showcases the very best of Old and New World ingredients, a perfectly knitted together beer that laces the glass and inspires curiosity in the drinker sip after sip. If you’re in a pub beer garden this summer, make sure this pint is in your hand.

These are my top summer beers to look out for in 2017 – what are yours?

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THE CHILTERN TAPLER AUTUMN 2017 CAMRA MEMBERSHIP PRICES 2017

DIRECT DEBIT NON-DIRECT DEBIT

SINGLE £25 £27 STANDARD SINGLE £16.50 £19 CONCESSION SINGLE OVERSEAS £38 £41.50 JOINT STANDARD £29.50 £32.50 JOINT £19.50 £22.00 CONCESSION JOINT OVERSEAS £43.00 £47.00 LIFETIME SINGLE STANDARD N/A £450 LIFETIME SINGLE N/A £306 CONCESSION LIFETIME SINGLE N/A £711 OVERSEAS

LIFETIME JOINT STANDARD N/A £549 LIFETIME JOINT N/A £360 CONCESSION

LIFETIME JOINT N/A £810

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BEER FESTIVALS AND OTHER EVENTS 2017

ARE YOU HOLDING A BEER FESTIVAL IN THE MID-CHILTERNS OR SURROUNDING AREA? CONTACT [email protected] WITH DETAILS, AND HAVE YOUR EVENT POSTED ON THIS SITE DETAILS OF BEER FESTIVALS ARE CORRECT TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE BUT IT WOULD BE WORTH CHECKING WITH THE PUB BEFORE YOU PLAN TO VISIT A VENUE. WE CAN’T ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR FESTIVALS NOT BEING ON AS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE INFORMATION BELOW IN GOOD FAITH BY THE PUBS.

FURTHER BEER READING RECOMMENDATIONS

For all avid readers of related beer & brewering materials keep an eye out for "THE MICROPUB GUIDE" book (350 pages) by Mat Hardy & Dan Murray, available from a well-known online book retailer. It lists all the micropubs in the country as of March 2017. It's well worth a read!

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CARING FOR MAN’S BEST FRIEND– BRIAN KILBEY I was pleased to see the effort that the Jolly Sportsman (Chesham) had taken for visiting dogs in the recent hot weather. As a good real ale pub they are used to anticipating their customers’ requirements but I was impressed with the cask of real water they had set up in their yard. It is mounted on an auto tilt so you can spot when it needs topping up. Well done them.

The Chiltern Brewery’s historic courtyard inn at The King’s Head, Aylesbury

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www.chilternbrewery.co.uk @kings_head /kingsheadaylesbury kingsheadaylesbury

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THE CHILTERN TAPLER AUTUMN 2017

BRANCH CONTACTS DIARY DATES. (S) = SOCIAL. (M) = MEETING JULY Chairman and Press Officer Sat 15th July Rebellion Brewery Charity Open Day – Marlow from Dave Badminton 01494 581797 11 am (S) Sat 29th July Old Hemel crawl – Old Bellgate, Bell, Olde Kings Arms, [email protected] Rose & Crown, White Hart – noon (S) Vice-Chairman AUGUST Richard Healey Wed 2nd August Plough, Hyde Heath – 8 p.m. (M) Wed 9th August - GBBF from noon (S) Treasurer/Brewery Liaison Officer (MIX) Sat 12th August Scarecrow Festival, Flamsted – including beer fest Charles Teuma at Spotted Dog, The Three Blackbirds and the Rose & Crown at [email protected] Trowley Bottom - noon (S) Sat 19th August Little Missenden crawl – start at The Crown, then Membership Secretary/Brewery Liaison Officer Red Lion – noon (S) (Tring) Sat 26th August - Local Bank Holiday Beer Fests Richard Healey 01494 724686 SEPTEMBER Membership@MidChilternsCAMRA .org.uk Wed 6th Sept - Queens Head, Long Marston – 8 p.m. (M) Sat 9th Sept - Regional Meeting, Royal British Legion, Station Locale Officer/Brewery Liaison Officer Approach, Marlow, Bucks SL7 1NT – noon (M) (Haresfoot) Sat 16th Sept - Flaunden crawl – Bricklayers Arms, Green Dragon – Roy Humphrey noon (S) [email protected] Wed 20th Sept - Markyate pubs, The Local, The Swan, Plume of Feathers,– 8 p.m. (S) Pubs Officer/Branch Contact Sat 30th Sept - St. Albans Beer Fest – Alban Arena, St. Albans – William Powell 07913 939761 noon (S) [email protected] OCTOBER Wed 4th October - Harte & Magpies, Coleshill – 8 p.m. (M) Brewery Liaison Officer (Mad Squirrel) Sat 7th October - Leverstock Green crawl – Leather Bottle, Green Chris Pontin Man, Plough, Crabtree – noon (S) [email protected] Sat 21st October - crawl – Red Lion, Bedford Arms – noon (S) Tapler Editor Wed 25th October - Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne – 8 p.m. (S) Jared Ward-Brickett Sat 28th October - Top Amersham crawl – Boot & Slipper, Mad [email protected] Squirrel Brewery Shop, Metro Lounge, then possibly a couple of Old Town pubs for those who want to – noon (S) Beer Information Officer John Lomax 01494 783198 *Please check the Branch Website for the latest details. Cider Officer Contact the Social Secretary if you need more information. **ADVERTISING RATES: VACANT Back Page A5 £140. Middle Page A5 £120. Full Page A5 £100. Half Beer Scores Officer Page £60. Quarter Page £40. 10% discount for advance payment Nigel Harris 0845 644 6700 for one year/4 issues. Ask Editor for details. Deadline for advertisements/submissions/letters for Winter 2017 BeerScores@MidChilternsCAMRA .org.uk edition: Saturday 21st October Send to: Webmaster/Social Secretary [email protected] Gill Badminton TAPLER SUBSCRIPTION: Subscribe to the Tapler and have it delivered direct to your door. Webmaster@MidChilternsCAMRA .org.uk In order to receive 4 quarterly (seasonal) issues, send 8x2nd class [email protected] stamps (UK) only, along with your postal address to: Tapler Subs, Branch Secretary/Young Members 10 Dean Field, Bovingdon Herts. HP3 0EW. Officers DISCLAIMER: Views expressed in ‘The Chiltern Tapler’ are not necessarily those of CAMRA LTD., its branches or the editors. [email protected] COPYRIGHT © CAMRA Mid-Chilterns Branch 2017: [email protected] All rights reserved. Produced & Published by the Mid Chilterns Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale. CAMRA HQ: 230 Hatfield Road, St. Albans, Herts., AL1 4BR. www.camra.org.uk PRINTING: solopress.com

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GRAND JUNCTION ARMS COME AND TASTE THE DIFFERENCE TEL. 01442 891 400 www.grandjunctionarms.co.uk

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THE CHILTERN TAPLER AUTUMN 2017

THE TROOPER, VALIANTLY BATTLES THROUGH TO THE BUCKS TITLE - DAVE BADMINTON

It has been mentioned before but a Herts pub winning a Bucks Pub of the Year?

The Valiant Trooper in Aldbury has won the Bucks POTY because half of our Branch area is in Herts and half in Bucks. The Valiant Trooper beat the Cross Keys, Thame (Oxon) in the Aylesbury & Wycombe Branch, and the Wetherspoons in Central Milton Keynes and has every right to be called Bucks Pub of the Year. In the next Regional round they up are against the Nags Head in Reading and the Royal Oak at Wantage, both very good pubs and past Regional winners.

They will fight for the Regional Winner’s title and I personally think they have a great chance. Wendy, Gordon and their team would be worthy winners of the title. We presented the Bucks POTY Certificate to this Herts pub in early June and wish them all the best in the next round in August.

MARSWORTH STEAM AND CLASSIC VEHICLE RALLY – SUNDAY 18TH JUNE 2017

-DAVE BADMINTON

On a very hot Sunday in June a massive collection of all types of vehicles found their way to Marsworth. There was a huge variety from military, to farm and leisure and to quirky and frankly weird, all helped by good food and beer. The beer varied mainly from local breweries including Vale, Tring, Chiltern, Malt, Rebellion and Leighton Buzzard, all run from a very popular beer tent organised by The Red Lion landlord, Michael Brake (The Chairman of the Rally) and Mel Brake (Secretary &Treasurer).

The day managed to raise £13,000 for local charities. There was music from the local ‘Pickled Tink’ ceilidh band which included our own Paul de Koning, a CAMRA helper and morris dancer. The Marsworth Players in costume also sang songs from both World Wars getting the audience to sing along with them. The vehicles and the dogs were the main attractions here and ranged from trucks, classic cars, traction engines and motorbikes. The stalls all around the site sold a tremendous assortment of things for everyone. The local kids at Marsworth School ran a painting competition for the programme cover, displayed in the tea tent, won by Riley Friend.

Also on the day we met up with Bill Kirk’s son, David. Bill, who was in his 90’s, was the old gent who visited over 200 local pubs in the Chilterns that we featured last year in the Tapler. He sadly passed away late last year. In fact he actually made it up to 250 pubs before he died helped by his son David and friend Terry. These visits undoubtedly helped his final years and proves that real ale works for all ages. A great day out in Marsworth for all sorts of reasons, hope to see you next year.

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THE CHILTERN TAPLER AUTUMN 2017 The Valiant Trooper Aldbury

Come And Meander Round Ashridge

Then come to us for real ale and real food.

Pub of the Year 2017 Beds, Herts and Bucks MIDCHILTERNS BRANCH CAMRA Page 24 You’re very welcome. 01442 851203 www.valianttrooper.co.uk