CAMRA Liverpool & Districts Magazine Autumn 2011 FREE
www.liverpoolcamra.org.uk email [email protected] Circulation 11,000 www.liontavern.com The MerseyAle CAMRA Liverpool and Districts Branch
Lion Tavern MerseyAle Editor 67 Moorfields Liverpool L2 2BP Telephone 0151 236 1734 John Armstrong
The Lion Tavern (Grade II Listed) is Liverpool’s FOOD MerseyAle Contacts See the board for finest Edwardian Pub. It is an extravaganza of Comments/news/letters/photos selection of good [email protected] etched glass, carved wood and beautiful tiling. value food from our new It has a wonderful ornate wood carved bar plus menu Welcome to MerseyAle two cosy side rooms one with a fantastic MerseyAle Advertising stained glass dome. The Lion Tavern is an QUIZ NIGHT Cost - Full page £200 Half page £100 and ManxAle award winning pub serving excellent cask every Tuesday at 9.30pm Contact conditioned ales, cider and a large selection of [email protected] the finest malt whiskies. You can also enjoy a BOARD GAME Power of the Pubcos Liverpool CAMRA is doing its fine selection of tasty food from our new menu. CLUB MerseyAle You may be surprised by this bit to promote the pub by Meet every Monday at (back copies on line) MerseyAle cover. It is designed to running the two month long 6.00pm www.merseyale.com catch your attention and to highlight CAMRA Liverpool Real Ale the Power of the Pubcos which Pubs Festival from September to ACOUSTIC Liverpool and Districts CAMRA control 37% of Britain’s pubs. Many the end of October – see pages HAsuppNly a vDariedP seleUctionM of pPrize S NIGHT Main Branch Contact observers believe the Pubcos are hhhh in this MerseyAle for the Jean Pownceby list of events. This is the sixth winning Real Ales (including at least one Second Thursday of the driving the British pub to the verge of Month 8pm [email protected] extinction with their financial consecutive year the branch has locally brewed ale) plus hand pulled Cider demands for high rents and strict run a Pubs Festival. To further 8 Contact for Socials and BOB DYLAN imposition of the beer tie which result promote our pubs we have SOCIETY Coach Trips only in high prices charged to you the published a new free Real Ale Meets first Thursday of Ian MacAdam 07521 741 586 customer. The Pubco business model Pubs Map to guide you to over Over 80 Malt 100 Real Ale pubs across the City. the Month 8.30pm is not working. Yet the Government Liverpool Branch Chair have failed to act as promised to curb MEET THE BREWER Geoff Edwards Whiskies their power. See the feature on Liverpool CAMRA is also proud Third Thursday of the [email protected] The Lion Tavern has one of the largest Page 15. of its Bringing New People to selections of malt whisky on Merseyside Month 8pm Real Ale Campaign, the latest Web Sites The cover is homage to the phase of which starts in October POETRY GET Liverpool and Districts with the setting up of a TOGETHER CAMRA Branch famous 1927 silent film University Real Ale Society and Fourth Thursday of the www.liverpoolcamra.org.uk Metropolis which dramatised the Month 8pm crisis in capitalism and the clash programme of events focused on between workers and owners. Young People, plus further events V6 Adventure Isle of Man CAMRA Branch Today we see a similar clash focused on introducing women to Club www.isleofmancamra.org.uk between the Pubcos and their real ale – see page 33 Meet every Wednesday licensees and us the customers. CAMRA national site at 8.00pm So enjoy your time in the Real www.camra.org.uk So our cover is a call to arms to Ale Pubs Capital of Britain !! those concerned about the future of the British pub. Cover by Dennis Jones Beer An homage to Metropolis Save the Pub Campaign Festival Film Poster 1927 by Heinz Schulz The Sunday Mirror and the Pub 26 th September - Neudamm Landlord, comedian Al Murray, WEEKLY LOCALE have joined CAMRA in See Board for future 3rd October Real Ales “One of the Hundred promoting the Save Your Pub Best Pubs in the campaign. See page 9 John Armstrong Editor Sean and Michael would like to welcome customers country” The opinions expressed in MerseyAle are not necessarily those of the Editor, the CAMRA old and new to the Lion Tavern Daily Telegraph Liverpool Branch or CAMRA Ltd.
PUB OF EXCELLENCE 2011 BEST QUALITY ALE 2006 CASK MARQUE CAMRA NATIONAL INVENTORY PUB 3 Everyman Bis t ro The Last Post
nowhere in Ale events that were run between I’ll remember; Jan Sorsby Liverpool like this. February and June. . being told that being a member Where will I get food of CAMRA was like taking your like this anywhere Jan Sorsby one of the Event local out with you, you were always else? ……This is where I organisers shares her amongst friends, met my partner……Where impressions of the evening . else can you sit for hours . that how sad someone was as they had visited the Everyman for At three in the morning on Sunday discussing anything under the sun “Have you ever thought about the first time that night and realised 3rd July the plaintive notes of the over a drink and possibly later some writing up your thoughts on the what they were losing (this was everyone their invitation, the time Last Post echoed around the bar of food and not be hassled to hurry up Everyman Finale Event for good to hear as it meant that we spent planning, arranging the real the Everyman Bistro marking the and spend, spend, spend or leave. MerseyAle?” end of 41 years as a Liverpool It really is unique. How dare weren’t all on a nostalgia trip, the ales and the food with Paddy, Everyman really was that special), booking the very good C-City Legend. it close !! To be honest no I hadn’t, I’d been modern jazz band, buying the tea Royal Liverpool Philharmonic too busy helping to arrange it, but . how they had read MerseyAle lights and badges, trying to get an Orchestra trumpeter Brendan Ball But the clock ticked on and finally here goes. from cover to cover and what a brought to a conclusion a the Last Post sounded. So as they event with RAZZ, being at the good read it was. Everyman at 6.30 to arrange things tumultuous final day of both the say at the movies “That’s all for now On the night you had to think how and hoping that people would Bistro and the Theatre above. folks !!” far we’d come. It was only in people who’d first met a couple . turn up January that we’d had our first of months ago at a previous event, It was a bitter sweet day of CAMRA Everyman meeting to arrange the Bringing greeting each other as good friends. We hadn’t wanted it to be sad, we celebration and memories as it the Finale Event New People to Real Ale Events, then I’ll remember - seeing over a 160 wanted a celebration of how Real final realisation sank in that this was we’d been worried we wouldn’t be Ale and the Everyman Bistro were On Wednesday 22nd June people having a really good time, it and that there would not be a next able to find the 30 people we intertwined and I think we got one. Liverpool CAMRA organised a lots of laughter, smiles, day at the Bistro. Queues formed needed for the first womens’ tasting CAMRA Everyman Bistro Finale conversation, listening to the band. The next day Andy one of the Bistro outside snaking along Hope Street event at the Dispensary. How our Event to celebrate the 41 years of 160 people out with their mates. staff commented; from early in the day through to an invitation list had grown, we now the Bistro as a Liverpool Legend People writing in the Memory Books incredible 1.30 in the morning, as had managed to personally invite “It was a great night with a great and to mark its final closure on multitudes of people sought to enjoy 170 people and had had over 160 atmosphere. It didn’t feel like a 2nd July. a final session at the incomparable acceptances. work shift, rather an evening Bistro. The lucky ones who amongst friends.” The Finale was to succeeded in getting in found a day be a night of Jan Sorsby of live music, real food, real ale and celebration to mark real happy conversation. Memory the closure with a Books hung in each alcove and were Real Ale and Real avidly written in by people recording Food Party. This their favourite Everyman memories also brought and what the place had meant to together the wide (see page 7) what the Everyman their lives. The common refrains range of people who Bistro had meant to them, Paddy were; had participated in who wasn’t well staying longer than he’d intended, the bar staff looking “I can’t believe its closing…. the Liverpool as if they were having a good time Where will we go in future? There’s CAMRA Bringing New People to Real as well. So yes, it was worth the time spent going through the attendance lists for the previous events and sending
Paddy Byrne Everyman Bistro
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye......
4 5 F THE DISPENSARY Memories CAMRA Pub of the Year 2011 great time in a great place. It long time or a couple of At the CAMRA Everyman event will be missed. minutes, whether by yourself or guests were invited to write Sitting next to the Liverpool with others? down their memories of the Scene in the bar smoking illegal One thing remained constant – Bistro in a book to be presented substances and drinking legal you were always with friends. to Paddy the Bistro owner, a liquids after a great gig at the selection is printed below. University. It’s ticked all the boxes – the best place ever. My first memory of the EyB. The hub of Liverpool Life from Descending the stairs into the when I was but a wee lad of 18. I can’t imagine Liverpool smoke fug. The artists and We went there because the without the Bistro – sad days. writers sat at the top end by the atmosphere was dependably bar. The students were milling friendly, the food was great, the Poster seen on the wall in finale around. beer was trusted and Paddy, week advertising stand up Feeling a bit out of place at first Dave and Tim could really cut comedy night ……then realising no one cared. the mustard. “Where Do We Go Now ?” After a while everyone started Where indeed !!! talking to each other and mixing For 25 years I’ve been coming to ….everyone together ……the the Everyman – the food, the everyman. beers, the ambience, the conversation, the friends Dispensary - Remember the queues outside I’ve acquired, the Supporting Local Beers when people were trying to get stimulation …. I could go in for a late night beer (pubs on. closed at 10.30pm) when the EyB It’s leaving a big hole in was the best place for a cheap my life. late drink. Spent countless nights having a Where else could you go The Dispensary provides a varied and and it didn’t matter if you interesting selection of real ales from spent a little or a lot, would be in there for a the best Micro Brewers in the country. You will be surprised at the choice
A Warm Welcome to the Dispensary (CAMRA Liverpool & Districts Pub of the Year 2010 and 2011) from Pauline, Dave and all their staff Handpulls serving Cask Ales 8 Everyman Bistro Back and traditional Cloudy Cider stories. June 08, Sep 2010, Nov 2010, Spring 2011 and RENSHAW STREET, LIVERPOOL summer edition 2011. (Formerly The Grapes) 0151 709 2160 www.liverpoolcamra.org.uk
6 7 VeWerlcomne to to he nAr www.vmsernonarms.co.uk Cheers from Jimmy and Barbara Monaghan The Vernon Arms, Dale Street, Liverpool 6 Handpumps (4 Ever-changing) Save the Regulars: Rev James & Johnnie Handsome Pub I I Guest Ciders Big screen football Sunday Mirror and I Belgian bottled beers I Private functions I Food Mon-Thurs 12- catered (Lathom Lounge) CAMRA Campaign 7pm, Fri- Sun 12-4pm I 10% student discount Where strangers are not strangers, The Sunday Mirror and CAMRA they're just people you haven't Check out Great Meal Deals off food menu have joined forces to promote the Save bought a drink for yet. the Pub Campaign. The newspaper has been running a series of articles The Vernon Arms offers all of the above in a friendly and safe atmosphere plus: Because what can be more on the British Pub and the crisis it civilised than sitting around a faces. Here we print part of the article you don't buy them the bloke with Live entertainment Friday and Saturday table (preferably one with a written by the Pub Landlord the pig grater will be out of work - copper top hammered effect) and Opening Times Mon-Thurs 11-11.30pm; Fri & Sat 11.30-2am depending on comedian Al Murray. do you want that on your conscience? Thought not). buying rounds of drinks with customer demand; Sun 12-11pm Tel: 0151 236 6132 your friends? The British Pub is in No more watching the World Cup crisis, and you can in the local with all the banter. No And that is the essence of a good The more hen nights bumping into society (never mind a big one) - Refurbished do your bit. you get your round in. Georgian Quarter stag nights. No more quiet contemplative drinks on your All over the land pubs are closing Community Pub own. Because only the public can save Caledonia down, and for all sorts of reasons: the public house. because of the recession, because No more fumbled snogs at closing Get your round in, do your bit, of big pub companies, because of time. No more putting the world use it, or lose it. the smoking ban, because of HANDPUMPS to rights. No more finding the cheap tins of booze at the 4 meaning of life and not I'm not asking much, just this - Taylors Golden Best supermarket. remembering it in the morning. pop into your local this evening, plus 3 changing Guest Beers from pull up a bar stool and together I'm suggesting you stop and The alternative is a world in we can turn this whole sorry Micro and Regional Breweries think for a moment about what a which the only form of business around. country without pubs would be entertainment left is sitting in Live Music like. Because if things carry on Friday & Sunday front of the telly drinking warm © AL MURRAY 2011 like this, that's where we'll be lager from a can arguing over the living. Loose Moose Bluegrass remote. And not even the French It takes a Frenchman to live like that. value our pubs Sundays fortnightly at 8pm And what would it be like? No more big nights out with your The pub truly is the cradle of “If there was one thing I’d really like to import into FOOD Homemade FUNCTION pals. No more nipping in out of civilisation Meals Mon -Fri 12- the rain for a swift one. No more France it is the pubs. The 3pm Sat & Sun 12-6 ROOM awkward drinks before you go for Where all freeborn British folk are social mix that you find in Available for hire dinner on a first date. equal, where kings and queens, pubs is something that does princes and paupers, not really exist in France.” Catharine Street Tel 0151 708 0235 Open 12 – 11 Sun – Thurs; 12 -12 Fri and Sat No more "just one more" pints. No philosophers and footballers, Francois Fillon Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/caledonialiverpool more pork scratchings (you'd astronauts and dustmen can stand Prime Minister of France Opening times Sat-Mon 12-12, Tues - Thurs 12-11 Friday 12 -1pm never buy them otherwise, and if shoulder to shoulder at the bar.
8 9 camra Champion
St helens CAMRA Beer of Pub of The YeAR 2009 Britain 2 01 1 Mighty Oak ‘Oscar Wilde’ Crowned Champion Beer of Britain
Roger Protz, of the Final judging panel, spoke in praise of ABV, York, North Yorkshire) Bronze- Coastal, Merry Mighty Oaks’ “Oscar Wilde”. He said: Maidens (4% ABV, Redruth, Cornwall) 'Oscar Wilde was a stand out winner, universally praised Bitter category Gold- Salopian, Shropshire Gold (3.8% by the judges for its overall quality. Once again a dark ABV, Shrewsbury, Shropshire) Silver- Teignworthy, Reel beer has triumphed over paler beers! Ale (4% ABV, Newton Abbot, Devon) Joint Bronze- Triple Adelle, Amanda & Daryl 'It's a beer with great depth of character, and for the fff, Alton's Pride (3.8% ABV, Alton, Hampshire) J oint style has a lot of hop bitterness as well. It proves that a Bronze- Potton, Shannon IPA (3.6% ABV, Potton, A Traditional dark beer can be refreshing even in very hot weather.' Bedfordshire) An elated John Boyce, Managing Director of Mighty Best Bitter category Gold- Houston, Peter's Well (4.2% Friendly Pub with Oak brewery, on ABV, Houston, Renfrewshire) Silver- Country Life, a Great hearing the results, Golden Pig (4.7% ABV, Bideford, Devon) Joint Bronze- said: Castle Rock, Preservation (4.4% ABV, Nottingham, BBeeeerr FFeessttiivvaallss Atmosphere, 'I always had a lot of Nottinghamshire) Joint Bronze- Bollington, Best Bitter confidence in Oscar (4.2% ABV, Bollington, Cheshire) Joint Bronze- Blythe, throughout Staffie (4.4% ABV, Rugeley, Staffordshire) throughout Real Fire Wilde as it was successful from day tthhee yyeeaarr and an Ever Golden Ale category Gold- Cumbrian Legendary Ales, one. We've been phone for details Loweswater Gold (4.3% ABV, Hawkshead, Cumbria) phone for details Changing range of brewing it for at Silver- Salamander, Golden Salamander (4.5% ABV, Real Ale least 10 years, winning prizes ever since. Not bad for an Bradford, West Yorkshire) Bronze- Holden's, Golden Essex beer!' Glow (4.4% ABV, Dudley, West Midlands) A Runner-up for the With Mighty Oak securing the Gold award for 2011, A C AMRA REGIONAL this year's Silver went to Marble brewery's Strong Bitter category Gold- Moles, Mole Catcher ( 5% CAMRA ABV, Melksham, Wiltshire) Silver- Kinver, Half Centurion Pub of The Chocolate, whilst the Bronze award went to Salopian NATIONAL Pub Of The (5% ABV, Kinver, Staffordshire) Bronze- Adnams YeAR YeAR brewery's Shropshire Gold. Broadside (4.7% ABV, Southwold, Suffolk) Mighty Oak brewery's victory comes in the wake of CAMRA's new Speciality Beer category Gold- Oakleaf, I Can't Believe 12 handpumps research It's Not Bitter (4.9% ABV, Gosport, Hampshire) Silver- showing how Amber, Chocolate Orange Stout (4% ABV, Ripley, Derbyshire) (4.4% ABV, in just 5 years, Bronze- Orkney, Atlas Wayfarer Serving Traditional Ales Stromness, Orkney) the number of Winter Beer of Britain winner (announced in January drinkers trying real ale for the Ciders and Perry 2011) Dow Bridge, Praetorian Porter (5% ABV, Catthorpe, first time has risen by a staggering I I Leicestershire) Holden's, Old Ale (7.2% ABV, Dudley, 5 draught continental beers Wide selection 40% (from 37% of UK drinkers in West Midlands) Hop Back, Entire Stout (4.5% ABV, 2006 to 52% in the present day). of bottled continental beers Downton, Wiltshire) Marble, Chocolate (5.5% ABV, Complete List of winners: Manchester, Gtr Manchester) I Tuesday - Quiz night 9-30 pm Overall winners Champion Beer of Britain - Bottled Beer of Britain winners (sponsored by Hotel du I Thursday - Curry and Jazz Night Mighty Oak, Oscar Wilde (3.7% ABV, Maldon, Essex) Vin) Gold- St Austell, Proper Job (5.5% ABV, St Austell, Cornwall) Joint Silver- Molson Coors, Worthington Second - Marble, Chocolate (5.5% ABV, Manchester, I Cask Marque I Good Beer Guide 2011 White Shield (5.6% ABV, Burton upon Trent, Gtr Manchester) Staffordshire) Joint Silver- Brown Cow, Captain Oates Open Mon - Fri 2-11 Sat, Sun 12-11 Third - Salopian, Shropshire Gold (3.8%ABV, Dark Oat Mild (4.5% ABV, Selby, North Yorkshire Shrewsbury, Shropshire)
Cooper St. St Helens Tel 01744 751289 Mild category Gold- Mighty Oak, Oscar Wilde (3.7% Champion Beers of Scotland and Wales see page 25 ABV, Maldon, Essex) Silver- Rudgate, Ruby Mild (4.4%
10 11 Liverpool & Districts The Liverpool CAMRA Real Ale Oscars night Eighty guests gathered at the KIND Centre in Back Canning Street to celebrate the eleven awards presented to the best real ale pubs PUB of the YEAR Pauline & Dave Ian Garner Geoff Edwards in the city and to present our Beer Dispensary licensees CAMRA CAMRA L&D DISPENSARY Regional Director Chairman Festival sponsored Charity KIND with a cheque for £250. This was Sophie and Zoe (Dispensary) followed by celebration back at the KIND is a children’s charity that Dispensary where a further £200 believes in the importance of investing was raised for KIND. in the future-our children. Every year, we work with thousands of children, young people and their families across Liverpool and greater Merseyside, Pub of Excellence pioneering new and imaginative ways VERNON ARMS to help them cope with many forms of disadvantage
PUBS OF EXCELLENCE Lion Tavern, Roscoe Pub of Excellence Head, Ship and Mitre LION TAVERN and Vernon Arms COMMUNITY PUB Joe Power Peter Kavanaghs BEST NEWCOMER Pi Bar
PUB OF CULTURE Belvedere
BEST PUB FOR LIVE MUSIC Caledonia Best Community Pub Cider Pub of the Year AUGUSTUS JOHN REAL ALE PETER KAVANAGHS RENAISSANCE Old Bank Best Bar Person JOE POWER (Everyman Bistro) BEST BAR PERSON Joe Power (Everyman Bistro)
CIDER PUB OF THE YEAR Pub of Excellence Augustus John ROSCOE HEAD
Best Pub for Live Music Pub of Culture CALEDONIA BELVEDERE
12 13 PubCos Still Drinking in the The Richmond is a traditional Last Chance family-run pub in the heart of the city centre and has been Saloon trading as a pub for over a hundred years. Paddy Will the Government Finally Act? Golden 1926 - 2004 The regular real ales on Richmond Regular usually upward only rents places a companies, with a genuine free of offer are Southport Golden heavy burden on their licensees. tie option and a guest beer right. Sands, George Wright and Many are finding it impossible to the Famous Draught Bass make their pubs viable given the Mike argued that the pubcos' codes heavy charges from their Pubco of practice that were introduced plus 3 rotating and are leaving the business with following the select committee's Guest Ales the result that many pubs are last investigation simply don't go A year ago Vince Cable the closing. far enough. Coalition Government Business CAMRA estimate that the Beer Tie We regularly have Champion Secretary warned the PubCos that costs the licensee and the customer Mike said: Southport Brewery they had until July 2011 to put their Golden Sands won the Beer of Britain Winner- an additional 50p per pint. "The industry is already at crisis Best Bitter category at house in order or face Government point. There are 25 pubs closing the Champion Beer of Southport Golden Sands action to curb their powers Britain Competition Pressure is building from many every week. Rents are too high, 2009 on sale through the introduction of a quarters for the Government to act wholesale beer prices are too statutory code of practice. The July without delay to reign in the high. The tenants are not making THE RICHMOND 32 WILLIAMSON STREET L1 1EB deadline passed with no sign of Pubcos and end the Beer Tie. enough money and they are Government action despite the unable to invest in their business; Prime Minister’s assurances that In July CAMRA's Chief Executive Mike Benner gave evidence to the and then they enter this spiral of this was a pub friendly decline where consumers lose out government. House of Commons Business, Innovation & Skills Select because the amenity is not there and the pub eventually closes. The Power of the Pubcos is the Committee's inquiry into the beer tie. The Lord Warden is the sister pub biggest issue facing the pub and "The code is ineffective: it's not to the famous Richmond pub and beer industry and many parties As part of a panel representing the being delivered or enforced has had a complete refurbishment believe it is jeopardising the very Independent Pub Confederation of properly. The only hope now is to survival of the British pub. Pubs licensees, small brewers and put it on a statutory footing - that inside and out. are still closing at the rate of 25 per consumers, he made the case for will protect people." week. The PubCo business model urgent reform. He proposed the of imposing a beer tie which leads introduction of a legally binding "This industry needs an effective There are 3 hand pumps to high beer prices and high statutory code of practice for pub code that's properly policed". serving a variety of Local and Regional Ales The Tax in Emily Ryans, CAMRA Campaigns Manager said: We are one of the least expensive pubs in 'With beer tax up 35% in the last three Liverpool. So come inside and enjoy a Your Beer years, it is no wonder community pubs are struggling. good pint in a friendly local atmosphere The beer tax rates and escalators are widely acknowledged to be a contributory factor in the The UK has one of the highest beer tax The Lord Warden London Road daily closure of community pubs, which are rates in Europe; here a pint costs eight Liverpool important social institutions and often provide times more in tax than it would in France the backbone of communities. and eleven times more than in Germany.'
New Pub Victoria Cross Victoria St. See MerseyAle News
14 15 Bollocks may not have the result Whitbread at their Liverpool Jim is seeking. Truman Street brewery. He spent 22 years with Whitbread, Speaking to Alistair Houghton of eventually as head brewer at Liverpool Daily Post Business, Jim Brewer ynews Castle Eden Brewery where he Brewer ynews commented; brewed the “fake” Higsons “Brewing is about attention to detail following the takeover by Cains The brewery is the only working for export to Spain. and having a feel for what you’re Whitbread. It is somewhat ironic brewery within the walls of The beer was put into Key Kegs doing. Cains first that he is now Head Brewer at Chester and is located less than 50 and bottles and was served at the ever It is a science but I believe there’s a Stanhope Street brewery the real yards from the site of the famous 6th edition of the best beer festival New Head Brewer nationwide bit of art and craft about it as well. home of Higsons. He than went on Northgate Brewery. in Spain, Mediona, on the 11th June advert at Cains I’ve done this all my life. I’ve got a to be Operations Director for and at Cerveteca bar in Barcelona. Brains Brewery in Cardiff before appeared in The brewery is a one New Beers May Follow feel for how beer should be brewed. I working for Heineken at their The Times A Happy Life know beer very well. I’ve got some barrel plant, which is the Jim Kerr has come out of semi recently. The ideas that we’re thinking about Tadcaster plant. The label on the bottle says retirement to become the new head 28.05.2011 here.” (roughly translated); brewer at Cains with the aim of edition No Pressure Jim “Yeast breaks down glucose in a introducing new beers particularly carried an Cains Managing Director ten-step process, called glycolysis, a blonde beer and tweaking the ad for Cains Sudarghara Dusanj commented; and produces two sugars with existing range to achieve Premium three carbon atoms, pyruvate, - consistency. He also believes that British “Because we knew how good he was and adenosine triphosphate or Cains should be more imaginative Lager, which also appears on the at Brains, we wanted to use that ATP, which supplies energy to the in the names they give their beers menu at Tate Modern Members kind of expertise and experience to yeast -, which is then converted in a similar way to microbreweries Room (London) at £3.90 500ml. brew great cask beers and proper into ethanol and CO2. who have devised off the wall Not bad for London prices if you Jim Kerr © Liverpool Daily Post lager. We want exceptionally good names which stick in people’s drink bottled lager. beers, consistently very good beers. minds. Liverpool and Higson We’re looking forward to some good Many Cains drinkers will say Connection Pied Bull Chester equivelent of 4 Firkins (36 gallons). ideas from Jim.” Amen to the greater consistency Jim has 30 years experience of New Brewery The Pied Bull Beers are available although naming a beer Cains brewing having started with So no pressure there then Jim !!! It is over a century ago that the alongside a selection of other Pied Bull ceased brewing its own real ales on sale in the pub. Bringing New People to AJ is Liverpool CAMRA Cider Pub Who Brews Them Now? Real Ale of the Year Further to our feature in previous During 2011 Liverpool CAMRA has been MerseyAle on beers now brewed running a programme of special events to October is Cider Month bring new people to real ale. elsewhere, the Carlsberg owned The Augustus John pub on the Liverpool University Explained by a brewer, it is a Tetley Hunslet Leeds brewery campus was the deserved winner of the CAMRA Liverpool symbiosis between two Since February NINE special events have closed in July with the loss of 170 Cider Pub of the Year Award (page 12) for the excellent eukaryotes. The more complex - been delivered which attracted a total of jobs. range of up to 5 real ciders it has on offer. It was also the brewer - wakes up the simpler over 600 people including 111 women who runner up in the Regional Cider Pub competition. Tetley Cask bitter is now brewed one - his little friend - and provides attended the three Womens Real Ale Tasting The AJ is a seriously good real cider outlet often stocking on contract by Bank’s at her with all the requirements for a events at the Dispensary, the Lion Tavern hard to obtain examples which are eagerly awaited. It is Wolverhampton whilst Tetley Mild happy life. The simpler produces a and Liverpool Beer Festival. is brewed by Camerons at an ideal location to celebrate October Cider Month. ales but now it is once again rainbow of sensory components The events are designed to attract people Hartlepool. brewing in the cellar of the that induce the brain to release to try real ale of different styles, to In recent years the reputation of the AJ has risen historic Northgate Street pub. John endorphins and generally improve encourage new members to attend and immeasurably chiefly due to its move to featuring a wide Recent tastings of Tetley Bitter Murray a CAMRA member for the quality of life of the more become involved with CAMRA activities and range of both real ales and real ciders and thereby revealed disturbing variations in over 33 years has been appointed complex.” particularly to introduce Women and attracting a loyal clientele of both staff and students head brewer. John has 30 years of the flavour. Wow !! Young People to real ale. seeking quality drinks. brewing experience and in 2009 George Wright Cheeky Spaniard reintroduced Northgate Ale to MerseyAle Euro Brewing You can read about the success of this The George Wright brewery at However the new University policy of focusing on Chester after an absence of 40 years This edition has features on programme in the articles by Talisha Mills Rainford was host to a guest Carlsberg products may put paid to this wide range of real using the original ingredients European brewing with Craft about the BierKeller event p.51 and Zoe brewer, Steve Huxley the leading ciders and real ales (see page 27) from brewery records held by Brewing in Spain (page 42) and Manning p.33 on the newly formed light of the Spanish Craft brewing Cheshire Archives. All the beers he German White Van Man with beers Liverpool University Real Ale Society which movement (see article page 42), So Get There Now and demand real ciders for Cider brews at the Pied Bull are originals from Franconia. The Summer will be working in partnership with who collaborated with Keith Month and beyond. and at the moment exclusive to edition featured Craft and Real Ale Liverpool CAMRA. Wright to brew Steve’s Best Bitter the pub. brewing in Pisa and Rome Italy.
16 17 Wise Words Liverpool Pubs Remembered – Louis Armstrong Bents Bentox If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know. The Summer 2011 Liverpool Pubs remember Bentox and have any If ya ain’t got it in ya. ya can’t Remembered article Pints Ahoy information as to what blow it out. Liverpool Shipping Lines and Pubs was in it? If so contact There are some people that if unfortunately had a word missing. [email protected] they don’t know you can’t tell It should read “the infamous them. Bent’s “Bentox” Our correspondent the Bounder informs us that an equally We all do “do re mi” but you Yes that’s Bentox not Botox infamous establishment used by have got to find the other notes although some people say the crews heading up the Manchester yourself effect was similar in fixing your Ship Canal was the Clewes Hotel facial features. Bentox was a cheap What we play is life opposite the docks in Salford. wine based drink of uncertain provenance with the colour of paraffin, and according to some a Everything in similar taste! A cheap quick trip to moderation the promised land. It was a firm – Including favourite at the “Doll House”, the moderation Sir Lancelot a Bents’s house close to St Nick’s Church which was BrewDog Brewery used by many ships’ crews. motto - the brewers of Sink the Bismark, The ingredients of this fearsome Other popular strong drinks were formerly the strongest drink appear to be shrouded in Threlfall’s XXXX winter Ale sold at beer in the world. mystery (or should that be the Strand Hotel, Bass Barley Wine insensibility?). Do any readers and Walker’s Falstaff.
If you have not yet been to our shop in Woolton village, it is well worth a visit! In our quaint old dairy you will find over 200 specialist and artisan cheeses matured on site We have a great range of products to accompany your cheese – fresh bread, olives, chutney, fine wines biscuits and much more We are very proud of our great range of local bottled beers including: Liverpool One, Liverpool Organic, Wapping, Peerless, Frodsham, Beartown, Southport brewery, George Wright and more. We also provide gift hampers, deliveries, cheeses for weddings and wine and cheese tasting packages. You can find us at: 29a Woolton Street L25 5NH, telephone 4283942 or Farmers Markets at Woolton, Lark Lane, Neston, Mount Pleasant, Waterloo, Southport Visit our website at www.liverpoolcheesecompany.co.uk for more details or check out our Facebook and Twitter pages
18 119 9 Britain’s Oldest Cidermaker 60 Roscoe St (corner of Knight St ) L1 9DW 0151 708 6870 Honored
6Handpumps Britain’s oldest cidermaker was honoured at the Royal Bath and Serving constantly West Show near Shepton Mallet changing cask ales in early June. Frank Naish was presented with the annual award always at least one LocAle from for a lifetime’s service to the cider industry. Frank, aged 87 from Liverpool Organic Brewery West Pennard has been making Opening Times; cider on his farm for 80 years 1p m -12.30pm Sun, Mon , Tues, Weds although the family’s connection 1pm -1.30am Thurs, Fri, Saturday with cider making goes back two centuries. LIVE JAZZ EVERY Introducing the award cidermaker with a pint of cider in his hand converting Mr May, a notorious Julian Temperley (The Somerset indicating his displeasure. Never cider skeptic to the joys of the SUNDAY NIGHT 10pm -12 Cider Brandy Co) who told the has the claim that a picture is worth apple. He still makes the annual For further details of music and events visit: thegrapesliverpool.co.uk audience that Frank, who is still thousand words been more apt. The pilgrimage to the Glastonbury planting trees at his farm was a new government took note and Festival to deliver his cider to the national treasure. cancelled the increase”. double deck Cider Bus bar. Naish cider is made the traditional way “The cider industry is a broad Frank, who was sitting quietly from apples gathered in their own church from huge industries to the with a glass of cider in hand was orchards planted by their ancestors very small craft producer, pressing waiting to see at the family’s farm. Naish cider is cider apples from their farm who would get frequently available at the orchards the way it has been done the award, he Liverpool Beer Festival each for generations”, he said. “The got the surprise February although sadly Frank’s farm cidermakers provide the of his life when brother Harold died a few industry with a mystique which is his name was years ago. important for the selling of any called out. He had arrived at the show thinking Since Harold’s death Paul Chant drink”. “When the Labour that he was to be one of the cider has assisted Frank. Paul is a government increased the duty on show judges. He received his registered as a separate producer cider two years ago it was his photo medal from Glastonbury Festival operating from the same site. which appeared in the papers, organiser Michael Eavis who then Frank’s father William John Naish proudly standing beside his barrel swept Frank away for a purchased the farm when he celebration returned from WWI in 1919 and to Michael Eavis, founder of the Glastonbury lunch at the this day the farm is still registered Festival with Frank Bath and West as W.J Naish & Sons. At the peak VIP tent. of their cider production Frank and Harold were making 28,000 gallons of cider per year. Frank recently featured with In the 1980’s researchers from the James May and Somerset Rural Life Museum took Oz Clarke in photos for research in to their “Oz and traditional Somerset cidermaking, James Drink to the Naish farm is littered with old Britain” on the barrels inside a collection of BBC TV Victorian farm buildings. programme and he succeeded in Steve Berks
20 21 James Lane Dobson, born 1857, Long gone, the Adelphi Theatre Leonard Baker to trade as the became a brewer like his stood on a site that is now occupied Wellington Brewery Company at 61 grandfather. by housing between Christian Mason Street. James Dobson left Street and St Joseph’s Crescent (at the brewing industry entirely. May Day Parade the southern end) and behind May Day in Liverpool gave local Liverpool John Moores University. Return to Oriel Street Lost Liverpool brewers an opportunity to At this stage, John Lane was nearly advertise themselves by dressing Liquidation Procedures in his eighties but took control of up dray horses for a procession In 1876 John Lane opened a roller the Oriel Street Brewery once again. Breweries through the streets. In 1871 there skating rink at Waterloo, advertised He died on 26 March 1889 leaving was a good turnout of those as one of the largest in the country. bequests to his daughters Elizabeth The Oriel Street Brewery “engaged in the liquor traffic”. That Did he over-reach himself with all and Francis, and to granddaughters year the parade had displays these ventures? Quite possibly as Mary and Agnes Harrington, but representing the Myrtle Street proceedings for liquidation of John nothing for James Lane Dobson. Brewery, the Liver Brewery, the Lane & Co were instigated and a The brewery and adjoining Rosehill Brewery, the Bond Street meeting of creditors arranged for cooperage, five licensed houses and brewery, and many more. Included 19 May 1880, under the Bankruptcy the Adelphi Theatre were put up MerseyAle will be running an were horses “decorated with rich Act 1869. for auction in July 1889. There are occasional series on Lost Liverpool no records to suggest that the crimson loin cloths with bullion A satisfactory outcome must have Breweries and the City’s brewing brewery found a buyer willing to fringe, adorned with the crown and been achieved since John Lane was history. Alan Gall has been resume its former activity. Towards Manx arms” from the Oriel Street able to retire later that year and researching Lancashire Breweries the end of the 1890s corn merchants Brewery. pass on the business to a and has offered to write for William Phillips & Co occupied partnership consisting of his MerseyAle. Adelphi Theatre the site. John Lane acquired the Adelphi grandson, James Dobson, and William Keene Miller. It seems that We kick off with the Oriel Street Theatre and later advertised in Anyone with an interest in old Lane retained ownership of the Brewery off Vauxhall Road which The Era of 25 April 1869 for a Lancashire breweries is invited to pubs and brewery. was owned by John Lane. There is lessee, informing the prospective contact the author an Isle of Man connection as he applicant: [email protected] also came to own the Royal Albert The new firm of Miller and Dobson “This Theatre, having been formerly renamed the Oriel Street premises Brewery in the Isle of Man. Indeed Oriel Street Brewery Pubs there is a continuing theme of used as a Circus, could at small as “The City Brewery”. Miller, Adelphi Vaults [adjacent to the brewing links between the Island expense be adapted for Equestrian originally from Guildford, did not Adelphi Theatre], Christian Street. and Liverpool which would make a Spectacle, for which there is now in have a background in the trade. He Beehive, Sellar Street, Kirkdale. subject in its own right. In the worked as a solicitors’ clerk in Liverpool a good opening.” Cottage Inn , Scotland Place. Autumn 2009 MerseyAle we gives his profession as a publican. shown with the three legs of man in Duke of Edinburgh Spirit Vaults, featured an article by Alan Lloyd At this time there existed a brewery the Lane’s advertisement is The Theatre was Myrtle Street. on the Lion Brewery Waterloo at 31 Oriel Street occupied by “Quocunque Jeceris Stabit” used the scene of a Elephant, Roscommon Street. which was linked with the Okells Thomas Watson. By 1843, John on the Isle of Man coat of near riot in Wine & Spirit Vaults, Isle of Man Brewery Lane had moved in and 1848. During a Simpson Street it was simply known as performance, Wine & Spirit Vaults , Stanley Enter John Lane the Oriel Street the stage lights Road. For two years during the mid-1960s Brewery . went off and the I walked up Vauxhall Road and house was Island Connection - From the Liverpool Licensing along Oriel Street each working plunged into Royal Albert Brewery Registers (courtesy of Alan day. Before reaching the “dog’s leg” total darkness. Ramsey Walker) in the street you passed a yard on After some The business must have the left used by the Council for the time, said to be been profitable as John storage of building material. about half an Lane also acquired the Several jobs later, with a hour, the crowd Miller and Dobson City Brewery Logo Brewing has returned Royal Albert Brewery at developing interest in things in the gallery to this part of Liverpool. Ramsey, on the Isle of Man. Liverpool at the firm of E.Banner. historical, I discovered that a arms and meaning, apparently, began tearing up the benches and The Liverpool One brewery once operated from this An article in The Liverpool “whithersoever you throw it, it will throwing them towards the stage. Miller and Dobson registered a location. Since then, little snippets Mercury of 13 July 1863 reported stand”. According to the Liverpool trademark in May of 1883 but only Brewery is situated a of information have turned up to that J.Lane of the Royal Albert Standard: “At last they tired, and as a few months later found matter of yards away give at least a partial picture of a Brewery was offering a silver cup In keeping with the times, John the audience was leaving the house themselves in the County Court from the old Oriel once flourishing concern. at the Isle of Man Agricultural Lane had a large family – at least they were met by the police who after they became insolvent. Miller Show for “the best example of well nine children. One daughter then came to see ‘what was the continued much as before by Street Brewery John Lane was born in Liverpool cleaned barley grown on the married a wine merchant called matter.’” forming a new partnership with about 1804 and the census of 1841 island.” The Latin inscription Francis Dobson and their son,
22 23 WATERING THE WORKERS MerseyAle news BEER “It’s marketing bullshit to Beers which have had significant Changes at Popular Woolton Real Ale is promoted with signs change. Currently the cask ales are say they’re responding to reductions in alcoholic strength Real Ale Pubs 'Real Ale Right Now' inside and only £2.00 from Monday till Friday. the customer. The main include; outside, but is a steep £3.40 a pint The Alexandra reason to reduce the ABV is of Gardeners Arms Vale Road in Garston is no Cutting the ABV longer selling real ale. course to save on duty Woolton Dovedale Towers, Penny Lane Surprise news is that licensee payments.” Ruddles County Greene King Liverpool L18 1DG. Will be The Falcon, Caldwell Drive in A Whisky industry spokesperson 5.2% to 4.3% % Elaine Crookall gave up the reopening soon. Details of date and Netherley continues to sell a good tenancy in August. The pub has commented that “the cut in alcohol English folk music is well versed in Old Speckled Hen Greene King beers not available yet. pint of Oakwell Barnsley Bitter. the concept of watering down beer. 5.2% to 4.5 % The pub is well worth supporting, strength of malt whisky will make The Victoria Cross malt a more accessible, less scary Bishop’s Tipple Shepherd Neame an oasis in a beer desert. The 6.6% to 5% On the corner of Victoria Street and Garston Circular buses, 166 & 188 and an even more refreshing drink to The Man That Waters the Bombardier Wells and Young Sir Thomas Street this new addition that operate from South Liverpool Workers` Beer appeal to a wider range of drinkers.” 4.3% to 4.1% to the real ale scene in Liverpool is Parkway, pass the pub. I consider (Paddy Ryan) Hobgoblin Wychwood Marston’s Barnsley Bitter one of the best Thankfully that is one headline Often sung lustily by the late 5.2% to 4.5% standard bitters continually you will not be reading anytime soon. Whisky distillers know the Tony Molyneux of Merseyside Bateman’s XXXB 4.8% to 4.5% available in Liverpool. Oakwell CAMRA beers are also available at the provenance of their drink and Brain’s SA Gold 4.7 to 4.3% Strawberry, Breckfield Road South, recognise it is fatal to mess around I am the man, the very fat man, been taken on by the owner of the which is often used by beer with its characteristics. That waters the workers` beer. Yet have you seen any Village Inn in Woolton, a pub drinkers on the way to watch However you will have been And what do I care if it makes commensurate reduction in the which does not sell real ale. A games at Anfield. reading an increasing number of them ill, price per pint? Thought not!! manageress is to be appointed to headlines that famous beers have run the Gardeners. The Hole in the Wall on Hackins had their alcoholic strength If it makes them terribly queer Indeed Wells and Young Marketing In 2010 Elaine won the CAMRA Hey is now serving around six real reduced significantly and recipes I`ve a car, a yacht, and an Director Chris Lewis takes a Oscar Award for Best Suburban ales, many of which are from less changed. aeroplane, perverse pride in announcing; pub having established a very good well known breweries. This is a worrying and growing And I waters the workers` beer reputation for both the quality and trend which is affecting many “Savings in duty have been fully For a strong and healthy working the range of real ales on offer. Noted recently at the Shipping classic stronger beers. reinvested in our marketing class Forecast, Slater Street, was a beer The marketing people speak of campaign featuring Rick Mayall as White Horse Acrefield Road from Camden Town Brewery . This making these beers “more Is the thing that I most fear the Bombardier.” Woolton pub, an eatery during the day and a accessible session drinks”. So I reaches my hand for the MerseyAle is sure all drinkers will Following the departure of the music venue at night, is well worth However Good Beer Guide Editor watering-can be mightily delighted to hear that current licensee, the former visiting just for the beer. There Roger Protz puts that claim firmly And I waters the workers` beer Rick Mayall is laughing all the way licensees of the pub until their always seems to be beers that are in its place; to the Bombardier bar!! retirement, Mike and Liz Morris, new to you here. have stepped into the breech to run The Cat & Fiddle on the ground it on a temporary basis. Mike and floor of the St Martins office block Liz had an excellent reputation for on Stanley Road, continues to sell the way they ran the White Horse It’s a Beast in Scotland beers from Liverpool Organic so the pub will be in good (albeit Brewery that is only half a mile Results of the Champion Beer of Scotland competition held at the Scottish temporary) hands until Punch away. Why not take one of the Real Ale Festival in Edinburgh were; appoint a new permanent licensee. many buses out of town to Bootle? Champion Beer – Cuillin Beast 7% Isle of Skye Brewery You could also visit the two Yet More New Real Ale Outlets in Runner Up – Black Gold Cairngorm Brewery Wetherspoon pubs in Bootle, the the City Third – Peter’s Well Houston Brewery near by Mereton and the Wild 'Bier' on Newington Rose at the New Strand. The former Old Ropewalks pub has the latest addition to Gavin Heard’s reopened as Bier and has six hand stable of pubs which include the You may also want to take a ride It’s The Bells of Rhymney in Wales pumps. Richmond and Lord Warden. The out to the Bootle Arms in Melling. Abbot and Landlord will be pub as been completely refurbished This is a Marston’s pubs that stocks The Bells of Rhymney rang for a Rhymney Brewery Double at the Champion regulars and the others will be and has four handpulls serving rotating beers from the group’s Beer of Wales competition held at the Great Welsh Beer Festival in Cardiff. changing guests. On opening night Bass, Moorhouses Blond Witch, breweries. Bus routes 133 (Waterloo Champion Beer – Rhymney Dark the guests were Roosters Yankee George Wright Pure Blond and to Kirkby) and 236 (Fazakerley Runner up – Rhymney Export and Boondoggle. Cheeky Pheasant which will Hospital to Maghull) pass the pub. Third – Otley 08
24 25 Augustus Gone? University Deliver Double Whammy It should be noted that the university have yet to apply for Planning permission and this will to AJ create an opportunity for people to object to Shock News is that Liverpool University intend the development plans by contacting Liverpool to demolish the popular Augustus John pub on City Council Planning Department. Peach Street at the centre of the campus to make way for a new development of multi Doubt Over AJ Real Ale and Real Cider storey luxury student accommodation which In the meantime the University Catering will also be used for conference delegates. This Department is concluding a deal which would will stretch from Mount Pleasant up to tie the AJ to Carlsberg products and place Archbishop Blanch school sweeping away the emphasis on keg beers including Carling keg AJ and the row of shops. The AJ is run by the lager. This may have an impact on limiting the University Catering Department and is popular choice of real ales and real ciders that the AJ with staff and students alike. can stock to those on the Carlsberg list (see Tetley story page 16). This is ironic given the The University do not regard running a pub as AJ’s success in winning the Liverpool CAMRA part of their “core business”, although it is Cider Pub of the Year Award for its excellent evident that most students regard consuming range of up to 5 real ciders (see page 12). the products of said pub is very much part of their “core business.” so why is the University You Don’t Know What You’ve Got Till not benefiting by providing a pub? Its loss will It’s Gone !! leave only the Cambridge as a real ale pub on campus. CrThe ow ’s Nest 63 Victoria Rd, Crosby. 0151 924 6953 Merseyrail - Blundellsands & Crosby station - 10 min walk Four Regular Real Ales and constantly changing Guest Ales Beers from breweries all over the country! The Crow’s Nest is a charming grade II listed building with a cosy bar, tiny snug and comfortable lounge. You’ll enjoy a warm welcome and great beer in this beautiful old pub. Voted Best Community Pub 2004/5 Pub of Excellence 2002/3 Above awards from Liverpool and districts CAMRA. Recommended in the Good Beer Guide
26 27 The Philharmonic Hotel It’s recognised as the most ornate pub interior in Britain. It is Liverpool gem, “a must see” for tourists, as the men in the gent’s toilet can testify. It is the Philharmonic Hotel on Hope Street which reopened on Monday 11th July after an extensive refurbishment by owners pub chain Nicholson’s which is part of M&B.
So what work has been done? Manager Emma Mason, Assistant Manager Sandy Hodson and Assistant Brand Fifth Highest Seller of Real Ale The eagle which overlooked Development Manager Ben On the real ale front the main the bar and is a feature of many Lockwood invited MerseyAle to bar has ten hand pumps photographs of the view the work and informed us supplemented by the two in Philharmonic went missing that the cost had between be suitable both for a relaxing can be read on line at the upstairs restaurant. All the during the refurbishment and £150,000 and £200,000. drink in the opulent www.nicholsons.net Meals beer engines and beer lines has not returned to its perch. surroundings or sufficiently will still be served in the have been renewed and straight backed to meet the downstairs rooms. coolers replaced. CAMRA needs of diners. member Chris Flynn is doing The Grand Lounge has been lurking in the corner, the cellar work so beer quality smartened up with a new apparently a Nicholson’s must New Upstairs Restaurant should be good. carpet also in red white and have money maker. Ben Lockwood informed us The main work has been black and most of the chairs that the Phil is the fifth highest upstairs in what is now a are new. The awful black board Some work did not make it as Nicholson pub for sales of real restaurant and function room menu over the fireplace has part of this phase of ale. Surprisingly the highest with its own bar with two hand gone to be replaced by a improvements. The Grand seller is the pumps. This has been portrait of Robert Cain. Lounge was to have had its decorated in a pleasing and parquet floor exposed and Scarborough Arms striking contemporary red, The Brahms and Listz side returned to glory but cost ruled opposite Leeds Station. white and black colour scheme rooms have been decorated in this out. The cubicle in the Manager Emma Mason which sets off the room to a coral wallpaper and seating Gents toilet was to have been has been at the Phil for good effect. The restaurant has has been recovered. This “Victorianised” but again cost around 3 months and a mixture of table sizes and can enhances the warm wood meant the 1960s style remains intends to let the serve 60 covers. The table panelling and cosy glow from incongruously alongside the improvements including service is happy to bring real the stained glass. the restaurant bed in The pub has been cleaned and splendour of Britain’s only ales up from the main bar to whilst she re-establishes redecorated throughout with Grade One listed toilet. It is supplement those on the The Baden Powell fireside area the reputation for a the furniture either recovered hoped future budgets will restaurant bar. The menu is the is rather spoilt by the intrusive good range of quality or replaced with new permit these schemes at a national Nicholson’s one which flashing one armed bandit real ales. comfortable seats designed to later date.
28 29 2011 Festival Events Pr o gramme and Calendar
September Events Saturday 17th Liverpool Crosby Iron Men Pubs Walk - 3 miles Sunday 4th Meet front of Waterloo Station 12 noon Caledonia Catherine Street Live Wednesday 21st Music Hear About Liverpool’s Newest Real Ale Pubs Water Tower Boys from USA 8.30pm Further regular music events see below and Brewery Liverpool Craft Brewery - check details with pub Talk by brewers Paul and Terry Liverpool CAMRA Branch Get Together Festival 2011 Wednesday 7th September 7pm 8pm Ship and Mitre upper room Dale Street Meet the Brewer Events Liverpool Liverpool Real Ale Thursday 22nd to Saturday 24th September Liverpool Food Festival CAMRA Southport Sandgrounder Pubs Capital of Britain Delifonseca Stanley Street City of Pub Crawls l Meet Liverpool Organic Brewery Beer Festiva Liverpool Pubs Map – your map to Special themed menu and guided beer matching Scarisbrick Hotel Lord Street Southport Eight Week SEVEN real ale pub trails. Featuring - £23 - De Luxe Scouse with LOB Tunnale, rich Celebration of fruit cake with LOB Kitty Wilkinson Chocolate Sunday 25th over 100 pubs serving cask ale in and Vanilla Stout Liverpool University Freshers Liverpool Pubs the City Centre and suburbs Fair all day September and Sunday 18th Join University Real Ale Society at Liverpool Hope Street Feast Events University Guild and at the Augustus John pub October Roscoe Head “Why Don’t We Do It in the Road Street Beer Festival” Monday 26th Sep to Monday 3rd October Pub Events, Beer Festivals, Pub Roscoe Street with Street bar and table seating Lion Tavern Beer Festival Walks, Meet the Brewer 10am to late Lion Moorfields – 30 plus beers evenings, Beer Tastings, Blackburne House Hope Street - Liverpool Wednesday 28th September to Sunday 2nd live music events. CAMRA Bar in Car Park October CAMRA Bar in association with Blackburne Ship and Mitre Real Ale Festival New Free Liverpool Real Ale House selling Ciders, Perries and Beers Dale Street - 100 beers Pubs Map to 100 + Pubs Thursday 15th October events Liverpool Real Ale Pubs Capital Lion Tavern Meet the Brewer - of Britain. Available FREE from pubs. next page Copper Dragon Brewery Lion Moorfields from 7.30pm
30 31 Liverpool OI! STUDENTS! Real Ale Pubs YEAH, YOU! Read this. If you want to join, or just ask Festival 2011 As third year chemistry questions about the up coming students, Aled and Greg prize draw/treasure hunt/tasting Thursday 20th to Saturday 22nd October October Events Do you like drinking? started RASoc as part of their events ETC (Sheesh! These guys St Anthony’s Church Crypt search for the ultimate home are busy!) then email the lads at Thursday 6th Do you like learning? Beer Festival Do you like learning about brew technique. They say it’s a [email protected] or join LocAle Pub Walk Liverpool City Scotland Road 35 real ales plus ciders drinking? passion passed on from their the Facebook group by searching fathers and after a few failed for Liverpool Students Real Ale Centre Pubs Tickets £5 from Belvedere, Lion Tavern and Do you like drinking while batches that ‘tasted like feet’, each Society. Meet Dispensary Renshaw learning? the Dispensary one gets closer to that Pub-Of- Street at 7pm Do you like learning to drink? Just like our ale, we’re for REAL so Do you like drinking to learn? The-Year-clarity that the bigger Visiting 5 pubs selling beers from breweries Thursday 20th to Saturday 22nd October join us if you want a REAL (ale) Do you like real ale? boys go loopy for. within a 30 mile radius. good time. HOP (get it?) on the CAMRA Wirral Beer Festival REAL ale bandwagon. Yeah… Dispensary then Roscoe Head, Cracke, If the answer to any of these Plazzy Scousers Pacific Road Arts Centre Birkenhead REALLY. Caledonia and finish in the Belvedere. questions is YES, then well done! Aside from geeking off over Keep it REAL. Roughly 45 mins in each pub. You can join our gang. course related pedantry, our Pub Music Events RASoc O.G.s (original gangsters) Zoe Manning Liverpool Student Real Ale Caledonia Catherine Street – Friday nights and have a crystalline vision for what Thursday 6th to Saturday 8th October Society offers you the perfect Sunday nights 8.30ish they want to be a cross- Young Persons Events Crosby Rotary Club Beer Festival at complement to any degree Live Jazz and Blue Grass music, including Marley disciplinary club for discerning Programme Liverpool course- a chance to get pissed adults with a genuine love of a Crosby Civic Hall Chingus, and Martin Smith Quartet jazz and with like-minded people and boozy-good-time. Whether you’re CAMRA and University Real Loose Moose Blue Grass - contact pub for maybe even learn a little about a first-time-away-from-homer, or Ale Society Wednesday 19th details. the craft that is creating real ale. a seasoned ‘plazzy-scouser’, our 1. Freshers Fair Sunday 25th Liverpool CAMRA Branch Plus Sunday 4th September Water Tower Boys boys at RASoc want to jib the September Liverpool University Guild We’ll take you on pub-crawl- from USA and Tuesday 27th September Chance stereotypes and make sure those and the Augustus John pub. Real Ale Get Together treasure-hunts round the city McCoy violin player from USA rain-sodden term-time evenings Society / CAMRA stall - Society Old Bank pub , South Road, Waterloo 2 mins centre, host nights for you to Membership includes free half of real are no longer spent button from Waterloo Station.. learn how to perfect that bangin’ ale (while stocks last) bashing on Street Fighter, but 7.30 for Presentation of Liverpool CAMRA Pub Scan QR code for details of the home brew method for house instead nestled into the snug at 2. Welcome Evening and Social at Liverpool Real Ale Pubs Festival parties, and even offer you the Renaissance Award to Old Bank Then 8pm for the Philharmonic or conspiring in the Caledonia pub Catherine Street or visit www.liverpoolcamra.org.uk chance to help the masters at the Branch Get Together in Upstairs function room. the War Office of Ye Cracke. The – details at Freshers Fair Liverpool One brewery conjure time has come to shed the apathy 3. Brew Your Own Competition up their speciality Christmas Thursday 20th of a Northwest winter and get Treasure Trail around pubs in the city, brew! using the Liverpool Pubs Passport, together to learn about Britain’s Lion Tavern Meet the Brewer- collect a code a digit at a time to Never tried real ale, or don’t feel favourite bevy- who knows! Moorhouses Brewery you know enough to get spell the answer. Maybe even share some course Winner and friend spend day with Lion Moorfields from 7.30pm involved? RUBBISH. related ideas too! brewer, brewing a beer to be Our boys Aled and Greg (co- launched by them at the Liverpool founders of RASoc) want to host So you wanna get involved? Beer Festival. all sorts of tasting events in Just turn up to Liverpool Uni’s 4. Meet the Brewer at the Brewery association with CAMRA that will Freshers Fair (Hope and JMU get even the most clueless of night. Introduction to brewing and students are more than welcome guided beer tasting. beginners up-to-speed, and, to join to- come on down!) Chris, more importantly, get them Details and Dates to be announced our CAMRA Young Persons rep, later on www.liverpoolcamra.org.uk connected! It’s not just a chance is working with the RASoc lads
32 33 Manx Ale Welcome to ManxAle IOM CAMRA Pub of the Year Peter Sissons (TV newsreader) on the beach at Port Erin and on the Steam The IOM News pages have been 2011 A Bushy Double Railway. renamed ManxAle. This reflects that; Winner Bay Hotel Port Erin The IOM CAMRA Pub of the Year The pub hosts live music and a series • MerseyAle is now distributed to 2011 is Bushy’s Bay Hotel in Port of local events including the Bay every real ale pub on Island plus the Erin. The imposing three storey hotel Festival which has the pub and beach Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal building looking out over the bay as its focus. • The magazine has become an and Bradda Head is a remarkable Food times have changed with food established feature of Island life with story of a building brought back to not now available Monday and copies eagerly awaited and avidly life after nearly a decade of closure. Tuesday. Wednesday is 6-8.30 read. The three rooms have a traditional Thursday 12 to 2.30 and 6 to 8.30 • The Isle of Man CAMRA Branch but quirky ambience offering a Friday to Saturday 12 to 2.30 and 6 to cite MerseyAle as a major factor in combination of space for drinking 9 and Sunday 12 to 4. raising the profile of CAMRA on and excellent dining whilst Bushy’s The Award presentation took place the IOM such that the IOM Branch owner Martin Brunnschweiler has on Saturday afternoon 16th July. won the National CAMRA Award private accommodation upstairs – for Fastest Growing Small Branch look out for the Bushy Bottle car Joint Second - Rovers Return increasing from 120 to 230 members. parked outside. Douglas and the Whitehouse There is usually a full range of We believe that the new name Peel Bushy’s real ales plus two guest beers ManxAle captures the spirit of this Rovers Return Douglas from Across. These can also be feature and will further establish the The Bushy Double was completed by enjoyed al fresco on the “boardwalk” image and identity of CAMRA on the Rovers Return being awarded the seating area at the front of the pub or Island. Joint Second spot along with the sitting on the sea wall looking out Whitehouse Peel. The Rovers has over the beach and to Milner’s tower Thanks to Dave Halliwell come on by leaps and bounds under which was built by a Liverpool MerseyAle would not appear on locksmith in the shape of a key. F Island without the sterling work of In the bar Beatle fans should look out IOM Member Dave Halliwell. Dave for the 1950s photos of John Lennon, not only researches and writes the Jimmy Tarbuck (allegedly a IOM News but also comedian who once had a wall) and at his own expense takes his car to Liverpool to collect copies of MerseyAle and then distributes them within two Photos days to all 70 plus Andy Kelly real ale pubs on Island. The Editor has recently been let loose for two weeks on the IOM so he is writing the news for this edition rather than Dave. This gives the opportunity to put our thanks on record for Dave’s wonderful work without causing his blushes !
Isle of Man CAMRA Beer Festival 2012 IOM CAMRA is planning their first IOM Beer Festival provisionally for dates in April 2012 at the Villa Marina Douglas. At least 60 beers are planned. More details in the November edition of MerseyAle Bay Hotel IOM CAMRA Pub of the Year 2011
35 licensee Guy Armstrong - Rossiter Community Pub being at the heart of cask ales that 15 beers including for the first time arrival of the 09.50 Steam train from Tail (ABV 4.5%) with its slightly with substantial improvement in local life in Peel, including Manx would be on Island beers from the recently Douglas. sweeter taste on the palate than some both beer quality and choice. language and music events. available each established Liverpool Organic and in the Bushy’s range, and a malty Indeed the pub received a mention in month from Liverpool One breweries delivered Gluepot Unstuck? Castle Arms caramel finish. The beers are the Manx Independent review of the April to via Neil Lloyd’s Woolton garage. Castletown invariably superbly kept. In addition Cara Dillon folk concert at the nearby November, The Festival was blessed by lovely The Manx Independent reported on a quite recently The Albert has Manx Millenium Centre, with the with six changing guest ales sunny weather. row regards the future of the tenancy returned to serving food at comment, “I am not sure if Cara took up available each month. The brochure of the famous Gluepot. Temporary lunchtimes, Monday to Saturday the offer of a pint at the Whitehouse when also included a list of 31 H&B real ale Ginger Hall licensee Kenny Austin has been between noon and 2.30pm. she asked the audience if there was pubs including 12 which received the Licensee Gary Compsty celebrated refused the permanent tenancy by anywhere she could get tea and toast designation Real Ale Champions. one year at the helm in July 2011. In Heron and Brearley (Okell’s parent Northern News after the concert.” These were; Prospect, Woodbourne, that time he has made the Ginger company) who announced they were Jurby Junked The Award presentation took place Terminus Tavern, Manx Arms. to appoint what they felt was a more Jurby has lost both its pub (now on Tuesday 26th July. Gluepot, Union, Whitestone, experienced candidate from Across, demolished) and its shop which Station Port Erin, Swan, Mines stating; Threats to IOM Pubs Tavern, Raven and Highwayman. “Mr Austin was not suitable for internal promotion at this time.” Usually there are six real ales The IOM can justifiably claim to be For information on the brochure see This comes after the departure of including three from Bushy’s and the Island the Real Ale with three real www.mango.im previous licensee Mark “Widgit” three changing guests from Across. ale breweries and the vast majority of Moorley who turned round the real Look out for the hand pumps made its 70 plus pubs selling real ale to its Bushy’s Bramble ale fortunes of the Gluepot greatly from brass fire hose nozzles. population of 70.000 people. A certain gentleman on the MER “Mr extending the beer range and making Good value meals are served However questions arise as to Bramble” who resides at the Wendy Hall a shrine to the TT. The bar this a community pub popular with lunchtimes Monday to Friday 12 to whether the Island will be immune House at Derby Castle will be ceiling now sports a large map of the both visitors and locals. 2.30. The pub is well known for its from the pub closures that are taking delighted to know that Bushy’s TT course and is soon to be joined by closed in July quoting lack of support live music and distinctive bohemian place Across. The general economic forthcoming seasonal beer will be his a similar map of the Southern 100 and the impact of Tesco on line ambience. Unfortunately one aspect recession and the specific IOM issue favourite, the delightfully subtle Billtown course. A side room shopping. With hindsight this could of the ambience that is still awaiting of the renegotiation of the VAT Bramble made from blackcurrants displays the bike raced by Steve have been a case for Pub is the Hub, improvement is the toilets which agreement with the British picked near the Mount Murray Hislop in the 1992 TT. a campaign which has successfully currently could be described as the brewery. found additional uses for pubs under Government looks set to impact There are usually four real ales on the pub’s Achilles heel. threat. A combined pub and local significantly on Island income. row of ornate hand pumps with an The Award presentation took place shop could have meant a viable Indeed it is salutary to reflect that Western Pub News original Castletown Brewery mirror on Thursday 28th July. there have been nine IOM pub Central Hotel Peel Plans to Reopen future for both and the continuation on the wall behind making for an of a social focus for Jurby, other than closures in the last five years namely; as Real Ale Specialist Pub impressive sight. Castletown Bitter The Whitehouse Peel the prison and Jurby Junk ! The In a remarkable turn round in and Black Cat Mild are regulars A hat trick winner of the IOM Pub of All MerseyAle can say is that on two Jurby Hotel was the most unusual In Douglas fortunes the seemingly lost forever supplemented with two changing the Year Award, a testament to the recent visits we found the two beers pub on Island with its rambling but Central Hotel Castle Street Peel is set guests. high standards set by Neil Keig and Waterloo (now a shop and to reopen as a specialist Real Ale Pub Okell’s bitter and Draught Bass well appointed wooden Nissan huts son Jamie. Described by one apartments) offered by Mr Austin to be in very dating from the Second World War selling a wide range. An initial Waterfall Glen Maye MerseyAle contributor as one of his good condition, which in our book RAF airfield. Forresters (demolished) application for a license was rejected The front extension planned for 2011 five best pubs in the world, the is what matters. Whilst the harbour following objections from has been postponed until the Ramsey New Northern Bar Whitehouse is in effect five pubs in and castle views remain Trafalgar (empty) neighbours, but the application is to beginning of 2012. The Waterfall Great news is yet another real ale one, such is the variety of the five be reconsidered in August. unsurpassed !! Corner House (now offices) advertises regularly on local radio gain for Ramsey, bringing the town’s rooms from the small cosy Captain’s With a reopened Central, Peel will be and is renowned for its food Bay View Hotel Port St Mary real ale outlets to ten - the best tally in Cabin to the large function room and something of real ale Mecca, with the Douglas Hotel (awaiting supplemented by at least 2 real ales The Bay View Hotel is again for sale, multi award winning Whitehouse development scheme to in addition to the walk down the glen following the end of the current lease offering 12 excellent real ales, the include the Clarendon ) to the impressive waterfall and tenure. It continues to trade at time of Creek now having 18 hand pumps beach. Bus from Peel. going to print, however it would be Other places on the Island with the Peveril and Highwayman wise to check opening times if also both offering real ales. The Southern News Jurby Hotel (now demolished) planning a visit. The outlet was Night Owl bus to Douglas could be Falcon’s Nest Beer Festival 2012 closed for a time previously around Dalby Hotel (planning in great demand! The first 2011 Falcon’s Nest Real Ale two years ago, but subsequently permission for apartments) Festival was such a success that the reopened with some refurbishment Sulby Glen Success Hotel has already planned a bigger Farmers Arms St John’s (empty) work having been done. If this outlet over a decade. Bar Logo, a large Discount for CAMRA Members and better Festival for 2012 from were to be lost it would leave Port St. modern bar on the main street had The Sulby Glen Hotel is the only Thursday 4th to Monday 7th May. Central Peel – (closed but likely Mary with only one traditional pub, been closed for refurbishment. Now outlet on Island to offer a discount to Last year’s 20 odd real ales will be to reopen) (see below) The Albert, towards the lower end of reopened with a new name The separate sports room all clustered CAMRA members. Show your significantly increased and in the town. Northern Bar and Grill, thankfully around the central wood and stained membership card and you receive addition more bottled beers. this free house is no longer a cask ale glass bar. Heron and Brearley Real Ale Trail 20p off a pint and 10p off a half of Since April 2011 the Falcon has been The Albert Port St Mary desert. Run by Abbie Sutton, the bar There is an impressive array of 12 Leaflet real ale. serving food all day 12 to 9pm, a Long featured in the Good Beer intends to run a single ever changing real ales including up to four Heron and Brearley parent company Rosie and Eddie Christian ran a very great boon for visitors. It is also Guide, The Albert in addition to guest beer, Okells Old Skipper , and changing guest beers. The of Okell’s, produced a useful free successful Real Ale and Cider useful to note that the Falcon bar Okells Bitter stocks a range of Hobgoblin having featured recently. Whitehouse is very much a fold out colour brochure listing the Festival in July which featured opens at 11am just in time for the Bushy’s bitters including Old Bushy Hugely popular at the weekend in 36 37 F the evenings with a younger element, stocked for many years but no longer, conditioned from the cask, another this outlet is one of only a few real ale due to changing customer tastes. first as the famous Bushy’s TT Beer pubs in town to serve food during However at the time of visit Bushys Tent dispenses bright beer to meet the day when it is similarly popular. Bitter (ABV 3.8%) and the Bushys demand. Guy was determined that seasonal Triskelion were stocked, the MGP tent would be really real !! The Glen Mona Hotel along with two U.K. guests Hydes On the coast road south of Ramsey Swift Delivery, and Belhaven TT Okell’s Tent The Glen Mona Hotel has recently Bonnie Birdie. For the first time Okell’s ran a beer undergone an external redecoration, Belhaven was of course one of the tent at the TT Grandstand, but with striking red paint work. One oldest independent breweries in decided to only offer keg beer guest ale is stocked, ( Hooray Henley Scotland, but has since been taken at the time of visit) and as previously, over by Greene King. Guests change Bus Vannin – Better Bus Services frequently, but there are a number of Please ! U.K. breweries that are frequently Word is that having spent unknown used, including the aforementioned amounts of money changing all Hydes, and Thwaites from branding at bus stops and on buses Blackburn, which is soon to relocate to Bus Vannin from the former Isle of to a new location within the Man Transport, the Bus Vannin name Blackburn area, after dominating the is now to be dropped in favour of town centre skyline for many years. ….wait for it… Isle of Man Transport!! Douglas News Perhaps Transport Director Ian Old Market Inn Chapel Row Longworth and Minister David This small two roomed pub is Cretney might like to consider maintaining its commitment to real redirecting this expenditure to ales with two changing guests, often providing better bus services. A this can often be from Across. The one from Across, usually on hand good place to start would be the pub runs successful darts and pool pump. These are sourced through Ramsey to Peel route evening and teams in the Laxey leagues, and Bushy’s. Recent examples of Bushys Sunday services which run a truly serves food throughout the day, with Oyster Stout and RCH Steam appalling frequency, yet serve a midweek offers on fish and chips; Special were in very good condition. number of popular pubs which both take away and eat in. It is now The pub also has a network of warrant a more frequent service to open everyday from noon until 11pm smugglers tunnels leading away help people visit the pub safely. or later depending on trade. from the cellar. The nearby Douglas Previously opening hours had been Hotel was notorious for its Rail Ale Train IOM Steam Railway irregular. The outdoor seated areas smuggling history and had a similar The Transport Extravaganza in July are ideal in summer to savour a network of tunnels. The Market and saw the running of a popular Rail Ale relaxed pint in a rural setting. Handy the adjacent Albert are now the only for the 3 bus and the MER Glen Mona two traditional Manx locals left in tram stop. Douglas.
Laxey The Queens HQ Bar at Mereside Hotel Empress There had been reports that The Terrace Queens was no longer stocking a The HQ is now alternating its trademark Old Laxey Bosun Bitter (the HQ is the only outlet outside the Shore Hotel Brewery Tap in Old Laxey) with a changing guest. A new chef has been making a positive impact with his new menu.
Beer and Bikes First Manx Grand Prix Real Ale evening return train Douglas to Festival Castletown using the three coach bar Guy Armstrong – Rossiter licensee of car set serving a steady flow of the Rovers Return Douglas has Okells Bitter bright from the cask, organised the first MGP Real Ale supplemented by bottles of Aisle Festival to be held in the Bushy tent smoked porter. On arrival the on the Promenade opposite the Villa Sidings proved to be a popular and Marina Douglas. Two trailers will appropriate destination. choice of cask ales , however this is provide cooling for the beers which unfounded. Bushys Ruby Mild was are to be served naturally John Armstrong
39 Publications said: advanced for release in 2011. The Good CAMRA marketing team have also ‘Once again we’ve been begun work on a GBG eNewsletter challenged to fit the ever- for CAMRA members as well as a Beer growing list of British Good Beer Guide twitter feed brewers into the guide, (@greatpubs), both these projects Guide which is a great problem to are aimed at raising awareness of have as it means the real ale the Guide and further promoting industry continues to go 2012 – the featured pubs. from strength to strength. ’ Coming 15th When asked CAMRA’s Head of Available at: September The Guide also features Marketing, Tony Jerome, said: Grapes (Roscoe Street) L1 Stamps Too, Brook Hotel (Waterloo) “The UK’s 4,500 of the best real ale ‘We are always looking to use new pubs in the UK Cheshire Cheese (Wallasey Village) Belvedere L7 Everyman Bistro best-selling approaches when it comes to independent marketing the Good Beer Guide (Hope Street) Roscoe Head, Ship And Mitre , The Font , Pilgrim, “Pulling these listings and direct email and Twitter are the Vernon, Ye Cracke, White Star, Philharmonic Hall (Grand Foyer beer & pub together is a mammoth perfect tools for communicating guide” task” said Hall. Bar) Cat & Fiddle (Bootle) Old Harkers (Chester), Brewery Tap directly with people eager to get ‘Our pub listings are as out and find good beer and great (Chester) Bridge Inn (Chester), The Angel (Manchester) The 2012 edition of CAMRA’s varied and interesting as always and pubs.’ Smithfield Hotel (Manchester), Helter Skelter (Frodsham) Turks with every corner of the country best-selling Good Beer represented there is definitely a pub • It is available for pre-order from Head (St Helens) Guest House (Southport) Clarence Hotel (New Guide will be released on for everyone’s taste in the Guide. This the CAMRA shop (visit Brighton) Cock & Pullet (Birkenhead) Old Bank South Road 15th September 2011 (RRP reflects the effort that the CAMRA www.camra.org.uk/shop or call 01727 867201) for the special online (Waterloo) Edinburgh Sandown Lane (Wavertree) £15.99). members have put into compiling the listings for us and I’d like to thank member price of £10.00 plus The Guide now lists 900 breweries them and all the editorial team here postage and packing. of every shape and size along with for their hard work.’ • After that the Mail order price details of the regular beers they The Good Beer Guide is also £11.00 plus postage and packing Liverpool Organic Brewery supply a varied range of Bottled Conditioned Beers - brew. . . joining the technical revolution, (full p&p costs can be found on Imperial Russian Stout Kitty Wilkinson Joseph Williamson Simon Hall, CAMRA’s Head of with plans for an eBook edition well www.camra.org.uk/shop). Tunnale . William Roscoe . Honey Blond Liverpool Pale Ale . Shipwreck IPA . 24 Carat Gold Available at: Oddbins ( Allerton Rd, Formby, Bromborough ), TC Wines ( Blundellsands ), Liverpool Cheese Co. ( Woolton ), The Waverley ( West Kirby ), Legendary Lancashire Heroes ( Southport ), Inn Beer Shop ( Southport ), Delifonseca ( Stanley St & Dockside ), Source Deli ( Ormskirk ), Mello Mello ( Slater St ) and Little Pizza Kitchen ( Waterloo ).
email: [email protected] www.liverpoolorganicbrewery.com
Wonderful early 19th Century Public House with 8Handpumps Serving a varying range of Real Ales Plus 2 Organic Ciders REGULARS: CAINS & THWAITES Food at Ye Cracke NEW MENU 12-3 12-5 Sun 0151 709 4171 Special Student offers available 12-11.30 midnight Fri & Sat Have a drink in John Lennon’s Old Watering Hole
39 Brasenose Road, Liverpool L20 8HL. 0151 933 9660 41 The First Micro including the audacious Riner, a Micro Support If we discount the reopening of the highly hopped 2.5% ABV Pale Ale. Micro-breweries do not exist in a Spain – BBC under the name La Cervesera Josep Borrell at Moska , near vacuum: they need outside support Artesana and the fleeting existence Girona, is also brewing lagers and and encouragement. of the Sant Jordi brewery on the ales together with special beers This is provided by books such as The Boom Costa Brava, the first micro-brewery containing indigenous cereals such La cerveza artesanal, cómo hacer to open in the region, in 2005, was as buckwheat for Pep Nogué, a cerveza en casa (Craft Beer, How to brewers and customers to extricate Alex Padró’s Glops, brewing culinary expert, under the brand Brew at Home) and La Cerveza... it from the administrative labyrinth Bavarian-style beers, followed by name Kecks to pair with local food. Poesía Líquida, un manual para ultimately came to naught. in Craft Companyia Cervesera del cervesiáfilos (Beer... Liquid Poetry, a At the turn of the decade ridiculous Montseny or CCM: started by Pablo Exotic Additions Manual for Beer Lovers; magazines situations arose. What should have Vijande, also the founder of like Bar and Beer and Celce; been two national chains of brew- +Malta, which supplies equipment Festivals like Mediona and Jafre Brewing pubs, one based in Seville and the (now organising their fifth and third other in A Coruña, were forced to editions) You probably don’t associate Spain produce hopped, concentrated wort Photo People like Alex Camacho (the first with good beer. Too much in sympathetic municipalities and Blog Birraire President of Humulus Lupulus) at indifferent San Miguel and Estrella ship it to the others where it would La Cerveceria Jazz, Giles Brown at served too cold to taste anything. be fermented and conditioned. The the Mosquito and Quim at Yet in the last ten years there has only survivor is Magister, in the Quimet & Quimet, who are been a boom in craft brewing and centre of Madrid, though Boris de promoting good beers and pairing micro breweries including some Messones, the former head brewer, Photo food with craft beer. brewing real ales. has since fled to Korea, where, Blog Birraire More comprehensive support is One of the pioneers of this among other things, he is running Some micro-breweries in the region provided by the Cerveteca , a shop, brewing revolution is, yes... you one brew-pub and constructing a are also using exotic additions: La bar, showcase, distributor, got it...a craft beer, however, was not an second. Others from this period Carlos Rodriguez of Agullons Gardenia (La Rosita) is using rose educational and consultation centre Liverpudlian easy one. The main problems were closed for technical or financial petals in one beer and hazelnuts in — as well as a meeting point — for from Walton! caused by an insensitive, inflexible reasons. and raw materials to micro and another, Les Clandestines add brewers, would-be brewers and Steve Huxley bureaucracy - or burrocracia (rule Some have fared better. Andrew home-brewers, CCM brews ales on thyme to one of theirs, and Bleder beer aficionados in general. The has been the by donkeys) as Spanish wit would Dougall opened his Dougall’s plant acquired from the Wolf Cerveteca was founded in 2006 by inspiration, have it. micro-brewery in Santander, in brewery. Guillem Laporta and Rubén Rio, mentor and The first to suffer, in 1989, was 2007, and is distributing his A Critical Mass both closely involved in the guide for many Naturbier, a pub-brewery in English-style ales with great A critical mass is now being of the new Madrid, brewing German-style success. Other recent micro- reached. Carlos Rodríguez from wave craft lagers. It operated illegally for four breweries include La Pagoa, in Agullons, a farmhouse-brewery brewers. He set up the BBC, the years until its owner, a parlia- Oiartzun, near San Sebastian; near Sant Joan de Mediona Barcelona Brewing Company and mentarian, eventually succeeded in Regia, in Toledo; Naparbier, in producing three critically acclaimed brew bar, demonstrating that craft obtaining a licence. Pamplona, and San Amaro, in beers could be successful in the Galicia, which also seem to be land of San Miguel and Estrella. Enter the BBC enjoying success. His example and teaching led to The second was the Barcelona many young Spaniards coming Brewing Company or BBC, another Catalonia into craft brewing . The fruits of Craft Takes Off Photo this are now spreading across Where craft beer has really taken Blog Birraire Spain with exciting growth in off in the last few years is in is using dates. The most recent micro breweries and bars. Catalonia. The seeds were sown in arrival is another farmhouse We are delighted that Steve has the last days of the Barcelona brewery, Art Cervesers, set up by agreed to write for MerseyAle. Brewing Company in a brewing Paco Sanchez, brewing Art beers: We kick off with an extract from course, with Alex Padró and Paco an IPA, a Märzen and a Stout. his chapter in a forthcoming. Sánchez attending, and in the Wolf There are also various nano- Oxford University Press book. Brewery in England, where Pablo breweries such as Almogàvers and Now when you visit Spain you will Vijande worked during his Zulogaarden, set to scale up. have the knowledge to seek out university summer break. Two beer Photo interesting craft beers and give associations were set up: Humulus Anthony Abbott World Travel that freezing San Miguel the Lupulus in the Cerveceria Jazz ales, finally obtained official Some of these beers are now proverbial elbow. pub-brewery, opened in April 1993. with Alex Padró as one of the Photo permission to operate in 2008. travelling the world. Agullons has The BBC produced Three Graces founder members and Catalunya Ciutavella Others, too, are up and brewing: been present at the Bruxellensis The Birth of Craft Brewing in English-style real ales: a Bitter, a Home Brewers set up by Sánchez Guzmán Fernández at Ca l’Arenys Festival since 2006, and is now development of Humulus Lupulus. Spain Burrocracia - Special Bitter, and a Stout. Despite and Vijande. These two associations (who also fabricate micro-brewing permanently on draught at the new Thanks to Laporta in particular, Rule by Donkeys great public acceptance it was not have educated and inspired, equipment and supply raw Chez Moeder Lambic in Brussels, various serious restaurateurs are Craft beers have been available for so well received by the public directly or indirectly, most of the materials) is making Guineu, a while La Rosita is being exported to incorporating craft beer lists and some time now in Spain - if not authorities. Closed by Customs and people now involved in craft beer wide range of ales and lager Australia and CCM to the USA. beer-pairing menus. always easy to find. The birth of Excise in 1995, the heroic efforts of in Catalonia. F 42 43 Seeds are Sown while reading Classics at The seeds from Catalonia are Leeds University. For a spreading to Valencia and number of years he was a further south and look likely to teacher of Classics. be disseminated all over the country. No great surprise, He founded the Barcelona really: from small grains of Brewing Company, a pub- barley grow great beers, great brewery brewing real ales, countries, like Spain, and the in 1993. After its closure greatest of all ... Civilization he brewed ales at La itself. Cervesera Artesana, Barcelona, and the San Steve Huxley Jordi Brewery. He is a MerseyAle will be running a founder-member of feature on the Saxon Brewery Humulus Lupulus, a in Andulacia run by an cultural association set up English couple Ian and to promote brewing and Iwona which craft beer, and the author is brewing two real ales a of La Cerveza... Poesía bitter and a mild and seeking Líquida, un manual para to educate the local palate. cervesiáfilos (Beer... Liquid Poetry, a Manual for Beer Lovers). He now gives beer Steve Huxley – a brief profile classes and advice at La Steve Huxley, from Liverpool, Cerveteca, in Barcelona’s began home-brewing in 1968 Gothic Quarter.
www.liverpoolonebrewery.co.uk [email protected] ORDER HOTLINE 07948 918740 82-84 VAUXHALL ROAD LIVERPOOL L3 6DL
We are four local lads who have and beer styles. We use only the worked in the licensed trade for many finest ingredients for our beers, years. Head Brewer Gary Rice has Fawcetts Malts and Charles Faram spent over ten years as a licensee in Hops to make sure that the end AWARD WINNING 8 REAL ALES Liverpool managing a number of pubs product is the best that can be. and bars including the Baltic Fleet. We have a number of flagship beers It was here under Master Brewer available and we also specialise in Stan Shaw that he honed his “house” beers with the style of beer brewing skills. tailored to the needs of the outlet. The aim of our brewery is to produce hand crafted, high quality ales, beers We have beers available in Cask, and lagers. We live for experimen- Bottle and Party Kegs. There is also a tation and will continue to push chill filtered Real Lager coming soon. the boundaries in terms We also have beer gift packs on sale of flavours, combinations at our brewery and also in a number of outlets in the City.
At Liverpool One we are your local brewers. You will find us welcoming Order hotline is manned all day long for all your beer needs and and approachable and with us you will get a personal friendly service. our brewery is open for you to pop in for a cuppa or a swift half.
44 45 One is Five 3 HAND PUMPS The Delifonseca restaurant and delicatessen on Featuring Stanley Street between Dale Street and Victoria CHANGING GUEST Street celebrated its fifth birthday in June with BEERS FROM LOCAL a day of events both in the street and BREWERS in the building. The restaurant has been redecorated with new LIVE SPORT colours, wall tiling and improved seating. The KARAOKE TUES NIGHT focus has shifted to serving the needs of city THURS, FRI, SAT & SUN - LIVE MUSIC centre residents and enticing them with food to OUTSIDE SMOKERS COURTYARD take home and fresh food served in their local neighbourhood restaurant. REFURBISHED FUNCTION ROOM TRADITIONAL LOCAL FRIENDLY The maitre d’ CAMRA member Angus Morrison PUB WITH GREAT ATMOSPHERE, knows his beers (and malt whiskies) and has set GREAT MUSIC AND GREAT ALES out to considerably expand the bottled beer LIVE MUSIC range including bottled conditioned beers. It WEDNESDAY NIGHT - OPEN MIC NIGHT 4 NIGHTS PER WEEK now has probably the best beer range of any restaurant in Liverpool. There are most of the Liverpool Organic Brewery beer range, several 43 SOUTH ROAD WATERLOO L22 5PE 0151 928 7020 Liverpool One and Wapping beers, including the award winning Stout, Smoked Porter and Summer Ale, Cains Raisin and Bitter. There is a growing range of Belgian beers including micro breweries such as Slapmutske, Carolus, Chimay and De Konick and Kwak. The aim is also stock the full range of Weihenstephan German beers including the rare Dunkel and the Double Bock. There are also beers from the USA such as Raging Bitch, Liberty Ale and Goose Island. Don’t just take MerseyAle’s word for it. The London based magazine Blue Tomato reviewed restaurants in Liverpool and gave Delifonseca Stanley Street its top recommendation, also highlighting the excellence of its beer list. “Delifonseca’s beer list is enough to induce ecstasy. The vast selection of local ales as well as craft brews from further afield is the one of the best I’ve ever seen, standing its own against dedicated London beer emporia. Try the wares of Wapping and Liverpool One breweries for a start...”
The Delifonseca won the Good Food Guide Award for Best Value Restaurant in the UK – quite an accolade. The Deli is in the Independents list of 50 best British Delis. So if you want to combine quality food with quality beers then call in at Stanley Street
46 47 Baltic Flwwew.wappeingbeerst .co.uk BEER FESTIVAL End of October Baltic Fleet Beers Liverpool’s only Brew Pub - The Home of Wapping Brewery Award Winning Beers Winners of Champion Beer of Britain Awards All your favourites plus our own Bamberg © Anurag Jain Wapping Brewery Beers
Food available every day MUSIC SEA SHANTIES Stan Shaw, Wapping’s Award Winning Brewer Franconia in Transit WE SERVE SCOUSE Last Saturday of the & LOCAL PIES month More Live Music to Liverpool © Christer Edvartsen (Johnsons Toxteth) coming soon The Baltic Fleet Pub and Brewery, Wapping Liverpool The German White Van Man opposite the ECHO ARENA Would you drive a 1,600 mile round wheat and lager beers. The bottles trip across Europe to have a beer? carry a specially designed house Stout is a German take on the Irish Well the good news is that Klaus pub label. The labels are designed stout style. Whilst dark Dunkel Vogt is doing that for you with his by freelance artist Nichola Priestley beers are common in Germany, 2 New Beers Transit van. He regularly brings who hails from West Yorkshire, but stouts are not and are a rarity. Viking Gold 4.6% Paxton’s Peculiar 4.1% beers from small brewers in the now splits her time between Franconia region of Germany to Southport and Germany where she The result is a beer which is almost pubs in the North West of England. lived for several years. She also a new stout style quite different Early recipients have been the Ship assists Kurt with the beer import from Irish and British stouts. The and Mitre in Liverpool, the Inn business. aroma is roast malt and coffee, with Beer Shop in Southport, and the dark roast malt and smokey Continental in Preston. Personal Contact flavours, mixed with some Franconia has the largest The attraction for Kurt is that he fruitiness and sweetness, a hint of concentration of breweries per head enjoys the personal contact the liquorish leading to a full flavour of population anywhere in the business offers with the many and long dry finish. world, with over 300 breweries Franconian brewers and the which are mostly family run. The growing number of pub licensees in Jurgen produces a range of six beers main centre is Bamberg which is the North West of England. Kurt is including Pils, smoked beer, famous for its dark and smoked a beer enthusiast and intends to Schwarzbier and a seasonal bock, beers. keep his business small scale and he has been a brewer since 1998 and based on personal contacts. in 1998 he started his own brewery. Bespoke Bottling and Labels Klaus also arranges bespoke River Stout – A German take on River Stout and other Jugen beers bottling and labelling of certain Irish Stout are imported into Britain by White Franconian brewery beers. The Jurgen Winkler the brewer at Van Man Kurt Vogt. River Stout Ship and Mitre has taken advantage Hausbrau Stegaurach Brewery in a made its first appearance at the Ship of this service, choosing beers from suburb of Bamberg has brewed a and Mitre German Beer Festival in Zehedner brewery , featuring the stout for the British market. River June 2011.
48 49 REAL ALE BEER Bringing New People To Real Ale FESTIVAL 28th-Sept-2nd Oct Somerset cider Cheddar Valley to GERMAN BEER FES choose from it was make your mind 26th-30th Oct up time. ALL BEER FESTIVAL Social AND Educational !! 23rd-27th Nov When the decision had been reached and one of the vouchers handed over to a friendly and I LIVERPOOL’S PREMIER might add, knowledgeable, staff FREEHOUSE See website Liverpool & Districts member, your name was entered theshipandmitre.com for future festivals CAMRAPub of the Year 2009 into the raffle that had been organised. The prizes which Reporting Talisha Mills included T-shirts and bottled beer 12 ever-changing Real Ales Plus Draught Ciders crowd, a pleasing friendly mix of gift packs were donated by the the young and not so young, and Moorhouses brewery whose sales Largest Selection of Belgian and German show that Liverpool CAMRA was executive Stuart Haye was on hand an organisation that combines local to introduce those that were Draught and Bottled Beers in Liverpool campaigning with a lively approach interested to an array of ingredients to socials, and that the BierKeller that are present in our favourite BierKeller – definition: was a venue to frequent. tipple. So not only is the Bringing Great Home Cooked Food from the Burning Kitchen An underground pub selling New People to Real Ale Campaign FOOD SERVED FROM 12 - 9pm SEVEN DAYS A WEEK German beer In with the Fresh and New plus fun and acting as the great social Buffets - Burger Menu online ordering Visit: burningkitchen.co.uk Well the first part is true at least of Five Real Ales !! icebreaker that some people this vibrant cellar bar which can be Let’s start with the surroundings need, it is also highly educational! found tucked away on the corner of which some may find in stark Art Deco ‘Higher Room’ for hire Holds up to 55 people Catering available Stanley Street and Dale Street. contrast with its bright white walls Along with a good few freebies which, let’s face it, we all love, this Ship & Mitre133 DALE STREET Tel: 0151 236 0859 and marble bar, to the usual cushion On Thursday 12th May this and wood décor which you may be innovative evening also included extensive establishment played host used to seeing whilst enjoying a live music, good banter and a to the May Young People and New pint of your favourite pale, light or healthy insight into the future of CAMRA Members event and, dark. Yet the theme of the night is in Real Ale. although the BierKeller has a vast with the fresh and new, whilst array of world beers, this night was The BierKeller and all involved in maintaining the core values that the evening were instrumental in all about real ale. CAMRA has successfully forged The BierKeller usually has two signing off the first half of this year over the past 40 years. With five in admirable style. changing guest real ales on hand great ales and a real cider the pumps and is keen to promote cask BierKeller event was set up with And just like the end of night beer, hence this special evening this firmly in mind. ascent to street level from event run jointly with Liverpool this underground, seemingly CAMRA. Free Tasting Vouchers undiscovered little gem, the On arrival each person is Bringing New People to Real Ale awarded with three half Campaign is really beginning to pint tasting vouchers, an mount and we are all looking integral part of Bringing forward to the rest of 2011. New People to Real Ale. We And finally an added bonus for know you students are CAMRA members is that if you skint, so this allowed for show your card you receive a 20p three different ales to be per pint, 10p per half discount on given a verdict or for the real ales at the BierKeller one you know you like best to be thoroughly enjoyed Talisha Mills with a little less strain on the wallet. OK, I take back the bit that it was all However with contributions from For information on about real ale, because owners Dave Moorhouses and Liverpool One Future Bringing New People to and Carolyn pulled out all the stops breweries in the form of Blond Real Ale Events see to make this a night to remember Witch and Three Graces, www.liverpoolcamra.org.uk or for all. The ale on offer was just one respectively, along with Gladiator, email [email protected] (though important!!) part of the Tunnel Vision, Entire Stout and the aim, which was to please the vast
50 51 WhTheite Horse MIKE & LIZ Welcome Patrons Old & New 4 EVER CHANGING CASK ALES Great Home Made Food New Summer Menu
The White Horse is a traditional English pub, multi-roomed with an intimate atmosphere and plenty of character. The White Horse is regularly in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2 Acrefield Road L25 5JL 0151 428 2255 BTehe lvedere Traditional 2 room Grade II Listed pub situated in the heart of Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter Cask Ales from Local and Regional Brewers One minut e from Philharmonic Hall American Ideal for pre-show drinks Anchor The Only Liverpool Pub with Steam Beer Lined Glasses for Cask and on draught European Lagers Higsons is Back! Football Free Zone Come and try it at No Fruit Machines the Belvedere Real Fires Summer is here! Enjoy our Beer Real Conversation Garden area
8 Sugnall Street (off Falkner St), Liverpool
52 53 MerseyAle Credits Liverpool & Districts CAMRA Diary Editor John Armstrong Branch Get Togethers [email protected] Wed 21st September - Ship and Mitre Dale Street Layout Design (upstairs room) 8pm Peel P50 Pub Surveys Dennis W Jones Meet Liverpool’s Newest Brewery - Liverpool Craft Beer Brewery (Generally evenings on public transport) [email protected] for details visit Talk by brewers Paul and Terry. Beers now being brewed Photographs liverpoolcamra.org.uk Neil Lloyd commercially Plus short CAMRA EGM. See motion posted on To book coach trips phone www.neillloydphotography.co.uk Ian Macadam on [email protected] www.liverpoolcamra.org.uk Dennis Jones Andy Kelly Wed 19th October - Old Bank, South Road, Waterloo 2 mins from 07521 741 586 Waterloo Station. 7.30 for Presentation of Liverpool CAMRA Pub or email Contributors Renaissance Award to Old Bank Then 8pm for Get Together in [email protected] Dave Halliwell These offer the chance to visit Zoe Manning Upstairs function room. interesting quality real ale pubs or book at COACH TRIPS: Branch Meetings Talisha Mills outside our area with someone Saturdays Steve Berks Wed 16th November - Excelsior, Dale Street 8pm Get Together else doing the driving. The coach 3rd September - Shrewsbury Steve Huxley in Back Room. departs at 10am prompt from The Peel P50 Jan Sorsby Dale Street outside the Ship and 8th October - Nottingham For further details about Get Togethers, see website nearer time. The car can be viewed at the Manx Printed by Mitre and costs £12. Return is 12th November - Derbyshire pub tour, Transport Heritage Museum Peel Printfine, Liverpool (next to Moore’s Kippers on usually between 9-9.30pm. Trips including Ilkeston, seeking out 0151 242 0000 the harbour) . are open to non members so bring Tuesday 25th October to Old numerous LocAles. See www.manxheritage.com www.printfine.co.uk Pub Survey Trips a friend along. Swan & West Derby pubs Useful Contacts by Public CAMRA National Office Meet 7pm at the Albany, 230 Hatfield Road Transport Albany Road, off Derby Lane. St Albans Derby Lane is on the 60 bus AL1 4LW Tuesday 27th September to route, the second stop after 01727 867201 Huyton area pubs Prescot Road if travelling [email protected] from Aigburth, or after the www.camra.org.uk Meet 7pm at Barkers Brewery bends if coming from Bootle. I I Wetherspoon pub on Real Ale Real Food Real Southport CAMRA Travel on any 8,9 or 10 bus Archway Road. Meet 7pm or Ian Garner 01704 876819 from the city centre to I Music Real Nice People [email protected] earlier if you want to eat Prescot Rd/Derby Lane. www.southportcamra.org.uk (curry night). Meet later at the Halton Range of six constantly rotating real ales Buses 6 or 9 from the city predominately featuring the best LocAle Wirral CAMRA Castle, Mill Lane, at 8.30pm. centre, 89 from Speke or St Buses 12 & 13 from town, or breweries in the area including Dave Hutchinson 01516 440625 Helens/Prescot. [email protected] 61 nearby (Bootle/Aigburth). Liverpool Organic, Southport, Train to the nearby Huyton www.camrawirral.org.uk Wapping, Allgates, Cambrinus and railway station from Lime Check web site nearer the time many others. Isle of Man Branch Contact Street. for further details of both tours . Angela Aspin 01624 491613 - Enjoy the best in Real Ales combined with some of mobile 07624 491613 the BEST TAPAS IN LIVERPOOL whilst watching the [email protected] Those who hand in beer scores will be given a free saveaway ticket BEST ENTERTAINMENT LIVERPOOL has to offer ! Merseytravel Line First Merseyside CAMRA LocAle Pub for public transport times Liverpool & District Community Pub of the year 2009 0151 638 5002 liverpoolcamra.org.uk 0871 200 22 33 wwwfacebook.com/CAMRAliverpool Stamps too 99 South Road Waterloo www.merseytravel.gov.uk Advertising in MerseyAle 0151 280 0035 Trading Standards 0151 233 3002 If you wish to place an advertisment you should contact us by email at; When leaving Waterloo Station turn right and cross the road to get to a [email protected] you can send in your advert design and copy by real ale pub with a quality of entertainment that matches our ales! Opinions expressed in the Mersey attachment, or ask us about design. Ale are not necessarily those of the Editor Liverpool Branch or CAMRA Cost is £100 per half page, £200 full page payment in advance. 54