In The Sticks December 2005 Free Copy Welcome to this months edition of “In the Sticks” Welcome to the latest issue of “In the Sticks” Half Pint and I called in at the Wellington Inn Forthcoming attractions at the Cross Keys the newsletter of RuRad Rural Real Ale Drinkers. on Bennets Hill Birmingham on Monday 21st Belper this month include: - St Austell We hope you enjoy your read but before you get November to discover that Birmingham Camra Tribute 4.2%, Burton Bridge XL 4.0%, started we would like to wish all our readers a has named the pub as Pub of the Year, which is Robinson’s Old Tom 8.5%, Bateman’s Rosey Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! not bad as it’s only been open for about 11 Nosey 4.9%, Derby White Christmas 5.5%, months. Young’s Winter Warmer 5.0% and Derby To receive an electronic copy e-mail The pub usually has 15 real ales available with 3 Tranquility 4.5%. [email protected] regulars from the Black Country Brewery and Or for back issues log on to to date 2272 different ales have been sold in Just attended this event, over Friday and 2005. Saturday, 28th & 29th October at the twinned http://www.leadmillbrewery.co.uk/Rurad.html th From the 24 November for a trial period the venues of the Three Crowns and the White Number Crunching pubs opening hours will be 10am to midnight. Horse, Ruddington. First thing to say is that the flat rate tariff of £2.20 per pint was very n this issue we bring you news of 69 pubs in 35 Jonathan Kriek reported that the Milestone I fair for the range of ales offered, and the Black Pearl was in good order at the Salutation different locations, 4 Breweries and 17 Beer quality of ale served was fine. Northern Ales at on Maid Marion Way Nottingham on Monday Festivals. the 3 Crowns and Southern at the Horse. 21st November but there again it should have What was odd, and unique in my experience of been at £2.49 a pint. Also available were Beer and Pub News beer fests, was that there were obvious Badger Tanglefoot (£2.49) and Milestone imon, Andy & Rob from the Seven Stars examples of ale brands being sold that were S Loxley Ale (£2.29). just plain wrong. Belper emailed me to advise the guest beers for --A barrel of Jennings Snecklifter clearly was December will include Marstons Christmas Ale On at the Black Bull at Belper Lane End on th NOT. (It was a pleasant ale, the barrel was 5.8%, Theakstons XB 4.6%, Bateman’s Rosey Friday 18 November were Abbot Ale, Bass, marked with a plain sticker as Snecklifter, Nosey 4.9, Cameron’s Castle Eden Ale 4.2% and and Black Sheep Bitter. Donna the licensee told but...........it just wasn't!!) numerous ales from Leadmill. me that she had been looking to replace the --A barrel of Crouch Vale Brewer's Gold, again, Abbot but it had proved too popular even being he Hunters Arms in Kilburn was closed again on pleasant ale, the barrel marked Crouch Vale, T liked by the Lager drinkers!!!! Saturday 26th November, unconfirmed reports but it definitely wasn't Brewer's Gold!! suggest due to an anomaly with the new license. Real Ales on at the Fisherman’s Rest Now, I've never encountered such apparent Broadholme the same day included Belhaven St skullduggery anywhere, let alone a beer fest, edediah Trippe reports that on Wednesday 16th J Andrews Ale 4.9%, Old Hooky 4.6%, Pedigree and when I quizzed the staff serving, they November that there was no real ale available at 4.5% and Marstons Owd Roger 7.6%. seemed genuine in their intent and blissfully Tollgate in Heage whilst in Duffield the Lord ignorant of their "crime". th Scarsdale had Pedigree and Old Hooky. The On at the White Swan Belper on Friday 25 Can there be an explanation? Is there a Pattenmakers had a delicious Acorn Barnsley Gold November were Highgate Fat Catz 4.8 at precedent for such an occurrence? for its guest ale - alongside Deuchars IPA and £2.30 and Jennings Cockerhoop, the pubs new I can only assume that the pubs concerned Pedigree. opening hours are 11am to midnight seven days bought these ales in good faith, (from a single and usually has two guest beers a week. source?), and that the source was incompetent special Cask Marque presentation evening was A or misrepresentation in some way, for some th The same evening the Black Swan had Green held at the Bell in Smalley on Wednesday 30 reason. King IPA and Thwaite’s Lancaster Bomber 4.4% November. On two separate occasions the pub It clearly is a potential hazard of attending a at £2.40 a pint, the pubs new opening hours are scored some of the highest marks in the country. small-scale pubfest, where the hosts may not 11am to midnight. Several ales including Marstons Burton Bitter, have the knowledge to spot such errors. Adnams Broadside and the excellent Thornbridge hilst up Chesterfield Road the Thorn Tree Comments?-Tomatoman Hall Jaipur 5.9% were all available at £1.00 a pint. W had Green King IPA and Abbot Ale as their Pubs in our region to receive the Cask Marque he Joiners Arms on Church Road Quarndon had permanent beers with Bass and Ruddles T accreditation recently include the GBG listed Orchard 4.2% at £2.20 a pint as guests. Pedigree, Taylor’s Landlord and Abbot Ale on Bell at Smalley and the Cricketers at Kilburn Monday 28th November-Half pint M&B Mild was back on at the Imperial Vaults which, by my reckoning brings the total in the Amber Valley to 17.An addition to the Erewash The Ilford Club in Ilkeston has been renamed to in Belper when Jedediah called in on Saturday rd list is the Queens Head in Little Eaton. For the Ilford Pub. 3 December at £1.96 a pint. the complete list visit www.cask-marque.co.uk The first ever Beer Festival to be held in After nearly 6 months with out the Queens C & H Calderone are the new licensees of the Eastwood was at the Three Tuns from the 8th to Head in Belper is to receive a new pub sign. New Inn at Milford. the 11th December. -Report to follow next month. the local railway station, which is served survey of the 8 pubs in Somercotes on Brewery News A somewhat infrequently by trains from rd Leadmill-Denby Saturday 3 December revealed the following: - Manchester Victoria station. Holts Mild and New Inn on Birchwood Lane Old Speckled Hen; www.leadmillbrewery.co.uk Bitter are the beers on offer, both in good Old English Gentleman on Somercotes Hill Old The latest beers to appear from Leadmill condition on the day I visited the pub, which is Speckled Hen and Deuchars IPA; Royal Tiger on open all day from 11am, subject of course to include Ghost Rider 5.4% a full bodied bitter Nottingham Road H&H Olde Trip and seasonal the new licensing regulations which may have with plenty of flavour tasting slightly sweet guest Rocking Rudolph, for me the star performer brought about a change. Not the easiest pub to with a nice bite to it. The beer went very well at was the Horse & Jockey on Leabrooks Road get to due to the sparsity of public transport the Old Stables Bar recently selling out on 3 which had Regulars Courage Bitter and (1 train per hour in either direction), but if you consecutive days. The second beer is called Theakstons Best Bitter with Holts Touchwood do make the effort to visit it, you will not be Nemesis at 6.5% ish and is a typical strong 4.2% as the guest. disappointed. Sadly the Cotes Park Inn on Nottingham Road, Christmas beer due to appear at the Old Devonshire Arms on Somercotes Hill, Crown Inn Stables Bar in early December. Visit Reports on Sleetmoor Lane and Rifle Volunteer on Funfair Brewing Co-Ilkeston Teddy's Travels In Albert's Taxis Birchwood Lane all had no real ale available, as www.funfairbrewingcompany.com was also the case at the Three Horse Shoes in October 2005 Teddy hasn’t been away on holiday recently, but Leabrooks. Dave is looking to become a member of the whilst out walking has sampled a few beers Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA). The Wardwick in Derby seems to be emerging as calling at some classic pubs! The Christmas beer Christmas Cake Walk 6.5% an up and coming real ale pub, on a recent visit an He called at the Quiet Woman at Earl will be among the guest beers at the Old Oak impressed Charisma found Tetley Bitter as the Sterndale, serving on the day - Marstons Beer Festival in Horsley Woodhouse, which runs regular and 5 guest ales. Bitter and Pedigree - and Archers - A Fair Cop. from the 15th to the 18th December. A lovely day was spent strolling on the Roaches, Pop Corn, the lager malt pale bitter with an ABV Whilst out walking in the Derbyshire Dales Pete calling at the Ship Inn at Wincle who were in the mid 4% region, was due to be brewed in & Alex called in at the Quite Woman in Earl serving a good selection of beers including early December. Sterndale to sample the Martons Owd Roger Fullers London Pride, Fullers Discovery, 7.6% which was in “excellent condition”.