All the latest news, views and essential information from Castle Rock Brewery No:5 Spring 2015 See pages 2 & 3 www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk Welcome News Welcome to the first anniversary edition of the Castle Rock Quarter! Sign up now for Beer Looking back at the first four issues, it’s amazing to reflect on what filled In early 2014, Castle Rock’s training and the pages! We haven’t had a problem cramming this issue full either; in development manager, Sarah Halpin, gained the pages that follow you’ll see what has kept Castle Rock BII accreditation to train and test us busy and what is coming up. adults in alcohol retailing and hospitality. Some highlights to pick out are the achievements of the Alexandra Hotel, awarded After months of hard work, the doors to the title of Derby CAMRA Pub of the Year, and the Eagle which was voted Boston’s Best Pub Castle Rock’s ‘Beer School’ are officially open! by the readers of the Boston Standard. The Poppy and Pint in Lady Bay was also awarded third place in the Nottingham CAMRA Pub of the Year awards - another great achievement. Congratulations to Ralf and Anna, Jackie, and James on their respective awards. A further pat on the back goes to Adrian and his brewing team for adding even more awards to the Castle Rock “Hall of Fame”, this time for Midnight Owl and Red Riding Hood. Visitors to the New Barrack Tavern will see the recent revamp, providing more space on Sheffield Wednesday home games, and a high quality function room for events. We have also designed, built and opened a training facility above our new brewery yard, which you can learn more about right here. I pass on my thanks to Sarah and the team that completed this project in record time. Last but not least a warm welcome to all visitors to Nottingham who are here for the Sarah Halpin CAMRA AGM. We hope you enjoy your stay takes time out and find time to visit our pubs and enjoy at Beer School Castle Rock beers when you are in and around the area. Since gaining our accreditation with the We know what you’re thinking: beer school This spring, we’ll be working even harder to British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), the sounds heavenly. This is the school you don’t be deserving of your patronage. Vat & Fiddle Visitors’ Centre has seen want to be “out for summer”, these are hundreds of trainees come and go, with an classes where nobody is tardy, where Thanks for your support. Colin Wilde incredible 100% pass rate on personal bottomless beer is literally on tap and license courses. With the walls of the artificial air freshener is swapped for the Managing Director @SheriffTipple Visitors’ Centre bursting at the seams and scent of fresh hops… well, yeah, it is a bit If there are pub or beer industry related issues or Castle Rock staff trained up, Sarah did like that. But the reality is that beer is still any topic you issues you’d like us to cover in the what anyone would do… she built a beer being mistreated or misunderstood, coming issues then please let us know. school. customers are not receiving beer of the best quality, and pubs are still closing. Castle Rock Brewery The Castle Rock Beer School aims to change Queensbridge Road, Nottingham NG2 1NB that, offering any member of the public the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of this Tel: 0115 985 1615 challenging trade. Sarah says: “I want to turn General enquiries: things around for the pub trade by providing [email protected] stepping stones along the career path. Sales enquiries: Everything learnt in this school will benefit the course-goers for the rest of their lives, [email protected] and in turn that will benefit the wider Recruitment: industry.” [email protected] There are key elements to managing a cellar Castle Rock that simply shouldn’t be taught via diagrams or presentations, but rather in the thick of it. Our former operations director Steve Bramley is designed by freerbutler limited has now seen one of his dreams come true, in the form of a training cellar. The custom built www.freerbutler-gds.co.uk cellar has been created for the use of 2 New beers School Historical Brews This quarter brings three unique beers to students only, where they can get stuck in and learn first-hand how to ‘keep’ beer, our bars, each signifying very important events manage lines and maintain a high quality cellar. We asked Sarah about the importance in history. of the training cellar. She said: “The first step to a perfect pint is using quality ingredients We’re hugely proud of our history, and against the and brewing great beer, the second step is Nottinghamshire is a county very proud of arbitrary use of keeping it properly, and the third is pouring its heritage. Though the traditional power. We’re it correctly. If any one of those is below elements of brewing and inn-keeping creating a beer, standard, then the beer being handed to remain at the forefront of Castle Rock named your customer is below standard.” (and always will), the industry is changing Runnymede every week and we’re changing with it. 800, in On writing this, Sarah has just received the We work upon a fine line. celebration of news that the first group of Cellar Training To one side is the history, the heritage and this hugely students also received 100% pass rate; an the tradition that we are so deeply proud important amazing result for the new venture. of, and to the other is the contemporary, anniversary. the creativity and the excitement of trying Please enjoy a Castle Rock’s ‘Beer School’, formally known something new. pint, and raise a as a Training Centre, is located on glass to equality. Queensbridge Road in Nottingham, only a Brewing historical beers is a great way to minute or so stroll from the rail station, and showcase that. While the importance stories Last but not least, number 19 in the situated beside the brewery and the Vat & behind the beer is historical, the recipes Nottinghamian Celebration Ales recognises Fiddle tap. At Castle Rock Beer School you themselves are forward thinking and the work of one of the most inspirational can take courses on drug awareness, food innovative. people in the county’s history. safety, beer and cellar quality and conflict Victorian architect management. Last summer we launched the Watson Fothergill , Commemoration Collection, a range of and his astounding Anyone can sign up, so please get in beers in commemoration of the First World gothic-inspired touch by emailing War. With 10p from every pint donated to architecture is [email protected] charity, the celebrated this Class is out! range will span spring with a five years of unique session mild remembrance at 4.2%. Watson (2014-2019) Fothergill is to mark the brewed with centenary of Mosaic hops from the war. This the US. Referred May, the fourth to in the brewing beer of the world as ‘Citra on range will be steroids’, Mosaic hops have rich notes of available. Named tropical fruit, stone fruit and earthy pine. The Zeppelin Raids , beer is a traditional mild enhanced by a the German style moreish, fruity taste, and aromas of citrus smoked beer comes in at 4.8% and, with an and blackberry. oaky aroma and lingering sweetness, it’s a Watch out on our website for details of a great way to escape the spring showers. proposed ‘Watson Fothergill’ tour of local The beer has been brewed to commemorate properties that he designed (example below). the strategic bombing from German airships; over 5000 bombs were dropped upon Britain’s towns and cities, with devastating loss of lives. The Magna Carta is considered one of the most famous documents in the history of human rights. Initially issued by King John of England in 1215, this June we celebrate 800 years since everybody, including the Monarch, became subject to the law. Transferred and adapted across nations and centuries, the document remains a cornerstone of our constitution in the modern era; an international stand 3 Welcome to Nottingham The CAMRA AGM is coming to town From 17th-19th April, Nottingham is hosting the National CAMRA AGM. The event is set to be huge, with thousands of people flocking to our fair city to vote on CAMRA policies and direction, and sample the great pubs and beer of Nottingham. Welcome to Nottingham, CAMRA members from near and far! CAMRA AGM Nottingham has long been looking Brewery Tours and forward to this weekend, and at Castle Rock we are thrilled to know that our Events fine city is filled to bursting with real Almost all of our ale enthusiasts. fixed time tours are now fully Rock The Castle Many of you will know that former subscribed, but if CAMRA Chairman Chris Holmes founded you are a CAMRA hallenge Castle Rock, under the name Tynemill, Young Member C back in 1977 - so it’s always been there are still nd important for us to support the goals of Open to all customers a some spaces left. ers CAMRA. For 38 years we have been Please contact CAMRA memb working to offer friendly, welcoming Nottingham pubs, and for 17 years brewing and body likes a CAMRA’s Ray Kirby on We figured no serving our own innovative and [email protected] to more than beer-themed challenge consistently high quality beer.