Free PLeASe TAKe ONe THe MAGAZINe OF WeST BerKSHIre CAMrA SPRIN G 2019 www.westberkscamra.org.uk @WBCAMRA @WBCAMRAcider @UllageBeer @WBCAMRA Hamstead Marshall pub saved READING BEER & 450+ Cask B eers 55+ K eyKeg B eers CIDER 140+ Ciders and FES TIV AL Perries Plus an e xcing choic e o f 2019 For eign B eers, UK W ines, The White Hart Inn, Hamstead Mead , and S tr ee t F ood Vendors Marshall, is set to reopen in early Stella Coulthurst 2-5 March with a new brewpub format. 19 * 25th Read Saviour microbrewery y 20 ing C Ma AM th RA MAY 5 B Landlord Stella Coulthurst is keen - e d er 2n a l n a d v ti C s id that this should appeal to everyone e e 2019 F r r F e e d i s t C i who loves the comfortable and casual v Food will feature tempting bar snacks, pub d a n a -Christ chur ch r e e atmosphere of the pub with its open fires. classics and dishes like cottage pie and lamb / B Meado ws, A R Ca ver sham, M butternut squash curry. The Hart Club, a free A Customers can enjoy beers from its own C RG4 8B Y g n 0 i 1 d microbrewery, Saviour, with John Trueman as loyalty scheme for foodies, allows accumulated 9 a e * R 2 5 readingbeerf esv al.o rg.uk h t t h 5 Head Brewer. John first met Dave Maggs on a points to be redeemed on meals. All purchases at 2 R e * a d 9 1 i n 0 g 2 the cashless pub will require a payment card or C brewing course at the University of Nottingham. y A a M M R h A t B 5 e - e d r n a 2 app. Dogs are welcome. The nine en suite double, While Dave went on to found West Berkshre Brewery, John’s brewery was a 5 barrel plant called single and family rooms, bookable via the website, Sam Trueman’s in Medmenham which supplied will open a few weeks before the pub. westberkscamra.org.uk his pub, the Crown & Anchor, Marlow, until 2002. Since the White Hart closed in September A new window in a rear outbuilding will allow 2015, the ‘Save the White Hart Inn’ group has visitors to view Saviour’s 4 barrel campaigned for the retention of the plant, sourced from Tenbury Wells. pub and recently posted ‘ … we The first beers planned are Saviour would like to express our support for Gold (5% ABV), a classic pale ale this venture.’ on the campaign brewed with Maris Otter pale malt group’s website: from Warminster Maltings and www.savethewhitehart.org English Fuggles and Goldings hops. Saviour Bitter Andy Pinkard, CAMRA’s branch chairman, (3.5% ABV), will be brewed with Northdown said ‘The pub is the vital hub of a vibrant hops from Worcestershire. community, and it's very good news that the White In December 2018, webmaster Tony Girling Regulars are invited to join the Saviour Pennies Hart is reopening. As others have recently converted the West Berkshire CAMRA beer club (£20 p.a.) for a 50% discount on its own demonstrated in our area, a committed and website westberkscamra.org.uk to use ales. A range of other beers at the White Hart innovative publican is the basis for the successful WordPress, an open-source content includes Fuller’s London Pride as a permanent reinvention of pubs.’ management system. cask ale on one of the four handpumps. Wine Opening hours: Mon-Thu 4-10pm; Fri-Sat Now any committee member can add content drinkers will find a zesty selection of wines by the 12-11pm; Sun 12-5pm. or update existing pages on the new style website glass with discounts on bottles to take home. www.saviourwhitehart.co.uk Tel: 01488 657545 which is already proving popular. The website has links: to breweries and cider ON OTHER PAGES makers in our branch area; to neighbouring Swift Halves - Pub and brewery news 2,3 CAMRA branches and to WhatPub for pub Swift Halves - News, Gig Guide 4 searches and beer scoring. Swift Halves - Festivals, LocAle 5 The 'All Branch Committee' tab lists committee Pub Profile - The Downgate, Hungerford 6 members and enables messages to be sent to those Reading Ale Trail 7 with key roles. It also highlights current volunteer Mild (Jeff Evans), Trappist Beer Experts 8 opportunities like Social Secretary and Ullage East London Tryanuary ale trails 9 magazine Advertising manager. Ian Clayton's new book reviewed 10 A meeting for all interested in specifying and Boak & Bailey, Curmudgeon, Liverpool 11 developing the branch's website further has been Diary Dates, CAMRA Contacts & Festivals 12 arranged for Tuesday 16 April 7pm at the Hungerford Club. Ullage March - May 2019 1 Swift Halves ■ The 4.8% ABV Milk Stout from Ramsbury Brewery is described as ‘smooth & thick, bitter & sweet, dark 2019 West Berkshire CAMRA & rich’. Outstanding Community Pub Blindside, Ramsbury’s (previously unrecognised) seasonal 3.9% ABV light copper ale, dry hopped with Mosaic, was named to tie in with the Six Nations Championship. In 2018, the Cottage Inn, Cow & Cask and Old London Apprentice shared the ■ The Winterbourne Arms , near Chieveley, has Outstanding Community Pub award. been closed since spring 2017. A planning For 2019, the branch is looking for a application 19/00346/FULD to West Berkshire new pub to gain this award and receive Council for conversion of the pub to a residential valuable publicity. dwelling has expiry dates of 6 March (Standard Any previously unrecognised town or consultation) and 8 April (Statutory). A Save the country pub in our area can be nominated. Winterbourne Arms campaign aims to spread Factors influencing the award include charity awareness and gain support to fight the closure of support, team games, noticeboards, group the pub – twitter.com/ArmsSave meetings and activities like beer festivals, quizzes, trips, live music and performances. ‘Saving your local pub’ a comprehensive toolkit Anyone, including the publican, can for campaigners can be downloaded from ■ In the main bar of the King Charles Tavern , nominate one or more pubs. Please send pubs.camra.org.uk/savingyourlocalpub Newbury, new red banquette corner seating, details, by 30 June, to Mike Avery, Branch provides seating for groups of up to ten. The rear Secretary, whose contact details are on the room has been redecorated and can be hired for back page or by using the online form at parties etc. Kealey has introduced a typical East www.westberkscamra.org.uk/nominate End dish of pie, mash and parsley liquor to the new menu which includes burgers and British classics like jam roly poly. kctavern.com ■ Kirsty has introduced daily happy hours at the Lion , Newbury, with beers reduced to £3 pint and free pool (not Tuesdays) between 5pm - 7pm. Facebook @thelionatnewbury ■ Hermitage Brewery Hocktide ale will be ready ■ At the Old London Apprentice , Newbury, for the Hungerford festival after Easter. The 4.5% Sunday roast lunches, with a choice of meats, are ■ Wild Weather brewers Jamie Duffield and Chris ABV fruity ale is dry hopped with Fuggles. served on alternate Sundays from 3 March (£10). Price talked about the brewery’s new branding at Lodestone Mild, 3.8% ABV, is full flavoured and The monthly music quiz, set by Colin Jones, is on the Grumpy Goat, Harris Arcade, Reading on smooth. In addition to the brewery’s favourite Tuesday 12 March, 9 April and 14 May at 8pm. 16 February. The largeer 440ml cans with colourful Maris Otter pale malt, chocolate and crystal malts artwork by Mark Bell (@markbellillustration) provide the flavour, colour and body. The Mild ■ A new monthly quiz at the Craven Arms , now have space for a near horizontal ‘tattered beer style is described by Jeff Evans on page 8. Enborne, is on the first Monday of the month flag’ logo. from 4 March at 7pm for 7.30pm. ■ Peter’s Porter, a popular seasonal ale from Arkell’s Brewery of Kingsdown, Swindon, is a 4.8% ABV smooth and dark porter. After Head Brewer, Alex Arkell's 2018 New Zealand visit, he brewed Pioneer NZ IPA. The 3.8% ABV session IPA is now also available in cans. ■ The Cow & Cask , Newbury, Christmas raffle CAMRA Discounts raised £200 for Priors Court School. Additional Jamie, Chris, Tim & Mike – Nag’s Head, Reading Members enjoy discounts at prizes included beer and cider kindly donated by CAMRA beer festivals, local producers. Wild Weather’s founder, Mike Tempest, later Wetherspoon pubs Over 50s looking for friendship or company joined the group at the Nag’s Head, Reading, (* with voucher) and pubs below: are welcomed at Cow & Cask Companions on where a cask of their hazy 4.5% ABV American Aldermaston: Wednesdays (11.30am – 1.30pm) with games and Pale Ale ‘We bring scientists, you bring a Hind’s Head drinks, including tea and coffee, available. rockstar?’ soon sold out. The group photo Brimpton: includes Tim Lloyd (Tim’s Beer Reviews on Three Horseshoes ■ The planning application for partial residential YouTube). Newbury: redevelopment of the Bell at Boxford was refused New equipment at the brewery includes a Catherine Wheel (18/02816/FULD). black mash tun and a hop torpedo for hop dosing. Cow & Cask Wild Weather’s core beer range includes: Gun, Wash Common Hatchet Inn* ■ The Monument , Newbury, will shut for a few Shepherds Warning - hopped with Citra; Full of King Charles Tavern days from 18 March for removal of an internal Beans (currently Irish Cream coffee stout); King Old London Apprentice wall enabling the pool table to be repositioned at Street Pale; King Street IPA and changing fruited the rear.