Beer, Butties and Bar Skittles

Mansfield and Ashfield CAMRA visit to Double Top Brewery

Saturday the 4th saw the Mansfield and Ashfield branch paying a visit to Worksop for a tour of the award winning Double Top brewery and a chance to sample some of it’s ales at the Mallard pub on Worksop Station.

There was a good turn out of almost 20 members from Mansfield, including chairman, Mick Bull and Young Members Secretary,  Clare Tasker; with Terry Johnson, John Bull, Clare and Dave Brown from NorthNotts welcoming them on arrival.  Not that we thought they were going to drink all the beer, we just wanted to make sure it was up to the usual quality before the guests arrived!

Having recovered from the journey with the aid of a pint or two in the Mallard the group set off to the brewery, and after a brisk 10 minute walk we were greeted on arrival by Mallard landlord and Double Top brewer Wayne Cadman.

First order of the tour was to decide between “Dark or Light” from the impromptu bar set up at the back of the brewery.  “Dark” being Madhouse, a 5.2% Porter, “Light” being Around the Clock a 4.9% Golden Ale.

Beer doesn't get much more LocAle than drinking in the brewery

Suitably refreshed, we were then treated to an entertaining tour of the brewery.  Given that Double Top is really a Micro-Brewery this mainly consisted of everyone standing around the room with a pint while Wayne explained what the various tanks and pipes were for.  As well as this we got the chance to get a close look (and taste, and smell) of some of the different varieties of malt and hops used by Wayne in brewing the beer.

After a break halfway for refreshment, Wayne went on to talk about the intricacies of the brewing process, the importance of temperature and timing in getting the right alcohol content and the use of different hop varieties to add bitterness, taste and aroma to the beer.

Brewery Tours are thirsty work!

Brewery tours being thirsty work there was another chance to sample the product before the group set off back to the Mallard.  This time the walk was somewhat less brisk and somewhat longer than 10 minutes, but everyone made it. Although one or two did feel the need to stop at the Station Hotel on the way!

Back at the Mallard we took up residence in the cellar bar where we were generously supplied with chip butties by the lovely landlady Melissa who also provided us with a selection of pub games including Bar Skittles, Dominoes, Shove Ha’penny and Darts.

Mick and Terry debate the provenance of an unusual looking pint

Having settled in for the remainder the afternoon it fell to yours truly to uphold the honour of the North Notts branch by taking on the challenge from Mansfield in the form of Mick Bull and the Shove Ha’penny board.  While the contest could not in any way be described as fiercely contested I am pleased to say that North Notts emerged triumphant!

With departure dictated by the train timetables we finally bid farewell to the visitors just after 5:00pm and went our separate ways, although not all of us went home, as Terry refused the offer of a lift home and declared that he was going clubbing until his other half arrived to collect him.  Whether he made it further than the Station Hotel is up for debate.  If anyone has any sightings, please let us know!

Dominos are serious business.

All in all it was a throughly enjoyable day, with plenty of good beer and good company generously supported by Wayne and Melissa and the bar staff at the Mallard.  Huge thanks to them and to the Mansfield Branch.

If you are reading this blog and you aren't a CAMRA member (why not!?) go to www.camra.org.uk and join the 170,000 other people who think that Beer (and Cider and Perry) is something worth getting excited about!