Pub of the Season : Spring 2015

This month brings us the Pub of the Season voting for Spring 2015.  This is your chance to vote for the pub which you believe is the best within the North Notts area.    Closing date for votes is 28th July and the full results and winners will be announced on Aug 5th. You can vote by visiting:  https://eSurv.org?u=Spring_PotY Enter your membership number, select your nomination and hit “finish survey” at the bottom of the page.   If you don't have internet access, you can also vote by completing a voting form which you will be able to find in pubs around the area.  You can either hand them to a committee member, or return to the address provided on the form.  You are limited to one vote per member and it is only open to members of North Nottinghamshire branch of CAMRA.  All the real ale pubs in our Branch area are eligiable so look for your favourite on the list If you are reading this and you are not a CAMRA member (why not?!) and you want to support your favourite pub then you will need to join first.  As soon as you get your membership number you will be able to vote.  Follow this link: http://www.camra.org.uk/join to the membership pages of the main CAMRA website or look for a membership form inside the back pages of a copy of the North Notts Drinker. Voting for Pub of the Season is important as Seasonal winners will go forward for Pub of the Year, and the Branch Pub of the Year is then eligible for the Regional competition and ultimately the National Competition! So click the link, go to the website, show your support for your favourite pub and get voting.   Your vote really does matter! 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!

Branch Meeting Minutes 3rd June 2015

NORTH NOTTS CAMRA BRANCH  MEETING THE BLACKSMITHS ARMS EVERTON 8-30pm WEDNESDAY  3rd June 2015

·           PERSONS ATTENDING

John Bowden, Colin Tweed, Geoff Batrum, Joe Catlin, David French, Keith Snowden, Lynn Snowden, Alan Duffy, Barbara Duffy, Terry Johnson, John Bull, Clare Brown, Mark Clarke.

·           APOLOGIES

Steve Bownes, Dave Brown, Brian George, Mike Oates, Roger Smith, John Hutton, Nick Matthews, Gordon Town, Sue Johnson.

·           MATTERS ARISING FROM LAST MINUTES

No matters raised

·           TREASURERS REPORT

The branch bank balance is currently £496.58.

The social event promotional discount fund is currently £35.00.

·           MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

We have a total of 352 members which is an overall increase of 1from the previous month. 70 members are currently not signed up for email. Clare will be corresponding with this group via the new monthly newsletter in an effort to encourage the use of email and reduce postage costs.

·           MAGAZINE UPDATE

The deadline for articles of interest is Friday 5^th June. The magazine editor Dave Brown requested a copy of the quarterly BLO report for insertion. Distributors are urgently required to assist with circulation.  

·           WHAT PUB UPDATE

The latest data for What Pub is a total of 113 real ale pubs recorded, 100% with basis details, 90% with full details, however regular updates are required and more volunteers are needed to update on a regular basis.

·           PUB/CLUB NEWS

Springhead brewery, have run into difficulties with the refurbishment of the Ginger Pig in Retford apparently construction work ceased about 2 weeks ago. 

·           BLO REPORTS

Double Top The brewery will be under-going a rebranding exercise during the coming months. A web site, brand merchandise & the re-badging of 5core brands will be the main gist of the deal. The brewery has instructed Harper Creative, who have a track record in the industry for rebranding breweries like Wensleydale & Great Newsome. An event will take place at The Mallard to launch the changes in due course. It is hoped that the re-branding will be completed in time for us to start bottling by autumn in time for the festive period. Our Champion Mild of the East Midlands will be up against the other category winners in judging for the Champion Beer of the East Midlands at Derby Charter Beer festival next month. Orders for the brand are off the scale, but production continues in house as we have implemented additional brewing through the use of an extra tank.

Dukeries  no report.

Hales  no report.

Idle All is well on the brewing scene. Brian has reintroduced ldle Landlord due to popular demand and also Idle Bee for the summer season.

Idle Valley The brewing plant is running at full capacity and is undergoing some refinement, in particular the pumps are being upgraded to cope with ever increasing demand. New warm & cold rooms are being added and the overall brewing area is being expanded.

  

Grafton no report.

Pheasantry  Very little to report this month, the beer festival is taking place 26th 27th & 28th of this month and both Mark & I hope to see as many of you there as possible. The July artisan beer, a 4.3% American Style IPA is currently being brewed.

Springhead no report

Welbeck  no report

·           FUTURE EVENTS (SOCIAL SECRETARY)

The Grey Horses Beer Festival 12^th 13^th 14^th June

Pheasantry Beer Festival 26^th 27^th 28^th June

Grafton 1^st Independent Bassetlaw Beer Festival 11^th 12^th July

·           ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Alan Duffy stated he had difficulty locating last month’s minutes from the website, other members agreed that they also could not find them. Webmaster to investigate the possibility of expanding the site, by introducing more, sub sections and refining the route map.

All BLO’s are requested to email monthly reports to the Branch Secretary should they be unable to attend.

BLO vacancy for Dukeries Brewery, volunteer required.

·           DATE & VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

The Grey Horses Inn Carlton in Lindrick Wed 1^st July 8:30

Passing it on

Another item from the Welbeck brewery, this time giving us an insight into how they work with he local community to educate and inform those outside the the industry on what it takes to brew real beer.

Pass it on.

From mother to daughter, father to son, teacher to pupil; passing on knowledge and the joy of learning and is one of the many unique aspects of being human.

There are many age-old crafts and skills which are rarely taught to our children now, be that baking, cheesemaking, pottery or woodwork skills. Here at Welbeck, there is community focussed around rekindling the passion for these crafts and passing on the skills and knowledge from Masters to the younger generation. Brewing, like baking, is one of these ancient crafts enjoying a well deserved renaissance.

Although we are a commercial brewery making up to 18,000 pints a week, we also work closely with local schools and charities to teach a little about brewing.

During Sheffield Science week, we worked with Sheffield Hallam University and Doncaster CAMRA to host 21 adults of all ages from Sheffield and the surrounding area to explore the science behind beer and brewing. We looked at the way in which brewers need to extract fermentable sugars from malted barley and then made our own hydrometers for testing the sugar content in a mystery solution of beer. We also explored what exactly makes hops smell the way they do, and malt taste the way it does. The University-grade microscopes came out too, giving all the budding scientists a look at live yeast taken from the brewery not an hour beforehand.

A question and answer session followed the brewery tour and practical experiments, and we were pleased to be able to answer questions on not only the practical and scientific elements of brewing, but also the complexities of setting up a business and dealing with the logistical side of delivering.

Not only have we hosted a number of adults on a science-focused evening, we also hosted 36 year 11 top set science students studying for their GCSEs. The students from Beaumont Leys were brought to the brewery by three teachers to learn about enzyme activity, fermentation and process engineering. Whilst I'm sure the teacher who thought up the plan may have had an ulterior motive, actually the science of brewing turns out to be bang on Y11 curriculum!

There is often a very romantic image surrounding brewing, quite probably similar to that of an artisan baker or pottery. The reality, however, is that running a brewery requires not only passion and enthusiasm for the craft, but a vast breadth and depth of scientific knowledge dosed with a hearty helping of hard graft and business sense.

That said, we all love working in the brewery and sharing that passion. Needing to bring in science, hard work, and decent business accumen makes learning and working in this artisan industry exciting, varied and ultimately a joy.

Thanks again to Clare at Welbeck for the update.

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!

I don't know what you're having,

But I'll have one of those

Latest news from Welbeck Brewery, new beers and your own (mini) barrel of beer.

Minikegs and May beer

Eight pints cleverly dispensed at home to pour just like a pint in the pub. What more could you need for a bank holiday weekend or special occasion? Maybe two...?

These minikegs require no settling time and vegetarian and vegan friendly due to the lack of finings. The pints which you'll be able to pour at home may be a tad hazy due to the natural yeast content, but this adds depth of flavour and certainly does no harm.

Henrietta, Red Feather, Cavendish and Harley will be the delicious beers available in this new sharing-size keg, all of which will be available directly from us and in the Welbeck Farm shop from 22nd May.

Spring Specials

If you're planning on popping to your local pub over the next few weeks, we'll have the next specials available:

St. Simon 4.0% English Pale Ale. Making a reappearance this year after great success in the last two. This is a classic English pale ale which makes the most of home-grown malted barley and hops, giving a delightfully balanced pint.

Slovak Paradise 4.5% Pilsner-style. This pilsner-like blonde is brewed with lager malt and Dana hops from Slovakia for a dry finish.

Kaiser 4.1% Lager style pale. Crisp, dry, biscuity lager malt flavours are perfectly balanced with sweet, honey like floral hops from Germany.

Whatever and wherever you're drinking this spring time, enjoy!

Thanks to Clare Monk at Welbeck for the update.

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!

Carol's Sacrifice - A Tale from The Mallard

St Georges Beer Festival at the Mallard in Worksop.  It is well past now and was an absolutely cracking festival.  The Ales were plenty and various, the atmosphere alive and happy.  However, down in the cellar bar things were afoot!  The first thing of note was the lack of Carol behind the bar.  She couldn't be ill, I don't think Carol has time for illness so just tells it to bugger off.  So where was she?  A short exploration, well, not exactly exploration, this is the Mallard, a short walk down the steps to the cellar revealed all...  

A while before the St Georges Festival, Carol had been debating having her hair cut.   Just throwing so much hair in the bin seemed wrong.  I believe most Ladies will appreciate that, it takes us a long time to grow our hair, it means something!  So, after chatting with friends and asking them what they thought, they both came up with the same suggestions - Children's Cancer Charity, Little Princess Trust.  After a little Googling and reading online, there was really no question about it.  This would be the right thing.  

Little Princess Trust is a charity who create and provide wigs for children who have lost their hair due to Cancer treatments.  More details can be found on their website here:  http://www.littleprincesses.org.uk

The next step was to approach Wayne Cadman, Landlord of the Mallard.  Local Champion Homebrew Legend, Colin Tweed of Shed brewery donated a pin of beer (36 pints) to be sold and the proceeds donated to charity - had a charity been selected yet?  It turned out it hadn't so Carol told him about the idea and asked about perhaps her having it cut at the festival.  This became the plan.

At 17:30pm on Saturday April the 18th the plan began.  Sponsorship forms were printed and the word was out.  By last orders £165 had been pledged or donated! 

" Customers were coming up to me and giving me money without having to ask them."

By the end of the festival, the auction of Shed Brewery beers had raised a total of £115 and together with the funds raised by Carol this all amounted to a staggering £905!  The generosity of the patrons of the Mallard, staff and friends is simply wonderful and so heartening to see.

When asked why she did all of this, all Carol said was: 

"If you can make someone smile, it's well worth it. It's always good to smile, as others will smile back at you x x x"

£905 worth of hair!

Well done to Carol and everyone who donated! 

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!

Sunny day and it's Mild in May...

I do admit to not being a fan of the darker Ales.  I always give them a "Try" and this usually consists of a couple of pulls from my Husbands pint, which usually ends with me screwing my face up, shuddering and exclaiming "yuck!".  A personal joke we always share is that you can gauge how good it actually is by my reaction.  So, when I first saw the promotions for May being the Mild Month I was not really interested.  In fact to be fair, I've not really taken an interest in any of this type of promotion before.  

It was, in fact, a neighbouring branch - Mansfield & Ashfield who are to blame for this.  They invited myself and my Husband to join them for their "Mild Ale Trail".  If I'm completely honest, I was dreading it and spent most of the days running up to it concocting plans on how to get away with drinking something else more palatable without anyone noticing.  I enjoy the company of the Mansfield & Ashfield CAMRA lot, they are good people, it is always good fun and my Hubby prefers darks so I figured it was worth it and I could pretend to drink a few Milds, slip them to the Hubby and sneak an IPA or Best while no one was looking.  To be fair, why would any woman under the age of 60 want to drink Mild anyway, why any man either come to that!?

It's an old mans drink!  

The Brown Cow

So, Saturday arrived.  We stopped off in the Mallard, Worksop for a couple while we awaited the train to Mansfield.   I managed to get in a few non Milds so the day wouldn't be a complete Real Ale loss for me!  After a 20 minute train ride and short walk we arrived at the Brown Cow in Mansfield to meet with the group and our first Mild.  


We were both handed a copy of the Mansfield Ale & Apple which contained the Mild in May collection card as the centrefold - now that sort of centrefold I can get on board with!  The errant Husband was ordering our first Mild in the meantime.  I took a deep breath, I had been too slow to stop him so would have to drink it now.  Raw - Majic Mild 3.2%. I have to admit that my first reaction was not really much different to normal.  I grimaced.  I forced it down, each mouth full to about half way was just unpleasant, I must admit the second part went down much smoother, I found the flavours weren't in my face, in fact, they could be described as quite...mild.  I did amuse myself with this thought for a moment or two.  I should also point out that by this point, this is possibly the most I've ever consumed of a Mild.  I wouldn't say I was loving it, but I wasn't hating it and that rather confused me.  I put it down to chatting with everyone and being distracted.  I came to the same conclusion again when I found myself with an empty glass and debating if there was time for another before we moved on...

The Olde White Lion, aka "The Caves"

So off we set, this band of rag-tag Real Ale troopers, into the bustling throes of Mansfield town centre on a Saturday afternoon! Next stop was "The Caves". I had heard of these, most people in Nottinghamshire have.  What did come as something of a surprise was that it has an actual name - The Olde White Lion.  We ducked into an unassuming side alley and came out into a small courtyard where the troops disappeared into a dark opening in a corner...  I would describe the pub except that it was virtually pitch black in there!  A small light somewhere at the back of the room promised beer so I headed over to it.  It should be noted that all beers are served by gravity - not the brewery, actual gravity, Newton and apples and all that.  This is a cave, an actual cave, there is no fancy cellar, there isn't even lighting!  Gravity is fine by me, I never have an issue with Beer festivals so no issue here either.  Oldershaw Brewery - Grantham Dark 3.6%  was my punishment here... except it wasn't, no grimace came, in fact it went down all too easily, there was plenty of flavour but again it wasn't smacking me in the face, it was more a gentle caressing of the tongue, a brush of caramel here, a touch of malt there and was that fruit?  Perhaps it wasn't a mild after all I thought, it was dark in there, I couldn't actually see what was in my glass too clearly.  Yes, my lovely Husband has probably bought me something better, bless him.

Widow Frost

Next up was the first of the JDWetherspoon's - Widow Frost.   It wasn't a bad pub, certainly large inside and as with all "Spoons" you do need to pack your hiking boots for toilet trips.  The Drink here was Falstaff Brewery - Gauguin 4.4%.  My only complaint here was that the beer was very cold, unpleasantly cold, I had found myself quite disappointed when I was handed it.   There wasn't really anything by way of aroma and taste was actually just watery.  There again it was very cold.  I warmed it a bit with my hands and waited patiently.  While waiting it was explained to me why it is so cold and the explanation,  was more than reasonable.  The upshot being that it is not deliberate and is out of anyones control.  Drinking halves is definitely a must in this pub.  They warm up much faster.  Faster than I expected actually as my drink had transformed while we chatted.  A deep inhale through my nose brought with it an aroma reminiscent of opening a box of Quality Street but with "beer".  As with the aroma, once warned a little the flavours had released and rather than the watery "nothing" I had previously encountered now I had a glass just brimming with flavours.  The generous creamy head mixed with each pull to provide a wonderful experience not dissimilar to eating a light gateaux, but liquid.  The main "Cake" held the deepest flavour, malts and dark toffee, then spattered here and there notes of fruit but the creaminess of the head mixed with the rest to created something magnificent in the mouth, and then, just when you think it can't get better it slowly eased off into an alcoholic finish which reminds you that, yes, this IS alcoholic but again, nothing was "in your face", it was all there but not in a way I'm used to. So subtle yet not understated.  Odd...  I decided the alcohol must be taking effect.

Stag & Pheasant

Skipping ahead (Literally for some), we exited and walked around the corner for the next sticker - The Stag & Pheasant.   Titanic Nautical Mild 4.8% - another confusing one for me.  I tasted it and that was it.  Grimace and shudder.  I almost felt satisfied that I was back to "normal" and disliking them.  I mentioned this and everyone else chorused how wonderful they thought it was, then came the descriptions and one struck me, caramel.  Yes, I recognised that flavour, I took another mouth full, yes, there it was.  Then I found myself following the malty rivers as it went down.  Salted caramel, yes, but also not quite...  Closing my eyes for a moment to concentrate and think about flavours, it was like a calm sea of very lightly salted caramel, here and there a crest of malt loaf would wash over, and then occasional eddies of strong roasted, almost, but not quite burnt caramel set me spinning ... damn, the glass was empty.  I found myself buying another with some eagerness.  I needed to nail these flavours!  This is NOT right, I do not like Mild!  

We all reluctantly left the Stag & Pheasant and headed for the Swan.  I was eager to try another, I had hit the zone.  My taste buds were awake, alert and crying out for more, I know that there is only a limited time at this point before slipping in "beer tongue" where anything and everything will taste good,  so it has to count.  The Mild here was Jennings - Dark Mild 3.1%.  Drinks were cheap, a pint was actually cheaper than a half! It was good and went down quickly, I do admit that on this occasion I didn't really get a chance to enjoy it, although this could be due to the nightclub volume music that suddenly exploded upon us mid-conversation.  I heard someone mention meeting the others at the "Beershack" so off I followed, eagerly.

Beer Shack Micro Pub

Beershack - I'm in love with this micro pub.  It is wonderful! Oh and the Leadmill Brewery - Butterley Tunnel 4.2%, wow!  Chocolate aromas enticed me into taking a long slow pull, smooth and ever so lightly creamy textures with notes of raisin then lulled me into the depths of what is Butterley Tunnel.   I didn't stand a chance.  Somewhere in that pint of darkness cupid pulled back his bow and let go the arrow.  I had no quandaries at all about having a 2nd or 3rd of this! The flavours were simple, mild, I could have drank it all day and still enjoyed it.  The flavours are there, you don't have to dig around, you just have to think, but they won't run up and smack you over the head like some do and for that reason it is so moorish!  I really didn't want to leave, in fact the only downside was when I sneaked outside to pinch a naughty "drag" from someones roll-up and got caught. Note to self:  Full glass windows do not hide you when you are up to no good!  Although not a smoker, for some reason when I have had a few and am around smokers I succumb to a "drag".

Hops-In-A-Bottle Real Ale Shop

On the way to our next pub we stopped off at "Hops in a Bottle" Real Ale store, and another Mild Trail Sticker.  Now this is a cracking little shop!  Floor to ceiling of Real Ales, many local choices, some further afield but well thought out and plenty to choose from for everyone.  Oh I could lose time and my bank balance in that shop!  The lovely Mrs McGreade poured us all samples of 8 Sail Brewery Millwright Mild and a Pale Ale, Dementia Brewery, Emperors Whim.  I closed my eyes and tried the first sample, savouring the flavours.  Now that was surprising!  I looked down to see which I had just drank.  I had thought it was the Mild but the flavours in my mouth were of... Cider?  Perhaps the Pale was a cider and not an Ale.  Much to my astonishment I had drank the Mild.  Confused I mentioned this to someone else and they agreed, yes, a distinctive Cider taste!  Before long we were all trying more and wholeheartedly agreeing it was rather wonderful and tasted of cider.  Cider Mild!  I'm having difficulty trying to describe the flavours, mainly because I am writing this some days after the occasion and the "cider" flavour was so unexpected and distinctive that it over shadowed all else.  It was definitely a mild, but that distinctive flavour a real cider gives at the back of the throat, well this had it.  It's quite a shock!  It was suggested that perhaps it was a "bad" bottle in a "good" way, it is a possibility I grant you.  Well, I absolutely loved this and vowed to return to buy bottles soon to explore this theory but not right then as I didn't want to carry them around town.  The absolutely wonderfully wonderful Mansfield Stan had other ideas though and bought me a bottle and stuck it in my pocket! ( Thank you again Stan!) I do believe that Hops-in-a-Bottle do regular tastings on a Saturday, well worth a visit.  Extremely knowledgeable with a passion for Real Ale.  


The Pre-ultimate stop was the Court House.  This was another JDWetherspoon's and overall not that great of an experience.  To start we were served Keg Brampton Mild passed off as Real Ale, then a lovely customer at the bar decided he was going to take issue with me because I was served approximately 2 seconds before him.  All in all not a good experience but what did I expect in a Court House?  I'm loathe to admit it but it was ok (the drink, not being threatened by a muppet).  Oddly I could taste the difference (I didn't think I would if I'm honest).  I prefer cask.  What a shocker!  I can see the headlines now "CAMRA member prefers cask to keg".  To ease my disappointed soul (Yes, I was disappointed!  I was looking forward to my Mild!) I had a Stonecutter, not a Mild but a rather good Real Ale and it set the world back to rights before moving on.

Railway Inn

Last, but not least, we finished up in the Railway, Mansfield & Ashfield CAMRA's Pub of the Year winner.  I must admit it was with reason too, the staff were friendly and extremely good at their jobs, it felt like a proper pub, the atmosphere was spot on, it even came with local characters but best of all the Real Ales on offer were faultless (I know, I checked them all, can't be too thorough!)   The kind of place that you feel truly welcome.  In here we all enjoyed a Theakston's Mild.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and returned for refills. 

As I sat in a comfortable corner of the Railway, with my hand happily wrapped around this old man's drink, reflecting on the day, I realised that I was a convert.   At some point not only had my body decided to accept this Pensioner's Potion, I had fallen in love with it.  There is a character to Mild which other Real Ales do not possess.  It is mild.  It isn't love at first sight, it isn't energetic and passionate like some IPA's can be.  It is gentle and mild, it grows on you, you slowly fall in love, the kind of love that will remain forever.  I am glad that we met.  Mild and I.  I am glad that circumstance resulted in me forcing down that first drink, without that, I'm not sure I would have developed this appreciation and I would have been the poorer for it.  

Mild is an acquired taste and one which anyone who has acquired will be forever the happier for it.  Mild is not the drink of "Old men", it is the drink of the soul.  

"I get it"

Drunken ramblings curtesy of Clare Brown



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!