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720 'thank yous' from the children

Twelve year old Rebecca Woods, the daughter of the house at Sheffield’s New Barrack Tavern, has handed over the income from the pub’s charity fun day in May. A total of £720 was raised during the day that included food stalls, goalie competitions, live music and dancing.

(l-r) Rebecca, with mum and dad, Kev and Steph Woods, hands over the New Barrack Tavern’s fun day proceeds to Simon Athey, senior fundraiser for Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity.

Landlords Steph and Kevin Woods’ idea was to raise money for Sheffield Children’s Hospital – and they overshot their target by a considerable amount. “The event is our way of thanking the hospital and the staff for looking after our daughter, Rebecca, after she broke her arm playing the park, says Steph. “And we’re as pleased as punch that our regulars have dug so deep to help this very worthwhile cause.”

On receiving the cheque in the pub’s sunlit garden, hospital charity fundraiser, Simon Athey thanked Rebecca and her parents for their efforts, “We’re all thrilled to receive this money from the New Barrack Tavern’s customers. I can imagine from this success that they all had a great time on the day and it’s wonderful when a community based pub like this can help children from all across the region.”

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A Toast to the Hemlock Happening

91 year old Alderman of the Borough of Broxtowe, Tom Martin CdeG, and Freeman of the Borough, Barbara Brooke, have raised a toast to the success of the borough's Hemlock Happening at Castle Rock Brewery with Colin Wilde, the marketing director. Tom and Barbara have been on the event's steering group since it was introduced in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Castle Rock has sponsored the event since 2003 and is nowadays the main business sponsor.

The Hemlock Happening is a live extravaganza of music, dance and ‘hands on’ creative, community and sporting activities on Bramcote Hills Park, on Saturday 6th June. The free event is organised by the communities of Bramcote and Stapleford in partnership with Broxtowe Borough Council.

Colin Wilde, Barbara Brooke, Tom Martin and the sponsorship cheque.

Field activities take place in zoned areas from 1.00pm until 5.00pm including arts workshops, have-a-go sporting opportunities, free climbing walls, dance workshops, environmental themed areas and much more. In the walled garden a live music and dance stage boasts performances from 9 local schools, youth groups, and community groups and bands. The event finishes with a spectacular fireworks display at 10.30pm – set off in the shadow of the Hemlock Stone.

The opportunity for partnership with the brewery was spotted when the steering group identified the link between the real ale ‘Hemlock Bitter’ named after the Hemlock Stone - the inspiration for the event's title. Castle Rock Brewery contributes £500 to the event and, through profits from the bar it arranges, makes a further contribution from the proceeds.

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Birthday bash at the ‘Strat’

Regulars, guests and former staff joined Natasha Averre, landlady at West Bridgford’s Stratford Haven, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its opening as the district’s first new pub in a generation.

With Harvest Pale, the brewery’s award winning bitter on sale at £1.60 per pint, a typical 1999 price, and special discounts on the other ten real ales on draught, the evening on Tuesday 18 May, was universally acclaimed a great success.

Staff and former colleagues gather for the Strat’s birthday party

Among the guests were many regulars from West Bridgford including Alan Tyers, known as ‘quick change Alan’, after his habit of arriving in completely new outfits throughout the day. Alan said he never used the premises in their past life as a pet shop, “nor did I have much in common with the residents of the four bed sits here in the 1970s,” he added.

For Natasha Averre, the day was made complete by her current staff’s insistence on working their bar shifts in the attire of St Trinian’s schoolgirls. “The lads were particularly appealing,” she says. “Though some of them found high heels a little tiresome as they teetered their way around the bar.”

Alan Tyers, a resident of Stratford Road, West Bridgford, with the pub’s first manager,
Steve Bramley, and the current landlady, Natasha Averre.

The toast to the evening was “here’s to the next ten” made by pub regular, John Burns. Natasha says, “John is well remembered on the night we opened … and on most days since. It was good to hear his favourite pub jokes and reminisce about customers old and new with him.”

Music was provided by Kelly’s Heroes.

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Pride and Preservation

A novel approach to cutting ‘beer miles’ has been developed by Castle Rock Brewery in a new style ale exchange deal between them in Nottingham, and Fuller, Smith & Turner in London. Starting in late April, southern real ale fans have had more opportunities to enjoy the northern Preservation Fine Ale as East Midlanders see London Pride at more free trade and Castle Rock pubs in their neighbourhood.

Colin Wilde, Castle Rock’s commercial director, says two full brews of Preservation have already been dispatched. “Any business, no matter what line they are in, has to control transport costs to keep prices down for the customer’s benefit. Under this scheme, which we believe to be well worth developing fully, we collect all the Fullers casks in the area, and fill them with our beer. Their dray comes to us with a full load of their ale and returns fully laden with ours.

“It’s a win win situation, if you like. All it takes is a bit of forward planning and the benefits are huge as we no longer have to pay for staff and fuel costs to cart loads of fresh air up and down the motorway.”

Simon Robertson-Macleod, Fuller’s national account controller, says. “We’re delighted to be working with Castle Rock Brewery on this innovative scheme. The brewing process is itself already very environmentally friendly and we’re pleased to be working towards a reduced carbon footprint in other areas of our business.”

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Marie's lads go fourth

Marie Frost at Castle Rock’s Horse and Jockey in Basford is a very happy landlady. Her men’s darts team has
finished fourth in its first competitive season in the Nottingham Central Darts League.

back - James Conway, Nick Broomham, Karl West, Mat Repton, John Rowland, Adie Spencer and Adam Sawdon.
front - Trevor Tazey, Craig Bartlam, Pete Atkins, Marie Frost, Dave Atkins, Steve Davie and Steve Frost

“From a standing start, the team has taken on the best and given them a run for their money,” says Marie. “The best
we’ve ever done before isn’t worth revealing, but with the arrival of some new blood and a rigorous training
schedule based on doubles – twenties rather than whiskies – i'm sure we’ve a team poised for great things.

“Their success brings new interest to darts to the pub so much so that we now have a new ladies’ team and, for the
first time ever, a mixed squad,” she says. “And there’s room for more!”

Anyone interested in finding out more about darts at the Horse and Jockey, the teams and the venue, can contact
Marie Frost on 0115 978 7883.

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On Song at 'The Swan'

Loughborough’s Swan in the Rushes pub has been honoured in a national vote organised by the licensed trade’s newspaper, the Morning Advertiser. In a poll of the 200 leading lights in the industry, the pub, which has been part of the Leicestershire real ale scene for nearly 25 years, came third among a short list of over 230 pubs
across the UK.

“This is great achievement for us all to be recognised by industry luminaries in this way,” says pub manager, Ian Bogie. “We’re delighted to have beaten some very stiff competition. The staff and customers have all played a role over many years making the Swan in the Rushes what it is today and we’re all very proud to bring this award to Loughborough.

“The judging acknowledges that our range of drinks is head above the competition in the town, and they even make a
note of our weekly quiz where it’s not unusual to see building workers taking on, and beating, university lecturers.

“I believe our new extension has also played a part in this award along with the pub food classics we prepare
on the premises from local produce.”

Fourth in the Morning Advertiser poll was The Taps in Lytham, Lancashire, where Castle Rock’s Harvest Pale
is a regular on the bar.

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Wildlife Charity aiming to raise the roof as well as
vital funds at special gig in the City.

On Friday May 1st, local wildlife charity, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust will be hosting its first Wild Night gig of the year at the Canalhouse Bar in Nottingham. The fundraising music gigs are jointly hosted by The Wildlife Trust and Castle Rock Brewery.

The fundraising gig will feature popular local band the Boat Rockers and musician Murray Hockridge, known for his unique mix of rock, blues and acoustic guitar.

As well as jointly hosting the event, Castle Rock will also be selling beers from their unique ‘Natural Selection’ range – brewed to help raise awareness of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust projects and threatened species.

Tickets are £8 each when bought in advance or £10 on the night. Proceeds will support the Wildlife Trust’s efforts to safeguard threatened species including the barn owl, water vole and brown hare.

Speaking about the event, Communications Manager Erin McDaid said: “These events are a really great way for us to get the message across that raising funds for wildlife conservation can be great fun. Last year’s Wild Nights 0were very popular and we are very much looking forward to letting our hair down at the next one – I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than listening to good music and enjoying a few pints of Castle Rock’s Natural Selection wildlife ales!”

For further details about the event or to purchase tickets
call Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust on 0115 9582 8242
(Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)

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Birthday gift from Sheffield CAMRA

Steph Woods, landlady at Sheffield’s New Barrack Tavern has been honoured by the local branch of CAMRA, the campaign for real ale, who has presented her with the first of the group’s new commemorative pewter tankards. The glass bottomed vessels celebrate Sheffield’s unique position as a real ale haven and home to some of the UK’s best micro breweries.
Each is numbered and carrying the emblem of a local brewer.

Steph was given the first bearing the Bradfield Brewery’s logo, and the presentation of her tankard, significantly numbered 40, was made by branch social secretary, Richard Ryan. He wished Steph and husband Kevin well and thanked her for everything they’d done in their five years in the city.

Forced to admit her age, Steph said, “This gift came as a complete surprise and we’re both very grateful to Sheffield CAMRA for their interest in the pub, the support they give us, and of course for all they do to keep Sheffield in the top rank of real ale cities.

Regulars and musicians join Kev Woods and 11 year old daughter, Rebecca,
(left front) and Steph (right front) with the celebratory cake.

Sheffield and District CAMRA social secretary, Richard Ryan, presents
New Barack Tavern’s Steph Woods with tankard number 40.

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What A Relief!

Customers and staff at the Bread and Bitter on Mapperley Top have earned a crust for Comic relief with happenings
that were hairy, hushed, and happy.

Customer Richard Beech raised £340 from his mates by having the worst hair day of his life with a half on / half off sort of face. And bar staff member Miss Chatterbox, Anna Moroz-Wilson, spent her eight hour shift in silence. Aided by a blackboard listing the ten most likely things a bar maid would utter, she raised £130.

“Well done everyone,” says pub manager, James Halfpenny. “It’s a shame it takes something like Comic Relief to keep Anna quiet and get Richard a decent shave.”

A lopsided Richard Beech.

Anna Moroz-Wilson well and truly gagged (centre) by (l-r) Stefan Sweetland,
James Halfpenny, Jess Carter and Martin Sweetland.

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Additional role for Kean's Head Manager

Charlie Blomeley, manager at the Kean’s Head pub in Nottingham’s Lace Market, has been appointed to the newly created post of key accounts’ manager responsible for increasing Castle Rock Brewery’s real ale sales to free trade customers. Commercial director, Colin Wilde, says this is a strategic progression for the company to provide better support to licensees and increase awareness of the brewery’s range of real ales to the local area. “As food miles become more expensive and controversial, it’s important that we concentrate on providing local drinkers with a locally made product,” he says.

Charlie Blomeley’s post will allow her to continue in her award winning position as head chef and manager at the Kean’s Head pub while using her nine year’s experience in the licensed trade to promote Castle Rock beers to Nottinghamshire pubs that are permitted to buy on the open market. Charlie says she is delighted to be offered this opportunity to promote a product that is itself an award winner. “Though our brewery is running at full capacity, I believe it’s important that local ales should be available to every pub, club and restaurant that hankers after the real taste of English ale. Variety is something that real ale can really offer in a glass.”

Recent investment at Castle Rock Brewery, where the introduction of an additional fermenter has brought annual capacity up to 5,500 barrels, means many of the regular ales including Harvest Pale and Screech Owl are available on the free trade market.

(L-r) Charlie Blomeley, Castle Rock’s newly appointed key accounts’ manager; commercial director, Colin Wilde; and head brewer, Adrian Redgrove.

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'Screech Owl' wins national beer honour

The Society of Independent Brewers has awarded Castle Rock Brewery’s Screech Owl the champion’s title in the strong bitter category at their annual meeting in Stratford upon Avon. The beer, already holder of the highest midlands award, judged at SIBA’s regional beer competition held during the CAMRA Nottingham Beer Festival at Nottingham Castle last autumn, was one of seven beers judged for places in the final rankings.

According to SIBA chairman, Peter Amor, the standard of entries continues to rise each year. “This makes it ever more difficult for our judges to select the category winners. With this focus on quality, taste and provenance, it’s no surprise the smaller breweries are bucking the greater market trend with growing sales volumes.”

Colin Wilde, Castle Rock’s commercial director says, “It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to secure such a prestigious award for Nottingham and the East Midlands against such stiff national competition. As we did when Harvest Pale earned similar success two years ago, lovers of real ale must tip their hat to Adrian Redgrove, surely the region’s best brewer.”

Barrie Sutherland, managing director of award sponsor SPAsoft
presents Castle Rock’s head brewer, Adrian Redgrove, with his ‘gold’.

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Order, Order - There's Hemlock in the House

MPs of all parties are raising their eyebrows in wonder at the invitation to sup Hemlock as their lunchtime tipple. The Hemlock, despite some lobbying for a judicious use of its similarly named poison, is Castle Rock Brewery’s real ale making its first appearance as guest bitter in the House of Commons Strangers’ Bar.

Named after the local Bramcote landmark, rather than the poison that killed Socrates, Hemlock is one of this year’s handful of real ales chosen by MPs and the House of Commons staff to highlight the output of the UK’s independent breweries and to bring regional tastes to the capital. On the recommendation of John Heppell, MP for Nottingham East, Hemlock will be available throughout March and he is determined as many of his colleagues and fellow members of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group as possible sample this particular taste of Nottingham.

John says its appearance is well earned and gives him great an opportunity to brag about his home city. “I’m a bit worried about the name and how my classically trained colleagues will take to it. Luckily, though, Hemlock is also described as ‘the thinking mans’ ale’, so we’re all right there.”

Colin Wilde, Castle Rock’s commercial director, and head brewer, Adrian Redgrove were among the first to check out the ale in London. As guests of John Heppell, they were served the first pint in the Strangers’ Bar in a day that included a guided tour of the House.

Colin Wilde says he is very grateful to John for all his efforts to promote the real ale movement and the great pubs of Nottingham. “John is an occasional visitor to many of our pubs where, I hasten to add, he meets constituents in the line of duty. These are difficult times for many in the pub trade and it’s gratifying to be understood and even appreciated by someone like John who, I know, does much to foster the interest in, and promote an understanding of, our industry.”

Alfresco ale, (l-r) John Heppell MP on the House of Commons terrace with Castle Rock’s
head brewer, Adrian Redgrove, and commercial director, Colin Wilde.

At the bar, (l-r) John Heppell MP in the House of Commons Strangers’ Bar with Castle Rock’s head brewer, Adrian Redgrove, and Will Conway, the House’s senior bar attendant.

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Lincolnshire Poacher raises over 700 pounds
for the British Heart Foundation

On Sunday the 23rd November 08, the girls from the Lincolnshire Poacher took part in the British Heart Foundation's
Winter Peaks Challenge, a 17 mile walk from Cromford Meadows, Matlock to Haslow near Buxton. It snowed, rained,
sleeted and was generally miserable, but not only did they complete the challenge, they also managed to raise over
700 pounds for the British Heart Foundation, mostly down to the generosity of the pub regulars and suppliers.

A big thank-you to all our sponsors!

The girls from the Lincolnshire Poacher during
the British Heart Foundation Winter Peaks Challenge

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'Screech Owl' becomes a frequent flyer

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s John Everitt took on the role of barman at the Vat and Fiddle to serve pint number one from the first regular brew of Screech Owl, a beer that has become a permanent addition to the Castle Rock range.

The beer, created as a supposed ‘one off’ in October 2008 as the month’s ‘Natural Selection’ beer in support of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, went on to win the champion of champions’ award at the 2008 Society of Independent Brewer’s regional beer competition held during the CAMRA Nottingham Beer Festival at Nottingham Castle. So great was the impact on the public, fellow brewers and judges, who singled it out from 172 other beers, that the decision was made to add Screech Owl to the range.

Castle Rock’s commercial director, Colin Wilde, says the beer is an harmonious fit in the brewery’s output. “At 5.5% alcohol, it will complete our list which begins with Sheriff’s Tipple at the low alcohol end and climbs through Harvest Pale, Preservation and Elsie Mo in each of the recognised beer strength categories.”

Some of the first regular Screech Owl brew was delivered to the Canalhouse on Canal Street, Nottingham, to join 54 other real ales being judged in the Society of Independent Brewers national beer competition that took place on Thursday 12 February.

John Everitt (centre), chief executive Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, pulls the first pint of Screech Owl, now firmly established in the Castle Rock flock. He’s behind the bar at the brewery tap, the Vat and Fiddle, with brewery accounts’ manager, Charlie Blomeley,
and head brewer, Adrian Redgrove.

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Canalhouse welcomes (and loses) the Best

Over 3,500 pints of beer have been supped and savoured by nearly 2,000 real ale aficionados in a weekend celebration of all that’s best in British brewing at Nottingham’s Canalhouse pub. The event, which followed a national beer quality competition organised there on Thursday 12 February 2009 by the Society of Independent Brewers, saw the UK’s top 55 real ales available on hand pump in a single location for the first time in the city.

Once the private judging had taken place, Canalhouse manager, Yvette Storey, and her colleagues were able to offer all that the judges had sampled to everyone with a passion for one of Britain's favourite tastes. “Hosting the competition and then allowing everyone three days to taste what’s best in British beer has been an honour for us and for everyone in Nottingham with a feeling for tradition, taste, and quality,” says Yvette. “I have nothing but praise for the SIBA organisers, the brewers who had already won at their regional SIBA competition, and customers who, I feel sure, will long remember this special weekend.

“It’s interesting that first to go were local ales including Screech Owl and Jaipur IPA. With them in the favourites was Purple Moose brewery’s Snowdonia Ale. Now we have to wait to see if the public’s preferences match those of the judges.”


The "senior service" - managers and assistants from across the Castle Rock group preparing to serve the judges for the SIBA competition (l-r Sarah Houghton, Vat and Fiddle; Natasha Averre, Stratford Haven; John Francis, Bread and Bitter; Yvette Storey, manager and host at the Canalhouse and her assistant manager, Jez Hand; and Charlie Blomeley, Kean's Head.		Lancaster Brewery. All smiles at the bar as Matt Jackson (left), managing director, Lancaster Brewery, checks all's well with Lancaster Black, his award winner at the Canalhouse. Pouring the 4.6% dark ale, a finalist in the strong milds, old ales and stouts category, is Canalhouse assistant manager, Simon Mace, and Lancaster's head brewer, Will Pammenter.

Kevin Mitchell tests with his trusty thermometer		Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - Tim Rourke, a beer writer and lecturer.

Included in the judging process were (l-r) Nottingham CAMRA's Andy Ludlow, John Heppell MP, John Calverley; Tim Pollard, Nottingham's official Robin Hood, Chris Garratt, Warminster Maltings, and CAMRA's national research and information manager, Iain Loe at one of seven judging tables set up for the SIBA competition.

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CAMRA Special Award for Excellence at Kean's Head

Nottingham CAMRA has awarded the Kean’s Head its rare Special Award for Excellence. In a ceremony at Castle Rock Brewery’s Lace Market pub, members of the campaign presented Charlie Blomeley and her colleagues with a special certificate to add to their recent national award for best pub food.

Pictured with Nottingham CAMRA’s chairman, Spyke Golding (left) are (l-r) Dan Layton; Charlie Blomeley, manager;
with assistant manager, Ben Skinner-Watts; Rachel Tiplady, and Katie Pople.

Spyke said the award was for excellence in all areas, the food, the service and, of course, the real ale.

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Local Councillors Support Local Pub

Two Nottingham councillors dropped into their local, the Bread & Bitter in
Mapperley, prior to Christmas to enjoy the hospitality of this fine Castle
Rock pub and, of course, a pint of Harvest Pale.

It was also a chance for Councillors Darrell Pulk and Jim Creamer,
Labour representatives on Gedling Borough Council, to meet up with
Castle Rock directors Chris Holmes and Peter Brettell to discuss some
of the issues affecting the industry as the year draws to a close.

Toasting a fruitful 2009 are (from left) Pete Brettell & Chris Holmes
of Castle Rock Brewery; Bread & Bitter landlord James Halfpenny; and
Councillors Darrell Pulk and Jim Creamer.

The Bread & Bitter, on Woodthorpe Drive, celebrated its first
birthday on December 4th. How time flies!!

Also enjoying a pint of real Nottingham brewed ale are, from Castle Rock Brewery, Peter Brettell and Chris Holmes with Bread & Bitter Manager James Halfpenny. The Bread & Bitter on Woodthorpe Drive, celebrated its first birthday on the 4th December, how time flies!

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The Kean’s Head takes
top UK food award

The Kean’s Head in Nottingham’s Lace Market, has been named runner up in the Addlestones People’s Choice Award 2008 at the PubChef Top 30 Gastropub Awards in London. The nationwide award, organised by Addlestones, the cider firm, invited the UK public to vote for its favourite foodie pub – and the Kean’s Head came in the top three.

The Kean’s Head, St Mary’s Gate, was nominated by local gastropub lovers because of its relaxed atmosphere and traditional feel. The manger and head chef, Charlie Blomeley, has been with the pub since it was reopened by Castle Rock Brewery in 2004. Influenced by her love of British cuisine, as well as her training under Italian chefs, her menu is delicious, diverse and a delight on the eye.

Among its celebrated dishes are homemade Scotch Eggs, which uses a secret recipe, and is considered best in the area by many. Other favourites include the Old English Rabbit Pie.

Charlie says, "We’re as pleased as punch to have been given this award. Being recognised by our customers means so much and we owe our nomination to our great team here at The Kean’s Head who work hard to create a memorable dining experience. And, of course, it’s thanks to everyone who voted for us."

In order to be included in the awards all nominated pubs had to meet tough criteria:
· Specialise in high-quality food a step above the more basic “pub grub”
· Place emphasis on the quality of food served
· Have a menu that complements the assortment of beers, wines and ciders the gastropub offers
· Be famed for their use of fresh, local ingredients

Speaking for the Addlestones, Rhodri Williams, says, “Congratulations to The Kean’s Head. There have been many great entries from all over the UK, from Devon to the Isle of Skye and so it’s credit that The Kean’s Head is in the top three.”

Further plans for The Kean’s Head include building an allotment that the pub aims to get up and running in the spring to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

The Addlestones People’s Choice Gastropub Award is one of several presented at the prestigious PubChef Top 30 Gastropub Awards, which recognise the UK’s best gastropubs. While the other awards at the event are voted for by industry leaders, the Addlestones People’s Choice Gastropub Award was the only award voted for by the general public.

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Batemans win in regional beer poll

Regulars in Castle Rock pubs across the East Midlands and Yorkshire have chosen Bateman’s XXXB as their favourite real ale for 2008. In a very high turnout contest held across the Castle Rock Brewery estate of over 20 pubs, a majority of the 1,100 voters picked the 4.8% per cent bitter from the Lincolnshire brewer as their favourite. Second place went to Thornbridge Brewery’s Jaipur IPA, winner of the contest in 2007; with Acorn Brewery’s Barnsley Bitter coming third.

“In this tenth year of the competition, the result has been as closely fought as ever,” says Castle Rock’s commercial director, Colin Wilde. “What the results clearly show is that our customers know good ale whenever they meet it and aren’t afraid to embrace a broad range of tastes, strengths and locations. This year we welcome Acorn Brewery to the awards’ list for the first time, see a second triumph for Thornbridge and honour one of the country’s leading family owned breweries.”
Voting in Castle Rock Brewery’s pubs was conducted through the Autumn with regulars putting forward their favourites from many hundreds of real ales available through the year.

Stuart Bateman, managing director Batemans, says, “This is an honour we’ll all appreciate for years to come. Not only is it the only competition like this where the drinking public has the sole right to vote; but it takes place in pubs that are among the best in the country where the real ale tradition flourishes, quality is a byword, and the customers’ knowledge unrivalled.”

Speaking for Acorn Brewery, brewery manager John Haig thanked the team at the New Barrack Tavern. “Kev and Steph have been loyal fans of our Barnsley Bitter since 2004, and we’re delighted their customers have voted our beer into the top three. At Acorn, we believe in producing consistently high quality beers, but this award also recognises Kev’s and Steph’s hard work to ensure their customers likewise receive a consistently high standard of real ale.”

In a separate award, the brewer of the year, which recognises a high appreciation across a range of beers as well as outstanding in-trade support, went to Warwickshire’s Purity Brewing Company.

Colin Wilde says, “We believe this is the only regional poll of its kind and its importance, and the interest shown in the result, seems to grow each year. As ever, though, six regular ales didn’t qualify for the event as they come from Castle Rock Brewery, which we own,” he says. “They’ve been excluded to remove any hint of in-house bias.”
The award ceremony was held at the Canalhouse on the city’s Canal Street, Nottingham, on Tuesday 18 November 2008.

Winner: Batemans XXXB. Chris Holmes, chairman Castle Rock Brewery, presents Batemans managing director, Stuart Bateman and marketing director, Jaclyn Bateman with the beer of the year award.

Runner up: Jaipur IPA. Receiving the award, Dave Wickett, consultant Thornbridge Brewery.

Third place: Barnsley Bitter with Chris Holmes, chairman Castle Rock Brewery are
Acorn Brewery manager John Haig and head brewer Dave Hughes (right)

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Obama's in town

So what's the American election got to do with us in the UK?

Quite a lot if you're a regular at the New Barrack Tavern, Castle Rock's pub in hillsborough, Sheffield, as the Penistone Road hostelry was re-christened the New Barack Obama to celebrate the Democrat candidate's success in the race for the White House.

Bemused customers discovered the new signage as they popped into their local shortly after the US results were announced.

The story was featured in the local paper, the Sheffield Star, and Sheffield's Hallam FM picked up on the article as topic for its 'Headline Game', the winning suggestion being 'Hillsborough pub sets a president'.

The name change was the handiwork of hosts Steph and Kev Woods and their staff.

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Fine ale fires up the fans of fantasy

Fine Ale Fantasy, Castle Rock’s ale brewed specially for GameCity 3, Nottingham’s international gathering of game fans, received a 100% approval rating from the hundreds who sampled it on draught at the festival launch at the city’s Canalhouse pub. And for a select few, the pleasure came bottled in a limited edition of 24 – the first time Castle Rock Brewery has made a ‘one off’ available in this way.

The new beer was named by avid gamer Paul Treneary who wins a gallon of beer for his efforts. The design, featuring the first image from a yet-to-be-released video game, was created by world-acclaimed videogame artist Lorne Lanning, who supplied his original design from Berkeley, California.

GameCity director, Iain Simons says the festival has a duty to uphold its reputation as a time for celebrating the sensual pleasures of life. In his a speech welcoming international guests to the city, he thanked ‘the brilliant Castle Rock’ for their support and recommended Fine Ale Fantasy as a natural companion to a good video game.

The sheriff Pulls!
The Sheriff of Nottingham, Councillor Brian Grocock and Canalhouse staff member, Jenny Noakes,
pull the first Fine Ale Fantasy

GameCity director, Iain Simons, eyes up the limited edition bottled Fine Ale Fantasy
as the festival celebrating the sensual pleasures of life gets underway.

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‘Robins’ bag marketing award

A joint campaign by Nottingham Castle and Castle Rock Brewery to promote the city and its iconic landmark has taken top honours in the national Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) Business Awards. The entry for the best partnership, devised by castle manager Dave Green and Castle Rock’s commercial director, Colin Wilde, was to create a world record by getting as may people as possible on the Castle Green dressed as Robin Hood.

In what the judges described as a ‘ridiculous idea’, the gathering of 1,119 people in March 2008, convincingly broke the existing record, and created a significant community gain.

The judges, who included Mike Benner, chief executive of CAMRA (campaign for real ale), the award sponsor, said, “If there was one entry we could pick out for putting a smile on the judges faces then this was it. Seeing the way a brilliantly silly idea so quickly captured the imagination of the judges reading about it so long after the event, it was easy to understand the success it became at the time.

“We were impressed by the creation of this local partnership in the first instance and the mix of energy and ideas subsequently employed delivered clear benefit to many independent user groups,” he said.

As he collected the award at a ceremony at the Institute of Directors, London, Colin Wilde said, “We were delighted to be involved in this from start to finish. The key thing was to create a memorable day at Nottingham Castle - we certainly achieved that and to win this coveted award is the icing on the cake”.

For the March event, ‘Robin Hoods’ enrolled at the city’s Canalhouse pub before winding their way up to Nottingham Castle for the count. Canalhouse manager, Yvette Storey, was always looking forward to enrolling hundreds for the event. “But the numbers who rolled up were staggering in their appearance and enthusiasm. We welcomed visitors from Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, and many English cities including Sheffield, York, Northampton and London and of course hundreds from Robin’s own back yard’.

Castle manager, Dave Green, says, “Nottingham Castle is always keen to work in partnership with local businesses when mutually supportive objectives can be found. It’s super that the hard work and long term benefits of our association with Castle Rock Brewery has been recognised in this way. We look forward to working with them just as successfully in the future now a winning formula has been found.”

Screech Owl goes down a hoot

Castle Rock Brewery has decided to break the habits of a lifetime and brew a supposedly ‘one off’ real ale twice. The decision follows the remarkable success of its Screech Owl in a competition at the Robin Hood Beer Festival held for the first time at Nottingham Castle last weekend. Screech Owl I.P.A. won the Supreme Champion award at the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) midlands region beer competition, but only a few people have had a chance to find out why.

In a blind tasting of 172 of the region’s beers, the judges first chose Screech Owl as the champion in the strong bitter category before judging it against the other category winners for the top honour. In the runoff, Screech Owl came head to head with Black Gold, another Castle Rock beer which had lived up to its name by winning gold in the mild beer category.

Now, brewers at Castle Rock are to brew a further 7,500 pints to make it available at pubs across Nottingham including the Vat and Fiddle, Bread and Bitter, Kean’s Head and Stratford Haven.

Screech Owl is one of twelve ‘wildlife’ ales being brewed this year to support the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s ‘Adopt a Species’ campaign. It is a 5.5% abv traditional India Pale Ale created by Castle Rock head brewer, Adrian Redgrove, who received the supreme champion gold award from the Sheriff of Nottingham, Councillor Brian Grocock, and ‘Robin Hood’, Tim Pollard on the Castle Green.

Now plans are in hand for Screech Owl I.P.A. to be permanently available in the New Year.

According to commercial director, Colin Wilde, this is not the first time a Castle Rock ‘one off’ special beer has been judged worthy of a longer life. “Our Harvest Pale which became the national Champion Bitter of Britain in 2007, was originally brewed for the Nottingham Beer Festival as ‘Trammie Dodger’ to mark the arrival of Nottingham’s tram system and it quickly won the same SIBA Midlands Supreme Champion award back in early 2004. I’m delighted that once again our brewer has created an award winning beer and serving the Supreme Champion Beer over our bar at the world famous Nottingham Castle was a very proud moment for us all at Castle Rock. We’re now pleased we’ve been able to give more people the opportunity to try it in the coming weeks.”

Erin McDaid of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, who chose the beer’s unusual name says, “Screech Owl is a regional name for the well known barn owl. Its ghostly white face and shrieking call made it synonymous with death in historic literature with the most famous mention, perhaps, being in Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ where an owl screeches after Macbeth murders King Duncan. I am really glad the name has brought anything but bad luck to the wildlife patrons at Castle Rock Brewery.”

Castle Rock Brewery has decided to break the habits of a lifetime and brew a supposedly ‘one off’ real ale twice. The decision follows the remarkable success of its Screech Owl in a competition at the Robin Hood Beer Festival held for the first time at Nottingham Castle last weekend. Screech Owl I.P.A. won the Supreme Champion award at the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) midlands region beer competition, but only a few people have had a chance to find out why.

In a blind tasting of 172 of the region’s beers, the judges first chose Screech Owl as the champion in the strong bitter category before judging it against the other category winners for the top honour. In the runoff, Screech Owl came head to head with Black Gold, another Castle Rock beer which had lived up to its name by winning gold in the mild beer category.

Now, brewers at Castle Rock are to brew a further 7,500 pints to make it available at pubs across Nottingham including the Vat and Fiddle, Bread and Bitter, Kean’s Head and Stratford Haven.

Screech Owl is one of twelve ‘wildlife’ ales being brewed this year to support the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s ‘Adopt a Species’ campaign. It is a 5.5% abv traditional India Pale Ale created by Castle Rock head brewer, Adrian Redgrove, who received the supreme champion gold award from the Sheriff of Nottingham, Councillor Brian Grocock, and ‘Robin Hood’, Tim Pollard on the Castle Green.

Now plans are in hand for Screech Owl I.P.A. to be permanently available in the New Year.

According to commercial director, Colin Wilde, this is not the first time a Castle Rock ‘one off’ special beer has been judged worthy of a longer life. “Our Harvest Pale which became the national Champion Bitter of Britain in 2007, was originally brewed for the Nottingham Beer Festival as ‘Trammie Dodger’ to mark the arrival of Nottingham’s tram system and it quickly won the same SIBA Midlands Supreme Champion award back in early 2004. I’m delighted that once again our brewer has created an award winning beer and serving the Supreme Champion Beer over our bar at the world famous Nottingham Castle was a very proud moment for us all at Castle Rock. We’re now pleased we’ve been able to give more people the opportunity to try it in the coming weeks.”

Erin McDaid of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, who chose the beer’s unusual name says, “Screech Owl is a regional name for the well known barn owl. Its ghostly white face and shrieking call made it synonymous with death in historic literature with the most famous mention, perhaps, being in Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ where an owl screeches after Macbeth murders King Duncan. I am really glad the name has brought anything but bad luck to the wildlife patrons at Castle Rock Brewery.”

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Nottingham Wild Night

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Double winners at the Newshouse

Regulars and staff at the Newshouse on Canal Street celebrated receiving the 'best pint' and 'best display' awards earned during Nottingham CAMRA's annual Mild Trail Month in May. Hosts, Carole and Bob Fairclough, thanked CAMRA for the awards and made special mention of bar colleague, Jean Baclow, who created the award winning display.

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The Lincolnshire Poacher
does it again

It was a night of double celebration at the Lincolnshire Poacher when Nottingham CAMRA chairman, Spyke Golding, presented manager Karen Williams with the branch’s Pub of the Year award for the second year running and then went on to acknowledge the staff’s “services to the stout and porter stroll” in April.

Apparently, the two Sams, Messrs Skinner-Watts and Tibbitts visited 23 pubs in 24 hours during the national week to promote these unsung heroes of the brewers’ art.

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Batemans hosts York
fact finding mission

Castle Rock managers from Boston, Newark, York and Nottingham have been the guests of Batemans on a fact finding day in York. Starting on the city’s Lawrence Street as guest of manager, Paul Marshall, at Batemans new Waggon and Horses pub opposite Castle Rock’s Rook and Gaskill, the researchers were introduced to a range of York’s finest real ale establishments. The tour ended at “York’s one and only” York Brewery.

According to Castle Rock’s commercial director, Colin Wilde, these annual ‘away days’ are part of the brewery’s business development strategy. “By taking our licensees away from their work place we are freer to discuss and formulate ideas for our continuing development. Visiting a few pubs and a brewery with their less formal environment is perfect for convivial chatting.

“Our thanks go to our three hosts. Traff, who used to work at our brewery and who nowadays manages our Rook and Gaskill; Batemans Brewery and their staff who guided the tour, and Kevin and Steff at the New Barrack Tavern in Sheffield who provided a welcome half way house on the journey back to the East Midlands.”

Keeping track on the ceiling
Neil Trafford, tenant at the Rook and Gaskill in York, knows exactly how many different draught ales he’s served this year.
The proof is there for all to see with a neck-wrenching glance at the bar ceiling where he’s stuck up over 650 pump clips. ‘Traff’ hasn’t actually counted them and says there could be the odd duplication here and there. “And it’s very difficult to a find particular clip when I reorder from months back,” he admits.
The suggestion they be stored in alphabetical order was welcomed; ….. but ignored.

Haven for Test Match breakfast

It’s ‘early doors’ for breakfast at Nottingham’s Stratford Haven pub adjacent to Trent Bridge cricket ground for the duration of the third test against New Zealand. From Thursday 5 to Monday 9 June, the pub will be open from 9am for everything from the full English, to snacks, baguettes and chilli. And beer.

Manager, Natasha Averre, says it’s best to book in advance as things can get rather crowded particularly for the early sitting. Phone: 0115 982 5981

‘Robin Hood’ record breakers get brewery boost

Castle Rock Brewery has awarded 2418 (Sherwood) Squadron Air Training Corps £250 in recognition of their unique support for Nottingham Castle’s recent Robin Hood World Record attempt. Of the 1119 ‘Robins’ who descended on the castle in March, the 48 ATC members were the largest group from a single organisation – a category given particular support by the brewery.

Colin Wilde, Commercial Director for Castle Rock Brewery, said: “It’s fantastic that a charity won the largest group award and the donation. We’re only too pleased to be rewarding the efforts the squadron put in to help make the record attempt the great success it was.”

Squadron commander, Donna Bates, said, “Robin Hood is our emblem, and we thought it only right to take part. I had no trouble convincing the cadets – they got in to the spirit of things straight away, and it was fantastic to be announced the largest group entry and now be given this award.”.

Nottingham Castle’s general manager, Dave Green, said: “We’re incredibly grateful for Castle Rock Brewery’s support of our bid to host the world’s largest gathering of Robin Hoods. As event sponsor they tirelessly helped promote the event and provided The Canalhouse pub as an additional registration point. This, along with the provision of the charity donation as an additional incentive to potential ‘Robin Hoods’, helped us to smash the previous record”.

Wild Night for Nottingham

Some would say that Nottingham is more renowned for its ‘wild nights’ than wildlife so to generate awareness about the city’s wildlife and raise essential funds to protect it, local charity Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is holding it’s very own ‘Wild Night’ on Friday 2nd May at the Canal House Bar on Canal Street.

The first ever ‘Wild Night’ will be an innovative fundraising gig featuring two local bands ‘The Boatrockers’ and ‘Banjolin’, with music being a mix of rock, blues and Northern American Folk. The fundraising gig is being supported by some of the Wildlife Trusts corporate supporters including Castle Rock which owns the Canal House Bar and also which will be supplying beer from its Natural Selection’ range (brewed in support of the Wildlife Trust) at the gig.

In addition to music, dancing and real ale there will be a range of fundraising activities taking place including a raffle feature prizes donated from local companies.

To help promote the event the Wildlife Trust has created a special ‘Myspace’ page where visitors can even listen to a track by one of the bands.

Wild Night Myspace Page

Tickets are priced at £10 each and the proceeds will the Wildlife Trust manage its nature reserves in Nottingham such as Quarry Holes, Moorbridge Pond and Harrisons Plantation.

For further details about the event and to book your ticket please call Anna-Lisa on 0115 9582 8242
(Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)

Tram Ale trip takes in Kean’s Head
Over 40 Morris dances representing five folk dance societies across the East Midlands descended on Nottingham in general, and Castle Rock pubs in particular, for their annual St George’s Day tram ale trip.

Under the guidance of the local Sergeant Musgrave’s Dance, ‘sides’ and groups from Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire danced and supped their way across the city on Saturday 26 April.

The first two stops on their tram-enabled tour took in Castle Rock’s Vat and Fiddle, and the Kean’s Head in the Lace Market.
Pictured at the Kean’s Head are the dancers in full cry and, outside, members of Alvechurch Morris with pub manager, Charlie Blomeley.

Wildlife Trust and Castle Rock Brewery team up to support crossing for ‘Mr Toad’

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has teamed up with Castle Rock Brewery to help raise awareness of the plight of local toad populations. To coincide with the annual changes on Beanford Lane, Oxton, closed to help protect toads crossing the ford, Castle Rock Brewery has brewed a special beer called ‘Mr Toad’. The beer forms part of the company’s unique Natural Selection range brewed in support of the Wildlife Trust’s work. It is hoped that it will help raise awareness of the need to do more to help local toad populations and generate additional donations to cover the cost of the road closure.
Speaking about the beer, Erin McDaid of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust said, “As far as we’re aware the road closure at Oxton was a world first and next year will be the 10th anniversary of the first successful closure. Thankfully, there are now similar closures across the country which is great news for toads, but we still struggle to raise the funds to cover the cost of the closure at Beanford Lane. Local volunteers do a great job raising money but we still need more.
“2008 is the 100th anniversary of the publication of ‘Wind in the Willows’, the story that brought us the Mr Toad character, so we thought brewing a beer in his honour would be a good way to help raise awareness of the plight of local toads,” said Erin.
Toads continue to suffer due to loss of habitat and if insufficient funds are raised it is unlikely that the road closure will go ahead next year.
Speaking about the latest brew Castle Rock Brewery's Colin Wilde said, "It would be a great shame if this project were to cease due of lack of funding because the benefits are now really being seen. Castle Rock Brewery have ensured there are proceeds available from the sale of Mr Toad to top up the donations already made which means the cost of this year’s road closure will be covered. We'd encourage more local people and organisations to get involved and provide funding to ensure that the closure can continue for the years to come. It is important we all protect Nottinghamshire’s biodiversity at every level and no matter how small every positive action will help."
Anyone wishing to make a donation should contact Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust on 0115 958 8242 or toad project organiser, Margaret Cooper on 0115 965 2948.

The Crown is set to shine

Sporting villagers in the Vale of Belvoir did the honours on Monday 17 March to signal the reopening of The Crown at Old Dalby that had been closed, quiet and ‘dry’ since New year’s Day for a £250,000 refurbishment.

For members of the Old Dalby Surf Club this marked a welcome return to their favourite haunt to pull the inaugural pints to mark the pub’s first working day under its new management and restaurant team.

Jack and Carolyn Harrison with Old Dalby surfers and pub openers,
Simon Platts, 'Catto' Hyde and front, Mark Sylt and Jim Freeman

The Crown, which has served the people of Old Dalby since 1590, has retained its air of a traditional village pub and restaurant with its quirky selection of small rooms coupled with a slightly more contemporary feel. The new owners, who include chef Jack Harrison and his wife, Carolyn, say the atmosphere will be comfortable and classic. Jack who trained at Thanet in Kent alongside Gary Rhodes has been a chef all his working life. And, it is a return to the Vale of Belvoir having been chef and owner at Stocks Restaurant in Grimston. Most recently he and Carolyn have run a successful corporate outdoor catering company.

Other directors include Chris Holmes, managing director of Castle Rock Brewery, which operates 20 pubs and restaurants in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and South Yorkshire.

In addition to a range of real ales including Castle Rock Harvest Pale, the champion beer of Britain 2007, and others from the nearby Belvoir Brewery, the Crown will stock an impressive range of continental lagers, fine wines and soft drinks.

The newly built ‘sun room’ will be used as the main dinning area adjacent to the completely new kitchen and food storage and preparation areas.

www.crownolddalby.co.uk

Castle Rock
steadies the price

Castle Rock is absorbing the 4p per pint beer duty increase on its own brand ales at its 23 pubs across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. Chairman and chief executive, Chris Holmes says he is taking this stand as it is vital pubs remain competitive against supermarket off-sales.

“It’s impossible to work out how much this will cost. But, our customers are very loyal and I think it’s important that we do something positive for them at a time when all household bills from gas to council tax are rising and mortgages are becoming prohibitive,” he says.

“We were expecting the chancellor to announce a duty increase; but not one as high as this. And, if it’s all about youngsters and binge drinking, why did he choose to target relatively low strength ale? It’s my view that he would have been better to understand and promote the views of those of us in the industry who actually care about society by targeting the high strength, easily consumed, drinks at the heart of binge drinking.

“Ninety five per cent of our customers are ‘regulars’, we want to keep them, and if it means less profit for a while then so be it,” says Chris.

Robin Hoods tie the Canalhouse up in Notts

More than a quarter of the ‘Robin Hoods’ who stormed Nottingham Castle at noon on Saturday 8 March for an attempt on the world Robin Hood record, made it an early start by registering, dining and imbibing at Castle Rock’s Canalhouse pub. Dressed in hat, tights and tunic, the hundreds were in preparation for an attempt to get a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Canalhouse manager, Yvette Storey, was always looking forward to enrolling hundreds for the event. “But the numbers who rolled up were staggering in their appearance, enthusiasm and, of course, home town. We welcomed visitors from Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, and many English cities including Sheffield, York, Northampton and London.

“My highlight was the moment we heard the massed choir of ‘Robins’, the band, Nemming Ned, and musicians from the Nottingham School of Samba creating a cacophony to celebrate our city’s legendary figure,” she says. “It made a great procession up to the castle.”

Dawn Gibbons, ‘Robin’ from Ontario, Canada, with Canalhouse manager, Yvette Story (right)

‘Robins’ from the University of Sheffield Students' Union bar

...and from ‘The Walkabout bar’, Canberra, Australia (the kangaroo, on the other hand, is from Basford!)

Robin's from‘The Fire’, Vauxhall, London

the assault on the castle as 200 leave the Canalhouse

...as they approach the Castle ramparts

the 1119 ‘Robins’ on the Castle Green at Robin’s Castle Rock bar

“Robin’s Castle Rock bar”

Black Gold Wins Award

It was announced at the SIBA Conference on Friday 7th March 2008, that Castle Rock Brewery had received a Silver Award for Black Gold, in the SIBA National Beer Competition 2008 - Champion Milds Category.

Alex Sutherland (Spa-soft), Adrian Redgrove (Castle Rock), Keith Bott (SIBA President)

Captain Jack’ tastes the good life

John Barrowman has joined the ranks of Harvest Pale fans after joining Castle Rock and Nottingham Castle staff in the line up for the hit itv show, Al Murray’s Happy Hour (broadcast Friday 15 February 10pm on itv 1).

Director Colin Wilde and other regulars at Nottingham’s Canalhouse pub were a featured part of the audience of 600 for the recording at the South Bank tv studios in London. There to promote Nottingham Castle’s attempt on the world massed Robin Hood record, the Nottingham team, which included Nottingham Castle Manager, Dave Green, donned Robin Hood costumes and invited the tv audience to dress up in Lincoln Green and join them in Nottingham on Saturday March 8.

Canalhouse manager, Yvette Storey, says she’s looking forward to enrolling hundreds for the event. “The pub opens at 9am on the day serving breakfast and beer so people can come along and register in a relaxed and refreshing way before joining the short procession to Nottingham Castle where the count will take place.

“All you have to do to be a Robin Hood is wear a costume with a green or brown tunic, a hat with a feather, green or brown trousers or tights and suitable boots or shoes,” she says.

For more information please click here

John Barrowman, Captain Jack from BBC tv’s Torchwood, gets a taste of Nottingham with Castle Rock director, Colin Wilde, as the pair get ready for their appearances on itv’s Al Murray’s Happy Hour

BBC veterans party at Canalhouse

Over 200 present and former members of staff at BBC Radio Nottingham celebrated the 40th anniversary of local radio in the city with a reunion party at Castle Rock’s Canalhouse pub in Nottingham city centre. Among those attending were ‘the voice of Notts County’ Colin Slater; afternoon show presenter, John Holmes, and past star names including Top of the Pops’ Trevor Dann and Blue Peter’s Simon Groom.

Pub manager, Yvette Storey says the conference area on the first floor is ideal for events of this nature with a full real ale bar and easy access to the Canalhouse kitchen. “The BBC crowd were wonderful guests, and none of them tried to interview me!”

Radio Nottingham’s longest serving broadcaster and Notts County reporter, Colin Slater, Radio Derby’s Gary Andrews and Marie Ashby, presenter of BBC1’s The Politics Show at the Canalhouse

Pub remembers the ‘Busby Babes’

Regulars and staff at Basford’s Horse and Jockey joined thousands across England to mark the moment of the 50th anniversary of the Munich air accident of 6 February 1958. Among the 23 killed were eight young Manchester United ‘Busby Babes’.

For pub manager, Marie Frost, the tribute had a special poignancy as her dad, John Carey, who had brought her to Nottingham as a girl, had spent most of his playing career at the club and was a personal friend of many of the survivors and victims. From 1963 to 1968, John Carey was Nottingham Forest manager, a time that saw them reach a FA cup semi final and take second place in the First Division of the League.

Marie says the tribute was organised out of a pure respect for the lads. “Though dad was at Blackburn at the time of the crash, he was always a ‘Man U’ man and this was a very personal loss.”

Barman Craig Bartlam and Horse and Jockey manager, Marie Frost, with pub regulars, Pauline Dickinson, Marc Hardstaff and Rosanna Delplavignano mark their respects at 3.04pm precisely on 6 Feb 2008.

Hans across the ocean …
Castle Rock Harvest Pale became the toast of the town at the New Year reunion for over 100 members of the Dutch real ale fraternity at Amsterdam’s In De Wildeman pub. Twinned with Nottingham’s Lincolnshire Poacher and The Victoria at Beeston, In De Wildeman has a long association with Castle Rock’s people, pubs and pints.

Pictured with the cellar stocks are Fred Schiphorst, a member of the beer campaign group Pint Regio Noord-Holland, and In De Wildeman’s bar manager, Simon Fokkema.

Simon says the Harvest Pale was a welcome 4.3% interlude in a day where 9% and over continental beers were the norm. “The day was the usual low profile affair,” he says. “In fact, I can confirm that only one major issue was resolved. We’re on our way to Nottingham this year to finish the round.”

Hans across the ocean...

Bread and Bitter opens
for Castle Rock

The Bread and Bitter, Castle Rock's three roomed pub on the city’s Mapperley top, is open.

After two launch nights, with over 600 guests attending, normal trading began on Thursday 6 December.

The Bread and Bitter, named by a neighbouring businessman, one of hundreds to write in with over 1,000 suggestions in a newspaper competition, was officially opened by Barrie Judge. Nineteen years ago, Mr Judge shut his bakery on the site and the premises had lain idle since. Now completely rebuilt as a pub, Castle Rock has restored the original bread ovens which have ‘mother’s’ pride of place in the dining room.

Twelve real ales will be permanently on draught alongside a range of continental and UK favourites including Oyster Stout, Staropramen and Grolsch Weiss. One area of the pub is dedicated to a “brewers’ graveyard” of artefacts from closed breweries including some sadly missed friends. A feature of the new pub is its stained glass.
The manager is James Halfpenny who was joined by Betty Holmes, mother of Castle Rock chairman Chris Holmes, for the opening celebrations.

The Bread and Bitter is at the junction of Woodthorpe Drive and Mapperley Top, behind the Post Office.

Barrie Judge and Betty Holmes check that all's cooking nicely at the opening of the Bread and Bitter. They are with Chris Holmes (left) and James Halfpenny (right)

Fantastic Stained Glass at the Bread and Bitter

Steve’s smashing time for Pudsey

As part of the 2007 charity bash that is Children in Need, thirty six Hoveringham villagers set Steve Taylor, head chef at the village’s Reindeer Inn, the challenge to ‘ready steady cook’ each of them a two course meal within 20 minutes. The diners then donated what they reckoned was the meal’s value to BBC Children in Need. And a total of £608 has duly been passed on to the charity.

Steve says each brought £5 ingredients with them on the evening and the oddities included coconut, eggs and chocolate.

“I have to admit the dessert ingredients proved the hardest to use within 20 minutes and I ended up making a table decoration with some,” he says. “The chocolate could have been a problem but luckily I had a marinade recipe at hand for their venison and chicken. Chocolate and chicken!”

Derbyshire win in regional beer poll
Castle Rock regulars chose Thornbridge Brewery’s Jaipur India Pale Ale as their favourite real ale for 2007. In a very high turnout contest, a majority of the 1,400 voters picked the 5.9 per cent IPA from the Derbyshire brewer as their favourite. Second place went to Summer Lightning from Hop Back Brewery.
Colin Wilde says the results in this the ninth year of competition, were very close. “Our customers have shown they welcome good beers from wherever they originate and I’m particularly pleased this year that a newcomer to brewing has made its mark so well.”
Voting in Castle Rock Brewery’s pubs was conducted through the Autumn 2007 with regulars putting forward their favourites from many hundreds of real ales available through the year.
Stacey Webster from Thornbridge Brewery said, “To win this award is a tremendous boost for us all at the brewery. Many thanks to Chris and his colleagues for their support over the last two years, and of course, for leading a revolution we are glad to be a part of.
“All the Castle Rock pubs have been very supportive of our beers since our launch with Jaipur IPA being a particular favourite at our near neighbours, Derby’s Alexandra Hotel and the Derby Tup in Chesterfield,” she said.
In a separate award, the brewer of the year, which recognises a high appreciation across a range of beers as well as outstanding in-trade support, went to Bateman’s of Wainfleet.
Bateman’s sales director Andrew Reed said, “We’re thrilled to receive this award from Castle Rock who recognises quality and the professional back-up we’ve provided.”
He went on to thank all the Castle Rock pub managers and tenants, “who have worked so hard to ensure our beers are always in excellent condition. I’d also like to thank all my colleagues at Bateman’s from the sales manager to the draymen for their contribution to our success here. Now, I can look forward to building on our relationships with Castle Rock as we strive to retain the accolade next year.”
Colin Wilde says, “This remains the only regional poll of its kind and its importance seems to grow each year. Once again though, six regular ales didn’t qualify for the event as they come from Castle Rock Brewery, which we own,” he says. “They’ve been excluded to remove any hint of in-house bias.”
The award ceremony was held at the Canalhouse on the city’s Canal Street, Nottingham, on Tuesday 30 October 2007.

Beer of the Year winner: Jaipur IPA; Thornbridge Brewery’s sales manager, Stacey Webster, picks up her award from Chris Holmes, chairman, Castle Rock Brewery.

Brewer of the Year: Bateman’s sales director, Andrew Reed, picks up the Brewer of the Year award from Chris Holmes.

CASTLE ROCK BREWERY HELPS TO SAVE SHERWOOD FOREST
The Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has teamed up with the City’s largest independent brewer, Castle Rock Brewery to help secure the future of Sherwood Forest. In November, the Brewery will bring back an old favourite from its’ ‘Natural Selection’ range to help bring the Forest back to its former glory.

‘Oak’, a stout originally brewed in 2003, will be renamed ‘Sherwood Oak’ in support of Sherwood Forest’s bid to win a £50million public vote. The Sherwood: The Living Legend project is one of four schemes that will feature in an ITV show in early December – with viewers choosing which one should receive £50 million from the Big Lottery Fund’sThe Big £50 Million People’s Giveaway. If it wins, plans include planting the equivalent of 400 football pitches of new woodland and heathland and creating a new visitor centre.

To help ensure that Sherwood Forest has a good chance of winning, The Wildlife Trust and Castle Rock are calling on regulars to back the bid by simply texting robin to 81025.

The ‘Natural Selection’ beer for December will be Robin – so this too will be used to help encourage people to support the Sherwood Forest Bid right up to the final vote.

Speaking about the launch of ‘Sherwood Oak’, which will take place at Nottingham Castle’s new Robin Hood exhibition, Erin McDaid of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust commented: “Sherwood Forest is the county’s most famous wildlife area and it is of international importance. We have been working hard with partners for decades to help bring it back to its former glory but the Sherwood: The Living Legend bid is once in a lifetime opportunity to restore hundreds of hectares of the Forest landscape. We hope that the launch of ‘Sherwood Oak’ will help publicise the need for the people of Nottinghamshire to back the bid. And we are delighted that Castle Rock have thrown their weight behind the campaign.”

Speaking about the latest brew Commercial Director Colin Wilde said: “It is crucial that all stakeholders play their part in trying to bring this fantastic project to the East Midlands and this includes established local businesses like ourselves. We are hoping that by dedicating our November Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Brew to the Sherwood: The Living Legend cause and using our December beer ‘Robin’ to help generate even more votes and raise additional awareness as to how, as a region, we can win this bid. We are hoping to help activate our potential voters in time for the crucial voting period in early December."

To register your support for Sherwood’s bid for £50 million Big Lottery money Text robin to 81025
or visit www.robinhood.co.uk

Castle Rock named Pub Group of the Year by The Good Pub Guide

Business Award for Castle Rock Brewery

Castle Rock, Nottingham’s largest brewery, has won top honours for the best sponsorship programme in the national SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) Local Business Awards 2007.

The award, supported by the Guild of Beer Writers and one of ten made each year at the society’s ceremony held at the Institute of Directors on Pall Mall, London, acknowledges Castle Rock’s six year association with, and fund raising efforts for, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.

Each month, Castle Rock creates a special one-off brew of ale to highlight a plant, bird or animal causing concern to wildlife enthusiasts. Most recently these have included the White Admiral, the spectacular woodland butterfly; the Bittern, a wading sea bird; and Hay Rattle, the meadowland flower. An annual donation is made to the trust from the proceeds of selling the ale and, thanks to landfill taxation rules, additional money is raised.

Castle Rock ale drinkers raise about £3,000 per year for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s, Erin McDaid, and Castle Rock commercial director Colin Wilde, toast the fund raisers.

Nottingham – home to Castle Rock and the best pubs in the UK
Castle Rock, the Nottingham brewer and pub operator, has won the UK’s influential consumer friendly Good Pub Guide's ‘pub group of the year’ award for the third time in seven years. Judged on the quality of the realistically priced food, the excellence of the drinks served and the attitudes of the staff, the news was revealed at the 2007 Nottingham Beer Festival. It was also announced that the company has dropped its former trading name 'Tynemill' to concentrate on the Castle Rock brand that fully endorses the city and its castle.

In their announcement to the national media, The Good Pub Guide’s publisher, Ebury Press, included two Castle Rock pubs in their list of the UK's dozen best for bargain food - 'The Kean's Head' in the Lace Market and 'The Lincolnshire Poacher' on Mansfield Road. Only Peterborough had two recommended good food pubs. Place like Hertford, Truro, Llanberis, Sherborne and Brighton got a single mention.

More competition success for
Castle Rock Ales

Castle Rock Brewery picked up two 'gongs' at the SIBA Midlands beer competition, judged on the opening day of the Nottingham Beer Festival, Thursday October 18th 2007.

Castle Rock Brewery Black Gold was selected as the region's best Mild ale - beating off strong local competition - whilst Elsie Mo won a Silver in the Premium Bitter category.

Black Gold now goes forward to the SIBA National Awards being staged early next year.

Very Nice, Flower
Life in Sheffield is bloomin' great for Kev and Steph Woods at the New Barrack Tavern. For the second year in succession the pub has been amongst the awards in the Sheffield in Bloom competition, this time taking Silver Gilt, as opposed to last time's Bronze.
Says Steph, "We are particularly pleased as the entry count in our section - pubs, cafes, bars - had gone up considerably from the previous year.
"So to be awarded with the Silver Gilt shows we aren't far away from winning the 'Big One' ... maybe next year."
The certificate was presented to the couple at a special ceremony staged at City Hall. It is not recorded as to what level of sartorial elegance Kev rose to on this occasion...

It’s down hill all the way
from the Poacher

Liz Wright, north region’s national account manager for Salisbury’s Hop Back Brewery, has taken to promoting ‘wheel’ ales by getting on her bike for her regular visits to Castle Rock and other groups’ pubs in Nottingham.
By starting off at the top of the town at the Poacher, it’s downhill all the way to the Kean’s Head, Newshouse, Canalhouse and Vat and Fiddle to meet the Castle Rock teams and deliver beer mats, trays and other brewery paraphernalia. “The idea is to do our bit to help cut down on car pollution and congestion in the places we visit. Protecting the environment is important, especially for a company like us where all our beers are made with fine natural ingredients.”
There are no details of what Liz has to say after the long cross-town climb back to the Poacher.

Liz Wright, Hop Back Brewery
Liz Wright at the Old Market at the Old Market Square, Nottingham.

All ‘Hans’ to the pumps

Simon Fokkema, the bar manager at In de Wildeman, one of Amsterdam’s few real ale pubs, has chosen to find out first hand what English real ale brewing is all about. In a working week at Castle Rock Brewery he has seen first hand what makes English ale different from what’s available on the continent.

Simon is assistant manager at the Dutch pub which is twinned with the Lincolnshire Poacher and the Vic at Beeston. The twinning goes back 21 years this year, and Simon chose to celebrate the fond friendship with some brewery work and a day at Trent Bridge cricket.

Simon says beer is far too serious to leave solely to the big international brewing companies. “They tend to restrict themselves to large scale factory produced lagers and alcopops,” he says. “In England, at breweries like Castle Rock, we can see what can be created with simple ingredients and a great deal of craftsmanship.

“Sadly, my skills only went as far as operating the cask washing steam pump, but I’ll take back a lot of information to help our customers in Holland understand why we put real ale on the bar each month in Amsterdam.

Simon has little to say about English cricket.

Simon Fokkema

Harvest Pale reaps reward!

Castle Rock Harvest Pale has been heralded as the Champion Beer of Britain, Gold Medal Winner Bitter Category,
at the annual Great British Beer Festival - held at Earls Court In London between 7th and 11th August 2007.

Colin Wilde, commercial director Castle Rock Brewery, said "Harvest Pale has become the favourite tipple of many people in and around Nottingham in recent years and for it now to be recognised as a National Champion makes us feel very proud." He adds "It's great to put Nottingham back on the brewing map."

The award is a major boost to brewing in Nottingham in the year that follows the closure by Greene King plc of Hardys and Hansons Brewery in Kimberley.

Harvest Pale , a blonde 3.8% straw coloured bitter, was first brewed for - and launched at - the 2003 Nottingham Beer Festival. It is now widely available throughout the East Midlands, and nationally via major beer wholesalers. The beer has tasted national success before in its short history, being declared National Champion Bitter by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) in 2004.

The Great British Beer Festival is organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The Nottingham branch of CAMRA have been running a scheme called LocAle which encourages local pubs to stock beers from their local brewery. Harvest Pale can be found in many local pubs including the Lincolnshire Poacher which is Nottingham CAMRA Pub of the Year 2007.

Ale celebrates 65 years of concern

Castle Rock Brewery is playing a vital part in the 65th anniversary celebrations of Age Concern in Nottingham and the county. As the charity reaches pensionable age, brewer Adrian Redgrove and his team have created a limited edition bottled ale which is expected to go down well at the celebratory fun day at Nottingham Castle on September 8th.

The ale is named Auld Ken in memory of a much loved Age Concern advice worker.

Mike Tinkler, Age Concern’s chief executive, says, “2007 is all about celebrating our past achievements,
the valuable work we do today and our vision
of the future.

“This is why we dedicated the beer to Ken. He has left a legacy that will continue to impact on the
lives of local older people into the future.”

Common Blue

An East Yorkshire freehouse with one of the longest pub names in the country has just served its thousandth different real ale - and it was a Castle Rock beer that claimed the honour.

Common Blue - the Natural Selection beer for June 2007 - was on tap as Simon and Jane Hicks, owners of the 'Jemmy Hirst at the Rose and Crown' in Rawcliffe, East Riding, celebrated reaching their milestone after just five years at the pub.

Both longtime members of CAMRA, they decided to buy the free house which was serving just one hand pulled cask ale. Over the coming months this expanded to four, and the counting started, until on 2nd July 2007 the 1000th different beer, Castle Rock Common Blue, was served

So why the pub's elongated name? Says Simon, "When we arrived the pub was called the Admiral Nelson, due to a previous landlord having to change the name in a hurry when Clarks brewery sold it to him. As there was no historical reason for the name we proposed to change it to something more relevant. Several people came up with suggestions, including returning it to its old (pre-Clarks) name of Rose & Crown or naming it after a ‘famous’ local eccentric, Jemmy Hirst, who lived further along Riverside in the 18th - 19th century and was invited to meet the king to tell of his habits which included riding a bull rather than a horse and training pigs to act as hounds."

And so the name was adopted!

Castle Rock Brewery wishes Simon & Jane all the best for the future.

Bramcote Balloon Release

A colourful balloon release will help launch a new website designed to promote the ‘Hemlock Happening’ at an event on Wednesday 30th May at 2.00 pm at Bramcote Park. The Bramcote and Stapleford Golden Jubilee group are meeting sponsors Castlerock Breweries as well as inviting park users to join in and help get the promotion for the event ‘off the ground’. Castlerock will also be presenting a cheque for £500 to the organising group at the event.

Now in its 6th year the Hemlock Happening will take place on Saturday 9th June on Bramcote Hills Park from 1.00 pm and offers a huge range of live music, dance and drama performances, arts and crafts activities leading to the climax of the event at 10.00 pm which is a finale firework display.

For the first time ever the event will include a beer tent hosted by Castlerock Breweries who will be serving Hemlock Bitter in the shadow of the Hemlock

For mor information visit: www.hemlockhappening.org

Square Bitter

New Square Bitter is 4.2% abv and is brewed especially to commemorate the opening of the Old Market Square. Available at Tynemill pubs and other pubs around the city.

Castle Rock director, Colin Wilde; Tim Pollard, the city's official 'Robin Hood'; and the Bell Inn manager, Brian Rigby toast the square with New Square Bitter.

Castle Rock Brewery in Nottingham has been handed the title ‘biggest brewer in Nottinghamshire’ in a ceremony of mixed emotions held to mark the closure of Hardys and Hansons, the last remaining large brewery in the area.
The event, during the week of the last brew at Kimberley, was marked by the presentation of a commemorative plaque by Hardys and Hansons head brewer Martin Armstrong to Castle Rock’s Adrian Redgrove. The thirty craftsmen and women from both breweries who attended heard Adrian Redgrove mark the end of an era with thanks to his fellow craftsmen for the help they have given him over the years.
Adrian said, “It’s a very sad time for all of us who cherish the tradition of real ale, brewed in our neighbourhood, and brewed to local tastes. With the closure at Kimberley, and an end to a heritage that goes back to 1832, I think we are all the poorer for it. This party is our way of thanking the lads and lasses for what they’ve done for Nottinghamshire, to wish them well for the future and to acknowledge the assistance we’ve had from them.
“If anyone had suggested twenty years ago, that a micro brewery like Castle Rock would one day inherit the crown ‘biggest brewer in Nottingham’, we would have laughed in their face. And yet, this seems to have come about. It’s not something we expected nor, under the circumstances, enjoy – but it’s happened,” says Adrian.
Castle Rock’s commercial director, Colin Wilde, says, “It’s sad to see the closure, the redundancies and the end of 175 years of brewing history in Kimberley. It’s a poor state of affairs when bigger businesses from outside Nottinghamshire can make decisions to the detriment of local families and the local economy.
“We wish all employees affected by the closure every success in the future.”

Adrian Redgrove, head brewer, Castle Rock Brewery; with Hardys and Hansons, cellar charge hand, Owen Hemstock (40 years service); head brewer, Martin Armstrong (24 years); brewing foreman, Andy Hyslop (27 years); and Castle Rock’s assistant brewer, Neil Harrison

Martin Armstrong, head brewer Hardys and Hansons presents Adrian Redgrove, head brewer, Castle Rock Brewery with the certificate recognising his brewery’s new position.

New Heights for Castle Rock
3 Peaks, Castle Rock Brewery’s special ale made to raise funds for a charity to build an arts centre in Nottingham, has the unique distinction of being carried up and enjoyed at the summit the highest mountains in England, Wales and Scotland within 24 hours.
Carried by two Nottingham city councillors, Jon Collins and John Taylor and their regular walking companion, Nigel Cooke, the sponsored ale was enjoyed to toast the safe arrival at each summit in their gruelling mountain marathon. John Taylor says the ale was surprisingly refreshing. “We did the three peaks walk on the hottest weekend of the year with temperatures in the 80s. Yet, the beer kept its head, and tasted superb – even if it was a little warm and bruised from its journey uphill in a rucksack. It was my job to take the ale up Snowdon, with Jon responsible for transporting the Ben Nevis tipple and Nigel, Scafell Pike.”
The sale of draught 3 Peaks in city centre pubs in Nottingham and Derby is expected to raise around £2,000 for Jon Collins’s Three Peaks Challenge which has already brought in more than twice its £10,000 target. All the monies are being collected towards the £500,000 Danielle Beccan appeal to create an arts and recreation centre in St Ann’s where the young girl lived before her death in 2004.
The funds are being administered by Nottinghamshire Community Foundation with donations welcome at www.justgiving.com/joncollins or by writing to the Lord Mayor’s Charity, (Danielle Beccan Appeal), Council House, Old Market Square, Nottingham NG1 2DT
L – r Nottingham city councillor John Taylor, Nigel Cooke and council leader, councillor Jon Collins sup the first of three special bottles of 3 Peaks bitter at 4,408 feet on Ben Nevis.

Honorary Aldermen all

Retired Lord Mayors, Sheriffs and councillors, Barry Jackson, David Ross, John Pennington, Bill Bradbury, Margaret Crowe, and Roy Greensmith make a toast to the future in award-winning Harvest Pale to mark their inauguration as Honorary Aldermen of the City of Nottingham.

Their appointments were announced at the annual ‘Mayor Making’ ceremony at Nottingham Council House at the start of the civic year in May. With them is Tynemill director Colin Wilde. Castle Rock Brewery was once again delighted to supply something eminently suitable for the toasts.

IT manager triumphs in Castle Rock Challenge

Ian Gregory, a campaign manager from Wilford-based IT specialists, XMA became top dog in the Castle Rock Brewery Challenge held at Keyworth Rugby Club in May.

Each competitor had to perform in a series of eight events against the clock to win the title of Castle Rock Champion. These included sit-ups, push-ups, squat thrusts, star jumps and a 400m run. The event tested strength, speed and stamina and ended with a weight lifting competition using beer barrels.
Ian, who is 26 and from Mapperley, was crowned Men’s Castle Rock Challenge Champion 2006 and received a personal cheque for £250.

As well as his role at XMA, he also plays as a first team player for Keyworth Rugby Club.

“I didn’t really train for the event” says Ian. “But then I do go the gym most evenings and play rugby so I guess I’m pretty fit. I enjoy a challenge but I have to admit, my legs were aching all last week.”

Colin Wilde, Castle Rock's commercial director says the challenge has been running for two years. “We always try to support our customers and communities and the Castle Rock Challenge is a great way of doing this. The event was a lot of fun to take part in and even more enjoyable to watch. Ian is a worthy winner.”