‘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.
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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.
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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.”
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 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.
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.
