A small number of commemorative bottles of beer have been created in memory of the late Spyke Golding and donated to the Nottingham CAMRA branch in a fitting tribute to the larger-than-life former chairman of Nottingham CAMRA and editor of Nottingham Drinker. Towards the end of his life he produced the 100th edition of the multi-award winning magazine while preparing for last year’s Robin Hood Beer Festival. His failing health did not allow him to attend.

Nottingham CAMRA chairman, Steve Westby, and Castle Rock’s John Francis, draw off Spyke Golding’s Ale at the Robin Hood Beer Festival.

For the 2011 event, a celebration ale had been brewed by Castle Rock Brewery. Some went for sale in pubs across the East Midlands and Yorkshire with the rest having been set aside and took pride of place at the festival in a special tent immediately adjacent to the entrance to the Nottingham Castle site. Its location reflected Spyke’s view that the first beer was too far uphill from the ticket office.

Now, around 35 pints of the festival version of the ale have been bottled and labelled as a longer term commemoration of the man and his achievements. The ale was drawn by current Nottingham CAMRA chairman, Steve Westby, as the festival opened on Thursday 13 October.

The unique brew based on one of Nottingham’s long gone favourites, Shipstone’s Bitter, Castle Rock’s Spyke Golding’s Ale 3.9% spent four weeks in two wooden hogsheads each containing in excess of 54 gallons and formerly used to age Scotch. The whisky infused version was unique to the festival and was sold to aid hospital charities, including Hospital’s Radio, on which Spyke had himself been a performer.

Peter (Spyke) Golding passed away in late October 2010 and was posthumously named one of CAMRA’s top 40 Campaigners of all time.

His ashes were scattered in the grounds of Nottingham Castle by life long friend, Mick Bajcar, in a ceremony attended by friends during the Robin Hood Beer Festival.

Spyke Golding’s ashes were scattered in the grounds of Nottingham Castle by life long friend, Mick Bajcar, in a ceremony attended by friends during the Robin Hood Beer Festival.

‘Robin Hood’ and ‘Maid Marian’ (Tim Pollard and Sally Chappell) with Nottingham CAMRA chairman Steve Westby (left) and Castle Rock Brewery’s Charlie Blomeley open the 2011 Robin Hood Beer Festival.