Locally produced beers are being given a dedicated day a month at Castle Rock pubs across the East Midlands and Yorkshire.  With the first Thursday of the month becoming LocAle Day, at least one, and as many as four real ales will be featured on draught with each conforming to the strict criteria set out when Nottingham CAMRA first created the environmental awareness scheme in 2007.

For the launch at the Bread and Bitter on Mapperley Plains, manager John Francis chose beers from Blue Monkey, Dancing Duck and Prior’s Well Breweries.

(l-r) John Hickling, Blue Monkey Brewery and Rachel Matthews, Dancing Duck Brewery with Bread and Bitter manager, John Francis, and Castle Rock’s managing director, Colin Wilde

Now, other pubs in the group including Sheffield’s New Barrack Tavern, Nottingham’s Lincolnshire Poacher and Stratford Haven will stock and promote LocAles on the regular first Thursday each month to be available alongside the pubs’ regular favourites from Castle Rock and other regional and national brewers.

“This is a celebration of all that’s good from local micro breweries,” says Castle Rock’s managing director, Colin Wilde.  “With some of our pubs having over a dozen real ale hand pumps available, there’s certainly room at the bar.  Giving local brewers an easier route to market fits our business philosophy perfectly and for our customers it means an interesting regular Thursday theme that’s bound to become a barstool talking point.

“It’s thanks to CAMRA for formalising a scheme that celebrates localness,” says Colin.