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All the latest news, views and essential information from Castle Rock Brewery
No:10 Summer 2016
www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk
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Welcome
CRQ is designed and produced by freerbutler limitedwww.freerbutler-gds.co.uk
Queensbridge Road, Nottingham NG2 1NB
Telephone: 0115 985 1615
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Welcome to our summer edition ofthe Castle Rock Quarter.
Our pubs are set up and raring togo. Cellars, ice machines and beerfridges are all chilled, while ouroutside areas are flourishing withgreenery and bright flowers for agreat place to enjoy a beer and a biteto eat. Make the most of it while youcan! While the other seasons
certainly have their charm, we all know that this is ourfavourite time of year, and it doesn’t hang on for long!
The summer of 2016 will not just be an outdoor affairthough, and as we roll into July there is the back-end ofEuro 2016, more cricket to watch and the Olympics too.When the sun gets too much, or if you want to dodge theraindrops, then we always have a quiet corner with yourname on it. The offer extends for those who may not givea hoot about the summer of sport!
Hopefully you’ve become accustomed to the great contentof this magazine and I’m sure you’ll join me in thankingthe production team and especially the editor, LivAuckland. The amount of effort she puts in to every issueto bring you the news and views from Castle Rock isexceptional.
Don’t let me keep you from the pages to follow, crammedonce again with details of what keeps us busy. Read on tolearn about our upcoming events, stories, products andinitiatives that we’ll bring to you this summer. You don’teven need to think about going anywhere else! Heavenforbid!
We enjoy what we do and nothing pleases us more thanhaving a pub full (inside and out) of satisfied customers,but we don’t take anything for granted. We work hard tocontinually improve and provide you with the bestproducts, premises and service that we possibly can. We’revery grateful for your continued support and shouldsomething not meet your expectations, please let us know.
Yours in beer (cider, wine and food)!
Colin WildeManaging Director @[email protected]
It’s 22 degrees outside and we’re just aboutsurviving thanks to the industrial strengthfan that turns the marketing office into abad nineties tornado movie every summer.And I’ve just had a moment gripped withhorror. This is the 10th edition. That wentfast. Scary fast.
Welcome to the10th edition ofthe Castle RockQuarter!
I’m starting to realise the phrase “time flies” isactually true, and not just something grumbly oldfolk say. I’m starting to realise this because, as Iwrite, it’s been just over three years since I plonkedmyself down in Castle Rock HQ. Not long after, weset about rejuvenating the annual Castle Rock Times,and work on the first edition of the Castle RockQuarter began.
So much has changed since then: directors have retired, pubs have beencreated and others we’ve said farewell to, new beers have been brewedand served to thirsty customers, and many lifelong memories have beenmade. Dare I say some of us have got a few more greys to boot. Yes, time seems to fly more and more as the years pass, and I’m prettyconfident saying that those working in marketing have got it harder thanmost. We may be chatting about summer in this edition, but those wintercelebrations are already underway behind the scenes…a hideous thought Iknow.
So, how do we slow it down? This modern life is a super busy one, and Ireckon rushing around like headless chickens isn’t helping any of us. I’mgoing to ask you to take some time this summer, wherever you find it. Ifyou’re reading this edition, chances are you’ve got a few free momentsright now. Either you’ve picked it up for a quick browse waiting for yourpint, or you’ve sat down to really tuck in and have a good read. Maybeyou’ve taken a copy home and you’re kicking back in the garden. We're in the business of brewing great beer and running great pubs, and both those things take time. There’s no rushingwhen it comes to executing a perfect pint, andthere should certainly be no rushing when itcomes to drinking a perfect pint. So slow itdown. Have a read, have a drink, and let’s enjoy whatever sunshine we get.
I hope you enjoy reading this edition as much as we enjoyed putting it together!
Liv AucklandEditor
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Beers in focus Beers of Summer Summer is finally here! Sure, it may be drizzly and grey outside while you’re readingthis, but the possibility of waking up to clear blue skies doesn’t seem quite so obscure.The promise of balmy evenings is upon us, the beer gardens are open and flourishing,and there’s no better way to bask in the longer days than at the pub with your lovedones. As always, there’s plenty of beer being brewed for the weeks ahead. We’ve got the return of some summerfavourites for you, a refreshing pilsner-style pale back by popular demand, and a fiery charity beer too. Morecreations from Traffic Street should be hitting bars any time now, which you can read about on page 7.
Without further ado, here’s to the beers of summer…
Andy Turner4.2% (July-September)Alongside the run-up to Rio 2016, wethought it was the perfect opportunity tocelebrate multi-medal winning track andfield athlete Andy Turner, born in Hucknall,Nottingham, Turner has competed in the Olympics, wongold at the Commonwealths and beencrowned a European champion. In 2010, Turner broke the world record inthe 200 metre hurdles. Since retiring, Turner has become achampion body builder. In celebration, we’ve brewed up a sessionIPA as number 24 in the NottinghamianCelebration Ales range. Andy Turner is refreshing, with aromas ofjuicy tropical fruit and a sturdy bitterness. Pair with: Caesar salad or seafood risotto.
Brian Clough 4.2% (June-August)That’s right. You heard. Brian Clough wasone of the fastest selling NottinghamianCelebration Ales ever when we launched thebeer back in January 2015. Flying out of the brewery in record time, itwas clear that across Nottingham andbeyond, Clough fans were keen to celebratethe best manager England never had. Now, Clough is back by popular demand intime for the Euro 2016 and the Britishsummer. This time, the brew stands outside of theNottinghamian Celebration Ales as part ofour 2016 ‘specials’ range. This pilsner-style pale ale is deliciouslymore-ish and easy drinking, with a floralaromas and a clean, bitter-sweet finish. Pair with: A beef or veggie burger, or useit to make batter!
Skylarks Reserve4.5% (June-August)Our range of beers in support of theNottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has been abig part of Castle Rock’s brewing identitysince they began in 2001. They continue tobe extremely popular and enable ourbrewers to produce a diverse selection ofbeers alongside our core range. Oursupport remains as strong as ever, with thecreation of four beers a year to raiseawareness and support the many beautifulWildlife Reserves in Nottinghamshire thatthe Wildlife Trust look after.Skylarks Nature Reserve is located at HolmePierrepont, near our very own Poppy & Pint,and is home to an array of wetland birds,with nearly 200 species of bird beingrecorded there. In true summery fashion,Skylarks is a German-style wheat beer withspice. It’s naturally cloudy, vegan friendly,and a sessionable 4.5% ABV. Pair with: A creamy pudding like vanillacheesecake or banoffee pie.
Baptism Of Fire 4.8% (July-September)Named after the military phrase for asoldier’s first experience of combatconditions, Baptism of Fire is brewed inremembrance to those who fought and fellin the Battle of the Somme. As one of thebloodiest battles in military history, we havecreated this beer to commemorate theSomme 100 years on. Baptism of Fire is number seven in theCommemoration Collection, which iscreated to honour the centenary of theGreat War, with one off beers available until2019. Each remembrance beer in this specialrange marks an event, person or people ofthe First World War. 10p from each pintsold is donated to the Royal British Legionand Amnesty International UK, supportingtwo charities which perform vital work inthe face of warfare. Baptism of Fire is an amber ale, infusedwith ginger for a fiery and warming finish. Pair with: Stir fry or fruit crumble.
Hemlock Bitter 4.0% (May-July)Hemlock is back again for summer 2016.This annual favourite is a full-flavoured,traditional session bitter. Midbrown incolour with a distinctive hoppy aroma,Hemlock is dry and bitter with a longaftertaste. At just 4.0%, it’s a great session beer. Pair with: A ploughman’s platter ofcheeses, pickle and rustic bread.
Trent Vale Reserve4.2% (September-November)Following Skylarks in the Wildlife Reserveseries, Trent Vale is a light brown bitter at4.2%. Earthy and spicy on the nose withbalanced, fresh hop taste, this beer isbrewed with an experimental US hopvariety. The Trent Vale area covers the RiverTrent and its surrounding landscape fromNewark to East and West Stockwith, justnorth of Gainsborough. Pair with: Sunday Roast or a hearty stew.
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Football in the CommunityOur Colin Wilde (MD) took part in the 15th annualNorth V South football match, which Castle Rocksponsored. The game was between the staff and friends of brewery workers and owners, andended in a convincing 5-nil thrashing of the northern squad at the hands of younger,leaner, fitter and frankly more talented players from the south…
The event was played in aid of NottsCounty's Football in the Communityprogramme, with Stuart Bateman in goal.This charity raises aspirations and supportssome of the most disadvantaged peopleacross Nottingham through sport. Thanksto Notts County, we also raised £500 for theNotts County Football in the CommunityProject.
An exhausted Colin Wilde, managing directorat Castle Rock Brewery who was assisted byNotts County's Neil Kelly to bring the fixtureto Nottingham for the first time, said:“Someof us may be getting a bit long in the toothfor this, but age and experience came intotheir own at the post match debriefing overpies and pints hosted by Castle Rock at theEmbankment and Canalhouse pubs, wherethe north excelled.”
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Managed Pub in Focus:
Fox &Crown In the charming markettown of Newark, just offthe thriving cattle marketon Appletongate, is thelovely Fox and Crown.
Castle Rock was born as ‘Tynemill’ 39 years ago when former MD ChrisHolmes took on the Old King’s Arms inNewark. And so began the Castle Rockmantra: ‘create a friendly, welcoming puband serve high quality beers’.
This goal remains at the core of what we do,and always will. Although we moved on fromthe Old King’s Arms, acquisition of the Fox &Crown in 1997 marked our return to Newark. A quaint and humble pub, the Fox comprisesof a few different sections around the bar.You can take a seat in the main bar for adrinks and a laugh with friends, hide yourselfaway in the little lounge room with the paper,or take in the peace of the courtyard beergarden, which is tucked away behind thepub.
The Fox offers up to ten cask ales and (soonto be) three craft keg beers. New managerDan says, “We’ve mixed up the beer range alot since I started. It used to be quitetraditional ale wise, but now we are regularlystocking some more modern beerstyles.” The Fox is also home for Alex McKenzie,Castle Rock’s cider guru, so real cider fansare sure to enjoy the range on offer. Flip topage 11 to find out which ciders Alexrecommends you try this summer.
The team at the Fox pride themselves onbuying local produce, with all meat, fish andvegetables sourced from the town. Even thecoffee is sourced from GH Porters, justaround the corner.
As we write this edition, the team has beenjoined by a new chef, Joseph, and he’salready cooking up some treats. We’ve beensampling homemade mozzarella sticks,mac’n’cheese, Jambalaya, and reaper chickenwings while the new menu is put together.This summer Joseph will also be creatingsome dishes in celebration of Hot Dog Day,Cheesecake Day and Welsh Rarebit Day toname a few.
The Fox and Crown is ideally located, whetheryou’re in Newark for recreation, culture ordelving into the history of the civil war. Downone of Newark’s many pleasant side roads,the Fox is just off the thriving cattle market, ashort stroll from the Church of St. MaryMagdalene, a couple ofminutes from thePalace Theatre, and lessthan a minute walkfrom the National CivilWar Centre. The pubalso features on theunique “Civil War AleTrail”.
Live music is a regularfeature, showcasingtalent from Newark,Nottinghamshire andbeyond. As we send toprint, a new Open MicNight is about tolaunch, and there’s theturning of brain cogs asthe team prepare for a
weekly quiz night, taking place every Tuesdaythanks to resident brainbox Drew.
Follow the team on Facebook and Twitter asDan and Joseph set the world to rights viagood food, good beer, and a very good pub.
Regular Events & Offers at theFox & Crown• Two for One Tuesdays - Buy 2 meals and get the cheapest free
• Burger & a Pint all day every day £7.95• Sunday Roasts 2 roasts and a bottle of wine for £20, 1 roast and a pint £7.95
• Quiz Night 9pm on Tuesdays, £2 per brain
Traffic Street SpecialsTraffic Report
Our last report was newsthat Dan had churned outtwo very different but verywonderful beers, reiteratedmash double IPA #8 Guns ofNavarone, clocking in at amodest 10.3%, and perhapsour fastest selling TrafficStreet to date, #9 EnjoyYourself, a grapefruit sessionpale.
We have a few things up oursleeve and we’re already startingto think of the Robin Hood Beerand Cider Festival… as well as afew other milestones. Dan, theminx that he is, has hidden away afew barrels of Guns of Navarone,Little Bitch and New Era to age up,and we might unleash a bit of thatto festival goers.
We’re also on the hunt for somewooden barrels which nowadays
seem like gold dust, especially to thelittle fish in the big pond. A 100%wooden cask Traffic Street bar doessound tempting. Dan and I visited theJunction in Castleford a while backnow, the manager of which serves all ofhis beer via wooden barrels (collectingand transferring the beer himself). Itwas inspired, and it’s quite obviousthat our love affair with proper woodenbarrels is still in the honeymoon stage.
In between our day-jobs, Dan and Ihave conceived the idea for two morebeer children and we’re really excited toget them out to you (but Dan has tobrew them first, which is the elatingand stressful part). First up, we have aBerliner Weisse with raspberries,soured with a lactobacillus culture andleft to mature. Dan has been asresourceful as ever in finding a way toget this to work! Second up, an Englishseasonal treat in the form of anelderflower and lemon pale ale, niceand sessionable and absolutely perfect
for the Summer. Dan handpickedthe elderflower heads at SkylarksReserve with the help of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
We might even leave the bugs inthere for a bit of extra wild yeast.(Just kidding… or are we?)
Thanks, as always, to Dan; withouthis unyielding and zealous beer mind,natural magnetism to often near-impossible tasks, as well as hisfabulous beard, Traffic Street wouldn’texist as it is today and it’s thanks tohim that we’ve been able to releasesome really interesting beers.
So, give us a follow on Twitter(@Traffic_Street and @TSSDroid)and keep in touch! We’re planning atap takeover (as well as launchingpotentially both of the new beers) atthe lovely Swan in the Rushes inLoughborough in August, and we’dlove to see you there.
During the last issue of the Castle Rock Quarter we were stillkind of feeling the fallout from the enigma that was #7 New Era, Traffic Street’s pale ale and pinot grigio hybrid.Since then, there have been waves of development pepperedwith moments of reflection, and a beer or two along the way.
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Lewis Townsend writes...
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The Goings OnFire Weekender The 1st Aprilmarked a yearsince a fireswept throughour lovelyWillowbrookpub in Gedling.The team at theWillowbrookthrew a ‘FireWeekender’, incelebration ofthe local fire-fighters, builders and staff, and of coursethe (very speedily created) new look ofthe pub. We’re hoping everything calmsdown now and the team at theWillowbrook can crack on with doingwhat they do best: running an excellentpub.
A Literary HeroIn April we launched the 23rd beer in theNottinghamian Celebration Ales range:D.H. Lawrence, brewed to commend thelife and works of the literary hero. Manysettings in Lawrence’s most famousworks, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, weredrawn from his years growing up inEastwood. The beer was brewed shortly afterNottingham received status as a UNESCOCity of Literature, after months of hardwork by a team of writers, boardmembers, students and ambassadors.It’s a permanent and well-deservedhonour for our fine city. Here’s to D.H. Lawrence, novelist, poet,painter, literary critic, and a man ofrebellious spirit.
In Good CompanyWe were super chuffed to be shortlistedfor the Nottingham Post BusinessAwards, alongside UNIdays and Paragon.The award went to the latter in the end,but our success in reaching the final ofsuch a prestigious award was an honour.Our MD Colin Wilde noted ourfinalist status was ‘completelydue to the efforts of everyonewho works for, andcontributes to, this company.’Congrats to UNIdays and toParagon, our fellow finalists!
Hey BirdyAs aforementioned, this year we broughtback Idle Valley Reserve, a single hoppedIPA brewed with a new UK hop varietyOlicana. Olicana is part of CharlesFaram’s hop development programmeand imparts juicy but subtle tropical fruitnotes.
Head of marketing Lewis Townsendvisited Idle Valley to re-launch the beerand take in some wildlife. The Idle ValleyNature Reserve is by far the largest sitecared for by the Nottinghamshire WildlifeTrust, covering over 450 hectares – thesize of about 600 football pitches. Lewis is pictured (above) with the gangat Idle Valley.
Best Bar(N)oneBest Bar None is anational awardscheme supported bythe Home Office, aimed atpromoting responsible management andoperation of alcohol licensed premise. 75towns and cities across the UK nowparticipate in the scheme, after resultsshowed an improvement in standards inthe night time economy. We were thrilledto find out that the Canalhouse and theKean’s Head had both been awardedGold in the Best Pub category.
Theatre by Canal,River or RoadWe’ve been supporters of MikronTheatre Company since Castle Rockbegan, and this year was particularlyexceptional. This touring season, thecompany is performing at a whopping150 venues and, having performed atthe Poppy and Pint many times over theyears, we were thrilled when Mikronreturned to the venue on their 45th year. On 15th June, Mikron brought to thestage ‘Canary Girls: Heroes on the HomeFront’. If you haven’t caught a showfrom Mikron yet, we highly recommendit. Find out more at www.mikron.org.uk
The Rook crowned Pub of the YearThe Rook and Gaskill, our most Northerly pub, has been crowned Pub of theYear by York CAMRA. The Rook, which also picked up the Cider Pub of the Year,was described as a “real ale landmark and a must do for anyone visiting thecity.” We’re so pleased for landlord Paul Marshall, his wife Mary, his son Johnjo, andthe rest of the team up North. Congratulations to you all! A truly deserved win.
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Tenanted pub in focus New Barrack Tavern The New Barrack in Sheffield holds a firm reputation has as a great real ale pub, localmusic venue, home of a monthly comedy club, and a hub forSheffield Wednesday and Sheffield Tigers. Kev and Steph Woods have beenrunning the ‘NBT’ for thirteen years,and in 2015 became tenants of thepub rather than managers. With awealth of experience behind them,daughter Rebecca making her way upthrough the ranks, and a humble,easy-going nature about them, theWoods have turned the New BarrackTavern into an excellent and uniquepub over the years.
There’s a good feeling when you stepinto the NBT; something betweenreturning home and having a minibreak.It’s a sizeable 1930s building separatedinto distinct areas, the main barshowcasing a row of gleaming real alehand pulls, leading to a large roomcomplete with stage area and adorned inmusic memorabilia, a light and airyfunction room, and a multi-award-winning walled beer garden which isalways sure to cheer your spirits. So withthis welcoming, homely vibe and anarray of entertainment (game of pool,anyone? Chess club? Stand-up comedyor live music perhaps?), you could prettymuch holiday at the Barracks.
We decided it was time for a catch upwith Team NBT, to find out what’s beengoing on the past year, and what’s inthe pipeline… Steph, what have you been up to sincebecoming a tenanted pub? Well I broke my ankle so was out ofcommission for a few months after goingtenanted. That wasn’t a great start toour journey. But overall it has been
brilliant.We’ve beendevelopingthe use ofthe functionroom (left),working onthe gardenas always,and we hada reallygreat nighta whileback with a
Traffic Street Specialstakeover which wentdown really well. Itwas so good to haveDan and Lewis hereshowcasing the rangeand celebrating inSheffield.
Tell us about yourrecent TV appearance… It was a reyt good season for SheffieldWednesday. It all got really exciting in therun up to us being in the Championshipplay off final at Wembley. Jimmy fromLost Industry Brewing made us a coupleof Sheffield Wednesday beers, which gotthe attention of their manager CarlosCarvalhal. So the Sheffield Star camedown and did a big feature, and then wewere joined by Sky Sports. It was sosurreal.
What are you up to at the moment?Any plans on the horizon…?We’re working on plans to extend thebar which will give us room for an extrafridge, more lines and more whiskeys.
Which events should we put in thecalendar? We have our annual music festival 26th-28th August and a charity festivalon Sunday 31st July 3pm. And there arethree all day comedy festivals too on 3rd,17th and 24th August pre-EdinburghFringe.
How would you describe the NewBarrack to someone who’s never beenbefore?
The Barracks is a great family-friendlypub. We give a warm welcome to newand old, just like pubs should be. Onceyou have been, we reckon you’ll want tocome back! We’re feeling pretty sure about thattoo…
Visit www.newbarracktavern.com Twitter @NewBarrackFacebook New Barrack Tavern Instagram new_barrack_tavern
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Nottingham Craft Beer Week
Real CiderCider Guru Alex McKenzie selects his favourite real ciders this summer.
Follow Alex on Twitter to have a chat @CiderGuruCRBThe real cider industry continues to grow, with new producers popping up all over the UK. While thereare many who have loved real cider for a long while, newcomers are moving from flavoured, fizzy ciderto the real deal. Our Cider Guru, Alex, is a vessel of real cider knowledge, so read on to find out whathe recommends…
Nottingham’s beer drinkers were growingin passion too, and the ranges grew andgrew. At the Kean’s Head, word wasspreading about a secret stash of beersavailable to the customer but tucked awayout of sight.
At the Canalhouse, Wayne Harvey became thedriving force behind world beers. Soon, thefridge was filled and another was on order. Bythe time Discover World Beers was official, therange at the Canalhouse was probably thebiggest in the East Midlands. Since then, thebar has been extended twice to house morefridges, and Wayne became ‘world beerbuyer’ for Castle Rock. Dedicated to sourcingthe most prestigious and exciting craft brewsfrom across the world, Discover World Beerswas introduced to other Castle Rock pubs,and it continues to get bigger and better.
Now, Nottingham has a thriving craft beerscene, and beer enthusiasts across the cityand beyond come together to celebrate,debate, and educate. The brewers anddrinkers are all focussed on one thing: thebeer.
2015 brought the inaugural Nottingham CraftBeer Week to our fine land, and Notts welland truly landed as Britain’s beer destination.This July the celebrations are back, and theheads of craft beer lovers are spinning inexcitement.
NOTTINGHAMCRAFT BEERWEEK 2016runs from Monday4th July toSunday 10th July
Read on to find outwhat DiscoverWorld Beers events are on this NottinghamCraft Beer Week. Other events will take placeat bars and bottle shops around the cityincluding Jam Café, Annie’s Burger Shack andthe Brew Cavern. Find out more by liking theNottingham Craft Beer Week page onFacebook, and using #ncbw16 on Twitter.
See Page 11 opposite to find out whichsession IPAs Wayne recommends thissummer.
Tiny Rebel – Rocksteady 5.5%
This Welshbrewery are wellrenowned for theirfantastic craft andcask offerings, buthave reallyhighlighted theirversatility inproducingRocksteady. Inpairing up with Hogan’s Ciders, Tiny Rebelhave come up with a delicious mediumhard cider, full of tangy apple flavour. Azesty option and only 5.5%.
Biddenden – Medium 8%
Those looking for a boozier option woulddo worse than to check out Biddenden’smedium cider, made with a blend ofKentish culinary and dessert apples.Clocking in at 8%, it’s not for the fainthearted, but is well worth a try. Definitelyon the sweeter side of medium, it givesplenty of warning of its high ABV, butdoesn’t lack in rich, sweet and sourflavours.
Worley’s – Beatnik Billy 5.5%
Somerset producerWorley’s have grownpopular in the SouthWest over the lastfew years and arenow starting toreach the EastMidlands. Beatnik Billyis light and refreshing sweetcider, with a sharp kick at the end. Anattempt to recreate the style of cidersbeing produced in the US of recent years,the name gives a nod to the ‘BeatGeneration’ of post-World War II.
Back when the rise of craft beer was just a ripple in the beer drinker’s glass, acouple of Castle Rock staff were especially passionate about the artisan beers ofEurope, and set about sourcing unique bottles from far and yonder.
Beers
NOTTINGHAM CRAFT BEER WEEKDISCOVER WORLD BEERS EVENTS (Entry is free)
Mon 4 Jul | From 5pm | Kean’s HeadWild Beer Co. Tap Takeover with GilesJenkinson
Wed 6 Jul | From 5pm | Kean’s HeadShiny Brewing Showcase & Meet theBrewer
Thu 7 Jul | From 6pm | CanalhouseElusive Brewing Tap Takeover & Meetthe Brewer
Thu 7 Jul | From 5pm | Embankment Thornbridge Cask & Keg Tap Takeover
Thu 7 Jul from 5pm – Fri 8 Jul to 11pm| Kean’s HeadOmnipollo & To ØI Tap Takeover
Fri 8 Jul | From 6pm | Canalhouse Fourpure Brewing Co. Tap Takeover
Sat 9 Jul | From 1pm | Kean’s HeadBuxton Brewery Tap Takeover & Meetthe Brewer
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Discover World Beers
@DiscoverWBeersFollow us to stay in the loop with offers, events and newsAs it’s summer I thought it best write about a style I reach for duringwarmer weather – entering stage right is the ‘Session IPA’. For someof you it won’t need much introduction but for others, you’ll be asking
‘what’s so special about it, we’ve always done session beers over here?’
Follow Wayne on
Twitter to stay up-to-date!
To give the style some context, the term‘Session IPA’ comes from the US (whereelse…). Beers in this category weredeveloped by US craft breweries to act asa counterpoint to the trend of everincreasing ABVs. The aim was to harnessall the flavour of an IPA but without somuch booze.
Cynical drinkers see the term as a marketingploy: a rebrand of the ubiquitous pale ale, anattempt at getting IPA drinkers to downgradeby hijacking the most popular acronym inbeer – particularly in the US where craft beerdrinkers have grown used to 6% and abovefor their everyday beers.
No matter what viewpoint you take, the termSession IPA has taken off and it’s here to stay.
Our first encounter with this style was fromMichigan’s Founders, whose All Day IPA hasfeatured in the column before. Intense citrusaromas will tell you this is an IPA and notyour run-of-the-mill pale ale. It’s fairly light
bodied and easy drinking, a quintessentialexample of the style. Other American varietiesin our bars include Firestone Walker EasyJack, a very pale ale with aromas of melonand sweet citrus, and Stone Go To IPA which,again, is very pale with big tropical fruitaromas (think pineapple and guava).
We have a long history of session strengthbeers in the UK (most cask ales are under5%, be they mild, stout, bitter or blonde ale)and so this newfound style has translated tothe UK market too. British brewers werearguably producing modern, hop forwardSession IPAs well before the US cottoned ontoit (Dark Star Hophead and Roosters Yankeespring to mind) but we’ll leave that there,shall we?
UK breweries such as Fourpure andBeavertown have US inspired session IPA’s intheir core line-up. Fourpure’s is lighter thantheir regular pale ale which allows the hopflavours and aromas to shine (their Pale Ale isno slouch in that regard either).
Beavertown’s Neck Oil evolved from atraditional English bitter into its current form:a bold and aromatic pale ale. The name saysit all. It’s something to slake the thirst but intrue craft form there’s oodles of flavour too.You’ll find both beers in can and on draughtin our bars so check them out if you haven’talready.
While you’re at it, there are some great localbrewers that have added Session IPAs to theirranges. Totally Brewed Guardian of the Forestand Black Iris Endless Summer hit thosehoppy high notes that you would expect froman IPA but clock in at 3.8 and 4.5% respectively. Our very own Traffic StreetSpecial’s Enjoy Yourself even had addedgrapefruit to enhance the citric hoppyflavours.
So if you’re a bit of a hophead (like me) andyou’re looking for something to quench yourthirst during the Summer months, then giveone of the above a go, you might just findyour new favourite beer.
Summer sessions
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Cuisine All Around the World As you probably know, the Canalhouse is a hub for beer enthusiasts, with animpressive range of 6 real ales, 9 keg beers and over 250 bottles. But beer at theCanalhouse isn’t just about hundreds of prestigious brews to quench your thirst,it’s also dining experience. Every dish on the menu at the Canalhousecomes with a suggested beer pairing. Bychoosing the paired dish and beer, you’resure to experience the full potential of theflavours and feel of both.
On the food menu you’ll find ‘Beer Bites’and ‘World Beer Burgers’, created tocelebrate the diversity of our favouritebeverage. For the peckish, Beer Bitesincludes beer battered onion rings, beerbattered Gurnard fillets, and Hoppedchicken wings.
But…those ready for a proper lip-smackin’meal should turn to the World BeerBurgers. We popped over to chat with head chefChris Maxwell, who explained: ‘We wantedto do something different with our burgers.It’s not just about the toppings; it’s aboutusing different meats too. Now we use beef,chicken, kangaroo, buffalo, veal, ostrich,wagyu, springbok and anything we thinkwill make a great burger. These aren’t huge‘challenge’ burgers, our goal is to create anauthentic taste and experience.’
Chris of course cooked some up for us. It’sa hard life. Read on to see which burgerswe tried, and why they pair so well with theselected brews…
Thai Chicken Burger Minced chicken with chilli, garlic,lemongrass, shallot, galangal and kaffir limeleaves, topped with an Asian slaw andserved in a floured bun.
Paired with Firestone Walker Pivo HoppyPils, 5.3%Pivo is impeccably balanced with floralaromatics and spicy herbal nuances, withzest and lemongrass notes.
Why Pivo? A little bit ofbitterness from Pivo willhelp cut through the chilliheat and spice, while thefloral and zestcomplements the flavours.
All AmericanBurgerMinced beef burger toppedwith cheddar cheese, beerbattered onion rings andhomemade bbq pulled pork,served in a glazed KrispyKrème doughnut.
Paired with a bottle of Brooklyn Lager,5.2% ABVBrooklyn Lager is an amber-gold lager withrefreshing bitterness and a floral hoparoma. Why Brooklyn? Brooklyn has a real maltsweetness to it that complements beef,while the floral hop bitterness contrasts themeat and refreshes the palette.
Italian Burger Minced beef with fresh basil and sun-blushed tomato, filled with mozzarellacheese and topped with Milano salami andprosciutto in a floured bun.
Paired with a bottle of Fruh Kolsch, 4.8%Kolsch has a beautiful carbonation, witharomas of fruit, lemons and grains, with asolic bitterness. Why Fruh Kolsch? It’s light enough to notoverpower the Italian flavours, but effervescent enough to cut through themeat and cheese.
Australian BurgerKangaroo burger topped with meltedcheese andbarbecuedshrimp,served in afloured bun.
Paired witha bottle ofLittleCreatures Pale Ale, 5.2%Little Creatures Pale Ale is a classic,American-style pale bursting with flavourand aroma. Why Little Creatures? Citrusy hops reallycomplement prawns, and cut right throughthe richness of Kangaroo meat
Alongside World Beer Burgers, theCanalhouse food menu also includesdaily changing specials, PieMinisterpies, seasonal salads and rusticsandwiches.
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Editor’s picksFull listings on our website - Upcoming Events
Throughout JulyPicnic Month!At the Vat & Fiddle and the Golden EagleSummer has officially landed (whatever theweather) when it’s time for a picnic!Celebrate one of our favourite Britishpastimes with at the Vat & Fiddle, whereyou can tuck into a range of differentPloughman’s picnics, and at the GoldenEagle, where you can bring the family for ahomemade picnic in the beautiful beergarden without the hassle of preparing ityourself!
Sat 2nd July 68 SpecialAt the Poppy & Pint, 9pm, freeElvis tribute band 68 Special are back bypopular demand at the Poppy! Enjoy a nightof fancy dress, dancing and singalong, andtuck into some indulgent American foodwashed down with USA brews.
Sat 2nd – Mon 4th July Tour de FranceShowing at multiple Castle Rock pubs,including the Bread & Bitter, home to alovely local Velo club!
Sun 17th- Sat 23rd JulyBelgian WeekThe Canalhouse celebrates Belgian Weekwith a special food menu and offers onBelgian beers.
Fri 22nd JulyMilestone Brewery Tap TakeoverAt Swan in the RushesCromwell’s Milestone Brewery take over the taps at the Swan with both cask and keg beers. Entry is free and kicks off at 7pm.
Wed 27th JulyScotch Whisky DayThe Bread & Bitter celebrates with offersand a daily special made using Scotch, whileat the Vat & Fiddle you can double up for£2, the Swan in the Rushes showcases arange of over 30 whiskys, the Willowbrookpairs whisky with special food dishes, andthe Golden Eagle host a scotch whiskytasting evening, including their famousGame Pie. Back in Nottingham, the Kean’s Head host atasting evening in collaboration with theWhisky Shop: four exciting beers are pairedwith four whiskys, accompanied by beer andwhisky based nibbles. To find out more visit www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/whisky-day
Wed 27th July- Wed 10th AugustWimbledonMake like the Brits at the Bread & Bitter.Watch Wimbledon while tucking into acucumber sandwich, strawberries and creamand a cuppa. Only £7.
Fri 5th AugustInternational Beer DayWell obviously this is one of our annual celebrations, and all Castle Rock pubs arepulling out the stops as usual. We’ll beshowcasing our craft beers with samples totantalise your taste buds, guest beers andbottles to try, and offers (like 20p off all keg,bottle and can beers at the LincolnshirePoacher) for you to enjoy.
Fri 5th- Sun 21st AugustRio Olympics 2016The Olympic Games are back. We’ll beshowing what we can, where we can, andthe Bread & Bitter will be serving up anOlympic Breakfast for those in need offuelling up!
Sun 7th AugustIPA DayDo we need an excuse to celebrate IPAs?Not really, but we won’t turn it down. AllCastle Rock pubs will have your favouriteIPAs on the bar, and you’re sure to find a fewnew and exciting brews to try too. Just to getyour juices flowing, the Kean’s Head will beshowcasing a session IPA, a Double IPA, aBlack IPA, an Imperial IPA, and creatingspecial dishes including IPA steamed fish andIPA beer truffles. Be sure to follow your CRBlocal to learn about special offers on the day!
Sat 13th AugustWaterfront FestivalAt Canalhouse One of Nottingham’s most highly regardedmusic festivals is back this summer. Bringingtogether the best Notts musicians acrossmultiple stages, Waterfront fest is a one daycelebration of fine local talent. I’m Not FromLondon and Audacious Face Music arebehind the extravaganza, which has raisedover £17,000 for charity over the years. Visitthe Nottingham Waterfront Festival onFacebook to find out more, and be sure toget your tickets early before they sell out!
Sun 21st AugustHoney Bee DayAt the Golden Eagle and the WillowbrookIn celebration of World Honey Bee Day, theGolden Eagle have created a unique GinTasting event with honey-themed High Tea.Tickets are £20 and the afternoon starts at
3pm. Over at the Willowbrook, specialhoney-themed dishes and drinks will becreated in a bid to save our bees!
Thu 25th AugustLost Industry Tap TakeoverAt the Kean’s HeadThe Kean’s throw a glorious Tap Takeoverand Meet the Brewer evening withSheffield’s Lost Industry, showcasing 10 kegand 5 cask beers from this new andinnovative brewery. More details to follow,so keep up with the Kean’s on social media.
Sun 28th August Summer Bank HolidayAt the WillowbrookFinally! It’s the summer bank holiday andthe Willowbrook will be partying with livemusic, a BBQ and pitchers of Pimms! Followthe Willowbrook to stay up to date.
3rd September Lady Bay Summer FestivalAt Poppy & PintThe perfect family fest is back this summerin Lady Bay! Bring the whole family for a freeday out and enjoy live music, performances,displays, stalls, and delish food and drink.The fun kicks off at midday!
Sat 3rd SeptemberWelsh Rarebit DayPop along to the Kean’s Head for a servingof traditional Welsh rarebit and a pint ofWelsh cask beer from the likes of Tiny Rebel,Waenm Otley, Seren or Crafty Devil for just£6.95!
7th SeptemberSalami DayIs it a weird one? Maybe a tad. But theLincolnshire Poacher and the Fox &Crown will be celebrating ye ould curedsausage in style… It’s time for an Italianfeast over at the Willowbrook, with anauthentic Italian five course meal, just likeMama would cook, prepared by a real Italiancook using wine and beer. Tickets are £30 per head. Follow theWillowbrook to find out more!
9th SeptemberMiles and EricaAt Poppy & PintTrap 6 Events introduce Miles Hunt andErica Nockalls, who have toured the UK,Europe and the USA since 2006. Performingacoustic shows including tracks from theirown albums, the pair also plays WonderStuff material and the occasional cover. To buy tickets visit gigantic.com
14 www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/event
July 2016
August 2016
September 2016
MONDAYSBread & Bitter: Curry & Quiz Night. Curry, rice,naan and a drink for just £8.95, from 5pm. Horse & Plough: Burger and Beer Night, £9.90 from 5pm Kean’s Head: Pizza Night, using homemade beerpizza dough. £10.95 from 5pmStratford Haven: Curry & Pie Night, £7.95 from 5pm Willowbrook: Pie & Pint Night, £10 from 5pm.
TUESDAYSPoppy & Pint: Curry & Quiz Night, £7.95 from 5pm (Quiz £1 from 9pm)Stratford Haven: Pie & Pint Night, £9.95 from 5pmVat & Fiddle: Curry & Pint Tuesdays, £7.95 from 12noon-8pm Willowbrook: Quiz Night from 9pm, free.
WEDNESDAYS:Embankment: Pizza Night, 2 pizzas and a bottle ofhouse wine, £24.95 from 5pm. (Live acoustic music from 7pm)Horse & Plough: 2 for 1 meals from 5pmStratford Haven: Steak & Blues Night, a new menueach week (with veggies catered for) and live Blues.From 5pm.
THURSDAYSHorse & Plough: live music the first Thursday of themonth starting at 9:30pmSwan in the Rushes: Charnwood Brewery TapTakeover on the last Thursday of the month, andFunhouse Comedy on first Thursday of the month Willowbrook: Curry & Pint Night, £10 from 5pm.
Regulars
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Live | Work | Play | Stay In June, we were joined for the second year by students from the Grads4Nottmscheme. Created by Nottingham City Council, NTU and Boots UK, Grads4Nottm isdesigned to support the graduate retention in Notts. We set our three students the taskof tackling the biggest event on our calendar: the Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival. Grads4Nottm is now in its 3rd year ofoffering NTU students a two-week workexperience placement with a localbusiness. Participating students have theopportunity to build on their employabilityskills, and experience the graduate jobmarket in Nottingham. Last year 86% ofthe businesses said the work produced byNTU Talent was excellent or very good,and 72% said the scheme supported themin building brand awareness.
Our marketing team is 100% NTU alumniwho decided to stay and work in Nottingham,and of course across our pubs you’ll find tensmore NTU students and graduates, so itdidn’t take much to persuade us to getinvolved! Grads4Nottm states that theinitiative connects local businesses with thethriving pool of Nottingham students andgraduates-to-be. Well, seeing as we ended up
hiring one of our 2015 Grads4Nottmstudents, we’d say that’s definitely true…
Emmie Studencki, Business DevelopmentConsultant at NTU says: “The scheme is afantastic opportunity for employers to recruitNTU Talent to complete or kick-off a project,in an area where they have a skills shortage.Students and graduates apply to thechallenge not knowing who the company isminimising brand bias and focusing on theskills and strengths of the student. This is aneffective recruitment tool for employers thatwould like to attract the right candidate. Thisyear we have had over 100 students placedacross 34 businesses.”
It’s been an absolute pleasure to be joined bysome of NTU’s bright young things, and wecan’t wait for you to see what they came upwith for the beer festival!
For more informationcontact [email protected]
Pictured: Farah, Jonny and Hassan
events in Castle Rock pubs are updated daily
12th SeptemberVideo Game DayAt the Fox & CrownThe Fox make use of the big screen forplaying classic video games…think N64, PS2and Wii. Ready, set, to the pub you go!
17th September-3rd OctoberOktoberfestAt CanalhouseThe Canalhouse discount German beers andcreate a special German food menuespecially for Oktoberfest 2016. OtherCastle Rock pubs will be celebrating too, asalways. Visitwww.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/oktoberfest tofind out more.
18th SeptemberFunhouse ComedyAt Swan in the RushesA night of live stand-up comedy fromFunhouse, with at least 5 comedians for just£5. Visit www.funhousecomedy.co.uk to findout more.
Sunday 19th SeptemberTalk like a Pirate Day at the Kean’s HeadCome to the Kean’s and order one of ourfantastic rums with the correct accent for a50p discount!
23rd July Hotdog DayFox & Crown, Willowbrook, Swan in theRushes
COMING SOON: This July the Kean’s Head will be launchinga monthly “break-even” keg event, kickingoff with Almanac Pumpkin Sour. Follow the Kean’s on social media to getinvolved.
Castle Rock beer will be at Splendour againthis year, held in Woollaton Park,Nottingham, on 23rd July
September 2016
A national award-winning blondebeer. American hopsgive a refreshinglycrisp, citrus finish.
A well balanced,award-winning dark
mild with somebitterness.
Full-bodied but notoverly sweet.
A full-bodiedpremium bitter of
typical East Midlandscharacter. Perfect
bitter-sweet balance.
3.8%3.8% 4.4%
Brewed to be atraditional session alewith a malty bitter
taste.
3.4%
Brewed with freshColumbian coffee
beans. Flavours of richchocolate and coffeeare in the nose, andthe taste is smooth
and lasting.
4.5% 5.5%
American-style red alebrewed with darkcrystal malt, plus
El Dorado and Kohatuhops.
4.3%
Core Castle Rock Beers
Castle Rock PubsALEXANDRA HOTEL203 Siddals Road, Derby DE1 2QETel: 01332 293993e-mail: [email protected]: Alexandra Hotel T: @Alex_Pub_Derby
CASTLE ROCK TAPROOM & KITCHENFirst Floor Departure Lounge, East Midlands AirportOperated by Autogrill
FOREST TAVERN/MAZE257 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FTTel: 0115 947 5650email: [email protected] • web: www.themazerocks.comF: The Maze T: @themazenotts
KEAN’S HEAD46 St. Mary’s Gate, Nottingham NG1 1QATel: 0115 947 4052 e-mail: [email protected]: Kean’s Head T: @keanshead
NEWSHOUSE123 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7HBTel: 0115 952 3061e-mail: [email protected]: The Newshouse T: @NewshouseNotts
STRATFORD HAVEN2 Stratford Rd, W. Bridgford, Nott’m NG2 6BATel: 0115 982 5981 e-mail: [email protected]: Stratford Haven T: @stratfordhaven
BREAD AND BITTER153-155 Woodthorpe Dr, Mapperley, NG3 5JLTel: 0115 960 7541e-mail: [email protected]: Bread Bitter T: @breadandbitter
DERBY TUP387 Sheffield Rd, Chesterfield S41 8LSTel: 01246 454316e-mail: [email protected]: The Derby Tup T: @TheDerbyTup
FOX AND CROWN4-6 Appletongate, Newark, Notts NG24 1JYTel: 01636 605820e-mail: [email protected]: The Fox & Crown Newark T: @TheFoxandCrown
LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER161-163 Mansfield Road, Nott’m NG1 3FRTel: 0115 941 1584e-mail: [email protected]: Lincolnshire Poacher T: @lincpoacher
POPPY AND PINTPierrepont Road, Lady Bay, Notts NG2 5DXTel: 0115 981 9995e-mail: [email protected]: Poppy & Pint T: @PoppyandPint
SWAN IN THE RUSHES21 The Rushes, Loughborough LE11 5BETel: 01509 217014 e-mail: [email protected]: Swan Rushes T: @swanrushes
HORSE AND PLOUGH25 Long Acre, Bingham, Notts NG13 8AFTel: 01949 839313 e-mail: [email protected]: Horse and Plough T: @HorseandPlough
WILLOWBROOK 13 Main Rd, Gedling, Nottingham NG4 3HQTel: 0115 987 8596 e-mail: [email protected]: The Willowbrook T: @WillowbrookCRB
CANALHOUSE48-52 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7EHTel: 0115 955 5060e-mail: [email protected]: Canal House T: @canalhousebar
EAGLE144 West Street, Boston, Lincs PE21 8RETel: 01205 361116e-mail: [email protected]: The Eagle T: @TheEagleBoston
GOLDEN EAGLE21 High Street, Lincoln LN5 8BDTel: 01522 521058e-mail: [email protected]: The Golden Eagle Free House T: @GoldenEaglePub
NEW BARRACK TAVERN601 Penistone Road, Sheffield S6 2GATel: 0114 232 4225e-mail: [email protected]: New Barrack Tavern T: @NewBarrack
ROOK AND GASKILL12 Lawrence Street, York YO10 3WPTel: 01904 655450e-mail: [email protected]: The Rook and Gaskill T: @RookGaskillYork
VAT AND FIDDLE (The Brewery Tap)
12-14 Queensbridge Rd, Nottingham NG2 1NBTel: 0115 985 0611 e-mail: [email protected]: Vat and Fiddle T: @VatandFiddle
All of our pubs follow the latest allergen legislation. Further details are available in each establishment.
The next issue of Castle Rock Quarter is published in October
F: Sheriff TippleT: @SheriffTipple
Blonde and beautifulsingle malt golden ale
refreshing on thepalate.
4.7%
F: Elsie MoT: @Elsiemocrb
A national champion.Strong India Pale Ale.Lots of everything soproceed with caution.
F: Screech OwlT: @ScreechOwlCRB
F: Castle Rock Brewery
T: @CRBrewery
EMBANKMENT282-284 Arkwright St, Nottingham NG2 2GRTel: 0115 986 4502e-mail: [email protected]: Embankment Pub & Kitchen T: @EmbankmentNottm
T: @RedRidingHoodCR
For details of upcoming and future seasonal beers please see pages 4 & 5 in this issue
Breakthroughpoint Ltd
Beer Consortium
Lady Bay Inns
Beer Consortium
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Tenanted pub
