Toby Jugg
, 12 November 2007
Fun at the Forest
I am indebted to fellow beerhunters Bob Jackson and Steve Wood, who were among more than a dozen members of Solihull CAMRA packing out the marquee at the Forest Hotel's beer festival in Dorridge last weekend.
Among the ales on offer, they tell me, were Hook Norton's ever-popular Old Hooky (4.6% ABV), Wychwood's formidable Hobgoblin (5%), Wyre Piddle's disconcertingly-titled Piddle in the Hole (3.9%) and Jennings' creamy Cumberland (4%). In addition, owners Gary and Tracy Perkins laid on two of Thatcher's real ciders, Cheddar Valley (6%) and Heritage (4.9%).
The couple have spent the past six years refurbishing the Forest, but this was their first beer festival. "It seemed a very British thing to do," Tracy explained after a pint of the "excellent" Old Hooky.
Let's hope their success turns this into a regular event. And if you feel like following suit, word reaches me the Crown Inn on Henley Road, Claverdon, is looking for a new owner following Irene Young's decision to retire. It's a fine old rural pub, much favoured by locals and passing hikers alike, and deserves to stay in independent hands.
Toby Jugg
, 29 October 2007
Solihull Ale Has Plenty of Bottle
Barely had the ink dried upon last week's column than fellow CAMRA member Kevin Clarke was leaping to the defence of Solihull Silver Shield, the commemorative ale he and Robert Cawte helped concoct for this year's Solihull Beer Festival. Whilst admitting the bottled variety – 4.8% ABV and available from Bernie's Off-Licence in Shirley – is indeed still a little lively, Kevin pointed out the cask version calmed down nicely, one reason why it was the first beer to run out that weekend and went on to win the "best of festival" accolade.
It had plenty of competition, too. Of the stronger ales, I particularly enjoyed both Exmoor's Beast (6.6%; rich, dark, reminiscent of Theakston's Old Peculier) and Thornbridge's Jaipur IPA (5.9%; refreshingly fruity and hoppy). Just below in alcohol content, Durham's Black Bishop (5.5%) was dark and malty, whilst York's similarly malty Centurion's Ghost (5.4%) was deceptively light and an understandable medal winner at the 2007 Great British Beer Festival.
If any readers still feel in the festival mood, Wednesday sees the launch of the Stoke Beer Festival at the town's Kings Hall. The event runs until Sunday and features more than 200 ales and ciders. Check out the CAMRA Potteries website for full details.
Toby Jugg
, 15 October 2007
Shining Success for Silver Shield
If ever an event was the victim of its own success, it was the ninth annual Solihull Beer Festival, held last weekend at the Royal British Legion in Union Road. More than half of the stock had been downed by close of play on Friday, when a record 340 visitors turned up to sample the best of British ales, so it was scarcely surprising that the 30 beers and ciders were exhausted well before the festival was scheduled to shut its doors on Saturday evening.
By a curious coincidence, Solihull Silver Shield (4.8% ABV), brewed to celebrate Solihull CAMRA's twenty-fifth birthday, was both the first and final beer to disappear. The cask version ran out on Friday, but a crate of the bottled variety was discovered under a table long after the towels had been thrown on, making it the perfect choice to toast the unprecedented turn-out.
Silver Shield's a lively ale, arguably a little too young at this stage, but it proved highly popular and grabbed the hotly-contested "best of festival" accolade. Many congratulations to CAMRA members Kevin Clarke and Robert Cawte, who collaborated with the folks at Tunnel Brewery to create this local champion. Why not pick up a bottle or three from Bernie's Off Licence in Shirley and check it out for yourself?
Toby Jugg
, 8 October 2007
Festival Time
As regular readers of this column will be well aware, the Royal British Legion in Union Lane opens its doors at 5:30pm this coming Friday for the ninth annual Solihull Beer Festival. Entrance costs a tenner, which includes admission, a limited-edition commemorative glass and up to seven pounds' worth of real ale, cider or perry (unused tokens can be cashed in at the exit, or donated to charity).
As usual, there'll be a full selection of "session" beers as well as stronger brews for the more adventurous. Among those already confirmed are Copper Dragon's aromatic Golden Pippin (3.9% ABV), Durham's full-bodied stout Black Bishop (5.5%), Hop Back's malty Odyssey (4.0%) and Exmoor's aptly-named dark beer Beast (7.0%). You can check out the full list of guest ales via the link at the end of the article.
In addition, there'll be two very special beers, created for the occasion by local CAMRA members: Tunnel's Solihull Silver Shield (4.8%), brewed to mark Solihull CAMRA's twenty-fifth birthday, and Church End's Pilgrim Father and Son (3.8%), which uses local hops.
If you want to know which real ales are regularly available in this region, the Festival will also be selling copies of Roger Protz's Good Beer Guide 2008 ("the beerhunter's bible", as my predecessor Martin Collinge once dubbed it) – plus CAMRA members get a 27% discount on the cover price. What's not to celebrate?
Toby Jugg
, 1 October 2007
Come Join Our Birthday Party
Just eleven days to go until Solihull's ninth annual beer festival opens at the Royal British Legion, Union Road. Local members of the Campaign for Real Ale will have no fewer than 30 beers on tap, as well as two ciders and a perry, plus there's a special appearance by the folk group Cairde on Saturday night.
The festival coincides with Solihull CAMRA's twenty-fifth birthday, and we're marking the occasion with the launch of our own commemorative beer, Silver Shield, created in collaboration with North Warwickshire's Tunnel Brewery. You can read about the brewing process and our other activities on this site.
Among the rival ales available during the festival will be Pilgrim Father and Son, brewed at Church End using hops gathered from the garden of Solihull CAMRA member Bob Jackson. That's quite a step up from a homebrew kit!
If you're unavailable on 5-6 October – or if our own event whets your appetite for more of the same – the Forest Hotel in Dorridge is hosting its first best festival on 26-28 October, with 10 barrels of real ale as well as a selection of cider and wine. Full details are available at the hotel's website.
Toby Jugg
, 24 September 2007
Go Green - Drink Real Ale
If worrying about the environment is driving you to drink, then choosing real ale may actually help reduce global warming.
That's the conclusion of research conducted by the Campaign for Real Ale, which highlights the benefits of downing a regional brew as opposed to one of the mass-produced brands. Not only will you cut down on unnecessary "beer miles" and boost the local economy, but there's a huge saving in energy costs due to draught real ale being served cool, rather than so superchilled you risk freezing your tastebuds off. The report fails to mention whether switching from fizzy lagers will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but I have my suspicions.
According to a CAMRA poll, 54 per cent of British adults want to see at least one of this country's 600 small breweries represented in every pub, but many outlets offer little or no choice for the discerning drinker – not exactly the hallmark of an industry with its customers' best interests at heart.
If you'd like to sample some of the top local ales, why not come along to the ninth annual Solihull Beer Festival, being held at the Royal British Legion in Union Road, 5-6 October? Check out this website for further information on this and our other activities.
Toby Jugg
, 6 September 2007
Festival Sunk, Not Pints
It will come as little surprise to hear that the past six weeks' near-continuous downpours have badly hit brewers and publicans across the Midlands and Northern England.
The latest casualty is the Worcester Beer Festival, originally scheduled for 16-18 August. Unfortunately, with most of Worcester Racecourse still submerged by up to four feet of contaminated floodwater, the organising committee decided on Thursday evening to call the event off. If a replacement gathering is announced, I'll include it in a future column.
Further north, Sheffield's Kelham Island Brewery found its title more apt than usual, as sludge poured into the cellar and ruined 40,000 pints of real ale. Owner Dave Wickett is already planning a relaunch, however, with a new beer named for the Bruce Springsteen track "After the Flood".
Similarly optimistic is Nottinghamshire's Springhead Fine Ales, home of Puritans Porter and Roundheads Gold, which was forced to abandon its premises in rural Sutton-on-Trent but is already scouting for a new location. Let's wish them luck.
Toby Jugg
, 30 July 2007
Festival Fever
One of the highlights of the Beerhunter's life is attending the many festivals held across this sceptred isle each year. Not only do they offer an excellent opportunity to sample regional ales and ciders, but it's a chance to meet fellow enthusiasts and brag about the more obscure brews you've encountered.
The summer schedule is already in full swing, but there's still time to catch festivals in Worcester (16-18 August, Worcester Racecourse), Leamington Spa (31 August – 1 September, Harbury Village Hall), Tamworth (6-8 September, Assembly Rooms, Corporation Street), Birmingham (13-15 September, Aston Students Guild) and Burton-on-Trent (20-22 September, Town Hall).
Meanwhile, Solihull members of the Campaign for Real Ale are hard at work on the town's ninth annual beer festival, which will be held at the Royal British Legion, Union Lane, on 5-6 October. The event marks the branch's twenty-fifth anniversary, and we'll be celebrating the occasion with the launch of a commemorative ale, Golden Silver, specially produced by Warwickshire's Tunnel Brewery.
Finally, my recommendation of the week, spotted at Sainsbury's in Shirley: Chalky's Bite, from the Cornish brewer Sharp. Named for the late Jack Russell owned by local chef Rick Stein, it's a hoppy ale with a citric edge emphasised by the use of wild fennel. At a hefty 6.8 per cent, it's not a beer to be downed in large quantities, but I found it an excellent accompaniment to seafood and pasta.
Toby Jugg
, 16 July 2007
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Despite last Friday's inclement weather, Solihull Farmers' Market was considerably brightened by a stall promoting the North Warwickshire microbrewery Tunnel, which has brought brewing back to rural Ansley after a gap of more than 100 years.
Named for the 18th Century railway construction adjacent to the village's Lord Nelson Inn, Tunnel offers a surprisingly diverse range of bottle-conditioned beers, including the hoppy American-style pale ale Boston Beer Party (5.6%), the malty Nelson's Column (5.2%), the Belgian-style wheat beer Jean "Cloudy" Van Damme (5%) and their session bitter Late Ott (4%).
The company's run by Bob Yates, Mike Walsh and Bob's wife Linda, who had the unenviable job of braving the rain on Friday; Bob and Mike also host tasting sessions and tours of the site (call them on 024 7639 6450 for details). If you don't fancy a trip up the Birmingham Road, you can always catch them at September's market.
Finally, warmest congratulations to Richard and Barbara Norton at the Fieldhouse in Monkspath, which has beaten off stiff opposition to be named Solihull & District CAMRA's Pub of the Year.
Toby Jugg
, 9 July 2007
When Beerhunters Attack!
It's in its nature that much of the work conducted by the Campaign for Real Ale – both locally, through branches such as Solihull's, and nationally, by the hard-working team in St Albans – tends towards the reactive. Developers cast their greedy gaze upon a village pub, we petition the local council to save it; a brewery chain decides to replace its range of guest beers with tasteless alcofizz, we dig up the sales figures to prove the error of their ways. The creation of CAMRA was itself a reaction to the tightening grip upon the industry of a small number of multinationals who listened more to their accountants than their regulars: CAMRA gave those customers a voice.
Which is why our new national initiative to safeguard British breweries, unveiled this month by Good Beer Guide editor Roger Protz, is evidence both of CAMRA's growing confidence and the public's increasing desire to preserve our cultural heritage. To quote Roger: "The question is can we stop breweries closing and can we develop ways and means for breweries to be run to avoid the problems of takeovers and closures?"
It won't be an easy ride – Marston's recently announced it had reconsidered axing the popular Hanson's Mild, then added it will probably only return as a seasonal brew – but anyone needing a reminder of this country's rich range of real ales can check out the scores of beers on tap at the Wolverhampton Beer Festival at Wulfrun Hall on 31 May – 2 June. Visit our website for further information on this and other local events.
Toby Jugg
, 24 May 2007
Wild About Mild
It's a quirk of history that mild, once the bestselling style of beer in British pubs, has spent the past fifty years plummeting in popularity and reputation. Specifically developed from the 18th Century onwards as a lower-strength alternative to traditional bitter, mild would now seem ideally placed to capitalise on the growing market for more session-friendly beers, but still suffers from urban legends of slop trays poured back into barrels and the failure of most breweries to promote the brand.
It's for this reason the Campaign for Real Ale is currently running a month-long promotion of mild, throwing the spotlight upon such champion brews as Bateman's Dark Mild, Grainstore's Rutland Panther and Cannon Royall's Fruiterer's Mild, the last shipped to a number of Midlands outlets from Ombersley, Worcestershire.
To quote Solihull CAMRA's chair, Roger 'Just a Tipple' Dipple: "Variety is the spice of life, and beer styles vary as much if not more than wine styles. Half the enjoyment lies in sampling the different styles, and that is why beer festivals are so popular.
"Wetherspoons recent festival, enjoyed by many Solihull branch members, featured third-of-a-pint glasses, and you could try three ales for the price of a pint. Other pubs may do well to try a similar approach, and encourage people to experiment with their taste buds, rather than stick to the few beers they know."
I'll certainly drink to that!
Toby Jugg
, 14 May 2007
Take It to the Top
Regular readers of this column will recall my recent coverage of the "short pint" scandal, whereby publicans charge the price of a pint for a measure which is significantly less.
Well, a brand new national survey of trading standards departments by the Campaign for Real Ale has revealed more than one-quarter of all "pints" served in the UK are at least five per cent short – representing a shocking £1.3 million rip-off every day. New Labour proposed legislation against short measures during the 1997 Election, but has failed to act since – costing consumers approximately £4.5 billion over the past decade.
CAMRA has now decided to take its protest straight to Downing Street, launching a national petition demanding urgent action (you can sign up at the Solihull CAMRA website, www.solihullcamra.org.uk). I agree totally with CAMRA chief executive Mike Brenner, who called the current situation "a disgrace" and added: "It is time the government met its promise and made sure pub-goers get the full pint they pay for every time."
I'd be interested in hearing any horror stories from Solihull pub-goers (the worst example found nationally was a massive thirteen per cent short!); I can be reached via beerhunter@solihullcamra.org.uk.
Thankfully, you'll be guaranteed a full pint – and an excellent range of ales – on 5-6 October, when the ninth annual Solihull Beer Festival takes residence in the Royal British Legion, Union Road. Ring the date on your calendars now!
Toby Jugg
, 30 April 2007
Local pub in National Spotlight
Hearty congratulations to Simon, Richard and Barbara Mills at The Harvester, over the Warwickshire border in Long Itchington, which has just won a place among the final four in BBC Radio Five Live's "Pub of the Year" contest.
Cosily situated on the edge of the village square, this old-fashioned family-run country pub has already been listed in twenty-one editions of the Campaign for Real Ale's annual Good Beer Guide. Now it's up against heavy competition across Britain – The Wykeham Arms in Winchester, Liverpool's The Fly in the Loaf and The Bull in Stoke Mandeville – for the honour of hosting Five Live's Weekend News on 26 May.
This is just one of the items Solihull CAMRA is featuring this month on its revamped website (www.solihullcamra.org.uk), which now includes a live news feed from the campaign's headquarters in St Albans. Just in: our new national website spotlighting which of the UK's estimated 60,000 pubs have managed to preserve their historic interiors. I tell you, sitting at the computer and gazing at these wonderful examples of bygone architecture is one surefire way to build up a thirst!
Toby Jugg
, 16 April 2007
Pub Quiz
Question time: when is a pint not a pint? Pretty much every time, if the meddling mandarins at the Department of Trade & Industry get their way and introduce rules allowing publicans to serve "pints" which are only ninety-five per cent actual beer.
Whilst this may not bother those who spend their evenings in plastic bars downing flavourless "creamflow" brands with the consistency of liquified polystyrene, the Campaign for Real Ale and its fellow thinkers resent having to fork out hard-earned cash for mere froth and bubbles. If you feel likewise, check out our website (www.solihullcamra.org) and read about this and our other continuing efforts to preserve the traditional pint and pub.
Speaking of which, we've just posted Steve Wood's excellent guide to local pub names, originally published in Solihull & District CAMRA's quarterly newsletter Solihull Drinker. Sadly, many of those hostelries listed are now the stuff of memory, such as the quaintly titled Tom O'Bedlam in Chadwick Green (demolished to make way for housing in the 1990s), the Ring o' Bells at Hampton in Arden (now the site of a garage) and the infamous Byron's Wine Bar in central Solihull (one of the town's oldest buildings, since engulfed by the Touchwood retail development).
Toby Jugg
, 26 March 2007
Christmas Crackers
Winter draws on, as wartime comics were famously banned from saying on the wireless, providing a perfect excuse to salute the seasonal bounty from Britain's breweries. Often robust and malty, occasionally spiced and frequently stronger than those beers available the rest of the year (with some up to 8% ABV), this is one gift the true real ale connoisseur won't be returning on Boxing Day.
Not that the brewers' enthusiasm doesn't occasionally overwhelm their better judgement: I recall with a slight flinch a bottle of "Christmas pudding" beer, an experience akin to sucking suet up a straw. One pub in Worcester with an onsite microbrewery (sadly, both now consigned to history) produced a "winter warmer" so brain-numbing that it was only served in wine glasses, a victory of craftsmanship over economic common sense.
There are no such problems with the ever-popular Wychwood range, currently celebrating the yule with both a cask ale, Festive Spirits (4.8%, a heady cocktail of rich malts, dark brown sugars and a fruity undercurrent), and the bottled Bah Humbug (6.2%, a hearty spiced beer guaranteed to blow away the Christmas cobwebs). I'd also strongly recommend Wychwood's "spell-binding" bottled stout, Black Wych (6%), a rich reminder of the virtues of this oft-sidelined species of ale.
Well, Mrs Jugg and I are off now to winter at our secluded lodge in the Swiss Alps. I raise a glass to all my readers and look forward to rejoining you in the new year.
Toby Jugg
, 20 Dec 06
Celebrating With Purity
Next month marks the first anniversary of the launch of Great Alne's Purity Brewery, and what a fantastic year they've had. As well as winning the silver medal in the "Champion Beer of Warwickshire" competition, Purity's premium ale Pure UBU (4.5% ABV) was named "Fastest Selling Beer" at the Harbury Beer Festival, with a bottled version officially launched last Wednesday (6 December) at the St Nicholas Night Street Market in Alcester.
To celebrate their good fortune, Purity recently played host to representatives of four local CAMRA branches, including Solihull & District, plus owners and landlords of nearby pubs. Founding director Paul Halsey outlined their plans to create a retail outlet on the Spernal Lane site, whilst new head brewer Florian "Flo" Vialan unveiled the new version of their highly successful Pure Gold (3.8%), which will also soon be available in bottles. Paul stressed Purity would not be content to rest on their laurels, but were determined to both fine-tune the existing range and develop new real ales.
There's a report and photographs by my CAMRA colleagues Carl Wright and Gordon Clarke over at our website, as well as coverage of the branch's annual weekend trip (this year, we invaded Knaresborough in North Yorkshire) and feedback on the first Moseley Beer Festival.
Toby Jugg
, 13 Dec 06
Liquid Assets
So, aside from propping up their local bar and paying a visit to the occasional beer festival, just how can real ale enthusiasts put their money where their mouth is and help ensure the future growth of the independent brewing sector?
One option might be to explore the CAMRA Investment Club, which has built up a £10 million kitty to provide backing for microbrewers, with stakes in a wide variety of breweries and pub chains. Operated independently from the main organisation, the Club is currently negotiating with the Financial Services Authority to set up a venture capital trust next summer, which you'll perhaps hear more about from my fellow columnist Roger Jones in "Business Times".
Nationally, CAMRA is proving a victim of its own success, as our computer systems juggle 84,000 members with software introduced when we only had half that number. Thankfully, we're installing a replacement designed for the National Farmers Union, which should be fully operational early next year.
If you feel like swelling our ranks, why not join us?
Toby Jugg
, 6 Dec 06
Up With the Drawbridge
There's a danger with this column that we might too often dwell upon bad news: the takeover of a favoured brewery, or the corporate assimilation of a local freehouse (Star Trek's Borg learned everything from the multinationals).
It gives me great pleasure, therefore, to focus this week upon the Drawbridge Inn, Shirley, which has just received Solihull & District CAMRA's annual award for "most improved pub". Our exclusive photograph shows newly-elected chair Roger Dipple presenting the coveted plaque to landlady Karen Ayres last Wednesday evening.
The Drawbridge Inn is part of the Spirit Group, and currently gets through around 100 gallons per week. Karen and her team offer five real ales at any one time, three regulars (such as Marston's Pedigree, Wells' Bombadier and Morland's Speckled Hen) and two guests from the group's "Cellerman's Reserve" shortlist. Forthcoming yuletide delights include Young's Winter Warmer and Bateman's Nosey Rosey.
Nationally, we lose more than four pubs each week. Why not drop in at the Drawbridge and show your support for one which is bucking the trend?
Toby Jugg
, 29 Nov 06
Back to Basics
Given that this weekly column is primarily intended to extol the virtues of "real ale", it's well worth us taking this opportunity to outline precisely what that term means.
Back in 1971, the declining quality of the beer served in British pubs – particularly the fizzy "keg" brands – led a dedicated band of enthusiasts to launch the Campaign for the Revitalisation of Ale and a monthly newspaper, What's Brewing. Within months, the movement had attracted 20,000 members, held its first conference and renamed itself the Campaign for Real Ale. This was defined as draught or bottled beer "brewed from traditional ingredients, matured by secondary fermentation in the container from which it was dispensed and served without the use of extraneous gas". In other words, properly conditioned ales with flavour and body rather than fizz and bubbles.
In the thirty-five years since, CAMRA has promoted independent brewers across the UK, whilst working to block the once-relentless march of the so-called "Big Six" which had controlled eighty percent of British production and more than half of the pubs. We now have 70,000 members nationwide, nearly three hundred in Solihull alone, and have extended the campaign to support the restoration of traditional mild ales (with an annual "Mild Month" each May) , ciders and perry (with their own promotion each October). All three are now in much the same precarious position as traditional bitters were back in 1971, and I'll be addressing the joys of these particular drinks in a future column.
Toby Jugg
, 22 Nov 06
A Little Bit of Yorkshire
I’ve just returned from Yorkshire, where Mrs Jugg and I attended the second annual Wensleydale Beer Festival. Focussed as it was upon the growing number of tiny independents, one of the few local brands unrepresented was Black Sheep, founded back in 1983 when Paul Theakson took issue with his family’s decision to sell their brewery to Scottish & Newcastle (who promptly shifted most of the production north of Scotch Corner in the curious belief that its customer base wouldn’t taste the difference).
You can still buy an authentic pint of the legendary Theakston’s Old Peculier near the original plant in the picturesque market town of Masham (pron. Mazzum), but that comes as little consolation to Solihull Times readers unable to visit "God’s Wonderful County". Thankfully, many of Black Sheep’s ales are available in bottled form at outlets throughout this borough, among them the eponymous bitter (ABV 4.4%) and the wonderfully fruity Riggwelter (5.7%), a favourite last month at Solihull CAMRA’s own festival.
Alternatively, for those contemplating a trip down to London’s Palace Theatre for the madcap musical "Spamalot", why not grab a bottle of Black Sheep’s rich, malty Monty Python’s Holy Grail (4.7%), specially commissioned to celebrate the movie’s thirtieth anniversary. And for those whose partners prefer watching soaps to attending beer festivals, you can always coax them along to your Bonfire Night celebrations with a bottle of the full-flavoured Emmerdale (4.2%).
Just make sure the chap lighting the fireworks stays well away from the beer till the last one is launched, okay?
Toby Jugg
, 1 Nov 06
Whose Round Is It Anyway?
It's The Ashes! It's The Ashes! Apologies to the Australian community in the Solihull area, but permit me and my fellow beer hunters to celebrate this historic event. Of course we would want to do so with a pint of the finest English ale, and we could thus go to our local, but there are many people who, in addition to having a penchant for cricket, are also keen on other sports, and they might go to their nearest club to raise a glass.
There are many clubs that offer real ale to their members, so I'd like to take this opportunity to name some. I have to admit that I haven't been to all these but I would like to thank my friends who have assisted in the 'hunt'. Golf clubs seem to be keen to providing a welcoming '19th hole' to members and guests and the ones at Robin Hood, Copt Heath and Olton are among those that serve real ale. Rugby players and fans are also well known for liking a drop or two and Old Silhillians has real ale on its 'drinks menu'. But it's not just sporting clubs that tempt a drinker's palate with real ale: some private clubs have a hand pump or two, notably a number of Royal British Legion clubs such as the ones at Knowle and Solihull. More of the latter next week, as it will provide the focal point for the forthcoming Solihull Beer Festival on Fri 30th September and Saturday 1st October...
Well, 'howzat' for giving you a good idea and toasting our lads. Being a Lancastrian by birth I'd like to say a special thanks to a Mr. Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff, a fellow native of the Red Rose County. In fact, I'm feeling so happy I'll even say how impressed I was with the part played by Matthew Hoggard... And he's a Yorkshireman!
Martin Collinge
, September 05
Knowle, Knowle
I wonder if like me you think you have finally got over Christmas and then you see adverts for Christmas hampers and Christmas clubs! Well, in keeping with this 'seasonal' cheer, what better than to make this week's article highlight Knowle...
Sorry for the feeble pun my fellow beer hunters, but recently I and other members of Solihull & District CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) undertook a tour of the pubs right in the heart of Knowle.
Our journey did not begin auspiciously! We started at the Wilson's Arms, only to be told that the one real ale normally on offer (Fuller's London Pride) was not available as it was too cloudy to serve, having not settled in the barrel. The pub with no (decent) beer, sounds like a song, eh? A poor show for a Friday night we thought.
We quickly made our way up the road to the Greswolde. This was the first time I'd been in since it had been refurbished, and it felt more like a trendy bar than a pub: sofas everywhere didn't really give the traditional pub atmosphere. As for the real ale, well it came out of two unmarked pumps: you would have thought that as they were charging £2.50 a pint they could have afforded a pump clip or two! Nevertheless the Tetley and Pedigree were announced in good condition, but as they are two ubiquitous beers we weren't that enthusiastic about the beer choice.
Our next port of call, The Red Lion, did however enthuse us. The last time I had visited it only offered two real ales, but this time six were on offer, being Charles Wells' Bombardier, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Hook Norton Old Hooky, Marston's Pedigree, Greene King IPA and Brew XI. I'll give a more detailed review of this pub next week, so watch this space!
Finally we saved the best to last, namely The Vaults, which has been our local Pub of the Year for the last three years. We were given the choice of the regular beers, i.e. Ansell's Mild, Burton Ale, Tetley Bitter, plus guests Deuchar's IPA and Windsor Castle brewery Sadler's Babylonian. The latter ran out soon after I tried it, so I was able to have the subsequent guest beer, Phoenix Thirsty Moon. I also had a swift half of the real cider, Old Rosie, and very tasty (and potent!) it was.
We gave the beers we tried in The Vaults 4 out of 5 in keeping with the CAMRA scoring system. This basically gives 0 if no real is available, 1 if it is of poor quality, 2 for OK but nothing special, 3 if you'd be happy to drink it all night, 4 if it very good, and 5 (awarded rarely) for exceptional.
Well we had an interesting time and there is certainly enough in Knowle to keep real ale (and cider) drinkers happy, so why not spend an evening there yourselves my fellow beer hunters?
Martin Collinge
, February 06
Happy Birthday Beer Hunter
Yes folks, it's not just a new year for us all, it's also another year for me! I mentioned recently that you might have received some good bottled beer for Christmas, and I was lucky to receive a goodly amount not just for the festive season but also my birthday, which was last Thursday.
Although I do like drinking at home a Beer Hunter much prefers going out to the pub. As you know I have been trying to bring you the best pubs in the area covered by this esteemed newspaper, with the occasional foray beyond this boundary. You might be wondering where I went on my birthday... well, to be honest I went out for a meal and a pint or two of real ale, but if I had been going out on a pub crawl, well let me give you a couple of suggestions.
I say a couple as of course I personally would not want to drink and drive, so I would either look for a kindly soul to give me a lift (as thankfully is happening!) or go on the bus.
The chauffeured crawl would start at The Harvester in Tanhouse Farm Lane, Solihull, moving on to The Golden Acres (aka Family Inn) at Damsonwood, and then proceeding to The Railway at Dorridge, ending up at The Vaults in Knowle. If however I were going by bus I'd take the 69 from Solihull town centre after having visited The White Swan and The Metro Bar and Grill, finishing up at The Red Lion in Shirley. If I hadn't been snowed under with bottled beer I'd use a separate occasion to go by car to Bernie's Real Ale Off Licence, likewise in Shirley.
Well actually I went to The Railway in Dorridge for a meal, as stated earlier. I'll let you know the latest news-it's a pub I've written about in the past, but it gives me a chance of an update next week.
And not only was it my birthday last Thursday. It was also the birthday of Don Juan Carlos, the King of Spain (no actual to relation to Ashley Giles CBE). And more importantly it was my twin sister's birthday-she was also 18+ VAT, and like me she is a member of CAMRA, The Campaign for Real Ale. She is one of the approximately 20,000 female members of our CAMRA, so part of the female 27% who belong to the nearly 80,000 strong organisation. This gives the lie to the idea that real ale is a purely male orientated thing!
I raised a glass to my twin sister-and if you are a female who likes quality beer, cider or perry, why don't you think about joining her in the largest independent consumer organisation in Europe-and surely a great social club!
Martin Collinge
, January 06
Drinkers Go Wild for Mild
Twas on the glorious Saturday 14th May 2005 that a group of local CAMRA members celebrated May's 'Mild month' by embarking on a 'mild crawl', seeking out mild in some of our local pubs. Although we had a grand time we were somewhat dismayed about the lack of mild!
Mild used to be the most popular drink in this country, but declined in its popularity from the 50s onwards. What a shame that so many people, including many real ale drinkers, have never tried a pint. Mild has the advantage of (generally) being lower in alcohol, traditionally 'weighing in' in the low 3% area, as opposed to bitter which usually commences at 3.8+%: thus you can drink a bit more (with the notable exceptions of Gale's Mild at 4.8% and Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild at a amazing 6%!). Traditionally mild has a keen, nutty flavour and is dark in colour. Perhaps Guinness drinkers should give it a go as it has a similar hue.
We assembled at noon at The Red Lion on the Stratford Road in Shirley, Solihull. If you've never visited this establishment I urge you to do so. The Red Lion doesn't look too inviting from the outside, but when you enter its hallowed portals you have the feel of a traditional pub. The interior hasn't been altered much (nor thus ruined) like in many other pubs, and you will receive a warm welcome. The pub offers good value bar food from 12-2 Monday to Saturday. While eating you can engage in conversation with the friendly locals or watch sport on the many tvs, with football, rugby and racing being popular in the pub. Of course you should spoil your 'drinkbuds' with a choice of five real ales, including regulars Tetley's Bitter, Black Sheep Bitter, Marston's Pedigree, a guest ale (usually low ABV and often the excellent Slater's Bitter, on this occasion it was Brakspear's Best)... And of course a mild, Highgate Dark.
The West Midlands along with the North West are seen as the last two bastions of mild so it was appropriate that we had a local beer. And what a fabulous beer it is! So much so that we had more than one: in fact 'mine host' of The Red Lion, Joe Baker, kindly gave us all a free pint!
Once we'd dragged ourselves from the pub we set off for The Colebrook, also located in Shirley. Much to our dismay there was no mild, so we settled for swift halves of Marston's Pedigree or Greene King Abbot before catching the train to Henley.
Henley is at the far end of our branch's boundary and it is also one of the few places to get mild in our area. We actually started at a mild-less pub, The White Swan. This hostelry seems to have had an upturn in fortune as now three real ales were on offer: all pretty standard stuff, but in good condition.
We then sallied forth on a mini Henley crawl, taking in The Black Swan, The Three Tunnes and The Blue Bell. The former had a mild in the shape of Banks's Original: it seems some brewers are too scared to called a mild by its name, what a pity. It was in good condition, and the temperature was ideal, unlike that of the beer garden we sat in…. whose idea was that, we weren't on a polar expedition after all!
We had a pretty standard selection of bitters offered to us in the last three pubs, i.e. Bass, London Pride, Tetley's Bitter and Brew XI, but they were in good condition.
Then back home-all in all an enjoyable day out with good company in good pubs... a shame that very few had mild. Drink mild... "You don't know what you've got till it's gone", as the song goes.
Martin Collinge
, May 06
