What Ales? Summer 2018 West Cumbria CAMRA Branch Roll Of Honour Free Magazine
Gosforth Cumbria CA20 1AZ 01946 725322 www.gosforthhall.co.uk
Branch Contacts: Chair Chris Hale chair@westcumbriacamra.org.uk Secretary: Geoff Wilkinson - secretary@westcumbriacamra.org.uk Branch Contact: Stephen Walker - contact@westcumbriacamra.org.uk 07747 084039 Treasurer: Brian Maudling - treasurer@westcumbriacamra.org.uk 07972 050679 What Ales Team: contact.whatales@gmail.com Bar and Equipment Officer: Bob Groat - equipment@westcumbriacamra.org.uk 07707898170 Pubs Officer: Andy Roberts - whatpub@westcumbriacamra.org.uk 07748 565103 Branch website: www.westcumbriacamra.org.uk Social Sectretary & Transport: brianmaudling@gmail.com 07972 050679 Welcome to the Summer edition of WhatAles, a far and wide edition taking in Australia, Madeira and Maryport, along with our usual mix of updates, awards, and articles. We hope it will be of interest to members and non-members alike. This time our thanks go to Eileen & Geoff Lithgow, Geoff Wilkinson, Andy Huckson, Jim Chapple, along with the contributions from the team. Sadly, as well as stepping down from the branch committee, Eileen & Geoff Lithgow have now also retired from the editorial team in order to deal with other committments. Our thanks go to them both for their hard work and dedication, we hope that they will continue to contribute when time allows. The Editorial Team (Garry Connor; Brian Maudling; Len Wainwright; Ian & Pat Williamson). Pub Craic Oily s at Winscales (previously Oily Johnnies) is now understood to be offering real ale. The Brewers Fayre at Howgate, is back selling real ale. Brewery news - down two up one. Stringers and Hardknott breweries have both closed but welcome to Grasmere, at the Lake View Country House, Grasmere. For those of us that like to take the train to Foxfield to visit the Prince of Wales pub there is some good news. The new train timetable has expanded to include a Sunday service and also some later trains. Check out the new timetable for details. Forthcoming Events and branch meetings June 6th (Wednesday) - The Conservative Club, Workington - branch meeting at 8pm Award of Pub Of The Year to the Punch Bowl in Great Broughton and the runners up, date and further details are not yet available. Saturday July 7th. Details of the meeting and possible social which will include the award of Pub Of The Season to the Vagabond in Whitehaven are also not yet available as we go to press. Keep an eye on the website for details when they are finalised. 3
The State Management Scheme in Maryport Most local people with an interest in the brewing industry and its products are aware of the existence of the Carlisle State Management Scheme which was introduced in 1915 and ran until denationalisation in 1974. Although primarily affecting, in Cumberland, the Carlisle area because of its proximity to a huge munitions depot stretching from Gretna to Eastriggs, it also affected the Maryport brewery and the pubs in the town. It was considered that West Cumberland was within easy reach of Carlisle for the drunken masses. The scheme covered approx 500 square miles and a wartime population of roughly 140,000 people. It was introduced with the aim of regulating the drinking habits of the working classes in the area, increased by a substantial influx The former Senhouse Arms, Fleming Sq. of navvies from Ireland and elsewhere, who may have worked on the construction of, or at the munitions depot or associated industries trying to cope with a huge upsurge in demand for explosives and armaments generated by the outbreak of WW1. Other aims of nationalisation were to improve/upgrade the drinking environment. Many pubs were cramped, badly lit, smoky and unhygienic. Under state control, many were closed down. The new regime forbade customers from buying rounds or treating people. The signature brew was known as munitions ale with an ABV of only 2%. A control board member at the time was quoted as saying it looks like beer and tastes like beer, the only difference is the headache. Two of the three Carlisle breweries were also closed. Maryport Royal Victoria (Knockers), John St Brewery was acquired by the government s Central Control Board in 1916 for a sum in the region of 140,000, but lasted only until 1921. At that time there would still be over 60 licensed establishments in Maryport. How times have changed! Several things stood out in my mind when I was a youngster growing up in Dearham/ Maryport. My Mam was brought up on Shaw St., Netherton and my 4
Brewery offices, Wood St auntie continued to live in the house when the rest of the family had moved on. I can remember being taken to visit my auntie when the Bounty Inn was being built on vacant land opposite her house. I was recently informed by an elderly local resident that this was on the site of Ikey Brown s hen pen. In retrospect, it was built to the classic Redfern architectural model, with adjacent bowling greens and several rooms designated for different types of customers and activities. Quite a few pubs were built in the same style, including those at Abbeytown and Durdar. It is a tribute to Redfern that one of the pubs he designed is named after him and remains open, in Etterby, Carlisle. Unfortunately, the Bounty has been a recent casualty, having once been regarded as one of the best drinking houses in Maryport, well patronised by a vibrant community, but not effectively managed, resulting in closure and conversion to a supermarket. I can also recall as a child being taken by my Mam to a large red brick building on Wood Street, and climbing some stairs to a room which had an abandoned look about it, to see her cousin Bobby Bell at work on a canvas, painted in oils, which Brewery, Wood St depicted an18th/19th century hunting scene and was entitled The Sportsman. I subsequently saw the painting on the pub sign for the Sportsman Inn in Heads Lane, Carlisle, and such was its quality that it survived for many years. I learned in later years that Bobby Bell was one of the sign writers employed by the State Management Scheme (SMS) and was working from the old Maryport Brewery building, at that time still owned by the SMS. This of course still stands, as does the sandstone building opposite, formerly the brewery offices and the former bonded Maryport Brewery mirror warehouse on Lower Church Street, now both 5
Bonded warehouses, Lower Church St converted into flats. Bill Monk was the last Head Brewer to be employed by the SMS at their brewery in Carlisle. I met him when I organised a Jennings Brewery tour in 1975. As a civil servant myself at the time, I was intrigued by the fact that he had also been a civil servant during his long career with SMS. The Civil Service (CS) being an organisation obsessed with rigid grading structures, he told me that in his work as a brewer he had been classified as a Principal Scientific Officer (PSO) and couldn t be made redundant under CS terms and conditions if an equivalent post was available nationally. The only available vacant post at the time was for a PSO in charge of an MOD weapons depot in Hampshire, so he left the service to work for Jennings! Of course I now know that all workers for SMS were civil servants - pub managers, bar and waiting staff, glass collectors and cleaners etc. etc. Depending on how large and/or busy a licensed premise was, it would be graded accordingly and promoted staff would move between them. The state brewing industry fell within the jurisdiction of the Home Office and all staff had to sign the Official Secrets Act. Perish the thought if the enemy had got wind of our brewing/drinking secrets which are a feature of our unique heritage and indomitable spirit! In the early 1950s, a friend of mine s father was promoted from his management post at the Black Lion near the harbour, to the management of the Royal Victoria Hotel, a much bigger establishment with more staff responsibilities and a higher salary. The hotel still survives and although refurbished about 12 years ago, it quickly fell into decline as a hotel and for the last few years only the bar area has functioned, operated by a tenant. It has been known locally as Knockers for a good few years, from the nickname of a former tenant. Indeed many of the pubs were known by the names of the often, long serving, landlords. 6 Former Station Inn, Grasslot
In my early drinking years, I quaffed many a pint of Carlisle State Bitter, which was a very drinkable session ale, and has actually been recreated by the Derwent Brewery in Silloth to the original recipe and ABV of 3.7%; rather more than when it was introduced at 2% following Former Bounty Inn, Netherton nationalisation! One thing that is universally acknowledged by beer drinkers of a certain age is that state control kept down beer prices in Carlisle and West Cumbria over the years as the brewery never sought to profiteer, or to screw down its pub landlords, which seems to happen all too often these days. Thanks to Sue Fox of the Maryport Maritime Museum, who allowed me photographic access to the featured Maryport Brewery Mirror. Geoff Wilkinson 7
Coming full circle CAMRA recognises THE BOOT INN, ESKDALE Shortly after attending my first CAMRA branch meeting at Whitehaven s Globe Inn several years ago, it was a no brainer to sign up for the trip on offer to the Eskdale Valley; with the purpose of awarding the licensees of the then Burnmoor Inn with a coveted Pub of the Season award. Visiting again on the 7th April this year, I feel as if I have come full circle, spending many, many memorable and pleasant times in-between with this happy, welcoming band of fellow real ale and cider drinkers in our branch. I ll now hand you over to our Chairman, Chris Hale, who made this presentation speech, speaking with such elegance, eloquence and enthusiasm for The Boot Inn, winner of our 2018 Spring Pub of the Season award. My name is Chris Hale, but that is a fact of piffling triviality; more importantly is what and whom I represent, namely West Cumbria CAMRA. CAMRA stands for the Campaign For Real Ale. In the area covered by our branch, we have over 300 members and about 190 institutions serving Real Ale. Every three months after much deliberation, we make an award and present a banner to the distinguished and deserving hostelry which we have decided should become renowned as our Pub of the Season which is why I and about thirty of my fellow members are here Initially, as a historian, I was tempted to speculate on the origins of The Boot- Perhaps, I thought, it refers to a particular Boot, which delivered a notable kick up the backside of an Eskdale ne erdo-well in times long since past; or perhaps it is a Generic Boot, for instance reflecting life back in the mists of time You may know for instance that the end of the Middle Ages was a time of considerable poverty in Cumberland, when many 8
people were very poor and also leather goods were very expensive (you don t get much leather from a sheep) so, as a result, most people could only afford to wear one Boot. Luckily, however, I arranged a brief tutorial with Stuart and Anita and I was disillusioned of these fantasies. Apparently this Inn was once The Masons Arms, then it became the Burnmoor Inn where it was associated with the adjacent Coffin Route. So I thought that I could add some historical context to today s events, by rising unexpectedly from a coffin to make the presentation- but clearly that would not be possible- only thirty CAMRA members would not be nearly enough to carry the coffin. But as soon as I began to interrogate Anita and Stuart, the triple themes for this presentation speech began to emerge-firstly, there is Fulfillment I don t know if any of you really want something for a long time, and then to finally get it you feel fulfilled. Well, for well over ten years, Anita and Stuart had their eyes on the Boot Inn when they were linked to Wetherspoons and Hartleys publicans in Ramsbottom, but made trips to the Lake District; and even when they were briefly in Australia. Finally they got it. A second theme is Teamwork The Boot is a Robinsons pub. It s so good to hear about a happy partnership between the Landlords and the brewers. And Anita and Stuart have built around them a loyal team, some of whom you see around you, Deano and Sean, plus others. Thirdly, there s Investment Anita and Stuart have invested considerable effort and resources into creating a hostelry which is popular both with visitors and locals. Normally, you will find between three and six excellent Real Ales available. And I mustn t forget to give a plug to their Beer Festival to be held shortly on June 7th 8th 9th & 10th. (But although we are about to give a Pub Of The Season Award, the Boot Inn is not just a seasonal pub, but brightens this valley, which is a gem of the Lake District, all year round). Of course there have been setbacks, notably the Great Fire of Eskdale (I exaggerate, but there were major electrical problems recently), but these have been overcome. So, in the expectation that Anita and Stuart and their team will continue to flourish, I am delighted to award them the Certificate which goes with their Banner as West Cumbria CAMRA s Pub Of The Season for the Spring of 2018. P.S. We were joined on the photograph by a hen party also enjoying hospitality but probably not the beer. Eileen Lithgow 9
Demolition This article was brought on after I spied a large pile of rubble that was previously the Moorclose pub. This was the last pub to go in the area, leaving a beer desert stretching from Harrington to Workington. At one time there were a few local hostelries in the area and some evoke great memories. Moorclose I grew up in Westfield and at the drinking age, well nearly, friends and I would use local pubs within walking range. The Westfield had BBC2 and we would head for the bar hoping to watch Disco 2, the forerunner of the Old Grey Whistle Test. We occasionally had a chance if there was no football on the other channel. It s hard to imagine in the current age of wall to wall, 7 days a week football that back then all that was available was Match of the Day, the Cup Final and a few mid-week matches. I have fond memories of The Moorclose. I remember taking an afternoon beer (or two) on Jubilee Day, and although that s the one visit than sticks in the mind there were many other enjoyable occasions. We used to play a lot of darts in the Moss Bay Hotel bar and usually upset the regulars by putting The Sweet B sides on the juke box; they were a lot rockier than the hit A sides. Someone in lounge would retaliate with a Tommy Steele hit and I m Henry the Eighth I am! There was also The Ranch, the Steel Works sports and social club; the regular drink there was a bottle of Younger s No3. Now they are all gone. Houses have been 10
Moss Bay Hotel built where the Ranch and the Westfield once stood, The Moss Bay Hotel has been demolished, and the Moorclose is rumoured to be replaced by a larger Spar supermarket to replace the current store. The Moss Bay Working Men s Club is still open. Back then we avoided the club, which was considered to be for the use of the older generation, and Dad would take Grandad there. This has been a look at the haunts of my younger days, but I expect that this pattern of demolition and re-building has been repeated across the whole county, as a great loss to the beer drinker. Ian Williamson SWAN INN 56 Kirkgate, Cockermouth, CA13 9PH Tel: 01900 822425 www.swaninncockermouth.com Opening hours Monday - Thursday 5.30pm -11.30pm Friday 5.30pm -12am Saturday 12 noon -12am Sunday 12 noon -11pm Sky Sports and BT Sport Informal Traditional Tunes Session Every Second Wednesday of the month 8pm 11
Real Ale and Cider Festival dates for your 2018 diary BEER FESTIVALS IN OUR BRANCH AREA Boot Festival Eskdale June 7th 8th 9th 10th King George IV Eskdale June 7th 8th 9th 10th Egremont Rugby Union Club Bleach Green June 15th 16th The Albert St. Bees August 17th 18th 19th Gosforth Hall Hotel Gosforth August 26th 27th 28th Swinside Inn Newlands Valley September 7th 8th Carnegie, Rotary Workington September 28th 29th Barn Bistro Gilcrux June 29th 30th July 1st Middle Ruddings Braithwaite (full week) October 22nd to 28th Kirkgate, Round Table Cockermouth November 29th 30th Dec 1st BEER FESTIVALS OUTSIDE OUR BRANCH AREA: Hawkshead Beer Hall Northern Craft Beer Fest July 19th 20th 21st Coronation Hall Ulverston Aug 30th 31st Sept 1st Tweedies Bar Grasmere Aug 31st Sept 1st 2nd Greystoke Beer Festival Greystoke Sept 21st 22nd Broughton Festival of Beer Broughton Sept 27th 28th 29th 30th Carlisle Beer Fest, The Venue Carlisle Nov 1st 2nd 3rd The Wheatsheaf Lorton In the Beautiful Historic village of Lorton set amongst the mountains of the lake district A warm welcome awaits visitors to our 17th century Inn. 6 Real ales and ciders on handpull Beer garden overlooking the fells Locally sourced food, fresh fish night Fridays Accommodation in cottages and campsite available Open all day 6pm to 11 and 12pm to 11pm Friday Sat Sunday Low Lorton Cockermouth Cumbria CA139UW Tel 0190085199 info@wheatsheafinnlorton.co.uk 12
The Wheatsheaf Lorton celebrates its 5th Annual Beer Festival this August Set in the lovely village of Lorton by a bubbling stream and surrounded by hills, the Wheatsheaf may be one of Jennings oldest Pubs. Dating from the 1700 s Jennings Brewery started just up the road from the Wheatsheaf, so it may have been one of the first pubs that Jennings sold beer from. Mark and Jackie took it over 18 years ago. Mark was a builder and real ale fan who was looking for a change of direction. The couple s friends, who were the tenants at the Twa Dogs in Keswick, suggested taking over the Wheatsheaf and its associated caravan site. Since then they have never looked back, and have developed the pub into both a community resource and a favourite for walkers and motorists exploring the area. The pub has 5 real ales plus a hand pulled cider on at all times. It has also achieved CAMRA locale status. Amongst their various innovations are a Wednesday night Quiz with free supper; Thursday Steak Nights, and Pensioners Lunches on Fridays at a special reduced rate. Also there are Friday Fish nights with locally caught fresh fish, and a soon to be published booklet detailing 50 walks from the pub. Five years ago they held their first Beer and Gin festival, and this year s will be held over the 17th, 18th and 19th August. It will feature 22 beers from around the country, including some from Scotland and Orkney. There will also be a wide selection of Gins, reflecting the increasing popularity of this drink. Plus, new this year, will be the presence of a Cocktail Specialist who will be mixing exotic Gin Cocktails. There will be live music in the Marquee outside and a Barbeque featuring a burger and pint for 7. All in all, it promises to be a great event for good beer lovers. Len Wainwright 13
Borrowdale Hotel, Borrowdale Brook House Inn, Boot Crown, Cleator Moor Duke of Cumberland, Bridgefoot Ennerdale Brewery Tap, Rowrah Glass House, Whitehaven Jacks Surf Bar, Allonby Lowther Arms, Mawbray LocAle 2018 Update A busy time coming into 2018 for members re-surveying premises. Many of the Guides have been updated to take account of changes in circumstances. Some premises have elected to cease offering Real Ale, whilst thankfully others have returned to the fold! Sadly a number of premises are currently closed, but it is to be hoped that most, if not all will reopen. Premises with LocAle 2018 accreditation have been identified with the LocAle logo (see more above). We continue to be dependent upon information fed to us by members of CAMRA and the public to keep our entry details current. Please continue to do this by emailing any information or comments to jimchapple@msn.com, or using the Enquiry Form link on the website. Remember all ten of the Guides are available for download and printing http://camrawestcumbriaguides.org.uk/index.html The LocAle 2018 initiative continues to afford those premises that applied for and received accreditation, additional promotion through CAMRA publications, websites and publicity material. Given the relatively recent closure of Yates and two Cumbrian breweries outside our Branch area it perhaps gives added importance to promoting local breweries through this scheme. If, as a premises owner of manager you would like to have more details of this FREE promotional scheme, then please contact the Branch LocAle Officer, Jim Chapple at jimchapple@msn. com. The currently accredited premises are : West Cumbria Real Ale Guides Update Jim Chapple 14 Market Cross, Great Clifton Old Ginn House, Great Clifton Pheasant Inn, Crosthwaite, Keswick Stag Inn, Crosby Stork Hotel, Rowrah Swan, Cockermouth Wheatsheaf, Low Lorton Woolpack Inn, Boot
15 Love at First Pint! Nathan, Beth, and The Royal Oak In November 2016 Nathan and Beth Todd, a young couple from the north east took over the Royal Oak in Seaton. Since then they have transformed it from a struggling local to a destination for real ale lovers from all over West Cumbria. Still in their 20 s Nathan and Beth have worked in pubs their entire adult lives. Beth started out collecting glasses in Jarrow ex-servicemen s club, and the club management were so impressed with her that they sent her on a licensee s course. Unfortunately around this time she fell ill and had to be admitted to hospital and Nathan was brought in to cover for her. However he too impressed the management, so much that when Beth returned to work the club kept them both on, and inadvertently turned matchmaker, as the couple fell in love and got married. Shortly after this the couple began managing pubs in the north east on behalf of Trust Inns. Three failing pubs were turned round by their efforts. But after the third pub Nathan felt they needed a break and so they moved to Norway to work for Nathan s father. However, Trust Inns hadn t forgotten them, and when the tenancy at the Royal Oak came up they rang Nathan in Norway to see if they would be interested. He flew back to England, saw the Royal Oak, loved it, and accepted the tenancy on both their behalves. Luckily Beth trusted her husband s judgment. There was just one problem when they took up the tenancy, The Royal Oak didn t sell real Ale; (they are both real ale aficionados) The view of Trust Inns was that Real Ale would not sell in a traditional working class West Cumbrian town, but Nathan and Beth disagreed and eventually got their way. The pub now has two hand pumps and is a destination for good beer lovers, a large proportion of who are converted locals. There is much more going on in this community Asset. There are Darts and Pool teams, live music, open mic nights, and every Autumn they put on a German style Beer Festival in a marquee, entitling it Oaktoberfest. Despite this success there are still battles to be fought with Trust Inns. They are only allowed to buy guest Ales from the Trust Inns nominated wholesaler who only have a limited selection. The Tractor Shed Brewery is a mile down the road from The Royal Oak, but Beth and Nathan cannot buy beer direct. (If they could they would qualify for Lo cale Status) As for Trust Inns they have repaid the young couple s success by putting the rent up!!! Well done Trust Inns! Len Wainwright
Madeira On a recent holiday in Madeira, we had been promised that a good Stout, not counting Guinness, would be available, but until it was there in front of us there would always be the suspicion that we might not be in the right area of the island and not be able to find it. Our first encounter with a beer that wasn t the island s standard lager was on the waterfront in Funchal, the island s capitol. Besides a varied food menu, The Beer House offered a range of beers, some of which they had brewed themselves in their own tiny brewery. They offered a sampler board with beers ranging from light lager type through cloudy wheat types on to a dark stout. They also had what they called an apple beer, which is probably their name for cider. The 10% abv. apple beer, or the prime harbour side location, may account for the hefty bill as compared to what we found later elsewhere. It turns out that the promised stout was called Coral and was available reasonably widely, although sadly not at our hotel. However quite close to our hotel was a sports bar called The Hole in One, and as the name implies it is a golf themed bar, although all the TV screens were showing football! There were two stouts on offer at this bar, although both were from the same Coral brewery, along with a decent range of other beers, including Bishops Finger and Guinness. Highly recommended to anyone holidaying in the area. It 16
has to be said that nearly all of the available beers were not real ales as such, mostly being keg, but to have an alternative to the ubiquitous lager when on a sunshine holiday - who s complaining. We also managed to find litre bottles of the stout on sale in the local Spar, at a very reasonable price. Great for enjoying on our own hotel balcony. Coral Stout has a medium-bodied mouth feel, is fairly smooth, with caramel and slight roasted-grain bitterness. As a matter of interest, the Wikipedia entry for the Coral Brewery mentions Coral Sem Álcool Tónica Non-alcoholic Stout (0.5% Vol.) introduced in 2003. It would have been worth the price of a bottle just to try it, but we never saw bottles of this anywhere. Ian Williamson The Fox and Hounds Inn Ennerdale CA23 3AR A community pub! Up to 5 Cumbrian cask ales including Ennerdale, Bowness Bay and Cumbrian Legendry Ales on tap. Wide choice of premium gins and malt whiskies. Home cooked food. Muddy boots, dogs and well behaved owners welcome. Accommodation available. Check our facebook for opening times. Call 01946 861 373 or visit: www.foxandhoundsinn.org Call in to our brewery Tap and enjoy our range of craft ales brewed with water from Ennerdale. Sample our home made food Follow us on facebook and twitter www.ennerdalebrewery.co.uk info@ennerdalebrewery.co.uk Ennerdale Craft Brewery, Chapel Row, Rowrah, CA26 3XS 01946 862977 17
Allonby Jack s Surf Bar (Baywatch Hotel) Ship Hotel Arlecdon Hound Aspatria Letters Inn Red Lion Baggrow Grey Goat Inn Bassenthwaite Castle Inn Hotel Sun Inn Bassenthwaite Lake Pheasant Beckermet Blackbeck Bridge Inn Royal Oak (welcome back) White Mare Bigrigg Old Captains House Boot Boot Inn Brook House Inn Hardknott Bar & Cafe @ The Woolpack Inn Borrowdale Borrowdale Hotel Lodore Falls Hotel Mary Mount Hotel YHA Borrowdale Bothel Greyhound Inn Braithwaite Coledale Inn Middle Ruddings Country Inn Royal Oak the real ale pubs of west cumbria Branthwaite Wild Duck Inn Bridgefoot Duke of Cumberland Broughton Moor Miners Arms xx Buttermere Bridge Hotel Fish Hotel Calderbridge Stanley Arms Hotel Cleator Brook Ennerdale Country House Hotel Cleator Moor Crown Parkside Hotel Wath Brow Hornets RL Club Cockermouth Allerdale Court Hotel Bitter End Brewers Fayre Brown Cow Bush Castle Bar Conservative Club Fletcher Christian Tavern New Cock & Bull Seth s Bar Swan Inn Trout Hotel Crosby Stag Inn Dean Royal Yew Inn Deanscales Old Posting House 18 Dearham Commercial Inn Dovenby Ship Drigg Victoria Hotel Egremont Egremont Rangers ARLFC Egremont Rugby Union Club Wheatsheaf Embleton Embleton Spa Wheatsheaf Inn Ennerdale Bridge Fox & Hounds Inn Shepherds Arms Hotel Eskdale Green Bower House Inn George IV Inn Gilcrux Barn Bistro Masons Arms Gosforth Globe Gosforth Hall Inn Kellbank Lion and Lamb Great Broughton Broughton Craggs Hotel Punch Bowl Inn Great Clifton Market Cross Old Ginn House Harrington Galloping Horse Hensingham Distressed Sailor Globe Inn Lowther (Arms) Sun Inn
branch & the cumbrian breweries Holmrook Lutwidge Arms Irton Irton Hall Keekle Keekle Inn Keswick 18 20 Cellar Bar & Dining Bank Tavern Bar ES Cafe Bar 26 Casas Sports Bar (Part Of Kings Arms) Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Dog & Gun George Hotel Golden Lion Heights Hotel Inn on the Square (Back Bar) Keswick Brewery (Flying- Fox) Keswick Park Hotel Keswick Rugby Club Kings Arms Hotel Lake Road Inn Lakes Bar and Bistro Magnolia Cafe Bar Oddfellows Arms Pack Horse Inn Pheasant Inn Royal Oak Skiddaw Hotel Square Orange Theatre By The Lake Twa Dogs Inn Wainwright Lorton Vale Hundith Hill Hotel Low Lorton Wheatsheaf Inn Loweswater Kirkstile Inn Maryport Captain Nelson Tavern Golden Lion Hotel Lifeboat Mawbray The Lowther Nether Wasdale Low Wood Hall Hotel Screes Inn Strands Inn Newlands Swinside Inn Papcastle Belle Vue (Returned) Portinscale Farmers Arms Ravenglass Inn at Ravenglass Pennington Hotel Ratty Arms Rosthwaite Scafell Hotel Rowrah Ennerdale Brewery Tap Stork Hotel Santon Bridge Bridge Inn Scales White Horse Inn Seascale Calder House Hotel Seatoller Glaramara House Hotel Seaton Pack Horse Royal Oak 19 St Bees Albert Hotel Manor Oddfellows Arms Queens Hotel Seacote Hotel Stonethwaite Langstrath Country Inn Tallentire Bush Inn Thirlspot Kings Head Threlkeld Horse & Farrier Salutation (The Sally) Waberthwaite Brown Cow Inn Wasdale Head Wasdale Head Inn Winscales Oily s (Oily Johnies ) tbc Whitehaven Anchor Vaults ***Barra Jacks Bransty Arch Candlestick Chase Hotel ***Glass House Howgate Brewer s Fayre ***John Paul Jones Lowther Club Puncheon Shakers Cocktail & Cafe Bar Shipwrights Arms Sneck Lifter Sunny Hill Hotel Tavern Three Tuns Vagabond
Waverley Hotel Whittington Cat Workington Blue Bell Commercial (now Soul Suite) Conservative Club Grapes Green Dragon Henry Bessemer Miners Arms Pubs marked *** may not have real ale on at all times and may only be able to serve Real Ale at busier periods. Borrowdale Hotel, Borrowdale Brook House Inn, Boot Crown, Cleator Moor Duke of Cumberland, Bridgefoot Ennerdale Brewery Tap, Rowrah Glass House, Whitehaven Jacks Surf Bar, Allonby Lowther Arms, Mawbray Market Cross, Great Clifton Old Ginn House, Great Clifton Pheasant Inn, Crosthwaite, Keswick Stag Inn, Crosby Stork Hotel, Rowrah Swan, Cockermouth Wheatsheaf, Low Lorton Woolpack Inn, Boot Ambleside Barngates Tarn Hows LocAle the breweries Appleby Appleby Helm Bar Biggar - Biggar Blackbeck, Egremont Blackbeck Bowness-on-Windermere Bowness Bay Wild Boar Brampton Karrock Brougham, Penrith Eden Carlisle - Carlisle Cartmel Unsworth s Yard Cockermouth Jennings Coniston - Coniston Dent, Sedbergh Dent Embleton Independent Lakeland Flookburgh Fell Foxfield - Foxfield Great Corby, Carlisle Cumberland The Green Nr Millom Beckstones Greenodd - Greenodd Grassmere Grassmere (new) Hawkshead Cumbrian Legendary Ales Hesket Newmarket Hesket Newmarket Ings Watermill Kendal 20 Brewshine Chadwick s Handsome Kendal Westmorland Keswick Keswick Brewery Kirkby Lonsdale Kirkby Lonsdale Long Marton Tirril Millom Hardknott (closed) Nether Wasdale Strands Pennington Healey s Rowrah Ennerdale Silloth Derwent Staveley Hawkshead Ulverston Stringers (closed) South Lakes Ulverston Winster Valley Winster, Windermere Ulleswater Brack N Brew at Brackenrigg Workington Tractor Shed List compiled from Camra s Whatpubs.com database Any changes please inform the pubs officer at whatales@westcumbriacamra.org.uk
The Castle Bar 14, Market Place, Cockermouth, CA13 9NQ. Reservations 07765696679. 2.20 A PINT MONDAY TO FRIDAY 3pm - 7pm ALL DAY SUNDAY 6 Real Ales, a Stout & Cider always on tap 16th Century Bar and Restaurant. Dog friendly. Large beer garden 3 floors of bars, restaurants, lounges and snugs, wood burning stove. Opening hours Monday -Thursday 11am - 11am Friday - Saturday. 11am - 12am Sunday. 12 noon - 10.30pm Food served Mon-Friday 11.30am - 2pm 5.30pm - 8.45pm Saturday - 11.30am - 2.30pm 5.30pm - 8.45pm Sunday - 12 noon - 2.30pm 5.30pm - 8.45pm 21
Prancing (not My Little) Pony Brewery, Totness, Adelaide Hills, South Australia During a recent visit to Australia we spent some time in South Australia, mainly in and around Adelaide. On a previous trip to the city I had visited Australia s largest Brewery, Coopers. On this latest visit I was interested in going to one of the smaller breweries which have sprung up in recent years. These breweries are often trendily referred to as craft or boutique. We had planned to drive out equipment fronted by a large, comfortable drinking area with a bar (The Brewshed), and a sizeable shop. Here I must confess that I had much difficulty in not referring to it as the My Little Pony Brewery as there were lots of ponies, mostly rocking not prancing, adorning towards the Barossa Valley (more wine than beer), through the Adelaide Hills, which lie north of the city, to Auburn to visit the Hop & Vine Tasting Rooms, a Tap for Clare Valley Brewery. However on arrival we were disappointed to find the premises closed. A lesson learnt here, if you are travelling some distance expecting to do enjoy some new brews, make sure that are going to be open before you set out. Fortunately one of our party recalled that there was a brewery not too far away in Totness so we set off to investigate. We found the Prancing Pony brewery, which was housed in a very large single span building, comprising the brewing 22
every spare alcove and surface throughout the bar and shop. The brewing equipment is a German manufactured Lauter tun installation, installed everywhere that I have visited. The low temperature of the beer can be explained to some extend by the very hot climate, it averaged 30 degrees plus during our stay. Most times I had to let my beer stand for many minutes for it to warm up a bit! I could certainly not appreciate the taste at the serving temperature. Frank s response was that Australians like what they consider to be a quenching hit from the very cold liquid. I think the high gravity was more about getting the alcohol hit as quickly as possible. Session strength beers are not much in evidence, as there appears to be little demand for them. Running a tasting panel for these strong beers at very low temperatures must be interesting, but all the beers have tasting notes. in 2016. The Head Brewer, or Brewing Pony as he prefers to be known, originally hailed from Germany, and from the cut of his impressive moustache, probable Bavaria. His name is Frank Samson and I was fortunate to spend some time taking to him about their small batch brews and also some of the peculiarities of Oz drinking habits (protocol). I was interested in the predominance of high gravity brews served at mouth numbing temperature. This is the case throughout Oz, or at least At this brewery they offered in excess of eighteen different beers, ranging from relatively low gravity pale ales, pilsners and golden beers through to heavy IPA s and Stouts. The range being from 4.8 to 9.0 ABV. All the brews are multi hopped (primarily New World hops, so predominantly floral in aroma), up to six times, with a range of 28 to 60 IBU (International Bittering Units). The serving from the bar is by way of a very long font rail with 16 flip type keg taps. The whole rail was chilled to the extent that it had a permanent dew covering (I suspect 23
that it might sometimes actually freeze). The beers were unfiltered and served using CO2 external pressure. Not exactly keg, but pretty close. A sizeable proportion of the production is bottled. The bottled beers are also unfiltered. Whilst not strictly bottle conditioned they did have some residual yeast which helped maintain the condition. The seated area in the bar was extensive and very comfortable, with many armchairs, including Chesterfields for those who wished to relax in some comfort, used to). Again interpretation may vary between, and probably within States. We sampled most of the multi award winning brews between us, once they had lost their extreme chilling. Our favourites were : Pale Ale, 5.5% ABV, 38 IBU, strong citrusy flavour balance by extra maltiness, with a spicy aroma. Very tasty, bordering on an IPA. whilst there were plenty of seats and large tables for the visiting parties that they cater for. They run regular Brewery tours. A good range of food was also on offer. The bar offered sample racks of their brews. Selecting some of the higher gravity brews proportionally increased the price of the rack. The basic selection of 6 beers was A$15 ( 8.60) for what amounted in total to approx 1.5 pints ( 5.70 a pint). There is plenty of scope for much confusion when comparing beer prices in Oz. As far as I could see there were two basic terms used for volume purchased, one was a Schooner. This seems to vary between States, and I suspect between premises within States. The other is a Pint or Half Pint, this again seems to vary (not consistently the 20/10 fluid ounces we are India Red Ale, 7.9% ABV, 60 IBU, a true IPA, very well hopped, packed with citrus and tropical fruit. Very, very tasty, but not for t0he session drinker. Won Supreme Champion Beer at the 2016 International Beer Challenge (IBC) held in London. Black Ale, 6.0% ABV, 35 IBU, loads of roasted malt and late flavouring hops. 24
Very smooth with chocolate, liquorice, caramel, and floral hop flavours. A very pleasant drinking experience. Amber Ale, 5.0% ABV, 33 IBU, caramelly, malty and citrus hop flavour. An enjoyable beer, but again not for the session drinker. Footnotes The Rate of Exchange used for the pricing comparison was 1 = 1.75A$. Prancing Pony bottled beers are now being distributed in the U.K. by Brewdog. On a visit to Heron Island in Queensland I asked for a bottle of Coopers Sparkling Ale at the resort bar. This is my favourite Australian Bottle Conditioned beer. The young lady behind the bar took he bottle from the chill cabinet, laid it onto the counter, and proceeded to roll it. I asked her what the h*ll she was doing. She replied that s the way we do it. It took half an hour for the yeast to settle in the bottle before I could decant off the clear beer into a glass, and the contents to warm up before I could enjoy it. Real Ale loving UK visitors to Oz beware. Jim Chapple aka Wallaby Jim. 25
Royal Oak, Beckermet When we came to live in Beckermet in 1976 the Royal Oak had been run by the Greaves family for 68 years. In the early days of their ownership beer was delivered by horse & cart from Beckermet railway station and served in a jug through a hatch. If anyone has memories of that time, we'd love to hear from you. Sally Greaves, assisted by her daughters Tizzie and Mary, kept a very strict house and would not tolerate drunkenness or ill-mannered behaviour of any description. Hartley's beer from Ulverston was the brew then. The couple who took over the pub as we arrived in the village were Tim and Madeleine Pekarek. They had both recently qualified in Hotel & Catering Administration but had no previous pub experience. However, they were quick to learn, and introduced some excellent ideas and, importantly, during the hottest summer on record, a cooling system for the barrels as there was no below-ground cellar. Having converted the adjacent Royal Oak Rooms (former stables and garage) in to en-suite accommodation and built on a function room, the pub was an unqualified success and they continued to run it for a further 13 years until, in need of a change, they sold it to Jennings Brewery in 1989. Over the next 20 years or so, with one notable exception, Phil & Marianne Hawley (Marianne was an excellent cook), a series of unsuccessful tenants and managers saw the establishment go into steady decline. In 2014 the pub was sold off by Jennings to a private landlord who ran it herself for a short while before letting it out to a succession of new tenants. The latest of these, Ryan Winthrop and Rhys Hexter, seem to have got off to an excellent start, and are young and full of enthusiasm. They're not without experience either: Ryan had worked in several Workington pubs before joining up with Rhys in this new business enterprise. Ryan's Aunt Joanne has also worked at a popular pub near Penrith and is helping out with useful advice and suggestions. The pub was closed for several months whilst they decorated the entire pub inside and out, improved a previous bar extension and installed up-to-date central heating. But, thankfully, the same cosy, traditional character has been retained. On the beer side, all looks promising and there is no brewery tie. On my visit they were serving Ennerdale Blonde and English Pride IPA, both in excellent condition. And there is the usual selection of keg beers, admittedly supplied by Heineken, but nothing unusual about that these days. Beer drinkers of all shades can enjoy their pint here. A simple but tasty and nutritious food menu is also now on offer. West Cumbria CAMRA branch wish Ryan and Rhys every success as they start their tenancy of this wonderful old pub. We hope the drinking public will give them all the support they need. Malcolm Richardson 26
An open message to CAMRA members in the West Cumbria Branch. Recently I composed an open letter to the members of the West Cumbria branch (see below) and then realised that, although lovers of real ales, many of you reading this magazine are not members of this branch, or even CAMRA members. However, I am certain that the gist of my letter could apply to you also, and we would welcome any feedback from yourselves. At the recent branch AGM it was noted that we now have over 320 members. This is great news and hopefully we will continue to add new members to that number over coming years. As a branch we are quite small, but percentage wise have a very active membership, attending meetings, presentations, and enjoying social events. We also have a quarterly magazine, which we believe is very informative and interesting, and we really hope you enjoy reading either from one of our pubs, or via our branch website www.westcumbriacamra.org.uk However, because our branch area is so large, and our members so widely spread, we are aware that we only ever get to see a fraction of the membership. Of the present number we probably see approximately 50 members, over the events mentioned earlier, and to those members I say a very heartfelt thank you, as your involvement allows this branch to continue campaigning for real ale. That of course means that sadly there are also many of you out there that we have never met. Ideally it would be great to see you all but due to the constraints of travelling distances and transport links (or lack of), we know this is impossible. We do try to get to as many outlying pubs as we can, but we have to take into account travelling time, pick-up points, and transport costs, and logistically this means that we cannot get to all of our real ale pubs. This is a sad but true fact, but it does not mean that we will just forget that you are out there. So, although we are not able to meet you all in person, we would like to involve you in the branch, through the WhatAles magazine. We would welcome any articles about your local pubs; this could include any historical facts, beer availability, interesting news, memorable events, and photographs. We would also love to know if you have any involvement in those events, or have any other interesting facts that our readership would like to know about. In turn, we will aim to include as much of your information as we can in forthcoming editions of the magazine. Please send your information to the WhatAles team at contact.whatales@gmail. com. We really look forward to hearing from you. WhatAles editorial team. Hal and Andy welcome you to the Barn Bistro at Gilcrux. Come and enjoy a delicious meal and try our local real ales in a welcoming atmosphere. We cater for all sorts of functions, serve bistro-style pub food using great local produce. Why not try our steak night (every Wednesday) or our scrumptious Sunday lunches! Open Times: Tues 5-11pm; Weds -Sun 12-11pm Food: Tues-Sat 6-8.30pm; Sun 6-8pm Lunches Fri - Sun 12-2pm Gilcrux, Cumbria, CA72QX Tel: 0169 7323289 4Four handpumps serving Cumbrian real ales including Jennings Bitter 4Lovely real fire! 4Well-behaved dogs welcome until 6pm 27
Get that craft beer taste without the hops A GENETICALLY engineered yeast makes beer taste of hops without any actual hops. The yeast could help make brewing beer cheaper and more sustainable. Hops are flowers that give floral and bitter flavours to beer, but their high cost contributes to the price tag of craft beers. What s more, growing hops uses lots of water and energy, and the amount of flavour they impart varies. So Charles Denby, Rachel Li and colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley, set out to create a yeast that produces some of the chemicals responsible for the flavour of hops. They focused on two, linalool and geraniol, that are known to be crucial to the flavour. Mint and basil plants have enzymes that make these chemicals, so the team found and then inserted the genes responsible into yeast. The resulting strains of yeast made beer with more consistent levels of linalool and geraniol than beer made with hops (Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03293-x). Baywatch Hotel Allonby 01900 881088 Open Daily 11am-11pm Teas, Coffees, Hot Chocolate Scones, Sandwiches & Home Made Cakes Lunch 11:30-2:30pm Evenings 4:30-9pm 3 REAL 3 Real ALES Ales Served SERVED DAILY Daily *Changing Weekly* Mon-Thurs from 8pm All Ales 2 a pint Dogs on a lead welcome A tasting panel said the beer was hoppier than two beers flavoured with real hops, and reported pleasant flavours like orange blossom. We were hoping to be on the same range as the dryhopped beers, says Denby. Being rated as hoppier was very encouraging. Denby says it takes 50 litres of water to grow enough hops to make one pint of beer, so cutting back on their use could lessen our overuse of water. New Scientist 24th March 2018 p19. 28
like to dine out every time there is a z in the month; however the recent blue I moon was on a par, and so the Dipsos splashed out. Pub dining is our preference, don t like restaurants, which can be pretentious even intimidating places, menus in French for example; entirely acceptable in France, but then I don t expect to see English menus there. Unfortunately some pubs, probably out of necessity, are aiming at the gourmet foodie market, often at the expense of available drinking area and beer quality. Was at the recycling depot the other day, standing waste deep in cardboard, which there was no room for in the packed container, when serendipitously the bi-annual emptying occurred. Talking to the guy doing the cardboard one, and asked him what happens to it. He said it is processed and turned into cous cous. The bits with parcel tape on are what become quinoa. It s then sold to gastropubs. Now you know where the gastro bit comes from. By the way, have you noticed how delicious local takeaway food seems after midnight following a bit of a sesh? All of a sudden the traditional British chicken tikka vindaloo becomes de rigueur. Was in a local market town years ago, and only the fish and chip shop was still open. Luckily there was one fish left on the hot shelf, and so my induced appetite was satiated. However late next morning I was given to examining the bony remnants of my repast, and couldn t recognise the anatomy of said fish. Googled the skeletal remains, and the closest match I came up with was coelacanth. Seemed fine at the time. Good old beer, not only provides sex for ugly people but makes the uneatable delicious. Mate of mine woke up one morning to find he had eaten a cod s head that had been bought for their greyhound. I digress. So we went out in trepidation to consume food we hadn t, in years, prepared ourselves. Learned of a hostelry where they not only make their own food, even the bread, but beer as well. Pasties, oh the pasties, a friend who came with us was so moved (in a good way) by his he made his own version next day in a vain attempt to recreate the experience. Good pub food in this area is on a par with the best restaurants, another reason to support them. Even now the Dipsos are scrimping and saving with a view to repeating the experience. Give it a go. 29 Fine dining! Dionysus
A Few Bar and Beer Jokes A man walked into a bar and said ouch - it was an Iron Bar! (The old ones are always the best!) A man walked into a bar. A guy was playing requests on the piano and his pet monkey was running along the bar collecting money in a hat. The man had just started his beer when the monkey ran along the bar and peed in his glass. The man challenged the pianist Hey, do you know your monkey s just piddled in my pint? No said the pianist but if you whistle a few bars I ll soon pick it up. A man walked into a bar and sat down next to a man with a dog at his feet. Does your dog bite asked the visitor No came the reply. A few minutes later the dog bit a chunk out of the man s leg. I thought you said your dog doesn t bite said the man. That s not my dog came the reply. A piece of string walked into a bar and asked the landlord for a pint of Bitter. The landlord said You re a piece of string, I m not serving you and threw him out. The piece of string was very upset; he rolled around in the pub car and in the pub garden and got into quite a tangle. He went back into the pub and ordered a pint of Bitter. The landlord said Hang on a minute, aren t you that piece of string that was in here a few minutes ago? No! replied the piece of string; I m afraid not. (Think about it) A neutron walked into a bar and order a beer. How much is that? He asks. For you replied the landlord No charge A Gorilla walked into a bar and ordered a pint. That ll be 4:00 please said the landlord and added We don t get many gorillas in here. The Gorilla reached for his wallet and said At 4.00 a pint it s no b wonder. A man walked into a bar and ordered a pint of 1914 Bitter. He was a big man and he looked threatening so the landlord decided to humour him, The landlord pulled a pint, put it on the bar and said There you go sir, one pint of 1914 Bitter. Thank you, said the man, pushing coins across the bar there s your three ha pence. A man with dyslexia walked into a bra. A Hotdog went into a pub and ordered a beer. The landlord replied Sorry, we don t serve food. A man with a slab of asphalt under his arm walked into a bar and said A pint please and one for the road. Two shipwrecked sailors were adrift in a liferaft with no water when a beer bottle floated past. One of them picked the bottle up and rubbed the label to see what brew it was. A genie appeared and said I am the genie of the bottle and I will grant you one wish. Quick as a flash, one of the guys said I wish the ocean were a sea of beer. and immediately his wish came true. Nice one Mate! says the other guy, Now we have to pee in the boat. A screwdriver walks into a bar. The landlord says Hey, we have a drink named after you! The screwdriver responds in amazement, You have a drink named Colin? A cowboy walked into an empty bar in the Wild West. Where is everybody? asks the cowboy. They re hanging Brown Paper Pete and everyone has gone to watch replied the barman. Why do they call him Brown Paper Pete? asks the cowboy. All his clothes are made of brown paper says the barman. He wears a brown paper hat, brown paper shirt, brown paper trousers and brown paper shoes. Strange guy says the cowboy What are they hanging him for? Rustling says the bartender. Compiled by Andy Huckson 30
Letters Dear Sir/Madam Once again the beer festival season is upon us, which is great news for real ale drinkers, but as one of these can I please make an urgent plea through your magazine to all of the organisers of these wonderful events? Can organisers please keep in mind that festival goers do like a good range of beers, of all styles? I know that a great majority of licencees believe that their customers don t like dark beers, but it would be really great to have a choice, especially at beer festivals. My friends and I really enjoy getting together for these events, and I must admit that many do offer a wide choice, but unfortunately some do not. Just recently we attended a festival at one popular pub which offered 27 beers, 26 of which were either IPA, Blonds, or light Bitters, most of them loaded with hops. The one single dark beer was very nice, but we didn t really want to drink it all afternoon, we might just as well have been at our own local, or even drinking bottles at home. So please, please, can we just have a little more choice for those of us who really do not enjoy the taste of hops. Name and address supplied The Punch Bowl Inn Great Broughton. CA13 0YJ A Community Pub Real ales from Cumbrian Breweries Wide choice of premium gins and whiskies. Dog friendly. Real Fire Email: thepunchbowl@live.com The Smallest, Longest Beer Festival in Cumbria. Th: 8pm-11pm, Fr: 6pm-11pm, Sa: 5pm-11pm, Su 12-3pm & 6-11pm See our Facebook page for BH opening times, & details of special events 31
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LANDLORDS PUT your PUB on the MAP Did you know that What Ales Has a circulation of over 3000 copies Goes to over 200 Pubs/Clubs/Restaurants/BBs and Hotels in Cumbria All local Tourist Information offices Local breweries We even distribute copies nationally What Ales is regarded as an invaluable guide for visitors to West Cumbria looking not only for Good Beer but also quality food and accommodation So why not put your pub on the map and advertise in what Ales We will even design the Advert for you to your specifications, plus you will then own the artwork and can subsequently use it as you wish perhaps like that below Placing an Ad is easy and even offset against your tax bill Half page, single issue 75; four issues prepaid 270 Quarter page, single issue 40; four issues prepaid 145 Inside cover, single issue 150; four issues prepaid 540 Outside back cover, single issue 175; four issues prepaid 630 Full page, single issue 120; four issues prepaid 430 contact the pat.whatales@gmail.com Your Pub Name your pub address tel no. www.yourpub.co.uk Your opening times Tuesday - Sunday 11am - 11pm m Home cooked food served: Monday - Friday: 12.00pm - 2.30pm & 5.30pm - 8.30pm Saturday & Sunday lunch : 12.00pm - 3.00pm 35
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