Horse and Plough - Castle Rock Brewery

All the latest news, views and essential information from Castle Rock Brewery
No:6 Summer 2015
www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk
Welcome
Beer news
Welcome to the summer edition of the
Castle Rock Quarter.
Beers of
Summer
There’s a lot to
update you on, so
I’ll avoid the waffle
and begin!
It isn’t an unusual
state of affairs but
since the last time
of writing, we’ve
been very busy, particularly with the couple
of additional pubs you’ll find listed on the
back. Firstly, we brought the Horse & Plough
in Bingham under Castle Rock operation in
April, and are delighted to hold the keys to
such a treasure. Secondly, The Embankment
at Trent Bridge finally joined the Castle Rock
clan just before this issue went to print. Both
of these pubs are covered in more depth
within these pages.
On less than a happy note, the Willowbrook
in Gedling suffered a severe fire in April. We
were heartbroken and many tears were shed,
but nobody was hurt and that’s the main
thing. I just want to say a big thank you for
all the messages of goodwill, and all the
individuals involved in the herculean effort to
restore the pub. I am amazed that by the
time you’re reading this, the doors will likely
be open again, and our team will be back
behind the bar welcoming you and serving
excellent beer and food.
Finally, I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing
our head brewer Adrian a very happy 50th
birthday. Congratulations on reaching this
milestone, and we hope you have many more
pints left in you!
I hope you enjoy this issue. Cheers!
Colin Wilde
Managing Director @SheriffTipple
If there are pub or beer related topics you’d like
us to cover in the coming issues, please let us
know.
Queensbridge Road,
Nottingham NG2 1NB
Tel:
0115 985 1615
General enquiries:
[email protected]
Sales enquiries:
[email protected]
Recruitment:
[email protected]
CRQ is designed and produced by
freerbutler limited
www.freerbutler-gds.co.uk
2
Although we had typically
turbulent weather
throughout spring,
it looks like the balmy
evenings are finally upon
us, with the warm sun
providing the beautiful beer garden backdrop.
By the time this edition lands, we’re hoping to be
sporting shorts and t-shirts, sunglasses and
sandals, and a pint of beer in hand
There are a number of Castle Rock beers to
look forward to during the summer months,
from our delicious wheat beer, Skylarks
Reserve, to our James Shipstone collaborative brew with Richard Neale and Colin
Brown. Remember, it’s not just about pale
ales; look out for our well-balanced coffee
stout Sherwood Reserve which is the newest
member of our core range. With rich coffee
and chocolate aromas it’s a perfect match
for intensely flavoured dishes.
Who says stouts are just for winter?
Skylarks Reserve
4.5%
German-style wheat beer
with white chocolate and
hints of clove. Unfined and
vegan friendly.
See: Pale Yellow, Cloudy
Smell: Banana, Clove, Spice
Taste: Smooth, Refreshing,
White Chocolate, Clove
Bitterness: 3
Sweetness: 3
Pair with: A sweet creamy pudding, like
vanilla cheesecake or banoffee pie
Nottinghamian Celebration Ales
James Shipstone
4.2%
Old-style IPA with a modern
twist.
See: Pale Golden
Smell: Fresh Hop, Herbal
Taste: Earthy, Fruity,
Refreshing
Bitterness: 4
Sweetness: 3
Hemlock Bitter
(Available until July)
4.0%
Full-flavoured traditional
session bitter.
See: Mid-brown
Smell: Distinctive
Traditional Hop
Taste: Dry, Bitter, Long
Aftertaste
Bitterness: 4
Sweetness: 2
Pair with: A ploughman’s platter of cheeses,
pickle and rustic bread
Runnymede 800
(Limited availability)
4.2%
Brewed to commemorate
the sealing of the Magna
Carta 800 years ago,
Runnymede 800 is a
golden-brown bitter
brewed with local honey
and hop varieties from
New Zealand and the USA.
See: Golden Brown
Smell: Fresh Hop, Lemongrass
Taste: Honey, Crisp, Spicy, Floral Sweetness
Bitterness: 4
Sweetness: 3
Pair with: Sweet and sticky meats, like
marinated ribs or pulled pork
Robin Hood, Robin Hood,
riding through the glen, Robin Hood,
Robin Hood stopped for a pint or ten!”
Beer and food
Brews n’ Bites
It’s arguable that beer is more food-friendly
than wine; after all, brewers can experiment
with a huge variety of ingredients, from barley,
hops and yeast to spices, fruits and chocolate
Along with the rising of craft beer has
been the recognition that beer has an
amazing capacity to pair with all kinds of
foods.
Munitionettes:
Women’s
Workforce
3.9%
(Available from
September)
The fifth beer in the
Commemoration
Collection range, brewed
in homage to the women’s workforce of the
first world war,
Munitionettes is a citrusy golden ale with a
fresh bitterness. Donations are made to
charity from the sale of each pint.
See: Golden
Smell: Blueberries, Pine, Citrus
Taste: Fresh Upfront Bitterness
Bitterness: 4
Sweetness: 3
Pair with: Crispy beer battered fish and
chips (Buy a “take out” of Munitionettes to
make your own beer batter at home)
The general understanding is that
commonalities should be found between the
beer and food. Take a stout for example:
stouts are rich, dark and complexly flavoured,
so they pair beautifully with roasted, smoked
and barbecued foods.
Pilsners on the other hand, are light and
refreshing, so work best alongside cheeses,
seafood and salmon. Order a pilsner
alongside your barbecued ribs however, and
you’ll likely miss the flavours of the beer.
By following this general guideline of
matching, you’re in for a win-win situation.
What you’ll find is that the notes from your
sip of beer evoke flavours from your past or
future bites, and vice versa.
We’ve suggested some complementary
pairings alongside our Beers of the Summer.
Next time you’re in a Castle Rock pub, and
especially if you’re used to ordering wine
with your meal, why not give our pairing
suggestions a try? Our taster beers are
served in 1/3 pint glasses, so you can explore
lots of different combinations. We’d love to
hear what you try.
There are loads of great tips and ideas out
there for complementary and contrasting
pairings (how about a bitter stout with some
oysters?!) and an awful lot more to discover
about food and beer pairing (temperature,
carbonation, intensity…)
We recommend a visit to beerchow.com
where you can search for ideas via meal
course or beer type.
Crafty Flanker
4.1%
(Available from
September)
Celebrating Britain’s
hosting of the Rugby
World Cup, Crafty
Flanker is a balanced and
refreshing pale ale
brewed with UK and US hops.
See: Very Pale
Smell: Grassy, Citrus
Taste: Balanced, Clean, Fresh
Bitterness: 3
Sweetness: 2
Pair with: Light, refreshing Mediterranean
ingredients like mozzarella, balsamic and
tomato
“He certainly would have stopped for this.
Sherwood Reserve boasts a fine selection of
flavour including chocolate with notes of
the coffee. With this unique balance,
Sherwood Reserve still keeps that
smooth and burnt taste we all enjoy in a
good stout.
I enjoyed this pint towards the end of the
day, so I’d say it’s a great
nightcap!”
Beer Opinions of a Bearded Man
(Follow the Bearded Man on Facebook)
3
New pub in focus
Horse and Plough
Just in time for Easter, Castle Rock was able to announce the acquisition
of a new pub: the Horse and Plough in Bingham
Bingham is a lovely little town, quietly
bustling with people but with the feel of a
sleepy village. It serves as the perfect
backdrop for the Horse and Plough which
is, in equal measure, a top quality pub and
renowned restaurant. With many original
features in place, it absolutely brims with
character, making it an incredible place to
visit or call your “local”.
There is a rustic beauty about the Horse and
Plough; a balance between simple dignity and
just the right amount of breweriana. The
main bar is relatively small but very
charming, and a great place for a drink and
chat. Across the ground floor, which is
enhanced by lots of exposed brickwork, you’ll
find large tables and booths for a more
private meeting or dinner. Food in the
Horse & Plough is equally as classic, with a
great range of tasty pub dishes from light
lunches to Welsh Rarebit.
On the first floor is the
Grill Room; a restaurant
perfect for any occasion,
from a fine dining
experience to a Sunday
lunch with family. In a
bright and airy room, with
contrasting deep-stained
beams and tasteful
decoration, the Grill Room
serves a wide range of
artisan dishes. Quality of
ingredients and flavour
combinations give the
restaurant its strong
reputation. The Grill Room
is still rather undiscovered in the Bingham
and overall Nottinghamshire area, making
it a true “hidden gem.” Bookings can be
taken but aren’t necessary, so do drop by
for an impromptu meal.
So what are Castle Rock’s plans for the
Horse and Plough? Firstly, we want to
assure regulars and locals that we
aren’t planning any monumental
changes. We were, after all, so
captivated by it for a reason. It’s
reputation for well-kept real ale will of
course remain, with our flagship Harvest
Pale as the only permanent beer
alongside other local guest ales. With the
success of the Grill Room, it is of course
our aim to ensure the food offering at
the Horse & Plough is the very best it can
be. We want the Horse & Plough to be
the place to go for an understated but
exquisite dining experience.
We always welcome feedback in everything
we do, so if you have any thoughts about
the Horse and Plough please give us an
email. Visit our website and fill in the
“Contact Us” form.
The Embankment and the Horse and Plough have been acquired by The Beer Consortium Ltd, an EIS company that has
over 80 shareholders who have all invested in the business. Both sites will be operated by Castle Rock Brewery.
4
New pub in focus
The Embankment
We are delighted to have finally secured The Embankment at Trent Bridge
as the latest edition to the Castle Rock estate
The ‘black and white’ mock-Tudor building
was designed by Albert Nelson Bromley,
the architect behind some of Boots’ most
distinctive stores, and opened in 1907 as
Boots Store 2. Jesse Boot was renowned
for his focus on the wellbeing of Boots
employees, stating in 1919: ‘We are
primarily comrades […] Fellowship in
recreation, fellowship in ideals, common
hopes, common sympathies, and common
humanity bind us together; and whatever
fosters this happy union is valuable.’
That year the Boots Social Club was formed,
housed on the same site, offering employees
a place to fraternise and play games like
billiards, snooker, chess and darts. Two years
later the Social Club expanded throughout the
building, and in 1968 a bar was installed.
In 1979 Boots Store 2 stopped trading, and
the whole site became a social club.
If you have had the opportunity to visit
The Embankment, you’ll know what an
astounding building it is. With three floors,
eight separate (and huge) rooms, and
currently four bars, The Embankment is our
biggest site and project yet. We are planning
a significant refurbishment over the coming
months, much of which will be in-keeping
with the traditions of the building. We’re
working closely with the archive team at
Boots to source memorabilia and restore the
front of the building to how it appeared over
a century ago.
Our plans include creating The Dispensary in
the former Boots Store 2. Expect a great
selection of LocAle, craft beers and classic
pub snacks. We’re also creating a new dining
area, offering traditional
and high quality pub
food in the Castle Rock
style. On the first floor
you’ll find a stunning
restored function room
with a private bar, and
our favourite of the
whole building: the
Jesse Boot room.
Geoff Newton, chairman
of Castle Rock, says,
“Having been long
established as a social
club and pub for locals, we are mindful of
continuing to provide a community facility for
the local residents and numerous groups that
have used the Embankment for many years.
“Although it is not a social club anymore, the
social element of the Embankment is vital to
us at Castle Rock, and of course the local
community.
“We’re planning to dedicate the basement
rooms of the building to sports, games, and
live music, so you can watch the game, listen
to some tunes or play snooker - keeping the
recreational vibe, just how Jesse liked it.
“We hope to
provide first class
facilities across a
broad range of
offers from
weddings and
functions to
private dining,
coffee and cake,
casual lunches and
everything else offered by Castle Rock. We
hope The Embankment will become an
integral part of the Nottingham food and
drink scene, and you will enjoy a great
experience in a very famous landmark.”
The Embankment is open as usual, so come
down and join us for a celebratory drink.
5
Drinks in Focus
Discover World Beers
@DiscoverWBeers
Follow us to stay in the loop with offers, events and news
World beer buyer Wayne Harvey selects his favourites Contact
this summer from the Discover World Beers range TwittWerayifnethonere’s a
Siren Craft Brew - Undercurrent
Undercurrent is an oatmeal pale ale
from one of the most interesting and
experimental breweries in the UK.
Siren have quickly made a name for
themselves with triple IPAs and
blended, barrel-aged barley wines,
and their core range indicates that
there is real quality throughout their
entire portfolio.
The aroma to Undercurrent is
hop-forward with hints of stone fruit and citrus,
and at 4.5% ABV the body is made a tad fuller
by the addition of oatmeal. Expect to see it in
keg, bottles and occasionally in cask in our
venues.
Available occasionally on draught across DWB
venues and in bottles at Canalhouse.
Inn-Spired!
Having closed before
changing hands, we are
excited to hear of the
re-born Spire Brewery of Chesterfield.
Gareth Jones, a Chesterfield CAMRA
member, has entered into a new venture by
taking on the Spire name and developing
the brewery. Since the purchase in October
2014, Gareth has been working to ensure
the production of consistent and high
quality beers through installing a quality
controlled lab. The plan is to cultivate
yeast, crush malt, and purify water on site,
to ensure each brew is consistent.
Spire Brewing Co. is developing seasonal
beers, bottled beers and kegged beers,
alongside a core range of cask ales
including a hoppy pale ale and a stout.
Although only brewing since late November
2014, Spire Winter Yaroslavna Stout took
home ‘Beer of the Festival’ from
Chesterfield and Marlow British Legion
Festival.
We’ll be stocking
some beers from
Spire at the New Barrack Tavern and the
Derby Tup, as well as guesting them across
other Castle Rock pubs, so keep an eye out
and support this new venture.
Best of luck to Gareth and the team, from
all of us at Castle Rock.
6
Firestone Walker –
Wookey Jack
Firestone Walker’s entry into the
UK has been eagerly anticipated by
beer fans on this side of the pond.
We have finally picked up their beer
and it hasn’t disappointed. Interestingly they do have some British
heritage: co-founder David Walker
is a British ex-pat and is
represented as a lion on their packaging. They
use a traditional British fermentation technique
similar to the Burton Union, and even their
house yeast is of British origin.
Wookey Jack is a black rye IPA with balance; it
belies its ABV at 8.3% and is massively
drinkable. There is a bit of roast from the malt,
just enough to offset the citrusy hop aroma. The
rye adds a hint of pepper, which seems to make
the transition from malt and hop flavours glide
together. A different choice for fans of dark
beer.
Available at Canalhouse
Yeastie Boys - Gunnamatta
Yeastie Boys make some of the finest
beers in New Zealand, with a growing
presence in the UK.
I’m sure you’ll get to know their beers
pretty well (if you don’t already).
Gunnamatta is a tea leaf IPA, with Earl
specific beer
you’d
Grey as a pretty strong
like us to
flavour, but it works so well
source
alongside the traditional IPA
ingredients of pale malt and big hops, creating
something really unique. Expect floral aromas
with a heavy hit of bergamot, light caramel malt
giving it enough sweetness to balance the
bitterness provided by the tea and hops.
Available at Canalhouse, Kean’s Head and
Vat & Fiddle
La Trappe - Witte
La Trappe Witte is a simple but incredibly well
made beer. It’s perfect for the summer months
as a refresher. It’s light, similar to some more
famous Belgian Wits, but it’s different in that
there is no addition of orange peel and
coriander. There’s a lemon zest note that comes
from the hops and a hint of spice from the
yeast. It’s clean, spritzy and refreshing –
delicate yet full of flavour,
what more could you want
in the summer sun?
Available at Canalhouse,
Kean’s Head and Swan in
the Rushes
The best craft beers are
fleeting and only available
until the taps run dry!
Follow us to make sure
you don’t miss out.
Nottingham Craft Beer Week
15th-21st June was an exciting
week for beer lovers in
Nottingham, with our first ever
Craft Beer Week.
It’s fair to say Nottingham has well
and truly landed as Britain’s beer
destination. We host the Robin
Hood Beer & Cider Festival (one of
the best-loved and biggest beer festivals in
the UK) and throw hundreds of smaller beer
festivals across the county every year.
Nottinghamshire is brimming with an array of
great pubs and bars and, come rain or shine;
Nottinghamians seem always to see beer as
the drink of choice.
The inaugural Craft Beer Week, the first of its
kind outside London, saw the entire city and
wider county celebrate beer.
With Discover World Beers at the
forefront of Nottingham’s Craft
Beer scene, the Canalhouse hosted
a Smackdown with Black Iris
(based in Basford) vs. USA and a
Weird Beard tap takeover, while
the Kean’s Head held a Founders
Beer and Whiskey Night,
showcasing rare beers such as Blushing
Monk and KBS, and beers across Castle Rock
pubs were discounted for the event.
Not long had we stopped reeling from the
last Traffic Street Special (#4 Little Bitch was
a terrier of a brew at 10%) before Dan in the
brewery created his next masterpiece: #5
Maggie’s Farm. This 4.0% abv ginger apricot
Saison was the perfect addition to
Nottingham Craft Beer Week.
We’ll see you next year #ncbw16
Managed pub in focus
Golden Eagle
We’ve been getting up close and
personal with our pubs since our first
Castle Rock Quarter launched in 2014.
This time we’re focusing on the
Golden Eagle in Lincoln
An established hostelry since the early
1700s, the Golden Eagle is now a
community pub on Lincoln’s lengthy High
Street. It’s an unassuming building of
cream and (what we call) Castle Rock
blue, with some true pub treasures to
discover.
The bar and lounge are separate rooms, both
with a laid back and traditional feel; small and
cosy spaces enjoyed by many. What really
makes the Golden Eagle special is its
spectacular beer garden, which underwent a
major refurbishment just a couple of years
ago, and is the ideal spot for sunny days and
warm evenings.
We caught up with Tracy and Pete who have
been lovingly looking after the pub and its
locals for ten years: “We always endeavour to
look after our customers. Pete sorts their
computers, we help write letters, run people
to the doctors and more. On Christmas Day
those who don’t have relatives come to us for
lunch. It’s an extended family,” Tracy tells us.
This is exactly the sort of service, care and
attention that is priceless and why the Golden
Eagle is so fondly loved.
The Golden Eagle is the only pub in Lincoln,
and the only Castle Rock pub, to stock the
modern red ale, Lincoln Red.
The beer garden of the Golden Eagle is a true
oasis in the historic city of Lincoln. “On a
warm day it fills up with groups of families
and friends,” Tracy says. The ever popular
Golden Eagle Beer Festival takes place every
year in the beer garden (last weekend of June
so a year to wait now!)
Interaction with customers is
absolutely essential in a
successful pub and indeed a
Castle Rock pub, and Tracy and
Pete are particularly fond of
finding synergy with their
customers. “Everyone has a
story to tell and I think sitting
and taking the time to listen to
them maintains the ethos of the
pub” says Tracy.
The Golden Eagle stocks Harvest Pale
permanently and Castle Rock guest beers,
which go down a treat. Locality is also
important to Tracy and Pete: “We try to stock
local ales as much as we can, featuring the
likes of Pheasantry, Oldershaws, Newby Wyke
and Cathedral Heights. But we love sourcing
beers no-one has had before. Having a good
range is all about judging what goes down
well, and trying new beers is a part of that.”
The marquee becomes an extension of the
pub, plus a BBQ and live music all weekend
long means there’s always a buzz during the
festival.
So if you’ve never been to the Golden Eagle,
we thoroughly recommend you give this
delightful pub a try, and to all those that have
– thank you for your custom from all of us at
Castle Rock.
Pictures clockwise from top: Public Bar, Beer Garden, Lounge Bar, Childrens Play Area, Beer Garden,
Distinctive High Street frontage
7
Events
The Fox & the Civil War
Newark is a market town steeped in history and absolutely brimming with
character...
In May, an exciting weekend took
place with the opening of the
National Civil War Centre, less than
a minute walk from our very own
Fox & Crown on Appleton Gate.
It is a modern and interactive
museum detailing facts through
image, video and text about the
devastating and tenacious Civil War
sieges on Newark.
To celebrate the opening of the
museum, Castle Rock brewed a
unique beer called Charles’ Last Stand
available exclusively at the Fox and
Crown. The beer had strong honey
notes as well as a botanical taste and
we have to admit it was met with a
similar reception to marmite everyone had something to say about
it! Regardless the Fox shifted plenty of
barrels over the weekend, enjoyed by
customers and re-enactors from the King’s
Lifeguard of Foote regiment which used the
Fox as its basecamp for the launch weekend.
Speaking for the regiment, Major Jez Harper
said the Fox was the ideal billet: "Its location
The King’s Lifeguard of Foote regiment outside the
Fox and Crown, with the ‘serving wenches’ at centre-right
is fine, a mere 100 paces from the Civil War
Centre and the victuals, ales, and serving
wenches are worthy of the King."
We recommend you pay a visit to this
fantastic museum. With great transport links,
Newark is the perfect day out and when
you visit make sure you pop in to the
Fox and Crown and enjoy all it has to offer:
great beer and locally sourced food.
The feel of the Fox harks back to our former
chairman’s original idea of a “pubtopia” –
high quality beer served by welcoming and
knowledgeable staff in a friendly
environment.
Beer Day Britain & the Magna Carta
15th June 2015 brought the first celebration of a new annual event:
Beer Day Britain
In medieval England ale was so essential
to life that it was mentioned in the
Magna Carta, probably the most famous
document in the history of human rights,
which was sealed in 1215 on 15th June.
Britain’s beer heritage is enviable,
contributing £21 billion to the Treasury
every year, with more styles of beer brewed
in the UK than in any other brewing nation,
and of course the most desired pub scene
in the world.
800 years on and it was
decided that Britain
deserved a national
event to celebrate the
brewing and pub
industry, so Beer Day
Britain was created.
A nationwide communal
‘cheers’ to beer was
organised for 12:15pm where brewers,
pubs and beer lovers raised a glass in
celebration of British beer. Using the
hashtag #CheersBDB, Twitter was stormed
with photos of people across Britain taking
part in this unique event.
At Castle Rock we brewed Runnymede
800, a golden-brown ale with local honey
and hops from New Zealand and USA, and
gathered with friends and customers to
raise our glasses. Across our pubs, staff
8
and customers did the same, joining the
nation in a celebration of our favourite
drink (as at the Vat - pictured above).
Beer Day Britain was created by:
Jane Peyton, Britain’s Beer Sommelier of
the Year; Sara Barton, British Brewer of the
Year 2012-13; and Sophie de Ronde,
organiser of International Women’s
Collaboration Brew Day and - like Sara - a
founding member of Project Venus. Three
amazing figures in Britain’s brewing scene.
Events
Summer of Sport
I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes
Sport is all around me, and so the feeling grows
Well sport may not be everybody’s
“half of mild” but one thing is for
certain; Castle Rock pubs always seem
to be in the middle of it.
Last season was a fairly miserable affair for
Castle Rock’s football loving staff and
customers. In Nottingham, Sheffield, Lincoln,
Derby and York, there was a general aura of
underachievement. Only in Chesterfield and
Boston was there fun to be had…before both
teams lost out in the play offs. Ah, bitter
disappointment!
Success however has come to the Notts
County Ladies FC, who have had a great
FA Cup campaign so far. Congratulations, we
wish you all the best in the final against
Chelsea which takes place on 1st August.
But alas, the chilly seasons have rolled on by
and a new summer is ahead of us. So let’s all
agree to forget about last season; the new
fixtures are out and Castle Rock pubs will
again be on hand to help fuel your pre-game
optimism and soften your post-game misery.
Rest assured: we’ll always be on your side!
Nothing is more exciting for us than when the
Aussies come to Trent Bridge to contest the
Ashes. We love opening our doors for early
breakfast, lunch, rain-stopped play and
dinner, and with the Stratford Haven in West
Bridgford and the Poppy & Pint in Lady Bay,
the Embankment just over the bridge, and
the Vat & Fiddle, Canalhouse, Newshouse,
Kean’s Head, Lincolnshire Poacher and the
Forest Tavern in the city, there’s quite a lot of
Castle Rock pubs to enjoy on your visit.
David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd is a regular at the
Poacher, so take a stroll up and you may
catch the legend that is. If not, you can chill
out in the ‘Bumble Hut’ in the garden with
some friends. Post-match banter is of course
a vital element of the Ashes, and we reckon a
Castle Rock pub is the perfect place to sit
down with a pint and get the debates
flowing.
All in all, our pubs are on hand to make for
great day out, and we just hope that come
Thursday 6th August (Fourth test) that
England still have a chance to win the series.
If you’re lucky, as you read this we may still
have some tickets left for an ‘Evening with’
cricketer event at the Poppy & Pint. Last year
Alec Stewart was exceptional, and we can
now confirm that our headline name this year
is former England and Leicestershire lefthand batsman Paul Nixon. You can book your
tickets by visiting trap6events.co.uk
Watch out too for our ‘Buses to the Races’
which take you out to Southwell, and maybe
sign up for the Castle Rock 10k Run which
we are sponsoring for the first time, a great
way to get a limited edition Castle Rock
t-shirt! you can sign up by visiting
formulaonecc.co.uk
If you’d rather avoid the events and stay in
the pub, make sure to have a pint of Crafty
Flanker, our beer brewed especially for the
Rugby World Cup 2015.
Follow our social media feeds and our website
for updates on this “Summer of Sport”.
Drinks in focus
Real cider
At Castle Rock we are huge supporters of real cider,
stocking a great range across many of our pubs.
Meet Alex McKenzie, our Cider Guru, here to give us his
top three picks of real cider for summer 2015
Orchard Pig Cider – Maverick
Orchard Pig are a rapidly
growing Glastonbury based
producer, formed in 2004.
While their flagship cider, Reveller,
has been proving popular for some time now,
one of their more experimental options is
coming to the fore in the form of Maverick.
A thoroughly refreshing option, this cider
possesses initial ginger and honey sweetness,
before unleashing a jolt of chilli to really
bring it to life. At 4%, this is a delightfully
refreshing session option for a warm
summer’s day.
Follow the Cider Guru @CiderGuruCRB and let Alex know your
favourites so we can try to source them
Rosie’s Cider – Black Bart
Named after Jack Russell and
former Chief Executive Officer, Rosie
the Dog, Rosie’s Cider is a cider
maker based in Wrexham. Black Bart is
matured in oak rum barrels from Barbados,
which gives it an intense and unique flavour.
Named after plundering West Indian pirate
Black Bart, this is a sweeter option without
being too sickly and is full of character, just
like its namesake.
Thistly Cross – Original
Thistly Cross’ first cider is a
smooth and refreshing
option, using fresh Scottish
apples.
Incredibly drinkable and not too complex
taste-wise; this is an excellent option for
anyone unfamiliar with traditional cider
wishing to try some.
Beware though, at 7.2% it packs a powerful
punch!
9
Pubs in focus
The Willowbrook:
A pheonix will rise
On 2nd April, we woke to the devastating news
that the Willowbrook had suffered a fire in the
early hours of the morning
Everyone was relieved however to learn
the pub was closed at the time and no
one was hurt. But we truly love all of
our pubs, and it was a strange feeling
to learn that one had been so severely
damaged.
Having spent months refurbishing the
Willowbrook before its official opening in late
April 2014, it was less than a year old and still
gleaming. It had quickly become a favourite
among the locals of Gedling, and our
customers were in as much shock (and upset)
as we were when the fire broke out just before
Easter weekend.
Smoke damaged spirits
on the back bar
Once the embers had
stopped burning and
safety measures
taken, we were
allowed access to the
site. The Fire Service
ascertained that the
cause of the fire was
an electrical fault.
The bulk of the
damage was limited
to the bar area, but
smoke damage
throughout the pub
was extensive.
Re-building the bar following the fire
Luckily the building was structurally sound, so
we were able to get to work on the refurbishment fairly quickly.
At the time of writing, we are still in the midst
of refurbishment, and are optimistic that the
Willowbrook will be re-opening not long after
this edition lands (perhaps you’ve picked up
this copy from the Willowbrook, in which case,
thank you for visiting!)
We want to run great pubs, not just build
them, so we can’t wait to open again and get
back to serving the local community. The new
designs are slightly different to pre-fire, and
we’re really excited to open the doors again.
Cheers to the Willowbrook of the future,
a phoenix will rise from the ashes!
Speciality beers
Traffic Street Specials
So far, Traffic Street brewer and project leader Dan Gilliland has brewed
five excellent Traffic Street Specials
These are #1 Stereotype (US IPA with
West Coast yeast), #2 Concrete Jungle
(Pale Ale brewed with lemongrass and
tarragon), #3 Double Barrel
(Dandelion and Burdock Red Ale),
#4 Little Bitch
(strong Imperial
Stout) and
#5 Maggie’s Farm
(Saison).
We’re excited to
report that things
certainly aren’t
standing still, with
plans already in
10
place for at least two more Traffic Streets
this year.
Plus a new range of
beers is being discussed,
currently referred to as
the “Harvest Pale
Sessions”, with the idea
to offshoot Harvest
Pale using various
different techniques
and ingredients.
Without a doubt, the TSS most talked about is
#4 Little Bitch. This little terrier of a beer
packed a huge punch, but retained excellent
balance. At 10%, the stout had intense
flavours of chocolate, coffee, boozy fruitcake
and liquorice. Using a 5 barrel kettle (reconditioned by Dan himself) and after numerous
attempts to generate enough heat, we were
very proud when the final product arrived –
a result of boundless experimentation, DIY,
stress, risk and imagination. That, to us, is
the nature of craft brewing.
Dan tells us over the coming months he plans
to brew a wine style beer, using grape must
during fermentation, and there are many
more brews lined up for you to look out for.
Do you have an idea for a type of beer
you’d like to see brewed? Get in touch!
@Traffic_Street
Tenanted pub in focus
Forest Tavern & the Maze
Castle Rock took over the Forest Tavern nearly
twenty years ago and, with the work of Ben Brettell
and his team, it is now home to Nottingham’s best
independent music venue, the Maze
At Castle Rock, we seem to naturally ‘fall’
for buildings with character and unique
qualities, whether it’s because of the
beauty of the architecture or the stories of
the people who once graced its rooms.
The Forest Tavern is no different.
William Abednego Thompson, better known
as ‘Bendigo’, trained in the rooms above the
pub. England’s greatest bare knuckle boxer,
Bendigo was born in 1811 into the slums of
Nottingham, and by age 18 was earning
money through fighting. Though shorter and
smaller than most of Nottingham’s fighters,
he was nicknamed ‘Bendy’ for his weaving
and speed, which became ‘Bendigo’. You
might remember in 2011 we brewed a
Nottinghamian Celebration Ale for Bendigo to
celebrate his achievements.
Ben, manager of the site, says the Maze has
kept the atmosphere of Bendigo ‘Without the
knuckles.’ We can only understand this to
mean that the Maze is bursting with heat,
excitement, energy. Take a look at the photos
here and you can see; it’s all happening.
The entrance is located through the
Forest Tavern, a friendly and traditional
British pub with a relaxed Bavarian style bar,
with diner-style seating and walls adorned
with music memorabilia. On the bar you’ll
find a great selection of craft beers, spirits,
continental lagers, ciders and of course
Castle Rock real ale.
The Maze brings to Nottingham a mix of the
best local and underground acts, as well as
legendary bands and artists. Famous names
to grace the stage include Newton Faulkener,
Laura Marling, the Slackers, Neville Staples of
the Specials and of course Clifton’s lovechild
Jake Bugg. You’ll also find weird and
wonderful comedy, spoken word, burlesque,
cult DJ nights and open mic
nights. The Maze is also a
handpicked venue for Comic
American Music, a live music
promoter bringing the best
and most diverse live music to
the stage.
The Maze has a sense of 1920s prohibition
about it; never more present that when
‘Brouhaha’ is in full swing. Brouhaha is a
festival inspired night at the maze, bringing
to this intimate venue the top musicians and
DJs, performance artists, circus walkabouts,
trippy décor, light and projection shows and
more. The genres showcased are an eclectic
mix of Live Dance, World Music, Reggae, Ska
and Hiphop, and fancy dress is paramount.
Visit www.themazerocks.com and
put a date in the diary.
You’re in for a great night.
11
Editor’s picks
Upcoming Events
JULY
July 2015
AUGUST
Full listings on our website August 2015
Saturday 4th July
ASHES AT TRENT BRIDGE
US INDEPENDENCE DAY
Thursday 6th - Monday 10th August
Start the day with breakfast at the Vat &
Fiddle from 9am, with a daily BBQ following
end of play - kangaroo burger or beef? The
brewery tap will also be opening up their
Harvest Pale bar especially, so it seems only
right to refresh with a pint or two.
If you’re already down in West Bridgford, our
real ale oasis the Stratford Haven will be
open and serving breakfast from 8am every
day, with lunchtime and post-play BBQ.
4th July is the perfect excuse to celebrate the
food and brews from our friends across the
pond. Our food menus go All-American with
fried chicken, ribs and wings, PJ sandwiches,
hot dogs, and cookie dough desserts. Paired off
with the best bottles of craft from the USA.
Fill up at the Canalhouse, the Bread &
Bitter, Poppy & Pint and the Stratford
Haven.
Friday 17th July
PIRATE PARTY
Well blow me down, it’s 9 years since the
Canalhouse came into the seas of Castle
Rock, and this year the big day falls on a Friday.
Come down in your buccaneers’ attire for the
Pirate Party with Sharkbait cocktails, cake and
tunes with footstomping beats and grizzly blues
melodies… Harvest Pale and Sheriff’s Tipple
are discounted with 10% off a pint, and entry
is free. See you there, Seadogs.
AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY
WEEKEND
Friday 28th August - Monday 31st
August
• Food & Cider Festival
The Fox & Crown celebrate Newark’s Food
& Cider Fest 2015 from 27th-31st August.
Cider lovers are treated by multiple venues
across the town to an array of fruity
concoctions accompanied by delicious food
from pizza and pies to seafood. The perfect
way to enjoy the bank holiday weekend…
follow @TheFoxandCrown to stay in the loop.
• Food Festival
The Bread & Bitter are celebrating with an
outside bar all weekend, a BBQ on 28th, a hog
roast on the 29th, and hog roast cob breakfast
on 30th.
• Kid’s Play Afternoon
The Golden Eagle open their beautiful
garden once again for a bank holiday
celebration. Open from 2pm on Sunday 30th
August, the afternoon includes a bouncy
castle, games, face painting and more…while
you enjoy a pint and a burger from the
barbecue. Entry is free.
• NBT Music Festival
The New Barrack Tavern throws its popular
summer music festival with live music on two
stages from 7.30pm each evening, Friday
28th- Sunday 20th August. Featuring Maison
Rouge, Amelia Carter Band, Highway Child
Reasons to be Cheerful and more, with food
served late.
• Poacher Garden Party
If you’re in Nottingham for the bank holiday,
head up Mansfield Road to the walled garden
of this real ale haven. The Lincolnshire
Poacher will be celebrating from 6pm on
Monday 31st August with live music, an
outside bar and a smokin’ BBQ. Entry is free
and the beer is the best you can get…
Thursday 30th July
CHARNWOOD BREWERY NIGHT
Loughborough’s family-run Charnwood
Brewery take over the lounge bar at the Swan
In The Rushes for the evening. We’re hoping
July’s special ‘Hello Sunshine’ will be on the
bar. Charnwood Brewery Night takes place on
the last Thursday of every month.
Sunday 16th August
GIN TASTING & HIGH TEA
The Golden Eagle host a gin tasting
afternoon in their beer garden from 2pm.
Relax with a selection of six gins, high tea and
food surprises. For a jolly English Sunday
afternoon in the sunshine for £15 per head,
call
01522
521058
or
email
[email protected]
12
www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/event
events in Castle Rock pubs are updated daily
SEPTEMBER
September 2015
October 2015
Saturday 19th September Sunday 4th October
OKTOBERFEST
It’s that time of year again – one of Castle
Rock’s favourite annual events. Celebrate
German beer festival ‘Oktoberfest’ in many of
our pubs, strap on your lederhosen (you can
buy official ones at shop.oktoberfest.de should
you feel inclined), and bring your friends for
dinners of Pork Schnitzel, Bratwurst and
Zweibelkuchen. Enjoy some of best beers
Germany has to offer, including as many
official Oktoberfest beers we can get our
hands on! Keep an eye on
@DiscoverWBeers on Twitter for updates.
Thursday 24th September
FOX & CROWN BIRTHDAY PARTY
The Fox & Crown celebrates another year in
the Castle Rock clan, with live music from
Cameron at 6.30pm, a buffet and birthday
cake. Entry is free so fill on up and get on up
for a boogie…
Sunday 27th September
ROBIN HOOD MARATHON
Whether you’re running the marathon, the
half or the mini, many of our Nottingham pubs
are offering discounts on food and beer when
you show your medal at the bar. The Vat &
Fiddle is open from 9am for breakfast so you
can carb up and wake up. Follow your Castle
Rock local to find out what you can enjoy to
rest your weary bones. Don’t forget our new
pub The Embankment at Trent Bridge will
be open and ready to welcome you.
Both the Vat and Embankment are en route,
so great places for a spectator basecamp.
Thursday 24th September Sunday 4th October
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
LEGENDS
Friday 11th September
The Poppy & Pint host an evening with
Forest Legends Kenny Burns and John
Robertson. Tickets are only available to ages
18+ from gigantic.com.
Doors open at 8pm.
Come on you Redddsss!
BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT
Monday 21st September-1st October
British classics are in the spotlight across
Castle Rock pubs with special menus
dedicated to in-season British ingredients,
sourced locally wherever possible.
Enjoy the best the British Isles has to offer
with the dishes we all know and love.
CASK ALE WEEK
Join us in celebrating our nationwide love of
cask ale! Every day is a cask ale day, if you ask
us, but over this week you’ll find discounts and
offers, new brews hitting Castle Rock bars,
mini beer festivals and ‘Ales of the Day’. The
Kean’s Head in the Lace Market,
Nottingham, will be creating a special beercooked and paired menu.
Follow @CRBrewery on Twitter to keep up
with all things ale.
Visit beerfestival.nottinghamcamra.org
Regulars
• EVERY WEDNESDAY at the Horse &
Plough we throw a themed food night.
Join us from 5.30pm for a different menu
each week. To whet your appetite…the
last theme included a sloppy-joe burger, a
sweet potato and halloumi burger, and a
gourmet venison burger.
• It’s Pie & Pint night every Monday
evening from 5.30pm only £7.95
MONDAYS:
Bread & Bitter - Curry & Quiz Night,
£8.95 from 5pm
Kean’s Head - Homemade Pie & Pint
Night, £10.95 from 5pm
Stratford Haven - Curry & Pint Night,
£7.95 from 9pm
TUESDAYS
Poppy & Pint - Curry & Quiz Night, £7.95
for curry and a pint, quiz £1 (9pm)
Stratford Haven - Pie & Pint Night, £9.95
5-9pm
WEDNESDAY
Lincolnshire Poacher - Old Nick Trading
Company live from 9pm
Visit our website for daily listings
www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/event
13
Available at your Castle Rock local
News update
Micropub update
You may remember we were planning to
open a micropub in a small grade ii listed
building, just outside the main concourse
at Nottingham railway station.
All plans were “go” when we received the
strange news that, during refurbishments,
the power and drainage lines to the building
had been cut. We were of course disappointed to put the plans on hold, but remain
optimistic that a solution may be possible.
We’ll keep you updated if the situation
changes.
I need a name!
Our new Castle Rock van
is on the road delivering
beer to thirsty drinkers as far as Liverpool
Have you spotted our new Castle Rock van
on the road? Our man Gary is usually at
the wheel, so if you spot him make his day
with a tweet to @CRBrewery
The question is, what do we call this new
addition to the family?
Coming up next
Our Autumn seasonal and special brews
OCTOBER to DECEMBER 2015
Tweet us your suggested name by 30th
September for a chance to win a Castle
Rock gift pack.
Soon (maybe already by the time you read
this), our Elsie van will be delivering.
Be sure to chat to @Elsiemocrb if you see
our Glorious Golden Ale on the road, she
loves to hear from you…
Autumn is packed with celebrations, bringing our
biggest selection of seasonals and specials to you.
From the spooks of Hallowe’en to the festivities of
Christmas, we’re marking pretty much every
occasion for the final months of 2015.
4.2% abv
4.4% abv
5.5% abv
4.2% abv
The final beer in our 2015
Nottinghamian Celebration Ales
range. Brewed to celebrate the life
and works of Nottingham artist
Dame Laura Knight, this rich and
fruity porter is a dark ruby colour,
with aromas of chocolate and a
molasses & coffee finish.
AVAILABLE OCTOBER-DECEMBER
Most Haunted is the ideal
Hallowe’en brew: a dark porter
with aromas of chocolate, nutmeg
and pumpkin spice, leading to a
rich and smooth finish.
AVAILABLE OCTOBER
A black IPA with aromas of
caramel and a complex,
hoppy finish.
Rich and warming for the colder
seasons.
AVAILABLE OCTOBER-MARCH
The palest of pale ales with a floral
citrus on the nose and a clean, crisp
and fresh taste, Snowhite is
balanced and smooth with
wide appeal.
AVAILABLE NOVEMBER-FEBRUARY
4.0% abv
4.0% abv
4.0% abv
4.4% abv
This amber beer with a long zesty
finish is brewed with charity
donations to the Jon van Geest
Cancer Research Centre, in aid of
men’s health.
AVAILABLE NOVEMBER
Black Friday is a special brew for
those avoiding the horror of Black
Friday on the high-street. Recipe is
to be decided, so keep your eye on
our social media feeds.
AVAILABLE NOVEMBER
Fourth in the Wildlife Reserve series,
Attenborough is a pilsner-style pale
ale, pale golden in colour and
well balanced with a spicy
sweet taste.
AVAILABLE DECEMBER-FEBRUARY
Back for 2015, First Mo El is a
warming light brown ale with
festive spices and a bitter, fruity
finish.
AVAILABLE DECEMBER
All of our beers contain Gluten from Malted Barley and Wheat. For full allergen information, please check our website or ask at the bar
15
ALEXANDRA HOTEL
203 Siddals Road, Derby DE1 2QE
Castle Rock Pubs
Tel: 01332 293993
e-mail: [email protected]
F: Alexandra Hotel T: @Alex_Pub_Derby
Breakthroughpoint Ltd
BREAD AND BITTER
153-155 Woodthorpe Dr, Mapperley, NG3 5JL
CANALHOUSE
e-mail: [email protected]
F: Bread Bitter
T: @breadandbitter
e-mail: [email protected]
F: Canal House
T: @canalhousebar
First Floor Departure Lounge, East Midlands Airport
Operated by Autogrill
DERBY TUP
387 Sheffield Rd, Chesterfield S41 8LS
EAGLE
144 West Street, Boston, Lincs PE21 8RE
EMBANKMENT
e-mail: [email protected]
F: The Derby Tup
T: @TheDerbyTup
e-mail: [email protected]
F: The Eagle
T: @TheEagleBoston
e-mail: [email protected]
F: Embankment Pub & Kitchen
T: @EmbankmentNottm
Tel: 0115 960 7541
Tel: 01246 454316
48-52 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7EH
Tel: 0115 955 5060
CASTLE ROCK TAP
ROOM & KITCHEN
Beer Consortium
282-284 Arkwright St, Nottingham NG2 2GR
Tel: 01205 361116
Tel: 0115 986 4502
FOREST TAVERN/MAZE
257 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FT
FOX AND CROWN
4-6 Appletongate, Newark, Notts NG24 1JY
GOLDEN EAGLE
email: [email protected] • web: www.themazerocks.com
F: The Maze
T: @themazenotts
e-mail: [email protected]
F: The Fox & Crown Newark T: @TheFoxandCrown
e-mail: [email protected]
F: The Golden Eagle Free House T: @GoldenEaglePub
Tel: 0115 947 5650
HORSE AND PLOUGH
Beer
Consortium
Tel: 01636 605820
21 High Street, Lincoln LN5 8BD
Tel: 01522 521058
25 Long Acre, Bingham, Notts NG13 8AF
KEAN’S HEAD
46 St. Mary’s Gate, Nottingham NG1 1QA
161-163 Mansfield Road, Nott’m NG1 3FR
e-mail: [email protected]
F: Horse and Plough
T: @HorseandPlough
e-mail: [email protected]
F: Kean’s Head
T: @keanshead
e-mail: [email protected]
F: Lincolnshire Poacher T: @lincpoacher
Tel: 01949 839313
Tel: 0115 947 4052
LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER
Tel: 0115 941 1584
Lady Bay Inns
NEW BARRACK TAVERN
601 Penistone Road, Sheffield S6 2GA
NEWSHOUSE
123 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7HB
POPPY AND PINT
e-mail: [email protected]
F: New Barrack Tavern T: @NewBarrack
e-mail: [email protected]
F: The Newshouse
T: @NewshouseNotts
e-mail: [email protected]
F: Poppy & Pint
T: @PoppyandPint
Tel: 0114 234 9148
Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay, Notts NG2 5DX
Tel: 0115 952 3061
Tel: 0115 981 9995
ROOK AND GASKILL
12 Lawrence Street, York YO10 3WP
STRATFORD HAVEN
2 Stratford Rd, W. Bridgford, Nott’m NG2 6BA
SWAN IN THE RUSHES
e-mail: [email protected]
F: The Rook and Gaskill T: @RookGaskillYork
e-mail: [email protected]
F: Stratford Haven
T: @stratfordhaven
e-mail: [email protected]
F: Swan Rushes
T: @swanrushes
Tel: 0115 982 5981
Tel: 01904 655450
(The Brewery Tap)
(Hands On
Pub Company)
21 The Rushes, Loughborough LE11 5BE
Tel: 01509 217014
12-14 Queensbridge Rd, Nottingham NG2 1NB
VICTORIA HOTEL
Dovecote Lane, Beeston, Nott’m NG9 1JG
WILLOWBROOK
e-mail: [email protected]
F: Vat and Fiddle
T: @VatandFiddle
e-mail: [email protected]
F: The-Victoria-Hotel T: @TheVicBeeston
e-mail: [email protected]
F: The Willowbrook T: @WillowbrookCRB
VAT AND FIDDLE
Tel: 0115 985 0611
Tel: 0115 925 4049
13 Main Rd, Gedling, Nottingham NG4 3HQ
Tel: 0115 987 8596
All of our pubs follow the latest allergen legislation. Further details are available in each establishment.
Core Castle Rock Beers
3.4%
Brewed to be a
traditional session ale
with a malty bitter
taste.
F: Sheriff Tipple
T: @SheriffTipple
3.8%
A national
award-winning blonde
beer. American hops
give a refreshingly
crisp, citrus finish.
3.8%
A well balanced,
award-winning dark
mild with some
bitterness.
Full-bodied but not
overly sweet.
4.3%
American-style red ale
brewed with dark
crystal malt, plus
El Dorado and Kohatu
hops.
T: @RedRidingHoodCR
4.4%
A full-bodied
premium bitter of
typical East Midlands
character. Perfect
bitter-sweet balance.
4.5%
Brewed with fresh
Columbian coffee
beans. Flavours of rich
chocolate and coffee
are in the nose, and
the taste is smooth
and lasting.
F: Castle Rock Brewery
T: @CRBrewery
4.7%
5.5%
Blonde and beautiful
single malt golden ale
refreshing on the
palate.
A national champion.
Strong India Pale Ale.
Lots of everything so
proceed with caution.
F: Elsie Mo
T: @Elsiemocrb
F: Screech Owl
T: @ScreechOwlCRB
For details of seasonal beers please see pages 2,3 & 15 in this issue
The next issue of Castle Rock Quarter is published in October