Summer Issue 2013 1 The FREE magazine of the Swale branch of CAMRA The Campaign for Real Ale Great British Beer - back to basics In this issue… Faversham Hop Festival guide Pub and brewery news The quest for real Irish ale Thanet micropub trip Swale Ale P robably one of Britain’s most iconic achievements in the modern era is the much loved public house and the real ale that flows from its hand pumps – whether this being in a busy high street or in a sleepy countryside location it is very much part of the British way of life. This article aims to give you an insight into the wonderful and exciting portfolio of the Great British pint covering the more regularly found beer styles. The beer sold through a hand pump is usually ‘real ale’. It can also be called ‘cask- conditioned beer’. Real ale is unpasteurised, unfiltered and is a living product brewed from traditional ingredients: malt (malted barley), hops, water and yeast. Once brewed, it is put into a cask where it continues to ferment (secondary fermentation); this develops the flavour and the natural carbonation and is served without added carbon dioxide. ‘Keg beer’ undergoes the same fermentation in the brewery as real ale but then it is filtered and/or pasteurised. This kills off the yeast and so the beer cannot undergo fermentation in the cask. As the beer lacks the natural carbonation, carbon dioxide has to be added artificially. Today some keg beers have a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide added; these are known as nitro-keg beers. This includes Guinness (which is not real ale). Most lagers sold in the UK are keg, although there are a few ‘real lagers’ that are served through hand pumps. The difference between a lager and ale is the type of yeast used. Lagers use a ‘bottom fermenting yeast’ and the fermentation takes place at colder temperatures than ales, which use a ‘top fermenting yeast’. Traditional lagers are stored for many weeks, allowing the flavours to develop. Many UK produced lagers do not undergo long storage, which is why they often lack the page 3 Dark Star Hophead
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Summer Issue 2013 1
The FREE magazine of the Swale branch of CAMRA
The Campaign for Real Ale
Great British Beer - back to basics
In this issue…
Faversham Hop Festival guide
Pub and brewery news
The quest for real Irish ale
Thanet micropub trip
Swale Ale
P robably one of Britain’s
most iconic achievements
in the modern era is the much
loved public house and the real
ale that flows from its hand
pumps – whether this being in a
busy high street or in a sleepy
countryside location it is very
much part of the British way of
life.
This article aims to give
you an insight into the
wonderful and exciting portfolio
of the Great British pint
covering the more regularly
found beer styles.
The beer sold through a
hand pump is usually ‘real ale’. It
can also be called ‘cask-
conditioned beer’. Real ale is unpasteurised, unfiltered and is
a living product brewed from traditional
ingredients: malt (malted barley), hops, water
and yeast. Once brewed, it is put into a cask
where it continues to ferment (secondary
fermentation); this develops the flavour and the
natural carbonation and is served without added
carbon dioxide.
‘Keg beer’ undergoes the same
fermentation in the brewery as real ale but then
it is filtered and/or pasteurised. This kills off the
yeast and so the beer cannot undergo
fermentation in the cask. As the beer lacks the
natural carbonation, carbon dioxide has to be
added artificially.
Today some keg beers
have a mixture of nitrogen and
carbon dioxide added; these are
known as nitro-keg beers. This
includes Guinness (which is not
real ale).
Most lagers sold in the
UK are keg, although there are
a few ‘real lagers’ that are
served through hand pumps.
The difference between a lager
and ale is the type of yeast used.
Lagers use a ‘bottom fermenting
yeast’ and the fermentation
t akes p l ace a t co lder
temperatures than ales, which
use a ‘top fermenting yeast’.
Traditional lagers are
stored for many weeks, allowing the flavours to develop. Many UK
produced lagers do not undergo long storage,
which is why they often lack the page 3
Dark Star Hophead
Summer Issue 2013 2
Chris & Marie Annand and staff welcome you to this historic 15th Century inn in the heart of Faversham.
Immaculately kept Shepherd Neame beers
Traditional home made lunches served every day
Join us for our popular Quiz Night held on the last
Wednesday of every month
Find us on Facebook
The Bear Inn, 3 Market Place, Faversham, Kent ME13 7AG, Tel 01795 532668
THE BEAR Faversham
Summer Issue 2013 3
Great British Beer – back to basics depth of flavour associated with the best
continental lagers.
Some background
Over recent years, Britain has seen a
growth in the number of small breweries and,
consequently, an increase in the number of
beers available and experimentation including
more unusual ingredients such as elderflowers,
ginger and chocolate! However, traditional beer
styles are in plentiful supply. Most hand pumps
will have a pump clip that will give not only the
name of the beer but also the alcohol content,
usually stated as ABV (alcohol by volume). In the
case of the bitter style of beers, the different
categories are defined by the alcohol content. If
you are intending to try a few different beers,
then it is advisable to start with the weakest as
they tend to be more delicate in flavour. But be
warned, some of the dark beer styles have strong flavours that can saturate the palate
regardless of the alcohol strength. Many of the
darker beers are only available in colder months
and are normall badged winter beers.
Ingredients and flavours
Like a good chef, brewers will decide
which ingredients to use to get the end result
they desire.
If the brewers want a strong beer, they
will use a high level of malt, as it is the malt that
provides the food for the yeast, which then
produces the alcohol. Malt also gives the beer its
sweetness and body as well most of its colour. A
beer’s colour can range from very pale yellow to
black, according to how long the malt is roasted
for, and at what temperature. The malt gives
toffee, biscuity and roast notes in a beer,
including chocolate and coffee. Black malt can
also give a burnt bitterness but hops are usually
the main source of a beer’s bitterness. There is a
huge range of hops and you will come across
British beers using hops from all over Europe
and America and further afield as well as Britain.
A selection of national and local real ales served Mon - Sat 11:30am - 11pm
Sun 12 noon—11:30pm
Outstanding patio overlooking the church and village
green and a well established pub garden
Restaurant
Mon - Sat 12 noon - 2:30pm & 6pm - 9pm Sun 12 noon - 8pm
Red Lion
Summer Issue 2013 16
The
PHOENIX
TAVERN Abbey Street, FAVERSHAM
01795 591462
REAL ALES from Around the UK and Local
REAL FOOD prepared freshly daily on the premises
REAL ATMOSPHERE lovely garden and open inglenook log
fires
REAL TRADITION - 14th century oak beamed pub
Quality lagers and Quality Wine from Corney and Barrow
Good Beer Guide 2013 'Official home of the Timothy Taylor Appreciation Society'.
The Phoenix Tavern
Faversham
@Phoenixfav
www.thephoenixtavernfaversham.co.uk
ME13 7BH - 01795 591462
Summer Issue 2013 17
Beerconomics
I know economics is a heavy topic to
consider whilst relaxing in the pub, however
any legislation to bring in a minimum price per
unit of alcohol would have a massive impact on
the brewing and licenced trade.
We campaigned hard to remove the
beer duty escalator, and so it would be easy to
assume that all CAMRA members would say no
to a law that makes it illegal to sell cheap beer.
Successive governments have used taxation as a
way of persuading the public to follow a
particular course of action. Cigarettes and
alcohol are heavily taxed and the forces of
supply and demand dictate that if the price of
beer is increased then demand
will be curtailed. Customers
will either stop consuming
these products or will transfer
their spending to a substitute
product. This leaves us with the
question how can a government
halt planned increases in the
price of alcohol and at the same
time research the possibility of
introducing a minimum price per unit?
The answer to this question is that it
depends on the objective of each policy. The
government might increase taxation as a way of
enticing customers to consume healthier
products, or it might tax in order to increase
revenue. A minimum price per unit would not
itself increase government coffers, however if
the overall price of a pint increases, then their
percentage share of that increase will also rise.
So would a minimum price for a unit of
alcohol actually increase what you pay at the
bar? The answer really depends on what you
buy. A 4.4% pint of real ale contains 2.5 units of
alcohol. If the government were to introduce a
50p per unit minimum (the current suggestions
are anything from 40p - 50p with different rates
possible in England and Scotland) then the
minimum price of a that pint would be £1.25.
Now I know that you are all thinking a pint for
£1.25 that would be nice. In which case a
minimum price of 50p per unit would have no
impact on real ale drinkers. In which case what
is the point?
There are calls for the government to
do something to stop binge drinking. But if such
a policy would have no impact on the price of a
pint how would that be achieved?
It may be considered that a minimum
price on a unit of alcohol would have a positive
impact on the pubs. People would be unable to
purchase subsidised alcohol from supermarkets
and so would return to the pub.
Supermarkets are often blamed for
under age drinking on the streets. It is argued
that it is easier (and cheaper) for
under 18s to purchase cheap
booze and consume th is
wherever possible. Shops sell
bottles of beer as cheap as £1.
With each bottle of 4% beer containing approximately 2 units
of alcohol, then the supermarket
is already just complying with the
legislation.
What about stronger beer
I hear you ask? Well a bottle of 6.5% premium
ale would have a minimum price of £1.65 which
is still not too extreme. In which case we may
not actually see any impact on the real ale take
home market and no positive impact on public
houses.
It appears that the products that will be
harshly hit by these plans are extremely cheap
supermarket beers, spirits and wines. As
CAMRA members we have fought since the
days of Red Barrel to improve the quality of
beer, we could argue that minimum pricing
actually helps our cause. As cheap products are
removed from the shelves as they are no longer
legal, consumers who can afford to drink may
well select on quality rather than price.
One final point on this subject is does
this new legislation actually mean that the poor
can no longer afford drink? Is it a pseudo tax on
the less well off? It will be interesting to see if
this will this lead to an increase in homebrew or
maybe fuel the black market? [KS]
Summer Issue 2013 18
O ver the past few years Kent has seen an
explosion (all be it a small one!!) of new
micro-pubs. For those of you who are unfamiliar
with the concept, the Micropub Association
(www.micropubassociation.co.uk) describe them
in the following manner: - “small, conversion of
an existing premises, serving primarily real ale,
NO lager whatsoever, lively banter and chat
with no music.”
As Thanet in particular is a hot-bed of
this pub phenomenon it seemed too good an
opportunity to miss, so a few gallant fellows
from Swale CAMRA set out on the train one
sunny Saturday to find out what all the fuss was
about.
We started out in Broadstairs at the
Four Candles, a short walk from the station. The
pub is named after the famous sketch by the
Two Ronnies and which is said to have been
written by Ronnie Barker while on a visit to
Broadstairs to see his comedy partner, Ronnie
Corbett. Dogs and their well behaved owners
are welcome.
From the Four Candles we then
proceeded down Broadstairs High Street to The
Thirty Nine Steps. The alehouse takes its name
from John Buchan's 1915 novel of the same
name written and partly based in Broadstairs.
The original steps that inspired the novel still
exist on the North Foreland. One of the more
unusual features of this pub is that the ales are
kept behind glass in a temperature controlled
chiller cabinet. From The Thirty Nine Steps it was but a
short walk to The Chapel. The building has had
various different uses. It was once a chapel,
which is no surprise, however the visitor who
likes a good read will be delighted to discover
that its immediate
past incarnation was
as a bookshop and
the entire stock
remains for the
drinker to browse
and purchase if
desired.
On leaving
The Chapel we
boarded the train
back to Margate to
visit The Lifeboat,
situated in the old
town near to the
T u r n e r
Contemporary Arts
Centre and named
after the nearby
RNLI station. This
pub has won many
Thanet micropub trip
Four Candles, Broadstairs
The Thirty Nine Steps, Broadstairs
The Chapel
Summer Issue 2013 19
Free House Ever Changing Guest Ale
Under New Ownership
Food served Tuesday - Saturday 12 to 3 and 6 to 9 Sunday Lunch 12 to 4
Locally Sourced Home Made Food Booking Recommended
Weekly Live Music
Themed Events Contact for Catered Functions
THE
SONDES
ARMS
Selling Road
Selling Near Faversham ME13 9PL
Tel: 01227 752517
Summer Issue 2013 20
Thanet micropub trip
awards including the Thanet Times Pub Oscars -
Best Real Ale Pub in Thanet and Kent CAMRA
Cider Pub of the Year.
The next port of call was a short train
ride to The Why Not in Westgate. It is about a
ten minute walk from the station and although
the origination of the pub’s name is a little fuzzy
in my memory (probably because by then
everything was a little fuzzy!!), I guess that it
could have had something to do with the
landlord being asked why he was opening a
micro in a ex hairdressers to which he replied
“Why Not!” I would be grateful to anyone who
can clarify how the name came about.
The last pub of the trip was the Bake
and Alehouse a very short walk from the station
at Westgate, where we rounded off the trip
before falling onto a train back home.
All in all, a most enjoyable afternoon
The Lifeboat, Margate
out. All of the pubs mentioned are easily
accessible by train so no need for someone to
sit supping lemonade while the rest enjoy the
many different ales and ciders available. Talking
of ales and ciders I have deliberately steered
clear of listing everything we sampled for the
simple reason that when you visit it is highly
likely that the range will be different. Suffice to
say that the range was varied with many beers
from Kent and just as many from further afield. I
would recommend a visit to the pub websites to
see what is on before you visit or just go along
and see what they have on at the time. I would
be very surprised if you did not find something
to your taste. A word to the wise before I go,
check out the opening times as not all of the
pubs are open all day. [SB]
The Why Not, Westgate
Since this Swale CAMRA visit a new micropub has opened on the harbour wall in Margate. The
Harbour Arms is a tiny micropub that seats approximately 14 people inside, has an outside seating
space and currently serves three national and local beers including Gadds’ and Dark Star.
If you have any news that you think might be of interest to Swale Ale readers please contact us at
[email protected]. We are particularly interested new or re-opened pubs that are not
yet on our radar and/or pubs that have started selling real ale again. Remember when visiting a pub it is always helpful to score their beer at http://whatpub.com/beerscoring/
Summer Issue 2013 21
Ever changing selection of cask ales
Large Beer Garden
Mobile Bar and Catering Service Available for Weddings, Christenings and Birthdays
No Function too big or small
Call Malcolm on 07764 842478
Three Hats, 93 High Street, Milton Regis, Kent, ME10 2AR
SWALE CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2013
THE THREE HATS MILTON REGIS
Summer Issue 2013 22
75 Preston Street, Faversham
01795 591817
The Old Wine Vaults is a 16th century pub set
in the heart of historic Faversham.
FOUR Cask Ales
TWO Cask Ciders
Faversham Hop Festival, live music all weekend.
3 bars serving the largest selection of cask ales in Faversham. Hog Roast Saturday, food all weekend.
20p off nominated ale and cask cider with a valid CAMRA card
The pub is open Mon-Sat 11am to 11pm and Sundays 12pm
to 10.30pm.
Summer Issue 2013 23
S wale CAMRA would like to welcome you to the 2013 Faversham
International Hop Festival, taking place Saturday 31st August and Sunday
1st September. This small market town is blessed with a variety of pubs serving
both local and national beers. In addition to these favourites you may stumble across a
number of beers that are being brewed especially for this event.
Whilst visiting Faversham we recommend that you step outside of the main festival
route to visit some of the other pubs that will also be holding beer festivals and staging live
music during the weekend. We also recommend that you visit our own stall serving a
variety of beers from our local area. You should also consider booking yourself onto one
of Shepherd Neame’s brewery tours.
Albion On the opposite side of Faversham Creek, just 4 minutes form the main
town centre, this waterside pub offers a range of Shepherd Neame beers.
At festival time this pub often offers an outside bar, BBQ and live music.
During the rest of the year the pub provides a menu of Mexican and
English food.
Anchor At the opposite end of Abbey Street to the town centre, by the flourishing
Standard Quay with its historic sailing barges, this 300 year old Shepherd
Neame pub has a large garden which during festival time features live bands
and a BBQ. A wide range of Shepherd Neame beers are served.
Bear
This historic Shepherd Neame pub which has recently been sympathetically
renovated has three small bars off a small corridor, each with their own
atmosphere. Three Shepherd Neame beers served including those from
the pilot-brewery.
Brents
Tavern
On the opposite side of the creek this local free house is just five minutes
from the town centre. This pub serves a range of national and local real
ales.
Bull This oak-beamed Shepherd Neame pub was being built in 1409, and was
visited by both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. The pub boasts a large garden
and at festival time often stages live bands.
Chimney Boy Close to the railway station this Shepherd Neame house is located
opposite the Preston Street music stage. A restaurant and beer garden are
accessible to the rear.
Crown &
Anchor
On the quieter side of the station, this Shepherd Neame local is accessible
via the pedestrian underpass.
Faversham Hop Festival
Summer Issue 2013 24
The Brents
Free House
The Albion
Shepherd Neame
The Bull
Shepherd Neame
The Three Tuns
Shepherd Neame
Old Wine Vaults
Free House
The Sun
Shepherd Neame
Swan & Harlequin
Free House
Crown & Anchor
Shepherd Neame
The Elephant
Free House
Faversham International Hop Festival Pub Guide: 31st August and 1st September 2013
The Chimney Boy
Shepherd Neame
Summer Issue 2013 25
The Anchor
Shepherd Neame
The Phoenix
Free House
The Bear
Shepherd Neame
Market Inn
Shepherd Neame
Leading Light
Wetherspoon
The Railway
Shepherd Neame
CAMRA
Real Ale Stall
Open Street Map
Faversham
Homebrew Shop
Faversham International Hop Festival Pub Guide: 31st August and 1st September 2013
Summer Issue 2013 26
Elephant
As Swale CAMRA Pub of the year 2007 to 2012, this local free house is only
a two minute walk from the station via the pedestrian underpass. The five
ever-changing beers include many from local Kentish micro-breweries. In
addition this pub also offers excellent real cider by hand pump. A beautiful
walled garden is to the rear.
Leading
Light
This Wetherspoon pub in Preston Street has a tradition for serving a wide
range of beers, enhancing the chain’s normal range with many from local
micros.
Market Inn This lively Shepherd Neame pub on East Street offers a good range of
Faversham brewed beers and excellent live music throughout the year. The
Market Inn is just a 3 minute walk from the town centre.
Phoenix This ancient pub on Abbey Street is only two minutes from the town
centre. Offering six ever changing beers on hand pump and many more on
gravity including Harveys Best Bitter, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord and other
national favourites. At festival times live music is held in the garden.
The Old
Wine Vaults
This town centre local serves up to four real ales on hand pump and two
real ciders all year round. At festival time they expand this range with an
outside bar in the garden and live music.
Railway
Hotel
A grand Shepherd Neame pub opposite the station with many original
features. The Railway Hotel often has an extensive list of live music over the
festival weekend.
The Sun Close to the market square, this historic Shepherd Neame house has large
sunny terrace on multiple levels.
Swan &
Harlequin
With its lively music stage and a minimum of 12 real ales the Swan and
Harlequin free house is just behind the Shepherd Neame brewery.
Three Tuns Just five minutes from the Market Place this ancient Shepherd
Neame pub is said to have been visited by Nelson. A large garden is to the
rear.
CAMRA
Stall
The CAMRA stall in East Street will be selling the products of
several small East Kent breweries. We should have beers from the
Hopdaemon, Ramsgate, Canterbury Brewers and Whitstable breweries, plus
local cider and perry.
Key
Good Beer Guide 2013
The above information is intended as a guide and it is given in good faith. Since
going to press it is likely that some items will have changed, especially the beers
offered in each pub.
Summer Issue 2013 27
93 High Street, Milton Regis, Sittingbourne. Kent ME10 2AR
For all enquiries call Malcolm on 07764 842 478
****SWALE CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2013****
The Three Hats
Warwickshire
Beer Festival
13th - 15
th Sept 2013
Open from 11am - close
Three Hats Milton@Three_Hats1 www.facebook.com/thethreehats
carpeted with Bluebells. Best of all is the Rose and Crown which nestles, hidden in the heart of
this ancient woodland. Here we stopped for
lunch and a couple of pints of Harveys Best
before wandering back along the woodland
trails to meet a lane that took us back to the
final pub of the day, The Sondes Arms, where
we had a further pint of Master Brew before
walking the few yards back to Selling station.
[SB]
The White Lion, Selling
Summer Issue 2013 30
Faversham’s hidden gem The Shipwright’s Arms, Hollowshore,
Faversham
A 17th Century traditional creek side free house. Selling up to five real ales from Kentish brewers, and serving good food. Take a trip back in time and savour the delights of a truly traditional pub.
Rated by Jamie Oliver as one of the top 100 traditional
pubs in the country.
Please check website or phone to confirm hours of
opening.
Tel: 01795 590088
Web: www.theshipwrightsarmspub.co.uk
Directions: At Davington School turn into Ham Road and follow the signs across the marsh.
The Brown jug
Free house
Upchurch
Regularly stocking Greene King IPA, Harveys Sussex Best and/or Dark Mild and Mad Cat Platinum Blonde and Auburn Copper Ale Bar food served all day but with specials on Friday and Saturday night 7-9.30 and Sunday Lunch 1-6pm