The Mad Cow Issue 36

Unit 19 Easter Park, Silchester RG7 2PQ. Tel: (0118) 9701837

Email: [email protected]

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E: [email protected] www.seberkscamra.org.uk

Mad Cow Page 3 Aug/Oct

Editors Welcome

Dear readers, welcome to our new look summer edition of the Mad Cow. A number of good things have happened since the last edition, both at CAMRA HQ level and also at our local branch. Most importantly HQ campaigns have had another big success. A Campaign Win: Reform of the Beer Tie, which is surely Great News! Thousands of licensees in the pub industry stand to be better protected from unfair business practices following the Government announcement which unveils plans for a Pubs Adjudicator and a Statutory Code. Plus, let’s not forget beer duty being cut for a second year back in April. After ten years in charge, Mike Benner has resigned as Chief Executive to take up the new post of Managing Director of SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers. We all naturally wish him every success and eagerly await his replacement to continue efforts in supporting all CAMRA’s aims at high level within government circles. Locally, our branch goes from strength to strength now boasting over 587 members and following out recent AGM we welcome three new members to the branch committee, Tony – Secretary, Gareth – Pub Preservation Officer and Susanne – Young Members contact, with a number of other members having swapped posts. Sadly one departing the team, John – our Mad Cow editor has retired. Under John and myself, the last two Mad Cow years have been good ones. John has managed to produce all editions full of content and reliably on time; advertisers have become easier to attract and bad debts reduced. But the most important role in the production of any magazine is the Editor and if things are to continue, an editor must be found. With a strong established network, if anyone has ever fancied a stab at being editor or even a sub role (possibly as a temporary editor) now is a better time than ever. We would welcome anyone to come forward.



With the changes in Committee you will no doubt see a change in social events. Following a survey circulated to all members, we have some new guidance on what our CAMRA members desire, there will be more at weekends and yes, brewery visits are in the pipeline. At the moment we are blessed with an abundance of good beer festivals and our efforts will now concentrate on our premier event, the Ascot Beer Festival in October, preceded of course by CAMRA’s champion of beer festivals, the Great British Beer Festival at Olympia in mid August.

For social events and meetings please see our calendar on page 41. Don’t forget to reserve space in your book shelf for your copy of the next Good Beer Guide or APP due out in September (we always have copies available to purchase in the branch). I’m sure I needn’t remind you all that entry into this publication is NOT by subscription but by 12 months of surveying, scoring and recommendation by our volunteer members via www.whatpub.com to ensure only the top establishments are selected. That brings me back to the need for a full time Editor and expressing huge thanks to John for his invaluable contribution for the past two years who has had to make the hard decision of standing down due to personal reasons and naturally wish him all the very best. This now provides the ideal opportunity for someone else to place their mark on this rewarding position…… so if you are in the interested, can provide time over approximately 3 weeks on 4 occasions a year to collate, research and publish this magazine then please get in touch.

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Contents: p7+8: Campaign Focus p9+30 Pub Updates (Letters) p10+13+27 Brewery News p15: Landlords Witter p16+17 Ascot Beer Festival.

P21-24 Walk. Wheelwrights – Dinton Pastures & Hurst. p37 LocAle p38 Beer scores p41 Branch events dairy p42 Contact us & small print! etc



Bracknell Ale & Wine Festival 2014 a smash hit

This event has irrefutably grown in its 4 year existence at Bracknell Town Football Club, now spilling onto the pitch. It should be said they were incredibly fortunate with the weather as the glorious sun shone all day to provide a superb day for a superb event.

Shifting 12 firkins of real ale, a cask and three polypins of cider, all but a couple of bottles of wine in one afternoon and evening, not to mention selling out of hog roast within 90 minutes. This for a club that normally see between 80 and a 120 people at events enjoyed around 500 through the door raising a record amount for Bracknell Town FC. Two beers topped the charts, Newbury based Two Cocks Brewery - 1643 Viscount, the judges vote, and Portsmouth’s Irving & Co. Captain B – a rum infused ale, sealing the popular vote by being the first empty barrel. Well done to both, richly deserved.

The hog roast went incredibly well, Simon and Belle from the Winning Post pub in Winkfield donated the hog, their time plus all the proceeds to the club – so make sure you get up there for some dinner soon! www.winningpostwinkfield.co.uk It was great to see everyone on the pitch with picnics and outdoor furniture. The bands did everyone proud. Even more so when you consider they played for free, kicking off at 3pm until late. It was a brilliant day for the club, the beer festival and all those of us that attended. Well worth looking out for in May 2015. See you there. e: [email protected] FAO Tom Picture BracknellTimes/Getbracknell



Campaign Focus by Barry Garber

As the recently elected Campaigns Officer for Berkshire South-East CAMRA, I thought in this issue I would summarise CAMRA’s key and current national campaigns. In subsequent issues I will focus on each of the campaigns and expand on current progress and more specifically what you can do to help both locally and nationally. If you are not already a CAMRA member why not join us by completing the application form in this magazine. By joining CAMRA you will be supporting us in our aims and objectives and adding to the number of voices trying to win a fair deal for the drinker, the publican and the brewer.

The first three letters of ‘CAMRA’ stand for campaign and rightly so. That’s why it is so important to keep up the pressure to inform and educate the politicians and decision makers that a strong viable pub trade is essential for a multitude of reasons and is not just a tax raising cash cow for government!

CAMRA has four ongoing key campaigns:

Stop tax killing beer and pubs.There has been some success with this as the last 2013 and 2014 budgets have each reduced beer duty by 1p a pint and the RPI linked beer escalator was scrapped in 2013).

Secure an effective Government support package for pubs.

Encourage more people to try a range of real ales, cider& perries.

To raise the profile of pub-going, increase the number of people using pubs regularly.

In addition, there are three current campaigns:



Reform the large pub companies and secure a fair deal for tied publicans. In June 2014 the Government announced a pubs adjudicator and statutory code to protect publicans from unfair business practices. Although this is a big victory for CAMRA, it is just a start and there is still much to be done in terms of how this will work in practice.

Call on Government to amend planning law to give greater protection for pubs.

Call on councils to be proactive and protect community pubs from redevelopment by adopting strong pro-pub planning policies, listing pubs as Assets of Community Value and other available tools.

Assets of Community Value (ACV’s) are a means by which local communities can list their pub and effectively stop the clock for 6 months in terms of planning applications should the pub owner decide to sell up. If the pub is listed as an ACV it is likely to prove less attractive to property developers who are seeking a quick pain free way of buying the property. This gives the local community time to put in place an alternative plan and hopefully keep the pub open.

As you can see there is much to be done and the need for CAMRA is as

great now as it was when it was founded over 40 years ago. Simply by going to the pub just once more every month would make a big difference. If CAMRA’s 163,000 members all did just that, then you can imagine what effect that would have (as long as they all didn’t go at the same time!). You never know, your visit may just be the one that makes that pub viable and keeps it open. We just can’t carry on losing over 20 pubs a week in the UK! As I said earlier, there will more information on each campaign in future editions of Mad Cow so keep reading!

We need YOU to help us! If you hear of any news regarding the pubs in the area please let us know. Although we have a network of active members regularly reporting back to us, we can’t be everywhere all the time. So any pub news would be welcome. Please email me at: [email protected] with your news.



Pub updates - To the Editor Dear Editor, Being a new member I thought I'd checked the pubs list on your web site, and discovered a few updates need to be made. You may be aware of these but I thought I'd list them here for info and to update the webpage appropriately. (Please feel free to correct/clarify anything listed below). Ascot: Gold Cup is closed Bracknell: Bull is closed Bracknell: Red Lion is now the Blues Smokehouse which is primarily a restaurant but did have 3 real ales available. Sunningdale: Nags Head is closed, listed as available for letting on Harvey's website. Warfield: Three Legged Cross is close and due to become an Asian restaurant Warfield: Yorkshire Rose is closed with sign indicating a change of management Winkfield: The Winkfield is now a Chinese restaurant called the Keys Sandhurst: Dukes Head is listed on Savills, uncertain if open or not. Wokingham: Norreys Barn is now a Sainsbury’s From the pubs not serving real ale list: Wokingham Without: Hideout - this is primarily a Thai restaurant though does have a bar and has always had 1 cask ale on whenever I've been, though that was the always unspectacular (in my opinion) Doombar. Regards Gareth Thanks Gareth, Good work to summarise and it shows that a lot of pubs in our area may be at risk. Recent updates from other members include:

Three Legged Cross at Warfield, changing its name to Spice Lounge to provide Indian & Bangladeshi meals. (Should be open by end of July)

Yorkshire Rose at Warfield. Also to re-open end of July providing Asian & Chinese Meals plus lunch time Tapas. Cask ales should remain to include London Pride &/or a Rebellion Beer

Jolly Farmer, Sandhurst. (opp Waitrose) closed for redevelopment. Rose & Crown, Woodside. Advertised on Savills and under offer



Brewery news

West Berks has developed a new beer to mark 100 years since the start of the First World War. Called 'Tommy Atkins' Traditional Ale', it is brewed in a style similar to that available at the time (3.9% ABV, light brown in colour with good bitterness and a low malt flavour as malt was an expensive ingredient during WW1).

The bottle labels feature actual photographs of four 'Tommies' wearing the Royal Berkshire Regiment uniform which were submitted by members of the public. The beer will be launched at Heroes at Highclere, a special event taking place on 3rd August and the beer will be available at the Yattendon shop and online from August.

New recruit wanted To keep up with demand, the brewery is on the lookout for a trainee brewer to join the brew house team. Please e-mail them if you are interested in applying. Are you the next Banksy? To

spruce up their new storage 'facility', which is looking somewhat uninspiring, they are inviting any budding artists to come down and 'pimp' it up. Anything goes - sign your name, doodle a pic or go full-on graffiti artist. Painting parties welcome...

Pubs offering CAMRA members discount:

Rose and Crown, Sandhurst Molly Millar, Wokingham Green Man, Bracknell Cannie Man, Bracknell Ye Olde Leathern Bottel, Wokingham



More Brewery News (continued)

A Craft Hop Series has been launched which each feature a single hop variety. Sourced from around the world, the hops have been chosen to provide a variety of different characters and flavours. They include Wakatu from New Zealand, Comet from America, Junga from Poland and Phoenix from England. Danamite Blonde has returned for Summer 2014 and Vanilla Stout will be going to the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) in August. -----------------------------------------------

Conqueror won Gold in the Strong Bitter category of the Regional heats for the Champion Beer of Britain (CBoB) and goes forward to the finals at GBBF 2014. Knight of the Garter won Bronze. At the SIBA National competition, keg Republika won Bronze and at the International Craft Fair in Dublin, Republika won Silver and Guardsman was awarded Bronze. Our congratulations go to all at Windsor & Eton.

Hope & anchor Advert ( New)



Cannie man & Queens head Advert – as previous



LANDLORD’S WITTER An occasional Interview by Barry Fenton with a Landlord from a local Pub.

We welcome Carol Williams of the Queens Head, Wokingham. Recently awarded as our branch, Runner Up - Pub of the Year.

Q. How long have you been in the Pub Business & at the Queens Head? A. About 10 years in London holding pubs for Greene King. I specialised in reopening shut pubs. I liked that. Previously I had been a bookmaker. I’ve been at the Queens Head for just over a year. Q. What do you most like about the Pub Trade? A. The people, the social life and the surprises that happen. Q. And the least? A. The hours! Constantly on call. Having to change my plans when staff call in sick. And I’m not mad about cleaning the bogs! Q. What Real Ales are you selling today? A. Being a Greene King Local Heroes pub, I sell 3 of their ales plus 3 LocAles. Today; G.K. Queens Head Bitter, Golden Hen, Abbott, Loddon Hullabaloo, Vale Brill Gold & West Berks Mr Chubb’s Lunchtime Bitter Q. And how will these change over the coming weeks and months? A. The 3 LocAles are always changing. I sell Ascot, Binghams, Wild Weather, Longdog and others. Q. How important are Real Ales to your Pub? A. Vital. All my staff go on a cellar course and I have a dedicated cellar manager, Peter Dairy who takes great pride in delivering the Perfect Pint.

Q. What are your impressions of CAMRA in the area? A. I know that CAMRA members are not Greene King’s greatest fans, but because of my lineup of ales and we give good quality, I seem to be winning them over. And I was Pub of the Year Runner Up………….! Q. What plans have you got for your Pub in the next year? A. I will keep up the good work, improve our “hidden garden”, which many people don’t realise is there. Q. What would you like to get over to our Readers to encourage them to come into your Pub? A. The quality of our Ales and the selection of wines and spirits, (including 4 gins). But most importantly my happy & helpful staff. Q. What wrong would you most like to put right in the pub trade? A. I would like to see more tenants bringing more individuality, more character and more quirkiness to the pubs. Q. Which celebrity would you most like to work behind your bar and why? A. Baldrick from Blackadder. He would always have a cunning plan and I would only have to pay him turnips.



8th Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival Mike Smith, Festival Organiser Berkshire’s “must visit” beer and cider festival will be held on the 3rd and 4th October at the county’s premier racecourse. As well as supping from over 240 different real ales and 30 ciders you will be able to enjoy top class horse racing featuring the Listed LondonMetric Noel Murless Stakes on Friday and the Totepool Challenge Cup on Saturday. All of our beers are carefully selected and delivered directly by our favourite local breweries from Berkshire and surrounding counties. This year, our featured regional bar will showcase the fine ales of Derbyshire and I am particularly looking forward to sampling the marvellously hoppy beers from the Thornbridge Brewery at Bakewell. Last year’s Midlands regional bar favourite, Whitworth’s Sobriety Blonde, also rode off with the Beer of the Festival title as voted for by the public. This year, however, we are expecting our local brewers to step up to the challenge and bring home the title which has been won in the past by the likes of Ascot Ales and the Longdog Brewery. We have already been promised a few Festival Special brews, so keep an eye on our website for further details of these. If you are a cider lover we will again feature our local producers including Salt Hill, Ciderniks and Tutts Clump but also a handpicked collection from the orchards of the West Country and beyond. And if that’s not enough, hot and cold food will be available all day and live music to entertain you. Go on, treat the family to a memorable day out! Putting on a beer festival is only possible with the help of our volunteer members, particularly those serving behind the bar. So if you fancy giving it a go please contact us, no experience is necessary and full training will be given. For further information visit: http://ascotbeerfest.org.uk and www.ascot.co.uk to order your tickets. Contact: [email protected]

A FINE SELECTION OF ALES, CIDERS & THOROUGHBREDS Autumn Racing Weekend Featuring 8th Ascot CAMRA Beer FestivalFriday 3rd & Saturday 4th OctoberWith over 240 real ales, 30 ciders and perries as well as a regional bar from Derbyshire courtesy of CAMRA,

iconic racecourse.

that culminate in the Totepool Challenge Cup.

promotional code BEER14

Tickets from £15 per personFine Dining from £145 per person +VAT

Visit ascot.co.uk to book

Ascot_BeerFestival_MadCowMag_148x210_020714_v1.indd 1 02/07/2014 12:12



The Beer Festival Guide By Simon Grist

Latest updates and additions - seberkscamra.org.uk/localfestivals.shtml

7th – 10th August 2014: Egham Beer Festival eghambeerfestival.co.uk Egham United Services Club put on three fine charity beer festivals each year assisted by the local CAMRA branch. Expect around 70 real ales, featuring new breweries and special brews, plus around a dozen ciders & perries. Reduced admission for CAMRA members.

9th August 2014: Fleet Lions Beer Festival fleetlions.org.uk/beerfest This festival run by Fleet Lions in aid of charity successfully relocated to the Harlington Centre last year. They promise at least 28 real ales, with this number increasing if they sell enough tickets.

12th – 16th August 2014: Great British Beer Festival gbbf.org.uk This beer festival is CAMRA’s pride & joy, and will once again be held at Kensington Olympia. Expect a remarkable 900 ales, ciders, perries and foreign beers, with the vast majority of British brewers being represented. Reduced admission prices for CAMRA members.

22nd – 24th August 2014: Wokingham Beer Festival wokinghamfestival.co.uk Just a 3 minute walk from Wokingham station, this beer festival is run as part of the popular Food, Drink & Music Festival, with the Wokingham Lions organising the bar in aid of charity. They advertise over 50 real ales, ciders and perries. Discounted tickets available online or from Wokingham Town Hall.



29th – 31st August 2014: Hope & Anchor, Wokingham the-hope.net Hattie and her team at this friendly local invite us back for their 2nd beer festival. Expect around 8-9 real ales from all over the country and beyond the pub’s usual Brakspear/Marston’s range. BBQ in the garden. Live music on the Saturday night.

13th September 2014: Newbury Real Ale Festival newburyrealale.co.uk Located a short walk from Newbury station, just down the line from Reading. They advertise 200+ real ales, ciders, perries & English wines. To simplify serving, all the beers are given a sequence number in the programme and you order a beer by its number!

27th September 2014: Sherfield on Loddon Beer Festival sherfieldbeerfestival.org.uk Once a year, the sleepy village of Sherfield on Loddon (on the A33 NE of Basingstoke) comes to life for its beer festival. Expect around 35 beers (with the village’s own brewery heavily featured) and a few ciders.

3rd – 4th October 2014: Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival ascotbeerfest.seberkscamra.org.uk This festival is run by your local Berkshire SE branch of CAMRA, in collaboration with Ascot Racecourse. This year feature over 240 real ales and 30 ciders/perries. Our ales are predominantly from Southeast brewers, plus a regional bar coming this year from Derbyshire. A race meeting runs in parallel with the festival, (discounted entry for CAMRA members).

3rd – 5th October 2014: Hampshire OctoberFest Beer Festival hampshireoctoberfest.co.uk/ This year the OctoberFest relocates to a more central location at Basingstoke Cricket Ground. Over 100 different ales, ciders and perries are expected.



16th – 18th October 2014: Oxford Beer Festival oxfordcamra.org.uk/ A traditional CAMRA beer festival held in a beautiful town hall in the delightful surrounds of Oxford. Expect around 150 ales, plus ciders and perries. Reduced entry for CAMRA members.

17th – 19th October 2014: Prince of Wales, Farnborough North princeofwalesfarnborough.co.uk A short train ride over our branch border will take you to Farnborough North. Just around the corner from there is this fine real ale pub holding its annual beer festival. Expect around 40 beers and 5 ciders.

23rd – 25th October 2014: Twickenham Beer & Cider Festival rhcamra.org.uk/festivalnews.html Run by Richmond & Hounslow CAMRA, this beer festival usually has about 70 real ales and 25 ciders & perries. Reduced entry for CAMRA members.

30th October – 2nd November 2014: Rose & Crown, Sandhurst roseandcrownsandhurst.info This will be Pete and Michelle’s 2nd Halloween beer festival and they have set a high standard with both the fancy dress and the selection of beers. Expect around 30 real ales and 4 ciders.

7th – 8th November 2014: Woking Beer Festival wokingbeerfestival.co.uk This long-running beer festival is organised by our neighbours in Surrey Hants Borders CAMRA. There should be over 70 ales plus ciders and foreign beers. Due to limited capacity, entry is by advance ticket only, with tickets on sale from late August. CAMRA members should be able to obtain a free pint.





A Good Pub Walk: The Wheelwright Arms Dinton and Hurst Trail A 5 mile circular pub walk from the Wheelwright Arms near Hurst, Berkshire.

The Wheelwright is a regular in the CAMRA good beer guide and holds the cask marque so there are always plenty of good ales to choose from. The walk

explores the lakes within the adjacent Dinton Pastures before striking out across local footpaths and lanes.

ACCESS NOTES: The walk is relatively flat. The paths can get quite muddy and sometimes a little overgrown in places. You will need to negotiate five stiles along the way. There are a few sections of road walking on roads without pavements so take care of traffic at these points. Approx, time 2 to 2.5 hours.

GETTING THERE: The walk starts and finishes from the Wheelwright Arms pub on Davis Way, St Nicholas Hurst in Berkshire. RG10 0TR.

GO TO 1: Start to Black Swan Lake Leave the pub car park via the vehicle entrance. Turn right and right again, then keep left to reach the T-junction with Davis Street. Cross over with care, turn right for a few paces and then turn left onto the access lane for Dinton Pastures Country Park. As you reach the main car park, turn right through this. Go through the gateway ahead and turn left at the crossroads. The path swings right across a bridge to reach a fork. Keep right and follow the path past the children’s play area to reach Black Swan Lake ahead. 1 TO 2: Black Swan Lake to Sandford Lane Turn left and follow the wide stone path with the lake across to the right. Keep right at the first fork and further along on the left you will pass a wooden sculpture of a stag beetle. Stay on the wide stone path and at the next fork keep left signed for White Swan Lake. Turn right at the first T-junction and stay on the wide stone path. At the second T-junction (within the trees) turn right and at the third T-junction turn right again signed for Black Swan Lake. At the fourth T-junction (with the lake ahead) turn left. Further along this stone path leads you over a footbridge ahead. Immediately afterwards, turn left across another footbridge and then turn right towards the activity centre. Just before the building turn left and pass through the car park and out via the vehicle entrance onto Sandford Lane.

Walk supplied courtesy of iFootpath.com Modern walking guides in the palm of your hand Follow this guide (and 480 others) with the iFootpath App (iOS and Android) where you can see your location on the live map as you travel.

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2 TO 3: Sandford Lane to St Nicholas Church Turn right along the grass verge for a few paces and, immediately before the property on the left, cross over to take the footpath over a small sleeper bridge. Follow the grass path through a dense tunnel of hedgerow. At the junction, stay on the main path which swings right, with a lake visible to the left. Eventually the fenced footpath will lead you out to a T-junction with the main road. Turn right along the road edge, taking extreme care of the traffic as it can be fairly fast moving here. As you draw level with the SLOW sign painted in the road, cross over to take the signed public bridleway into the trees. You will emerge out to another road, turn left along this again taking care of traffic. The lane will lead you into Hurst, passing St Nicholas Church on the left. 3 TO 4: St Nicholas Church to Lines Road For your own safety, cross over and walk through the edge of the church yard rather than along the road. Continue past the pretty pair of cottages on the left. Immediately after these, where the road swings left, cross over to take the signed public footpath. Cross the stile (or use the adjacent gate) and turn left along the edge of the crop field. Cross the stile into the second field and continue along the left-hand boundary (ignoring the path signed right across the field). The next stile will lead you out to the main A321 road. Turn right along the pavement for a few yards and then cross over to take the gravel track opposite. Swing left along this access track and, beyond the houses, you will see a choice of two signed paths. Take the Byway, the right-hand fork. Follow the track ahead, which can be very muddy in the middle section, and it will lead you to a T-junction with a tarmac lane. Turn right along this and it will lead you back to the A321. Turn left along the grass verge over a stream, then cross over to take the signed footpath opposite. Follow the path across a sleeper bridge, keep right along the gravel access drive and, at the end of this, go through the staggered barrier to join the woodland path. A wooden footbridge leads to you a stile into an open grass meadow. Walk at about 11 o’clock, following the left-hand edge of the meadow. A (tall!) stile in the bottom left-hand corner leads you out to Lines Road. 4 TO END: Lines Road to End Turn left and then immediately right into Dunt Avenue, taking care of any occasional traffic. Follow the lane to reach a T-junction. Turn right along Dunt Lane and then take the first left into Little Hill Road. Keep ahead and eventually this lane will lead you to the Wheelwright Arms for some well-earned hospitality.

Bank Holiday WeekendFri 22nd - Sun 24th August 2014

Venue: Elms Field, Wokingham RG40 2LD (3 minute walk from train station)

For opening times and the latest news visit: www.wokinghamfestival.co.uk

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Live music from the TradeMark stage throughout the festival:. The Ska Souls . Oye Santana . Hubba Bubba . Frankie & The Fish . Shooters . Rock Choir . Talia Smith (The Voice 2013) . Rev Ferriday and the Longdogs . Serious Blues . The Anydays

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More Brewery News

Here are some snippets from a few of the LocAle breweries that lie within a 25 mile radius of our branch.

Twickenham Fine Ales, London’s oldest microbrewery, is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this September.

It’s been a good year for Twickenham, with Naked Ladies being voted London’s top golden ale –

winning Silver in Champion Beer of Britain, South East (Golden Ales) – and their collaboration with Kissingate winning the CAMRA Sussex beer of festival. Following an expansion at the brewery, Twickenham are now offering their beers to pubs across a broader area into the home counties.

A new recipe for the Summer - Half Time Orange

Triple fff have launched a new beer to keep you

refreshed, their Bière de Saison. Brewed with coriander and orange peel. This style, brewed by

the French- speaking people in southern Belgium, shares a lot of similarities with the Bière de Garde style of France. Originally this was a seasonal beer brewed in spring to last through summer and into autumn.



More Brewery News

Here are some snippets from a few of the LocAle breweries that lie within a 25 mile radius of our branch.

Twickenham Fine Ales, London’s oldest microbrewery, is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this September.

It’s been a good year for Twickenham, with Naked Ladies being voted London’s top golden ale –

winning Silver in Champion Beer of Britain, South East (Golden Ales) – and their collaboration with Kissingate winning the CAMRA Sussex beer of festival. Following an expansion at the brewery, Twickenham are now offering their beers to pubs across a broader area into the home counties.

A new recipe for the Summer - Half Time Orange

Triple fff have launched a new beer to keep you

refreshed, their Bière de Saison. Brewed with coriander and orange peel. This style, brewed by

the French- speaking people in southern Belgium, shares a lot of similarities with the Bière de Garde style of France. Originally this was a seasonal beer brewed in spring to last through summer and into autumn.



Weights and Measures

This article, despite its name is not about the thorny issue of lined glasses and full pints but rather a look at the archaic and bewildering measures used for storing and serving beer. Do you know your firkin from your kilderkin, or your hogshead from your puncheon?. If not, do not worry but read on.

Casks The size of cask which stores beer has varied over the years and whilst we may use the term “barrel” as a generic term to cover all cask sizes, this is strictly incorrect. Barrel is actually 36 gallons (or 288 pints) but the most common size now delivered in the pub trade is the firkin which is 9 gallons.

Metal casks have not only introduced uniformity but also are considerably easier to sterilise. Historically the cask sizes used over time have been:-

Pin – 4½ gallon box polypin. Firkin – 9 gallons Kilderkin – 18 gallons Barrel – 36 gallons Hogshead – 54 gallons (1½ Barrels) Puncheon – 72 gallons (2 Barrels) Butt – 108 gallons Tun – 216 gallons (4 hogsheads)

Drinking Vessels The ubiquitous size of a modern glass is a pint, but it has not always been so. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was common to have beer served in quarts (considering the relative strength of beer at the time this was a fearsome achievement to finish). We are all familiar with the half pint, useful if driving or wanting to sample a range of beers but the nip (⅓ pint), previously used for serving very strong beers such as barley wines has now all but disappeared except during Wetherspoons festivals !.

The UK has generally stuck to these measures but prior to metrification the Australian beer drinker was faced with 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 fluid oz measures with such romantic names as a shetland, pony, bobbie, butcher, middy, schmiddy and a schooner (phew !).

Next time you walk in and order “a pint” just remember that there are many possible measures out there and it is just a happy chance that we have found the ideal drinking volume, not too much but enough to satisfy !.

Sourced from "The Beer Drinkers Companion". by Frank Baillie



Letter to the editor

The following letter was kindly supplied by Anne Andrews, Licensee of the Duke of Edinburgh, Winkfield. This is an edited is part of a 'letter to the Editor' of the Windsor Express regarding the closure and planned redevelopment of the Queens Head, Dedworth, Windsor. Anne is very passionate about Pubs, from her many experienced years working and managing pubs in the Windsor area is rightly aggrieved at the rate of pubs closing in her home area..... and the point is the same every-where and no more so at the moment with the Rose & Crown, Winkfield: yes, right next door to themselves which is currently up for sale..

Windsor used to boast of having over a hundred licensed houses, there are now less than 30 excluding nightclubs and bars. Public houses are still closing nationally at the rate of 26 a week. A traditional English pub is unique, it's not some soulless themed bar, but the perfect social environment where people from all walks of life can meet and interact, whether to enjoy a quick pint after work with colleagues, have a meal, watch sport or just have a family night out. The licensed trade also used to be the biggest fundraisers in the country and I am sure that there is not one of your readers who hasn't at some time taken part in a fundraising night in their local for a local cause. Just consider, for the first time since the Norman Conquest, we now have

villages in England that are dry. Last April CAMRA called on its members and pub customers to celebrate Community Pubs' Month, an offshoot of 'The Pub is The Hub campaign' which was supported by the Prince of Wales; what a shame that it has been marred by the closure of The Queen PH in Dedworth, Windsor. I suggest to all your readers that if their local is put up for development, to inform their council that they wish to have the house listed as a 'Community Asset'; Which could deter developers buying up sites. This is exactly what the residents of Fifield did when the future of The Fifield Inn was in doubt. ANNE ANDREWS Licensee The Duke of Edinburgh, Winkfield.

In relation to the area of CAMRA SE Berkshire we have seen a few closures over the past four years, including more recently changes of use, but things are now not on our side or that of many pub landlords. Already a few pubs are up for sale and others are certainly to follow. It is important to register Assets of Community Value (ACV ) before the risk of sale becomes apparent.



BEER DUTY - the facts and figures The last four years saw beer duty increase by a punishing 42% and has fuelled a shift in beer consumption away from pubs. Your local community pub relies on beer sales to sustain their business but half of all beer is now sold in off licences and supermarket chains as consumers seek to avoid tax rises.

UK beer drinkers pay the second highest amount of beer duty per pint in the EU. On average a third of the cost of your pint down the pub is tax. Beer supports nearing 1 million jobs and generates over £22 billion in taxes. The beer duty freeze in 2014 may have secure up to 2,400 jobs this year alone.



Since the campaign win at Budget 2013, beer production is once again on the increase. This is great news for the UK's 1,100 small breweries and CAMRA is calling on the Government to continue supporting these businesses by retaining the 50% beer duty reduction for small brewers.

Beer: good for you (no real ly)

Medical science has finally caught up with what many have been drunkenly telling their partners for years – beer really is good for your health. ‘If you analysed beer you would be amazed at how many super-nutrients there are in it,’ says Dr Stephan Domenig, medical director of The Original F.X. Mayr Health Centre in Austria. The stuff is high in vitamins, calcium and amino acids, low in sugar compared with fizzy soft drinks and research suggests it can even help prevent Alzheimer’s, which doesn’t explain why it’s so hard to remember the night before after a few pints of the stuff, but sounds pretty good anyway.

‘The hops in beer contain silica which adds lustre, increases volume and fortifies the hair from within,’ says Janey Lee Grace, author of Look Great Naturally… Without Ditching The Lipstick. Who are we to argue? Studies have also suggested that moderate beer drinking can help prevent diabetes and heart disease. A further study of almost 2,000 regular drinkers by the University of London even concluded that moderate intake isn’t likely to lead to excessive weight gain. Beer gut, schmeer gut. In yet more good news, the hops found in beer are said to have aphrodisiac-like qualities. Bottoms up. Now, whose round is it?



Since the campaign win at Budget 2013, beer production is once again on the increase. This is great news for the UK's 1,100 small breweries and CAMRA is calling on the Government to continue supporting these businesses by retaining the 50% beer duty reduction for small brewers.

Beer: good for you (no real ly)

Medical science has finally caught up with what many have been drunkenly telling their partners for years – beer really is good for your health. ‘If you analysed beer you would be amazed at how many super-nutrients there are in it,’ says Dr Stephan Domenig, medical director of The Original F.X. Mayr Health Centre in Austria. The stuff is high in vitamins, calcium and amino acids, low in sugar compared with fizzy soft drinks and research suggests it can even help prevent Alzheimer’s, which doesn’t explain why it’s so hard to remember the night before after a few pints of the stuff, but sounds pretty good anyway.

‘The hops in beer contain silica which adds lustre, increases volume and fortifies the hair from within,’ says Janey Lee Grace, author of Look Great Naturally… Without Ditching The Lipstick. Who are we to argue? Studies have also suggested that moderate beer drinking can help prevent diabetes and heart disease. A further study of almost 2,000 regular drinkers by the University of London even concluded that moderate intake isn’t likely to lead to excessive weight gain. Beer gut, schmeer gut. In yet more good news, the hops found in beer are said to have aphrodisiac-like qualities. Bottoms up. Now, whose round is it?



LocAle Update By Mike Smith Our LocAle campaign seeks to encourage pubs, clubs, off-licences and restaurants within our branch area to permanently stock; at least one real ale, produced by a local brewery (draught or bottled) and serve it in good condition. Interestingly 40% of all the beers scored are locale. Lots of good comments are coming in regarding Bingham’s Twyford Tipple from the Walter Arms at Sindlesham (good pizza too!). The traditional mild promotional month of May saw Longdog’s Hair of the Dog at several pubs including the Queens Head in Wokingham and Cannie Man at Bracknell. The recently reopened Roebuck at Binfield is currently under review for LocAle accreditation with reports of Rebellion beer being served; please keep us up to date on this. Siren Craft Brewery at Finchamstead have appointed a new sales manager, Sam Lee, who arrives from Yorkshire and is keen to establish a strong local following. The Rose & Crown at Sandhurst and Tally Ho at Eversley are already keen supporters of Siren and I am told that their beer is available through the SIBA direct delivery scheme to pubs. The brewery recently held an International IPA day to promote their beers - Sound Wave, Liquid Mistress, Half Mast and some brand new IPAs from their Ten Finger Discount range which was heralded as a huge success.

Accredited LocAle Outlets Ascot Jagz Binfield Jack O’Newbury Bracknell Cannie Man

Green Man Old Manor

Eversley Tally Ho Jealotts Hill New Leathern Bottle Sandhurst Rose & Crown Sindlesham Walter Arms Sunningdale Royal Oak Winkfield Squirrels Bar

White Hart Wokingham Crispin

Olde Leathern Bottel Queens Head

LocAle Breweries (within 25 miles of Bracknell) Abbey Ford (Chertsey, Surrey) Andwell (Andwell, Hampshire) Ascot Ales (Camberley, Surrey) Bell Street (Henley, Oxon) Bingham’s (Ruscombe, Berks) Brightwater (Claygate, Surrey) Farnham (Farnham, Surrey) Henley Brewing (Henley, Oxon) Hogs Back (Tongham, Surrey) Loddon (Dunsden Green, Oxon) Longdog (Basingstoke, Hants) Rebellion (Marlow, Bucks) Sherfield Village (Sherfield, Hants) Siren (Finchampstead, Berks) Tillingbourne (Shere, Surrey) Triple fff (Four Marks, Hants) Twickenham (Twickenham, Middx) West Berkshire (Frilsham, Berks) Wild Weather (Silchester, Berks) Windsor & Eton (Windsor, Berks) Zero Degrees (Reading, Berks)



LocAle Update By Mike Smith Our LocAle campaign seeks to encourage pubs, clubs, off-licences and restaurants within our branch area to permanently stock; at least one real ale, produced by a local brewery (draught or bottled) and serve it in good condition. Interestingly 40% of all the beers scored are locale. Lots of good comments are coming in regarding Bingham’s Twyford Tipple from the Walter Arms at Sindlesham (good pizza too!). The traditional mild promotional month of May saw Longdog’s Hair of the Dog at several pubs including the Queens Head in Wokingham and Cannie Man at Bracknell. The recently reopened Roebuck at Binfield is currently under review for LocAle accreditation with reports of Rebellion beer being served; please keep us up to date on this. Siren Craft Brewery at Finchamstead have appointed a new sales manager, Sam Lee, who arrives from Yorkshire and is keen to establish a strong local following. The Rose & Crown at Sandhurst and Tally Ho at Eversley are already keen supporters of Siren and I am told that their beer is available through the SIBA direct delivery scheme to pubs. The brewery recently held an International IPA day to promote their beers - Sound Wave, Liquid Mistress, Half Mast and some brand new IPAs from their Ten Finger Discount range which was heralded as a huge success.

Accredited LocAle Outlets Ascot Jagz Binfield Jack O’Newbury Bracknell Cannie Man

Green Man Old Manor

Eversley Tally Ho Jealotts Hill New Leathern Bottle Sandhurst Rose & Crown Sindlesham Walter Arms Sunningdale Royal Oak Winkfield Squirrels Bar

White Hart Wokingham Crispin

Olde Leathern Bottel Queens Head

LocAle Breweries (within 25 miles of Bracknell) Abbey Ford (Chertsey, Surrey) Andwell (Andwell, Hampshire) Ascot Ales (Camberley, Surrey) Bell Street (Henley, Oxon) Bingham’s (Ruscombe, Berks) Brightwater (Claygate, Surrey) Farnham (Farnham, Surrey) Henley Brewing (Henley, Oxon) Hogs Back (Tongham, Surrey) Loddon (Dunsden Green, Oxon) Longdog (Basingstoke, Hants) Rebellion (Marlow, Bucks) Sherfield Village (Sherfield, Hants) Siren (Finchampstead, Berks) Tillingbourne (Shere, Surrey) Triple fff (Four Marks, Hants) Twickenham (Twickenham, Middx) West Berkshire (Frilsham, Berks) Wild Weather (Silchester, Berks) Windsor & Eton (Windsor, Berks) Zero Degrees (Reading, Berks)



0 No Real ale No cask-conditioned ale available.

1 Poor Beer that is anything from barely drinkable to drinkable with considerable resentment.

2 Average Competently kept, drinkable pint but doesn't inspire in any way, not worth moving to another pub but you drink the beer without really noticing.

3 Good Good beer in good form. You cancel plans to move to the next pub. You want to stay for another pint and seek out the beer again.

4 Very Good Excellent beer in excellent condition.

5 Perfect Probably the best you are ever likely to find. A seasoned drinker will award this score very rarely.

IS YOUR PUB SERVING YOUR ALE AS IT SHOULD BE?

CAMRA Members - Please score the pints of Real Ale that you try in our Branch Area (or outside!) according to the scale opposite (you may use half scores, like 3.5).

Use the WHATPUB.COM website.

Alternatively send your scores to Lee Allsopp remembering to add the date of your visit, your name and membership number.

Email [email protected] Remember, you are judging the quality, so how well it is kept and served, not whether you liked that particular brew. The scores are used to help us choose our Good Beer Guide entries and local Pub of the Year.

CURRENT TOP FIVE PUBS 1) Bridge, Bracknell 2) Queen’s Head, Wokingham 3) Cannie Man, Bracknell 4) Tally Ho, Eversley 5) Rose & Crown, Sandhurst































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BRANCH DIARYAugust Friday 1st: Social Visit to Siren Craft Brew, Finchampstead. The brewery is celebrating IPA Day and tours of the brewery are taking place between 12.00 Noon and 10.30pm.

Thursday 7th: Open Meeting Molly Millar, Wokingham at 8.00pm

Saturday 9th: Social - Visit to Egham Beer Festival – Egham United Services Club – Meet up at 1.00pm

Wednesday 13th: Social - Visit to the Great British Beer Festival, Kensington Olympia London. Meet at 2.00pm at Cider Bar

Thursday 12th: Social – Cannie Man, Bracknell from 8.00pm

Sunday 24th: Social – Visit to Slough Publicans Barrel Roll. Meet at 12.30pm at The Moon & Spoon, Slough.

Keep up to date on the Web site for latest events and details. www.seberkscamra.org.uk/diary.shtml

Contact: Clive Doran [email protected]

September Sat/Sun Social – Real Ale Ramble Details tbc

Saturday 13th : Social – Newbury Real Ale Festival – Meet at 1.00pm

w/c Monday 22nd : Social – Good Beer Guide Launch – Venue tbc

Monday 29th : Joint Social with Surrey Hants Border branch – Prince of Wales, Farnborough North. Meet at 8.00pm (or come earlier of “Pie Night” from 6.00pm).

October Friday 3rd / Saturday 4th : Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival

Cider Social – October is Cider Month.. Venue tbc.

Saturday 18th: Visit to Oxford Beer Festival – Meet up at 12.00 Noon

November Saturday 1st: Social. Halloween Beer Festival @ Rose & Crown, Sandhurst - Meet 1.30pm



The views expressed within the Mad Cow are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of CAMRA.

Seen the Walk on the center pages? Thanks to Claire & Richard of iFootpath for providing the walk article.

iFOOTPATH Modern walking guides in the palm

of your hand For more details and their latest

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*** Stop Press ***Latest good news,

Rose & Crown, Woodside. We have been notified that the application to Bracknell Forest Borough Council (BFC) to list the Rose & Crown as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) has been successful . Well done to the locals and all who worked hard to present a convincing case, to our knowledge the first with BFC.

Contact Us Editor and Advertising, Jeremy Barber [email protected]

Branch Contact ~ Mike Rathge [email protected]

Branch Chairman ~ David Richards [email protected]

Mad Cow circulation 2,400. Outlets – over 100.

Produced solely in-house, for advertising, articles etc. please contact via [email protected]

Advertising Rates: (prices from): Quarter A5 page. £20 (new adverts) Half A5 page £60 Full A5 page £120 (additional £15 for premium pages)

Next Edition: November – January Deadline for Adverts 03 October Deadline for Articles 08 October

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Published by the Berkshire South East Branch of CAMRA. © Berkshire South East CAMRA 2014

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The Mad Cow Issue 36

Documents

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mad cow editor

mad cow page

beer tie

mad cow years

beer duty

good beer guide

ascot beer festival