|
The
Highwayman has moved...
If you're
looking for your regular dose of "The Highwayman", then
fear not - he now has a dedicated page which also holds
all of his previous ramblings...
be afraid...
A
view from the chair.
 As
another eventful and busy year draws to its close, there
has been plenty of interest for the Real Ale drinker
locally. 2007 has seen two new microbreweries starting
up in our area: Ashover at the beginning, and Brampton
at the end - bringing our tally to an impressive seven.
All the others are thankfully doing well… recent
highlights include Spire’s acquisition of the Britannia
at New Tupton, selling guest ales as well as their own -
providing a much-welcomed boost to Real Ale availability
in that area. At the recent SIBA Midlands awards held at
Nottingham, Whim Hartington Bitter was crowned Overall
Champion - very well deserved. Whim also won a Gold with
Flower Power in the Strong Ales category, whilst
Thornbridge won awards for Kipling and St Petersburg
Stout.
The most interesting new brewing development recently
has been the production of the pilsnerstyle Moravka at
Taddington brewery, based at Blackwell Hall (which is
just outside our Branch area), as reported in October. I
sampled it recently at the Red Lion, Birchover and found
it very much to my taste!
An important task we have completed recently is our Pub
Census, which has provided us with a wealth of
interesting data, and has thrown up a few surprises -
not least the diversity of pub ownership. Read all about
it elsewhere in this issue!
October’s Real Cider campaign was again well supported
with social trips - and another visit to Woodthorpe Hall
to watch the apples being pressed, followed by the
carrying of a tub of Owd Barker over the hill to the
Royal Oak at Millthorpe. The month was nicely finished
off by the presentation of the Regional Cider Pub of the
Year award to the Old Poets’ Corner, a notable supporter
of Real Cider.
We will shortly be helping to celebrate the first
birthday of our Matlock & Dales sub-branch, with their
AGM and social at the Temple Hotel, Matlock Bath on
Friday 14th December.
The next big
event is of course our 2008 Beer Festival - now in its
10th year at the Winding Wheel. Don’t forget to get your
tickets promptly, they have a tendency to sell out
rapidly!
With the
final, well-earned Pub of the Season award of the year
going to the Peacock, Brampton (a previous Pub of the
Year), it’s time to turn our attention to the selection
of our Pub of the Year for 2008. See inside for the
nominees and how to cast your vote: visit six of the
very best pubs in our Branch area, and help us decide
which is the finest!
Rhoda
Waygood
This webpage was last updated on
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
|
