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All the latest news can be found in the
current issue of InnSpire - InnSpire is available to download from our yahoo groups files
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October 2007
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New
entries for the Good Beer Guide 2008 in our patch are:
the Industry at Newbold, Nettle at Milltown and
Shoulder of Mutton at Hallfieldgate; with the
County & Station and Temple (Matlock Bath) and the Old
Bowling Green (Winster) from our Matlock & Dales
area.
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The Royal Oak, Shambles is changing hands, with Emma
& Josh re-joining Jane & Ken at the Rutland.
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The Winsick Arms has re-opened; as has the
Mason’s Arms, Brampton (following flood damage to
its cellar) - real ale is available Thursdays.
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Trade continues to be buoyant at the Jug & Glass at
Whitwell - they report that they are busier
than ever, despite the smoking ban. Perhaps it is the
real ale that attracts the customers - indeed, a third
handpump has now been installed and Draught Bass will
now be available, alongside John Smith’s Bitter plus
Wells Bombadier - the latter two were in good condition
on a recent visit.
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Plenty of news along the A61 corridor, south of
Chesterfield: the Batemans Mill at Tupton has a
changing guest ale, usually sourced locally. Following a
spell as an Indian restaurant, the Shoulder at Clay
Cross became a pub again on 7th September, with new
hosts Linda & Martin, previously of the Horse &
Jockey, Selston. The pub is free of tie, with John
Smith’s Cask and a changing guest (Theakston Old
Peculier at the time of our visit) being available - it
is hoped that the guest can be sourced locally. On the
other side of the crossroads, the George & Dragon
is reported as also serving John Smith’s Cask plus a
guest. Still in Clay Cross, the Royal Oak on Clay
Lane is trialling real ale on Thursdays, Fridays and
Saturdays, having recently offered Everards Sunchaser
and Thwaites Lancaster Bomber. Meanwhile, the
Greyhound at Danesmoor has been serving a decent
drop of Taylor Landlord.
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Malcolm & Janey are ending their award-winning stint at
the Hay, Shirland. The new landlord has stated
his intention to continue with this notable ‘real ale
gain’ of the past five years.
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Just
beyond our Branch area’s ‘deep South’, the Amber
Hotel - a mile on from Hallfieldgate - has been
offering Shepherd Neame and a guest.
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The White Hart at Tibshelf is open again following a
refurbishment - new licensees Tracy & Andy are keen to
develop their real ale trade. Marston’s beers are
available: Pedigree at all times plus one guest, which
was Sweet Chariot as we visited - both were on very good
form.
-
Matlock restaurants The Strand and G&T’s have
taken the bold step of removing a keg product and
permanently replacing it with Derby Brewery’s bottled
version of their popular Business As Usual, supported by
branded glassware.
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Over
the August Bank Holiday weekend, the Red Lion at
Birchover served 5 real ales, including 4 from
Alton brewery, plus a real cider.
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The Old Bowling Green at Winster have replaced
Theakston’s Bitter and will now only stock ‘local’ beers
from breweries situated within a 25 mile journey from
Winster. As well as the nearer Derbyshire breweries,
Sheffield Brewery at Neepsend just makes the cut at
24.88 miles distance as the crow flies! The pub is also
looking at the Taddington brewed Czech style lagers.
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The Waterloo which is to the west of Taddington
on the A6 is one of the more underrated pubs in the
Branch area, but the staff were recently reported as
being particularly welcoming and the Robinson’s on good
form.
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The Hare and Hounds at Barlow has ended its
association with Draught Bass. Customers had finally had
enough with the poor quality of the product supplied and
the once revered ale has been replaced on the bar by the
Robinson’s seasonal ale – the 4.1 %ABV Flash Harry being
the current brew until the end of November.
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With
building work now done, installation (by Dave Porter) of
the forthcoming Brampton Brewery’s plant has been
scheduled for October 27th. Chris has successfully
completed the advanced 3-week course at Brewlab and is
very clued up on the ‘chemistry’ side of brewing. The
Branch is looking forward to him putting the theory into
practice!
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A
while back, Ashover Brewery produced Amber
Rambler, a 4.3% ABV beer to commemorate John Collins’
700-mile trek, in aid of kidney research. Their newest
beer is called Rainy Daze 4.5%, whilst Butts Pale Ale’s
ABV has been increased to 5.5%. Meanwhile, in the Old
Poets’ Corner, Bateman XXXB has replaced Greene King
Abbot Ale.
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Production is at capacity for Whim’s stock beers,
though there was great disappointment within the brewery
that they had no representation at the GBBF.
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Planning permission is being sought for a new visitor
centre situated opposite Amber Ales and the
brewery is halfway to its target capacity of 100 casks a
month. Recent outlets have included the Charles
Cotton Hotel, Hartington and the Hay at Shirland.
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The
Headless Brewery at the Flowerpot in Derby
produced its initial brew - First Bloom, a 4.3% pale,
hoppy ale - and launched it in early September at the
‘tap’ and its sister pub, the Smithfield. A 7-barrel
plant has been installed along with four fermenters,
enabling the brewery to produce a core range of beers
across all styles, with occasional seasonals and
one-offs.
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The
new Dove Valley microbrewery has just started
production, using a system that is very similar to a
Burton Union set. Just five miles from Burton, in the
Derbyshire village of Church Broughton, the brewery
plant was created from 3 large whisky casks, each about
a hogshead (1 ? brewer’s barrels) in size. At the
moment, 16 firkins of D.V.A. (Dove Valley Ale) - a 4.4%
premium beer, described as being as near as possible to
an authentic Burton pale ale - are being produced each
week. The regular outlet is the Red Lion at Hognaston,
with three more pubs eagerly waiting to take the beer. A
stronger IPA, that will try to match the famous India
Pales Ales that were shipped to the sub-continent, is
planned. A lot of research has been undertaken including
talking to former brewery employees from the 1950s and
earlier.
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Derbyshire breweries represented at the recent 8th North
Notts Beer Festival at Worksop included Derventio,
Howard Town, Peak, Spire and Thornbridge. All the beers
sampled were in excellent condition and, with plenty of
seating at the Town Hall venue; the festival is well
worth a visit, and only a 77 bus ride away from
Chesterfield.
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Finally, it has been reported that there is another
Wetherspoon outlet being planned on Curzon Street
in Derby - ironically at the former Temperance Hall!
August 2007
-
 Starting in Chesterfield town centre,
following the departure of long-serving licensees
Keith & Jan, the Market is now run by Douglas
Williams and his partner Emma, who plan to keep the
current range of beers available. Douglas previously
worked for an Edinburgh restaurant group, so expect
an updated food menu. The Branch wishes both couples
all the best for the future.
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At a recent ‘Family Fun Day’, generous customers of
the Red Lion, Whittington Moor donated £1,200
to Edale Mountain Rescue Team. Landlady Maureen
Tropman presented the cheque to chairman Rob Small -
which brings the amount raised by the pub so far
this year (towards the Team’s new base) to £2,000.
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The White Horse at Old Whittington has
recently been offering - alongside the regular
Castle Eden Ale - John Smith’s Magnet and the
dangerously drinkable 6.5% ABV Ossett Hercules.
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The Blue Stoops on Matlock Road, Walton, will
host a special Thornbridge evening on Friday 28th
September. New licensees Simon Hill and his partner
Linda are hoping to offer at least five of the seven
regular award-winning ales. Some of the brewery team
will also be on hand to give an insight into their
operation and plans for the future.
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Simon & Linda - relatively new to the licensed trade
- had a useful stint at the White Hart at Calow
before impressing at another Pub People Co. hostelry
near Doncaster. And now, Simon can more easily
combine his dedication to serving a changing range
of quality real ales with that of following his
beloved Spireites!
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The Elm Tree at Elmton is to install 2
further beer engines, making the wonderful sight of
7 handpumps as you enter.
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Palterton WMC has been offering GK Morland
Old Speckled Hen at under £2 a pint. We understand
that Ma Hubbard’s (the erstwhile Glapwell
Hotel) has been acquired by Cains of Liverpool,
raising the possibility of real ale returning in an
area seriously short of it for some considerable
time.
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The Hudson Bay Beerhouse on Craggs Road, Bolsover
is now the Fidler’s Rest - following a change
of ownership. On a recent visit, three real ales
were on the bar: Black Sheep Best Bitter, Stones
Bitter and Hook Norton Old Hooky. The new name
recalls Peter Fidler - a native of the town - who
was chief surveyor and mapmaker for the Hudson Bay
Company in the 1790s. He returned in 1812 to have
built, as a home for his mother, the property that
is now the pub.
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By the time this issue of InnSpire hits the street,
the Thorn Tree in Matlock will have been
taken over by Patrick Stephenson - previously the
chef at the Whitworth Hotel, Darley Dale - and his
partner Emma.
-
 Meanwhile in Matlock Bath, local drinkers
will be relieved to learn that the Princess
Victoria will be re-opening soon following a
sympathetic and much-needed refurbishment.
Traditional features will remain downstairs,
with modern touches in the upstairs restaurant:
cooking your food using volcanic rocks! Bateman’s
beer - we are reassured - will be served at the
correct temperature (!), as the new licensee has
clocked up many years of experience in the
Nottingham area.
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In early July, a small contingent from Chesterfield
Branch was amongst the many CAMRA folk enjoying the
inaugural Warslow Beer & Food Festival. All
21 firkins were sold on the day, and we look forward
to attending next year’s event!
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More pub losses have materialised: the New
Napoleon at Ogston seems to have reverted back
to a private dwelling. Planning consent has been
given to demolish the Lion & Lamb in Eckington
– a further loss as the Bird in Hand was
reported as no longer having cask ale available.
The Rose & Crown, Brampton is closed and the
Cricketers on Stand Road is currently up for
lease. However, a change of use application has been
reported for Manor farmhouse, Bole Hill Lane
(between Wingerworth and Ashover). Some years ago,
the place was known as Bill & Ben’s and, once the
livestock had been attended to, dispensed keg
Mansfield into the early hours!
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Ashover Brewery recently brewed special beers
for Derby Beer Festival and our Branch’s 30th
anniversary. The latter is Tri-Decade and is similar
to Light Rale, though at a strength of 4.3%.
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Happily, the new Brampton Brewery escaped
being drowned at birth in the recent flooding.
Installation of the 8-barrel plant has been delayed
due to the building works being incomplete.
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Peak Ales produced a special beer for Derby
CAMRA’s summer Beer Festival called ‘Thirsty
Thirty’. This was a 4.0% ABV “Refreshing light
bitter with floral notes and citrus in the finish”.
Brewer Rob Evans advised that Sovereign hops were
used instead of the more traditional Fuggles to see
how they shaped up.
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Those not sent to Derby were sold as ‘specials’ for
other events. ‘Fringe Matters’ was supplied to the
Buxton Fringe Festival at Ramsey’s Bar and ‘Hog’s
Revenge’ was enjoyed at Brampton Manor’s hog roast
event. The remaining casks were sold from the
brewery to the free trade as ‘Paxton’ in honour of
Joesph Paxton, Chatsworth Estate’s celebrated former
architect.
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Spire Brewery is currently working at full
capacity and they have ordered more casks to keep up
with growing demand.
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The brewery is now supplying their beer in
bottle-conditioned format. The supply of bottles is
not always reliable and a large order from a big
brewer can often mean your promised delivery does
not arrive. Bottle-washing facilities have been
installed and they are after supplies of 500ml brown
beer bottles. So why not take your empties to Spire
and get a good discount on a pack of full ones. Even
if you don’t want to buy, you will almost certainly
be offered a sample of one of the beers on draught.
Going to the bottle bank has never been such a
pleasure – beat that, Mr. Sainsbury!
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Spire has also brewed, with a little help from CAMRA
members, a commemorative beer called Inn-Spiration
to mark the Branch’s 30th anniversary. It has
provided 4 kils each of Sgt Pepper Stout and Whiter
Shade of Pale for the Great British Beer Festival.
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Barry Dobson (a biochemist) is now a partner in the
Spire Brewery & Pub Co. Ltd and by the time you read
this will be running their first pub, the Britannia,
Ward Street, New Tupton. The grand opening will be
over the August Bank Holiday weekend and will
include a hog roast. The 8 handpumps will showcase 4
Spire beers alongside 4 guests (via cask swaps) as
well as draught lagers, English ciders (Weston’s
bottled range including Raspberry cider) and World
bottled beers. If anyone has any suggestions for
guest beers, just mention it to Dave, Sarah or
Barry.
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The Cricket Inn at Totley Bents is the latest
venture of Thornbridge Brewery - this one is
jointly with Smiths Restaurants and is billed as a
Brewkitchen gastro-pub. Currently one brew a week is
being produced on the small plant, mainly for sale
at the Coach & Horses, Dronfield and the Cricket
Inn. The brewery would like to upgrade but their
current schedule is making this difficult!
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Thornbridge Hall enjoyed a Charity Garden
Party on Sunday 1 st July with many family events,
farmers market and entertainments arranged by the
Hall, but more interestingly a beer tent with
Mansfield & Ashford CAMRA members manning the bar.
Several other Branches of CAMRA were in attendance
including Matlock.
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A dark beer called Resolution has been on the bar at
the Speedwell, Staveley and Townes Brewery
has also produced a new beer for the Branch 30th.
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This webpage was last updated on
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
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