Full Steam ahead for Box Steam Brewery

Pete Waterman officially opens the new Box Steam Brewery in Holt nr Trowbridge

Family-owned, Box Steam Brewery was founded in 2004 in Colerne, Wiltshire with a 10 BBL brew plant and just two fermenting vessels. To keep up with demand, production increased year on year, the opportunity was seized to relocate to new, much larger premises in nearby Holt. At a stroke, this move boosted the brewery’s capacity from 65 hectolitres to a maximum of 400 hectolitres. See centre pages for more details of the opening day.

Also in this edition: Bath Half page 4. CAMRA Young Members page 8. Pubs That Were page 15. A Pleasant Night Out in Bristol page 17.

Yer Tiz FREE newsletter of the North West Wilts CAMRA

Spring 2012 edition Readership 7000+

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Foreword

This month sees the start of a Foreword page in Yer Tiz. Branch members will have their say on elements of their role within the branch. First up is our Chairman – Dave Maloney. It’s a busy old job being the branch chair, what with meetings to attend both locally and regional (I was in Exeter recently). Then there are pubs to visit to try and keep landlords updated on what we at CAMRA are about, and have a pint or two of course! Brewery trips give us an insight into the brewers craft and the challenges they face (price of raw materials and increasing taxes for instance).

The workload is made a little easier by the great bunch of members who turn up regularly to branch meetings, which incidentally we try to hold at different pubs in our area throughout the year, and my fellow committee members. This time of the year is particularly busy as we have just finished counting the votes submitted by branch members for Good Beer Guide entries. Then we have to choose our Pub of the Year and in addition we have a sub committee organising the Chippenham Beer Festival. At that festival not only are we able to put on a range of ales and ciders which our visitors can enjoy but in addition we are able to raise funds to add to the CAMRA central resources. This is an essential role of all CAMRA branches as capital in our ‘War Chest’ enables CAMRA campaigns, for example tackling some of the unfairness prevalent in the pub trade, for instance Pubcos whose use of restrictive and anti-competitive practices are making it very difficult for tenants to earn a reasonable living. Latest reports show that 16 pubs are still closing every week. With the continued growth of microbreweries will we get to the situation where we have plenty of real ale variety but no pubs to drink them in? Of course it’s unlikely that we’ll get to that situation, however it is suggested that 2012 will see more beer purchased outside of pubs to be consumed at home. That of course is not a good sign for pubs and this coupled with a forthcoming budget that may not be pub friendly, is making it a tough time. How much more of this can pubs take? CAMRA is urging all MPs to sign the early day motion to scrap the Beer Escalator which increases the tax on beer by 2% above inflation. I’m pleased to see that James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire, has already done so. If you want to help you could by signing the Stop the beer duty escalator e-petition, just type it into Google and you’ll find the page. The Institute of Policy Research is recommending a 50% business rate relief for pubs that can be proven to be community pubs. Their research, unsurprisingly for us, found that the majority of people see pubs as the best place to keep up to speed with what’s going on in their community. They also found that “community pubs aren't just places to drink but also places where people meet their neighbours, where local clubs hold meetings and events, and which support many important local services such as village post offices and general stores”. We are all very well aware of the economic downturn, but sparing just a few hours in the pub a week with congenial conversation and good ale or cider could save your pub. If this is what you do then ‘Thank You.’ If you are not a regular pub goer please consider popping in for one night a week in your local. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

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Meet the Publican The Golden Fleece is in a great position on the Bath road out of Melksham. Clive and Debbie have been at the pub for 9 months and already have a reputation for serving wonderful food and keeping good ale.

I understand this is your first pub, what made you become a publican? I began bartending part-time straight out of University, and finally gave up the day job to manage the bar/restaurant full time. That is how Debbie & I met and we’ve been working together on and off since. I have always wanted my own pub, and following a period of managing town centre bars, then a stint of teaching, we decided to take the plunge to take on our own pub. We chose The Fleece as it has a good food reputation which we felt we could build on further, and we knew we could improve on the wet trade and get the ‘pub’ side back to how it should be.

How do you choose your ales? With the exception of London Pride, we mainly source locally within CAMRA’s LocAle guidelines. In order to keep our Ale as fresh as possible and minimise wastage, we try to work with brewers who can provide 4.5g pins. We have so far only stocked Ales of 5% abv or lower as we are predominantly a destination pub with many customers driving. We try to keep our offers fresh, rotating 2 of our ales every 4-8 weeks. On our other 2 pumps we stock Fullers London Pride permanently and rotating ales from Wickwar Brewery. What challenges have you already faced? When buying a business based on discretionary spending in a declining market in the middle of a deep recession, what could possibly go wrong?!?! Our main challenge has therefore been to provide our customers with a quality food and drink offer at a realistic price, whilst still trying to maintain some all-important profit to re-invest. This being our first pub, the main challenge is now keeping ahead of ourselves regarding menu changes, forthcoming events, advertising, repairs etc, etc CAMRA champions the importance of local pubs. What does your pub offer the local community? The pub was previously run more as a restaurant rather than a pub which sold food, so rebuilding the drink trade was a priority. From day one we have opened all day, something which is rare in the area, with food being served all day from April to September. To bring the ‘local’ feel back, we also run a Wednesday night Quiz. We also serve a discounted Senior Citizens’ lunch every Tuesday, to encourage the large retired population in-and-around Shaw to visit their ‘local’, catch up with friends and enjoy some quality food at a bargain price

Fact File The Golden Fleece, Folly Lane, Shaw, Melksham Tel: 01225 702050 2 Permanent real ales plus 2 changing guests. Fresh locally sourced menus with fortnightly specials. Walkers and dogs welcomed. Large garden. Quiz Night every Wednesday from 8.30pm Ample parking www.thefleeceatshaw.co.uk

Fact File The Golden Fleece, Folly Lane, Shaw, Melksham Tel: 01225 702050 2 Permanent real ales plus 2 changing guests. Fresh locally sourced menus with fortnightly specials. Walkers and dogs welcomed. Large garden. Quiz Night every Wednesday from 8.30pm Ample parking www.thefleeceatshaw.co.uk

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Bath Half pint Marathon

Some of the 27 participants who took part this year. This years route Once again a good turn out and fabulous weather for the Bath Half pint Marathon. A delayed train meant we had time for a pre-saunter beer in the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham and then it was off to meet the rest of the gang at the starting point, The Ram in Widcombe. In the 13 city pubs we visited we had a selection of 46 different ales to chose from - IPA to porters. As a dark ale man the Glastonbury Thriller rare cappuccino porter at the King William was my favourite and I heard that the Wadworth Horizon was particularly good for those who enjoy paler ale.

The Young Persons group was well represented and led by Paul no dark ale for me Taylor, South Gloucestershire CAMRA by Rob Glenister and Mike Wilkinson brought his family and friends along. Well Done everyone it was great day, I’m looking forward to next year already!

………………………………………………….. Pub News

London Road Inn: Calne: Have been awarded Cask Marque accreditation. The Bear: Melksham: Will reopen on Tues 15th May 2012 under Wetherspoons ownership. Volunteer Inn: Great Somerford: New licensees Neil and Ellie Lowthian. Holford Arms: Knockdown, Tetbury: has been purchased by the Sherston Cider Company. Kings Arms Hotel: Malmesbury: sold to Arkells by Enterprise. The Saladin: Appears to be under offer but with limited opening hours. The Quarrymans Arms: Box, Beer Bat of Ale, try 3 or 5 different 1/3rds of ale.

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What is CAMRA LocAle?

CAMRA LocAle is an initiative that promotes pubs stocking locally brewed real ale. The scheme builds on a growing consumer demand for quality local produce and an increased awareness of 'green' issues. The CAMRA LocAle scheme was created in 2007 by CAMRA's Nottingham branch which wanted to help support the tradition of brewing within Nottinghamshire, following the demise of local brewer Hardys and Hansons. There are currently 125 CAMRA branches participating in the LocAle scheme which have accredited hundreds of pubs as LocAle pubs which regularly sell at least one locally-brewed real ale. Everyone benefits from local pubs stocking locally-brewed real ale…

Public houses as stocking local real ales can increase pub visits Consumers who enjoy greater beer choice and diversity Local brewers who gain from increased sales The local economy because more money is spent and retained locally The environment due to fewer ‘beer miles' resulting in less road congestion and pollution Tourism due to an increased sense of local identity and pride - let's celebrate what makes

our locality different

Accreditation is at the sole discretion of the local CAMRA branch and subject to the licensee agreeing to the following...That they will endeavour to ensure at least one locally brewed real ale, as defined by the local branch, is on sale at all times

Only real ale, as defined by CAMRA, can be promoted as a CAMRA LocAle Where the standard of real ale sold falls below an acceptable quality, accreditation will be

withdrawn That accreditation can be withdrawn at any time at the discretion of the local branch That should accreditation be withdrawn, or should the licensee withdraw from the scheme,

all LocAle publicity material must be removed from the pub and the licensee cease using the CAMRA LocAle logo.

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Definition of Local The Sustainable Communities Act, which CAMRA strongly supports, provides a definition of local as up to 30 miles from the point of sale. CAMRA recommends that the distance is calculated from the pub to the brewery and should be based on the shortest driving distance. Real ales from regional and national breweries as well as from microbreweries can be regarded as "local" if they are brewed within what the branch has decided as being the local area. More pubs are joining the LocAle scheme which aims to bring ales from local brewers into local pubs, cut down on the miles beer travels and sees local pubs and breweries supporting one another. The following pubs in N W Wiltshire currently sell Locale. Barge Inn - Seend Cleeve Jolly Huntsman - KSM Red Lion - Lacock

Bear at Box - Box Kingfisher - Chippenham Rising Sun - Christian Malford

Bell - Lacock Kings Arms - Melksham Rising Sun - Lacock

Bell –OTC - Broughton Gifford Langley Tap - Langley Burrell Rose & Crown - Brokenborough

Bull - Hinton Lansdowne Arms - Derry Hill Rose & Crown - Chippenham

Century - Corsham Lansdowne Strand- Calne Rose & Crown - Lea

Cross Keys – Corsham Mallard -Lyneham Royal Oak - Corsham

Crown - Dryham Neeld Arms - Grittleton Soho Inn - Studley

Duke - Hilmarton Neston Country Inn - Neston Suffolk Arms - Brinkworth

Dumb Post Inn - Bremhill New Inn - Melksham Three Crowns - Brinkworth

Fortune Inn - Chippenham Northey Arms - Box Three Crowns - Chippenham

Fox - Broughton Gifford Old House at Home - Burton Three Magpies - Sells Green

Foxham Inn - Foxham Old Royal Ship - Luckington Two Pigs - Corsham

George Inn - Lacock Oliver Cromwell - Bromham Vale of the White Horse - Minety

George Inn - Sandy lane Pack Horse - Chippenham Volunteer Inn -Great Somerford

Golden Fleece - Atworth Peterborough Arms –Dauntsey Wellesley Arms - Sutton Benger

Greyhound - Bromham Pheasant Inn -Chippenham Westbrook Inn - Bromham

Harp & Crown - Gastard Pilot -Bowerhill (Melksham) White Hart - Castle Coombe

Ivy - Heddington Quarrymans Arms - Box Whole Hog - Malmesbury

Jenny Wren - Calne Red Bull Inn - Malmesbury If your pub would like to join the scheme please email pubsofficer@nwwiltscamra.org.uk for more details

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Dumb Post dance out Since the late 70s Chippenham Morris have been playing and dancing at the Dumb Post on the Sunday before Christmas. Over the years they have been joined by Hips and Haws Clog, Chippenham ladies Clog Morris team and more recently by Foot Notes Appellation also from Chippenham. This year it wasn’t snowing, which is something to be grateful for if you have to drive up the steep hill from Stanley Lane. It was a clear and cold day, with a brisk wind, but this didn't dampen any of the dancers/musicians enthusiasm and 2 hrs of music and dancing ensued. As I was not dancing or playing an instrument (of which there were many and varied) it was easier for me to pop into the pub for one of the three well kept ales available - Butcombe bitter and 6X are regular ales and this time round the guest was Sharps Doombar.

Eddie & Dave Board recently bought the pub from Bryan Pitt who had run this 18th century Free House for over 30yrs. They have refurbished the upper rooms and in the New Year the plan is to decorate the downstairs rooms in a sympathetic way so as not to spoil the atmosphere and ambience of the pub. An old swimming pool is being filled in and thoughts about extending out to the side are being considered.

A large intrusive pillar at the end of the bar between the bar and the end room has been removed which was just as well for what was to happen next. When the dancing finished all the sides and musicians (over 40 people) joined those already in the pub for the traditional carol singing. Much harmony ale/cider drinking took place along with traditional Christmas folk music being played. Sausages n chips kept us going for another couple of hours after which we departed feeling a little hoarse but that was a small price to pay for a wonderful day of dance, song and ale (oh and shame on the person(s) responsible for not including any of our traditional dancing as part of the Olympic opening ceremony). Folk music/singing is to be found at informal evening gatherings at the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham on the 2nd Sunday and at the Three Crowns, Chippenham on the 4th Sunday of each month. The Dumb Post, Bremhill is closed Mon – Wed lunchtime, open from noon-2.30pm Thur-Sat inc. 7pm – 11pm Mon-Sat and Noon -11pm on Sunday. Food is served lunchtimes until 2.30pm. It sells 2 regular ales and one changing guest.

Dave Maloney

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CAMRA Young Members

Did you know 11% of the total national membership is aged between 18-30 years old? These are CAMRA's Young Members. My name is Paul Taylor, and I have recently taken on the committee position of Branch Young Members Contact for the North West Wiltshire CAMRA branch. It is my responsibility to promote the issues affecting the young members of the branch, work as a point of contact for existing and potential young members and, importantly,

organise social activities throughout the year! As well as any events that will be organised within our Branch, there are a number of events that are held across the country for young members and non-members alike. For information on social events and getting involved with the CAMRA Young Members group, there is a host of valuable resources available through the CAMRA website. Head to www.camra.org.uk and click on the links for CAMRA Young Members. There are even Facebook and Google groups to keep you completely up to date. So, what is coming up in the next few months in our area?

Bristol Walk-around (Date TBC) – Specifically for the Young Members of the branch, I am planning on organising a trip over to Bristol, to take a walk around the many pubs selling real ale & cider. A great opportunity to meet like minded individuals! Keep an eye on the website for details.

Brewery Tour (Date TBC) – It would be fantastic to organise a tour to one of the

local breweries around our area to see how the ale we are all so fond of is brewed, and try some of those ales that we can’t always find locally.

Four of us turned up to the recent Bath Half pint Marathon, which was a great day out. If you are interested in any of the events mentioned, or even have ideas of any social activities you think would be good for the Young Members of the branch, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at youngmembers@nwwiltscamra.org.uk or come and say hello if you see me out and about!

Paul Taylor

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Branch visit to Hook Norton brewery

Sixteen branch members set out in a minibus driven by an intrepid lady whose name I have inexcusably forgotten (Lynda. Ed) but to whom the branch extends its heartfelt thanks for her efforts in getting us safely there and back despite foggy conditions on the way home. Although I had seen photos of the brewery I was not prepared for how imposing a building it actually is particularly since it is surrounded by an otherwise rural area. The tour started with the horizontal steam engine which was rebuilt a

few years ago and is still used sometimes to run the malt mill and elevators. Mostly they now use an electric motor but even so that only drives the same belts and shafting as the steam engine. The general philosophy seems to be that if something still works there is no point replacing it. I would like to mention that I was not asked to write about the visit until afterwards and so I did not take any notes about the technical details. I can, however, confirm from memory that they brew using malted barley, hops and water. The water is from the brewery’s own deep well and they use a number of different hop varieties for the beers in their range. After the ancient malt mill the mash tuns are modern stainless steel. There are two coppers one of which is steel but the other of which is real copper and was once an open vessel. They use a paraflow cooler now but up in the roof there is a huge shallow vessel which was once used for that purpose. Hygiene requirements preclude its use now. Hook Norton still uses traditional open fermenters for all of their beer. We finished in the racking room from which the stables could be seen across the yard but the dray horses were out in a nearby field for the weekend. Local deliveries are done with the horses some of the time although I think that they are mainly for publicity purposes and shows. Casks rolled slightly down hill on tracks under the yard and to the storage area which is under the main visitor centre. We then returned to the visitor centre to be given great jugs of ale at the table where our 1/3 glasses made short work of each one of these jugs which kept coming until the full range of ales had been tried. After that we visited the Pear Tree pub close to the brewery. On the way back we called at the Crown in Lechlade (home of the Half Penny Brewery) and the Red Lion in Cricklade returning to Chippenham in time to look in at the Three Crowns which was having one of its regular beer festivals only to find it bursting with Swindon and North Wiltshire Branch members on a visit. In all a very interesting day for anyone interested in brewing or, for that matter, industrial archaeology. Many thanks to Pete Duggan & Dave Maloney for organising the day.

Ed Spearey

We are stood in front of the imposing building that is

Hook Norton’s Victorian Tower Brewery.

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Box Steam Brewery Ales are available at many discerning outlets but why not visit our pubs?

Inn at Freshford BA2 7WG – 01225 722250 Cross Guns at Avoncliff BA15 2HB – 01225 867613

Three Crowns Beer & Cider Festival Over the weekend of 24th February the Three Crowns in Chippenham had one of their regular beer and cider festivals. Many of us had been to the Bell’s beer fest in Lacock on the Friday evening but some still turned up for the England - Wales game on the Saturday. With 31 ales, 4 Ciders and 3 Perries over the weekend there was plenty to choose from. Due to the game and the volume of people in the pub over the weekend it was not possible to gather the information needed for a full report. That said there was sufficient good tasting ale to drown sorrows or celebrate a win depending which team you supported! See page 20 for details of more beer festivals in our area.

Advertise your club, pub, business in Yer Tiz 7000+ readership

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Box Steam Brewery – Opening ceremony Box steam brewery used to be in our geographical branch area when it was at Colerne and as such we as a CAMRA branch know them well. Their beers have won a number of awards at the Chippenham beer festival being voted Best Beer at the festival by those attending. I presume that it was due to this close relationship that an email arrived one day informing me of their move to a new home and to watch out for an invitation coming through the post. A very grand parchment envelope arrived with an equally grand parchment letter inviting me along to the opening ceremony. As the day drew closer and with day off arrangements made the logistical problem of getting to the brewery and then home again came to the fore. Shaun the branch BLO (Brewery Liaison Officer) for Box Steam has also been invited so I wondered if his wife could be persuaded to drive us over if my wife brought us back. It was with some delight therefore that I had an email saying there was a bus picking up guests from Chippenham railway station and we both live in Chippenham this was a bonus. Sure enough on the day there was the bus..problem was it had a door issue and wouldn’t drive without a great noise coming from the door area. Suitably corrected using impact technology we set off for Holt with other fellow guests.

Dave and Shaun meet up with Mr Brunel

It was a warm day but as we got off the bus, having left our coats behind so we could be resplendent in our North West Wilts shirts, we realised the slight breezy was blooming cold. Being rough tough ale drinkers we knew after a few pints we’d be OK but the offer of a pint of real ale wasn’t materialising! Gently tackling the MD about this Andy was enthusiastic about the food and beer matching lunch and declared that any ale beforehand would ruin our palettes!!! He was gone before we could explain that a pint of the first ale to be matched at lunch would only enhance our palettes. While one group went off for a tour of the brewery we stayed to listen to Phillip from Box Steam give a very interesting Master Class on Malt. ( it is of course generally being barley that is capable of germination) and how the Maltster’s skill stops the barley

germinating at a specific stage. I feel another visit to Warminster Maltings coming on, one of two Maltings in the UK still using traditional malting methods. After this interesting talk it was our turn to visit the brewery itself. The staff at Box Steam are already very proud of their brewery, which can brew five times as many barrels of beer than it could before. As its purpose built its easier to keep working areas clean. New storage tanks allow more ale to be temporarily stored before it goes off in tankers to the bottling plant. There is also a dedicated cask cleaning and storage area.

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The tour over we headed back to the admin building for lunch. We had to wait a short while for Pete Waterman, who was the honoured guest, to turn-up. We were briefed that lunch was to be based around four courses matched with Box Steam beers by Fiona Beckett who is a columnist for the Telegraph and has written a book on Beer and food matching for CAMRA. It was a very interesting exercise made more so because the beer was supplied from bottles in small taster glasses so no sooner had they been filled with beer Shaun and I had finished ours and were like two little Oliver’s asking for more! Fiona was at the bar describing what we could expect with each course. First course was lightly spiced sausage rolls matched with Tunnel Vision. This slightly bitter award winning ale went surprisingly well with this course and brought out the texture of the light pastry, the bitterness working well with the spice. Next out was the Welsh rarebit, bit disconcerting for me was the mustard mixed with the cheese but the Chuffin Ales rich smooth taste compensated the warmth of the cheese and mustard mix. Derail ale was next to complement the curry which was our next dish. This of course was chosen because Derail ale is an IPA and what better; no I really mean what better, than an IPA to go with curry? It did work very well, so much so we blagged more curry and Derail. Next dish was even more delightful. A rich beef stew with blue cheese dumplings matched with Funnel Blower. From the bottle this tasted like the Vanilla porter of old. The richness of this vanilla infused beer matched that of the stew and the vanilla sweetness contrasted well with the hint of roasted barley and chocolate malt bitterness. At this point Fiona had a taste surprise as she was given a glass of Funnel Blower from the cask she was astonished at the difference in taste between the bottled and cask version of this beer which is something we dark ale drinkers have been lamenting for a long while.

After this wonderfully educational lunch people mixed and generally chatted. It was 2.30 and the bus was leaving soon but at that point Dave & Ruth from Box Steam (who live in Chippenham) kindly offered us a lift home…..at 5pm. Well the bar was open so it seemed rude not to stay . During this extended stay we got to see the board room and the new Off Sales area where a whole range of Box Steam beers and merchandise can be purchased.

It was the end of a most interesting and enlightening day. I have no doubt that Box Steam will go from strength to strength in their new home and I look forward to trying new ales as they become available.

Dave & Shaun.

www.the2fionas.com www.provencommunication.co.uk

Box Steam and Proven Communications team

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Brewery News

Braydon Ales: Beer definitely not banned in MP’s bar Braydon Ales’ beer RWB (Royal Wootten Bassett) was enjoyed throughout last December by MPs and guests in the House of Commons Strangers’ Bar, where North Wiltshire MP James Gray hosted a tasting reception. Some 20 MPs of different political persuasions attended the tasting and all joined in congratulating Braydon Ales on producing a beer that is most enjoyable and easy to drink. Demand for the beer is such that it will now be added to the others that Braydon Ales brew on a regular basis, namely YerTiz, PotWalloper, Galley-Bagger and Gert Ale.

Braydons Spring and Summer Beer

Mooned Up, Which means spoilt or coddled is a 3.6% spring & autumn mild. It’s a dark mild that’s malty, gently hoppy, and toasty in taste

………………………………………………………………………..

Cotswold Spring Brewery: How much is too much? Cotswold Spring are urging pub users to sign an e petition against the amount of duty payable on a pint of beer. To sign the petition and read more about what they have to say on this issue visit their website at www.springbrewery.co.uk

Cotswold’s spring specials Old Sodbury Mild Complex 7 grain mild. Initially dry with a bitter sweetness. chocolaty notes and a long finish. Old Sodbury Mild is the Supreme Champion at the SIBA 2011 National Beer Competition. ABV 3.9%

Keeper A honey wheat beer with a smooth finish. Distinct notes of honey come through in the aroma and taste and are well balanced with a blend of crisp and refreshing hops. ABV 5.2%

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Have your say We received a very pleasant letter recently form the Landlord of the New Inn, Chippenham:

Re Yer Tiz – Dear Sir just a few lines to congratulate you on your excellent publication ‘Yer Tiz’. The magazine was interesting and well put together. It was also a surprise to find the New Inn included, thanks very much. I must say that several of my customers have commented on the material published and enjoyed many of the features. Well Done! Lionel Hadland

We would like to be able to include items from our readers in this space, be that letters sharing your opinions or extolling the virtues of a pub or the people working it, pictures, your own tales of trips around the great pubs and breweries of the UK or further a field and even (printable) jokes, cartoons or a killer quiz question. We are obviously biased towards real ale (some of us more so than others if you look at the picture on page 9) but are open minded and it’s important for us to have feedback to keep track of what’s happening in our branch area. Our contact details are at the back of the magazine along with the deadline date for inclusion into the following edition. So go on, drop us a line. ……………………………………………………………… Ale Trail – Using public transport The branch has recently launched an ale trail of pubs that can be visited using public transport in our area. A number of days work went into the creation of maps, bus routes, details of 34 pubs, their opening hours, websites (where applicable) and of course details of the bus timetables to help you get there and back. These information along with maps for you to print out can be found on the branch website www.nwwiltscamra.org.uk, look for the Ale Trail tab. If you decide to try any of these routes please do give us feedback so we can improve the experience for those who use the routes in the future.

Advertise your club, pub, business in Yer Tiz 7000+ readership

15

Pubs that were – Part 1 Following on from Mike Ferris’s article on Chippenham pubs in our first issue, Ed Spearey recalls pubs from other areas of our branch. The Lacock to Corsham road has a complicated crossroads about half way along with the bridge over the railway line in the middle of the junction. On the Corsham side of the railway bridge beside the road to Easton is a handsome house which was once The Roebuck. It closed very suddenly about nineteen years ago having previously had a good food trade. It was a Grand Met pub selling Watneys but also Ushers PA from a stillage on the end of the bar.

In Corsham itself there is a listed building in Pickwick Road with an impressive portico which used to be the White Lion until it closed in the mid 1990s. It used to be fairly noisy and was also a one time “old” Ushers pub. Two pubs in Priory Street have closed in recent years – The Duke of Cumberland several years ago and the Three Brewers quite recently.

On the A420 between Ford and Marshfield is the hamlet called “The Shoe” which until a few years ago had a roadhouse style pub of the same name which was for many years a Courage house. Now in private hands it is hidden behind a large wooden fence. One Sunday evening nearly thirty years ago I was having a quiet drink there with some friends including Richard Ashman (who will be known to some readers). Richard fancied a bottle of Guinness (in those days bottle conditioned) but the pub had run out and so he had to have the next best thing. That turned out to be Imperial Russian Stout which Courage brewed in those days. I expect Richard can still taste it now! Nettleton used to have a pub which for some reason was called The Nettleton Arms. I am not sure that I could find it now but it had an old army surplus style hut to the side where local “beat groups” (that’s what they were called then) used to perform back in the 1960s. In the 1970’s it was taken over by ‘Steve’s Music’ and weekly discos where held. In fact our current branch chair Dave met his wife there. I think it was once a West Country Breweries pub and then fell into the hands of Whitbread. It closed once and was re-opened as a free house. For a while it seemed to prosper and sold a good range of ale including Moles and Archers but eventually I believe that there were not enough customers and it closed to become a private house. I think I am right in saying that Nettleton church is actually at the eastern end of the nearby village of Burton. As you enter that village from the east along the B4039 there is on the right hand side another private house that was once a public one – The Plume of Feathers. I remember it as a comfortable free house with a large model railway engine in a case in one of the bars. Probably Burton is too small a village to support two pubs. Sherston still has two pubs but until about twenty years ago there was a third – The Angel in the High Street. I think that had been a West Country Breweries/Whitbread house but was probably worth more as a private house. I seem to remember that in its later time as a pub there were Sunday lunchtime striptease sessions, which caused unrest in the village – not that I went to any of them you understand, indeed it is not a pub I ever went in at all. Ed Spearey

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Why it is important to keep track of our disappearing Public Houses

The Campaign for Real Ale, has called for urgent Government action to save Britain’s historic pub culture in light of new research showing how 16 pubs now close across the country on a weekly basis. We have expressed particular concern that Government policy is failing communities on the peripheries of Britain’s towns and cities, with half of these closures (8 a week) taking place in the nation’s suburbs.

In just two years, 1,078 pubs have been lost in suburban areas, with many community locals battered by whirlwind beer tax hikes and deep alcohol discounting from nearby supermarket chains, bringing about a general decline in pub going by consumers. Meanwhile, high street pubs are closing at a quarter of the rate – two per week – of suburban locals.

For more information visit www.camra.org.uk and discover how you can help prevent our public houses closing down.

In the next issue Ed tells us about pubs from Malmesbury, Brinkworth, Christian Malford, Hullavington, Upper Minety, Sutton Benger and Bradenstoke.

Four Real Ales

Palmer’s Best

Bath Gem

&

Two Guests

Alan, Heather & Team welcome you to

The Bell Inn

The Wharf

LACOCK SN15 2PJ

01249 730308

Eight Times North-West Wiltshire CAMRA

Pub of the Year

Find us in the 2012 Good Beer Guide

Traditional Cider

Good Food

Beer Garden

Children’s Play Area

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A Pleasant Night out in Bristol A short time back whilst enjoying a Saturday afternoon around some of Bristol’s fine establishments, we came across the recently reopened Gryphon on Colston street just down from the Christmas Steps. It was an immediately appealing pub, not least because the landlord shared a liking for dark beers (if you keep reading Yer Tiz you will find a definite trend around dark beers – ed.) and informed us that he will always have at least two on. This was backed up a week or two later by a beer festival with at least eight stouts, porters and milds all complemented by some very nice bitters and blondes. I was very pleased therefore to be heading over to Bristol again recently to another beer festival at this pub. Accompanying me were Big & Little (Dave & Paul) Maloney for the whole evening and we were joined later by Mike, Bob and Roger. We arrived at the Gryphon at about 5.15 and it was already in full swing, no doubt helped by it being a Friday night. There were thirteen beers on, three on the bar and ten on gravity up on the first floor. Unfortunately for us whilst over the course of the weekend the beer menu showed at least five darks would be available, they had started with mostly the lighter beers. That said the selection was eclectic and between the three of us we managed Abbeydale - Dark Matter @ 3.6%, Burton Bridge – Stairway to Heaven @ 5.0%, Hornbeam – Dark and Devine @ 4.0%, J W Lees – Dragons Fire @ 4.0%, N Yorks Brewing Co. – Priors Ale @ 3.6%, Peerless – Dark Arts @ 4.1%, Leeds Brewery – Eagle Owl @ 4.0% and last but definitely not least Jollyboat Brewery – Contraband @ 5.8% a delicious full flavoured mouthful of porter not to be taken lightly as it was very moreish. I should mention that all of these were taken as halves. Something that we are noticing more of these days is breweries using names for their beers that do not necessarily describe what the beer is or the alcoholic strength they are sold at. The list above is certainly proof of that with Dark and Devine and Dragons Fire being particularly prevalent. Can’t figure out if this is poetic license gone mad or I’m just not getting what the brewers are from their beer! As the other guys had joined us at this point we decided to move to the Bank Tavern on John Street where CAMRA members get a discount when showing membership cards. Here we all had Teignworthy Devon Shire Dark @ 4.1%. I’ve sampled a number of beers from this brewery recently and have thoroughly enjoyed them. If you see them anywhere have a taste you won’t regret it. From here it was onto the White Lion on Colston Avenue for a sample of Wickwar Penny Black @ 5.0%. Next it was into Fullers The Old Fish Market on Baldwin Street for a London Porter @ 5.4%. Time is getting on now so it was a quick visit to the Seven Stars on Thomas Lane. This is another CAMRA friendly pub which offers a discount to card carrying members. The beer range here is a night out on its own, the offer the night we were there included Sarah Hughes - Ruby Mild and Crouch Vale - Red Herring which we sampled, as well as Spring Steam, Caber Tosser, Hill Climb and Flipside brewery – Dark Demolition. The last call of the night was to the splendidly decorated Kings Head on Victoria Street where we had a Skinners - Betty Stoggs @ 4.0% night cap before the short walk back to Temple Meads for the last train. A great night was had by all and a quick tot up of the possible beers we could have had across the six pubs we visited came to 35 – 40 albeit with a beer festival at the start. If you are looking for somewhere to go for a day, afternoon or evening pub walk Bristol clearly has a lot to offer. The web address for the Gryphon is www.gryphonbristol.co.uk and the very reasonable return train fare as a Group Save for three from Chippenham to Bristol was £5.10 each. Kevin Bennett

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Beer Festival - Bell Inn, Lacock This year’s CAMRA North West Wiltshire branch pub of the year is the Bell at Lacock so it was fitting that a large number of CAMRA members attended the Bells first beer festival of the year. Space at the Bell prevents a full on festival in the winter but the small range of ales is well chosen and this year’s theme was South Wiltshire beers. Being a dark ale man I started off with a favourite - Hop Back’s Entire Stout (4.5% abv). This rich dark malty stout has a strong roasted malt flavour and a long smooth, sweet aftertaste. Very quaffable. Carrying on with what my friends say is a back to front approach to beer festivals I went for Stonehenge Old Smokey next. At 5% this warming dark stout has a hint of liquorice with a roasted malt taste and slightly bitter aftertaste. Both these dark ales were very flavoursome but I preferred the Entire Stout. Next up, as a palate cleanser, was the Hop Back GFB (Gilberts First Brew) at 3.5% This gold amber bitter is light but hoppy and has some hints of fruit. Good session ale. Bouncing back to Stonehenge the Great Bustard (named after the large Wiltshire bird that became extinct but is being reintroduced into the wild on Salisbury Plain) is a 4.8% malty bitter with a strong fruity flavour and bitter aftertaste, Very pleasant. I’m afraid the Hop Back Taiphoon didn’t do anything for me at all. A light gold ale it has lemongrass and coriander, which I couldn’t taste and for me it was lacking in flavour. This was good time for me to partake of the festival food… the delightful beef stew and crusty bread was extremely tasty and I washed it down with Stonehenge Spire Ale which is a very hoppy beer, both First Gold and Willamette hops in the brew. This golden ale is 3.8% and although I don’t always enjoy hoppy ales this one was very palatable and makes an excellent session beer. So a great start to the beer festival season and an enjoyable evening, good ales, good food and attentive, knowledgeable staff. For more details on the ale and food available at the Bell visit their website www.thebellatlacock.co.uk or call them on 01249 730308 Footnote: I decided to walk back to Lacock and collect my car the following afternoon. It was a wonderfully sunny February day and I walked from Pewsham to Lacock along the Wilts and Berks canal path. A lot of work has been carried out restoring this part of the canal and great stretches of it are in water. If you live anywhere in, or near, Chippenham it’s a great walk to do, even if you just walk some of the canal turn around and come back the same way. You’ll see different things in both directions. Join the cycle path at the side of Pewsham Way and it will lead you to the canal.

Dave Maloney

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Beer types- Milds Milds are black to dark brown to pale amber in colour and come in a variety of styles from warming roasty ales to light refreshing lunchtime thirst quenchers. Malty and possibly sweet tones dominate the flavour profile but there may be a light hop flavour or aroma. Slight diacetyl (toffee/butterscotch) flavours are not inappropriate. Alcohol levels are typically low. Pale milds tend to have a lighter, more fruity aroma with gentle hoppiness. Dark milds may have a light roast malt or caramel character in aroma and taste. Scottish cask beers may have mild characteristics with a dominance of sweetness, smooth body and light bitterness. There are landlords who are afraid to stock dark milds because they are afraid of not being able to sell a beer that is deemed unusual and sometimes ‘northern”! I know of local landlords who have bitten the bullet and have been surprised at how many people actually enjoy mild. They are even more surprised at how many female drinkers enjoy the dark milds. CAMRA celebrates Mild in May and encourages members to discuss with their local pubs the idea of putting on a mild during May. Milds brewed in our area include Braydon Ales – Mooned Up Mild Moles - Double MM Downton - Maroonmaker Mild Three Castles - Mad Spring Hop Back - Odyssey Wadworth - Pint Size Mild Three local pubs that have had milds in the past are The Bell at Lacock, Jolly Huntsman KSM, and the Three Crowns Chippenham. The Bell and the Three Crowns list ales on the bar on their website so why not keep an eye out for milds and give them a try?

Recycle this Yer Tiz

Pass it on or leave it behind when you have read it!

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Beer Festivals and other Pub Events CAMRA festivals in BOLD If your pub, club, community centre, association or village is holding a beer festival send us details of when and where and we’ll list it here. Inclusion in this column is free. March 15 – 17 BRISTOL Beer Fest http://www.camrabristol.org.uk/festival. March 23 – 25 Trowbridge Trades & Labour Club. Entry by donation Fri 7-11.30pm. Sat Noon -1130pm. Sun Noon – 4pm April 27 – 28 CHIPPENHAM Beer & Cider Festival. Olympiad Leisure Centre, Chippenham www.nwwiltscamra.org.uk May 4 & 5 BATH Beer Festival New venue. www.camra.org.uk and select beer festival tab for more info.

June 8 – 9 Avon Valley Real ale festival www.avonvalleyrailway.org/events June 1 - 5 Three Crowns, Chippenham Beer Fest coincides with Chippenham Folk Festival. www.threecrownschippenham.co.uk June 4 – 5 Bell at Lacock Ale and burger festival. www.thebellatlacock.co.uk June 22 – 23 Star Inn, Pucklechurch. www.beer-festival.org

May is Mild Month CAMRA promotes Mild throughout May. This year CAMRA are asking branches to encourage at least one pub in their area to stock at least one Mild during May for the local pub-goers to try. So can you help us out?

If you are a publican why not consider putting a Mild on during May?

If you a member of the public - Why not ask your local licensees to see if they would be willing to try some Milds during May?

If you are a licensee - A number of our local breweries sell ale in 4.5

gallon pins. Why not chat to them about their Milds?

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CAMRA Matters There has been a lot of debate about the price of alcohol over the past few months with the price of supermarket alcohol being at the forefront. There is little doubt that valuable pubs are being driven out of business by supermarkets selling alcohol at below cost, often less than 50 pence a pint. Community pubs provide a safe and sociable environment for the consumption of alcohol and should be protected from unfair competition. A Government plan to limit the sale of cut price alcohol means that supermarkets will still be able to sell beer for a little as 50p per pint and a Guardian newspaper investigation revealed this would only affect 1 in 4000 supermarket cut price alcohol promotions CAMRA supports a genuine ban on the sale of alcohol at below cost. This would take into account the cost of brewing and retailing beer. This would result in supermarkets being unable to sell beer below an average cost price of around 80p a pint. CAMRA does not support proposals for a minimum price unrelated to the costs of producing and selling beer.

Beer Tax Beer duty has risen 35% in the last three years Successive above inflation increases in beer duty and the VAT rise to 20% has hit pub goers hard On average, you now pay over £1 in beer duty and VAT for every single pint you buy in the pub. The UK now has the second highest duty on beer in the European Union. Unless we can change Government plans UK beer duty will soon be the highest in Europe. CAMRA is encouraging us all to contact our Local MPs and ask them to call time on the unfair beer escalator. Increases in tax on beer and the VAT rise are fuelling a shift in beer consumption away from pubs. Almost half of all beer is now sold in off licences and supermarket chains as beer drinkers

seek to avoid tax rises. In just six years there has been a 30% collapse in the volume of beer sold in pubs as more than 7,000 pubs have closed

Beer supports over 400,000 jobs; generates over £7 billion in taxes and is vital to the survival of pubs. Despite this unfair beer duty hikes are forcing the beer sector to shrink. Community Pubs Month.

In April, CAMRA is to launch a new national pubs campaign, Community Pubs Month, to champion local pubs which are at the heart of countless communities across Britain.

The aims of Community Pubs Month are to increase footfall in pubs, to encourage more publicans to promote new or existing events to attract further trade, and to spread awareness of community pubs throughout the media.

Kicking off proceedings on Monday April 2nd with Community Pubs Day – the day after CAMRA’s Members’ Weekend & AGM in Torquay – CAMRA branches across Britain will be organising a wide range of events to promote their local pubs during April. All Good Beer Guide pubs have been set Community Pub Month packs so why not ask what they are doing during that month.

National Pub of the Year

First ever Welsh pub wins National Pub of the Year. The Bridge End Inn, Ruabon, Wrexham LL14 6DA. It was only reopened by its current owners in March 2009 who had been told early on that there was no call for real ale in the area.

The National Pub of The Year competition recognises all the criteria that makes a great pub including atmospheres, décor, welcome, service, value for money, customer mix but most importantly the quality of the beer. Well Done Peter McGivern and his family.

NW Wilts Branch Contacts

Chairman: Dave Maloney chairman@nwwiltscamra.org.uk

Vice Chairman: Gareth MacDonald vicechair@nwwiltscamra.org.uk Secretary: June Maloney secretary@nwwiltscamra.org.uk. Treasurer: Sam Henly treasurer@nwwiltscamra.org.uk Membership Secretary: Nick Harding Nick&sara@sky.com Pubs Officer & Yer Tiz Coordinator : Kevin Bennett pubsofficer@nwwiltscamra.org.uk Publicity Officer: Gareth MacDonald publicity@ nwwiltscamra.org.uk Current National Membership 135,883 Current local membership 491.

Keep in touch with North West Wilts CAMRA

Website: www.nwwiltscamra.org.uk Meetings & Events Tuesday 13th March: Branch Meeting Wellesley Arms, Sutton Benger Tuesday 10th April: Branch Meeting & Brewery tour. For tour meet at 7pm for meeting 8pm. Box Steam, The Midlands, Holt BA14 6RU See website for details or call 07809 374 754 27th & 28th April: 21st Chippenham Beer Festival, Olympiad Chippenham. Available from Olympiad reception or by pots, See website for ticket details Tuesday 8th May: Branch Meeting See website for details or call 07809 374 754

Published quarterly by the North West Wilts Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Next Issue Summer 2012 Deadline date 1st June 2012 Advertising rates (inc VAT at 20%) Quarter page £ 30.00 Half Page £55.00 Full Page £100.00 Discounts available for regular advertisers

Thanks to our contributors: Kevin Bennett , Dave Maloney, Ed Spearey Paul Taylor, Shaun Wilkins Standard Disclaimer: Articles represent the views of the contributors and are not necessarily those of CAMRA Ltd. Other media are free to reproduce articles providing they acknowledge the source. Campaign for Real Ale Ltd 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL11 4LW 01272 867201 www.camra.org.uk

CHIPPENHAM

21st BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL 27th & 28th April 2012

Olympiad, Chippenham

Friday: 6-11pm (£6.00) Saturday: 11am – 3.30pm (£4.00) & 7pm – 11pm (£5.00)

Admission to evening sessions by advance ticket only

Only 5 minutes from railway & bus stations £2 of free beer tokens to CAMRA members

Live music at Saturday sessions Food available at all sessions

Tickets from the Olympiad reception,

or CAMRA NW Wilts, PO Box 2882,

Chippenham SN14 6WT Cheques payable to CAMRA North West Wiltshire –

Please enclose SAE.

Organised by the North West Wiltshire Branch of CAMRA www.nwwiltscamra.org.uk