Swiggin in Wiggin : September 2012 - Wigan

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My previous report in Swiggin in Wiggin started off with the town centre pubs so this time I shall start with out-of-town pubs and work towards the town centre. The Mulberry Tree in Wrightington has changed hands and is now called Corner House. Previously they only sold one cask ale but their new website states “expansion of the range of real ales on offer”. Moving towards town a little, in a reversal to the information in my last pubs report, the Rose & Crown in Orrell is now selling real ale again, with up to three bitters and a mild available. Still in the area, a short update about the Unicorn in Billinge as it is no longer selling real ale but is keeping the hand pump and may reintroduce it in future. Not too far away in Pemberton saw the reopening of a pub as the White Lion opened its doors, no beer survey yet but a board outside advertising drinks has no mention of real ale. We have quite a few clubs in the Wigan CAMRA area so it was good to see that St Aidans Parish Social Club in Winstanley is now selling a cask ale. Still well outside town, Sam’s Bar in Ashton-In- Makerfield (formerly the Angel) has started to sell cask ale, “Sam’s Ale”, brewed specially by Tetley’s for Sam’s. Reports are that it is selling very well. A short walk away Fifteens of Ashton has now reverted to its previous name of the Cross Keys and is for sale. No real ale was available since the change but that may change once ownership settles down. Over in Platt Bridge there has been a distinct lack of cask ale for some time, this has now changed with the news that Owd Kess’s is now selling cask ale and proudly advertised the fact with a large banner outside the pub. An addition to our real ale outlets is Kirkless Hall Inn (Aspull) as it has started to sell cask ale. Two hand pumps sit on the bar with both selling Jennings Bitter on the survey day. Another new cask outlet this time in Hindley is Local Pub News 4 the Spinners Arms, Castle Hill Road, following it’s reopening but has had a name change and is now called Castle On T’Hill. New cask outlets are often balanced with the news of pubs ceasing to sell our favourite tipple and news is that the Wiend Bar (Wigan centre) and Rock Ferry (Lower Ince) are no longer selling real ale. Worse still than no beer is news of pub closures and the past months have seen more pubs fall by the wayside - the Griffin Hotel (see photo below) on Standishgate is closed and boarded up ; the Hesketh Arms at Shevington Moor is now a house ; the Wakes Hotel in Hindley was demolished ; the Park Hotel in Ince was also demolished at the end of July. A possible further loss is the Belle Green Hotel, Ince as a planning application to convert the closed pub into a shop and flats has been submitted. A bit of activity for another long shut pub happened at the Golden Ball (Landgate) as it was sold by auction in July. The cask ale additions and pub closures have seen the number of pubs selling cask ale stay almost static at 139 outlets. Let’s hope this figure does not reduce so keep on drinking cask ale and keep our pubs open. Mark Davies, Wigan CAMRA Pubs Officer
ALL GATES BREWERY The monthly special brews for June were : Nelson Sauvin Pale (4.1%), a single hopped Kiwi pale ale “with strong antipodean hop flavours” ; Golden Aeld (4.2%), “Light golden in colour with elderflower flavours predominating”. July monthly specials were : Pacific Jade (4.0%), a pale ale with strong herbal hop flavours ; Apollo (4.3%), a single hopped pale ale using American hops to give a pale amber beer, and return of a seasonal special Brigantia (4.0%). In August the re-appearance, as a one-off, is True Blonde cask lager (4.6%), the flavours from natural cocoa nibs and mandarin peel to give a hint of orange. A new brew, Hopgate (IPA) (4.9%) using Kiwi hops was represented at the Great British Beer Festival in the form of 3 x 18 gallons. This beer has malty sweetness and sold well, selling out early on Saturday afternoon. Favourable comments found on several blog sites describing it as “Golden colour, small white head. Aroma is fruity, floral, sweet malts with some mild bready notes. Flavour is fruity, nectary, caramelly and nice. Balanced and nice.” The brewery are busy at present with the September specials - single hop Southern Cross and Tutti Cancelli Pils (Allgates Pils) a classic German Pils. Further staffing changes have resulted in Jonathan Provost being appointed new head brewer. There has been no progress with identification of alternative premises and nothing likely for the foreseeable future. The brewery are brewing 6 or 7 days a week. No Amarillo hops are available until the harvest in late October after which there should be a supply for the next 12 months. In the meantime, California will be replaced by Pretoria. Allgates have now opened their eighth pub by agreeing leasehold for The Union Arms, Castle Street, Tyldesley on a “reverse tie” deal with Thwaites Brewery. The pub will have 1 Thwaites beer and 6 handpumps for Allgates beers plus guests. At the time of writing, Sharon and David should have started serving food. Local Brewery News 5 The company’s other pubs are doing really well. Their Diamond Jubilee initiative was successful with 60 beers that went well and hopefully a repeat next year. Crooke Hall is doing excellent food with Greg and Jenny moving over from Hindley pushing the real ale scene. A beer, boat and music festival has been planned for 21st to 23rd September with over 35 beers, 12 bands and canal boats with a large marquee and beer tent in car park. PROSPECT BREWERY The brewery remains busy and an additional fermentor has now been installed, increasing brewing capacity by another 14%. They have recently completed entry forms for Great Northern beer competition (SIBA) being held in Manchester in October and will be entering 7 or 8 beers in various categories. The Brewery Bar still opens as usual Thursday and Friday afternoons from 4:00 p.m.and continues to be busy. However, the current premises are affected by the potential building of 500 houses on the site after the current lease finishes in December 2014 leaving Patsy and John searching for new premises if the plans are passed, as seems likely. The Silver Tally pub is going very well and is now open daily 12 noon to 11pm. They have been approached to take on a second pub in the Wigan area and Patsy and John are currently considering this option. MAYFLOWER BREWERY Continue to brew using their 2.5-barrel brewery plant at Sandbrook Road, Orrell, but no further updates from husband and wife team Alan and Tracy Branagan. Mayflower continues to supply a number of outlets in the North West, including the close-by Delph Tavern. Also, Alan still continues brewing at Burscough Brewery. PROBLEM CHILD BREWERY Planning permission has now been granted for a new brewery at The Wayfarer in Parbold. Further details in next edition of Swiggin.
Page 1 and 2: Swiggin in Wiggin Campaign for Real
Page 3: Welcome to our latest edition of ou
Page 8 and 9: The number of breweries in the UK h
Page 10 and 11: Standish Unity Club - Wigan CAMRA C
Page 13 and 14: The Berkeley - Wigan CAMRA Pub of t
Page 15 and 16: 4.0% ABV www.burscoughbrewery.co.uk
Page 17: Masons Arms win top Wigan CAMRA awa
Page 20 and 21: Cask Ale Week 2012 - “only in Bri
Page 22 and 23: Our last outstanding tasks from the
Page 24 and 25: The Pavilion, Ashworth Lane, Bank T
Page 26 and 27: The 40th edition of the UK’s best
Page 28 and 29: The SIBA Great Northern Beer Festiv
Page 30 and 31: Online with Wigan CAMRA Branch Cont

Swiggin in Wiggin : September 2012 - Wigan

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