Save the Environment… Drink LocAle - Nottingham CAMRA

andrewludlow@nottinghamcamra.org
more real ale in a bottle (RAIB - 64)
with Andrew Ludlow
“Whilst I was tempted to try Palmer’s Poison...”
Blythe Brewery was started in 2003 by Robert Greenaway in a
converted barn on a farm next to the river Blythe in Hamstall Ridgeway,
Staffordshire. The brewery uses a 2.5 barrel plant producing a range of
beers which are named after local people, places or events. Not only do
they produce a range of cask beers, they also
produce them as real ales in a bottle (RAIB).
Whilst I was tempted to try Palmer’s Poison,
a 4.5% ale named after Dr William Palmer
the Rugely mass murderer, I thought that
perhaps it might be better to start with Blythe
Bitter, described as a 4.0% golden ale.
As with all bottle conditioned ales, care
needs to be taken in the pouring to leave
the sediment in the bottle. Having achieved this, the result was a pale gold beer with a
reddish tint. A delicate hoppy aroma is immediately apparent, and is what you would be
looking for from a traditional bitter ale. Carbonation was relatively modest although you
may wish to let the beer stand, for about two minutes, to reduce this further.
The taste was light and hoppy with pleasant fruitiness making it a refreshing beer. The
aftertaste is slightly subdued but, again, hops are to the fore with a delicate maltiness in
the background, providing a good balance to the beer.
The beers can be bought direct at a number of farmers markets, including Litchfield
(1st Thursday of the month), Stone (1st Saturday of the month) and Stafford (2nd Saturday of the month)
For more information, check out their web site www.blythebrewery.co.uk.
When out shopping look for ‘real ale in a bottle’ and remember that specialist shops (like the Fox & Crown offlicense
in Basford) have a fine selection, not just of Alcazar beers, brewed on site but a good range of British and
Continental beers.
TRIPS AND SOCIALS
I will kick off, as usual, with the mini bus survey trips. In
June, we will be doing Hoveringham & Caythorpe. July
will find us visiting the Watnall area and in August we will
be looking at West and East Leake.
As always, your CAMRA membership card is required to
obtain your discount.
On the social front, we will be making our Pub of the
Year presentation to the Lincolnshire Poacher on the
20th June so we would like as many people as possible
to turn up. At the branch meeting in July, Steve Westby
will be presenting a tutored tasting of various American
bottled beers. So if your only idea of beer from that part
of the world is Bud and Coors, then come along and
be prepared to be surprised. Also, the landlord of the
Bunkers Hill has promised us some ‘hospitality’ so thanks
to him for that.
See the diary dates column for times and dates of all the
trips, socials etc.
As usual, don’t forget, that EVERYONE is welcome to
any CAMRA meeting or outing, you do NOT have to be
a member. I might present you with a membership form,
but you can ignore it if you want, (most people usually
do!) And, as always, I can be contacted electronically at:-
raykirby@nottinghamcamra.org
Leading you
to good ale
Ye Olde
Salutation
Inn
and a warm
welcome
www.nottinghamcamra.org June / July 2007
Hounds Gate
0115 988 1948