No. 141 May-July 2007 FREE - Norwich and Norfolk CAMRA

No. 141 May-July 2007 FREESee Page 2 for detailsIn this issue: • 2 ‘Take it to the Top’ Campaign • 4 Steady Pints• 7 Champion Winter Beer of Britain • 8 Round The Houses• 10 Charity Cycle Ride • 14 Try a pint of Mild this May • 17 GreenJack launch new beer • 19 Smoking ban could be good news• 23 Wistful thinking. . . • 24 Letters • 26 On the trail of Real Ale inCalifornia • 28 Smoking out the great beers • 32 30th Great BritishBeer Festival • 36 Music and Real Ale • 38 Branch DiaryEmail: Newsletter norfolknips@yahoo.co.uk of the Norwich & Norfolk Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale 1

‘Take it to the top’ campaignA new survey by theCampaign for Real Ale(CAMRA) has revealedthat one in four pints inthe UK are served lessthan 95% full and thisis costing beer drinkersa staggering £481million every year!CAMRA has launched anationwide petition callingfor the Government to endshort measures as theypromised a decade ago.National mediaFor the first time in its 35year history, CAMRA hastaken out advertisementsin national media in orderto let consumers know howto make a stand against thisunfair practice.The CAMRA survey oflocal authorities’ tradingstandards departments hasrevealed:● A shocking 26.6% of allpints served are over 5%short measure● The worst examplefound was 13% short of afull pint● 76% of pubs goers wantthe Government to stickto its promise to ensuredrinkers get a full pintBeer drinkers lose £1.3million every day by payingfor a full pint but receivingless than 100% liquid in theglass.Election promiseLabour had made anelection promise tolegislate against shortmeasures in 1997. Thiswww.takeittothetop.co.ukpromise has not beenfulfilled and has cost theconsumer £4.5 billion overthe last decade.CAMRA Chief ExecutiveMike Benner said: “It is adisgrace that up to aquarter of all pints served inthe UK are less than 95%liquid when the consumeris paying for a full pintevery time. Labour hadpromised to introducelegislation to end thisunfair practice 10 years agoand the continuing cost tobeer drinkers from theGovernment’s inaction hasnow run into billions ofpounds.”PetitionCAMRA has set up apetition for consumerscalling for the governmentto introduce legislation thata pint will not be less than100% liquid. As well asbeing online atwww.takeittothetop.co.uk,copies of the petition willbe at CAMRA beer festivalsacross the UK.Petition postcards will besent out to CAMRA’s 85,000strong membershipnationwide to sign.Short changedMike Benner added: “Thisis not just a problem thataffects real ale drinkers.Lager drinkers and ciderdrinkers are being shortchanged too.“It is time theGovernment met itspromise and made surepub goers get the full pintthat they pay for everytime.“I would urge all beerdrinkers that are fed upwith being ripped off at thebar to sign CAMRA’s ‘Take itto the top’ petition andhelp us make a difference.”2 Web: www.norwichcamra.org.uk

Email: norfolknips@yahoo.co.uk 3

Steady PintsPub News● The Royal Oak, atPoringland, has beenselected as the Norwich &Norfolk CAMRA “BranchPub of the Year” for 2007.Owners Nick and DeliaPerry’s award comes afterseven years of hard work toreach this high point. Thepub now goes up againstWest Norfolk Branch’sselection, the King’s Head,Great Bircham, for the titleof “Norfolk Pub of theYear,” with the result beingmade known sometime inMay.● The Rosebery, RoseberyRoad, Norwich, reopened atthe end of March afterthree months closure, withnew landlords AlanDunthorn and Julie Points.● The Brickmakers,Sprowston Road, Norwich,was named “Music Pub ofthe Year” at The PublicanAwards in March.● Refurbishment of theRed Lion, in St. George’sStreet, Norwich, finallyappears to be going ahead.An extensive internal makeoverwill also see a namechange to The Dog House,with an autumn reopeningpossible.Local BeerFestivals● 3rd Wymondham BeerFestival — At the Ex-Servicemen’s Club. OpenFri. May 4th 6-11 p.m.; Sat.5th 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun.6th noon-6 p.m.; Mon. 7th11 a.m.-5 p.m.● Yarmouth Beer Festival— At the Priory Centre, Fri.May 25th to Mon. 28th.Details from Bill Russell atBlackfriars Brewery on01493 850 578.● Wreningham BeerFestival — At WreninghamVillage Hall and part of the“Witch and Wren” villageevent. Open Fri. June 29th8-11 p.m.; Sat. 30th, Ceilidhand Hog Roast (£5 entry);Sun. July 1st noon onwards.Next NipsAug.-Oct. 2007Advertisement deadline:Friday, July 6thNews and articles deadline:Friday, July 6thPublication date:Friday, July 27thCAMRABeerFestivalDiaryMon. May 21st-Sat.26th — 34th CambridgeBeer Festival, at JesusGreen, Cambridge. OpenMon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.,5-10.30 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.-10.30 p.m. Website: www.cambridgebeerfestival.com.Caister LifeboatThu. June 28th-Sat. July● This year’s Open Day is 1st — 11th Festival ofon Sunday Aug. 5th. Food Beer and Brewing, atand beer will be available, Museum of East Anglia Life,plus the “Big Boat” will Stowmarket. Open Thu. 5–launch.11 p.m.; Fri. noon–1 p.m.;Inn Sign SocietySat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sun.noon–3 p.m. Website:● Their national AGM iswww.ipswichcamra.com.being held at the TraffordArms, Norwich, on Sat.Tue. Aug. 7th-Sat. 11thJune 23rd from 11.30 a.m.— Great British BeerCAMRA members welcomeFestival, at Earls Court,to join in plus new societyLondon. Open Tue. 5-10.30members welcome.p.m.; Wed.-Fri. noon-10.30p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.Website: www.gbbf.org.uk.Mon. Oct. 22nd-Sat.27th — 30th NorwichBeer Festival, at St.Andrew’s & Blackfriars’Halls, Norwich. Moreinformation in the nextissue or see the website:www.norwichcamra.org.uk.4 Web: www.norwichcamra.org.uk


6 Web: www.norwichcamra.org.uk

Champion Winter Beer of BritainGreen Jack Brewery’s Ripper wasnamed as the supreme ChampionWinter Beer of Britain 2007 by apanel of judges at CAMRA’s NationalWinter Ales Festival in Manchester,in January.The 8.5% ABV barley wine was describedas “a light coloured beer brewed as ahomage to Belgian Trappist ales, with sweetnotes and a strong hoppy flavour.”The Green Jack Brewery is at the rear ofthe Triangle Tavern, in Lowestoft, Suffolk.At the announcement, Steve Prescott,organiser of the National Winter AlesFestival, congratulated Green Jack on itsvictory.He said: “It’s great to see a barley winewin the competition yet again. I sincerelyhope people will be inspired to try thisfantastic beer style on the back of GreenJack’s victory.”On hearing the news, Green Jack HeadBrewer Tim Dunford said: “This is absolutelyincredible. All my life it has been myambition to win a national award for mybeers and I can’t believe it has happened.”The Silver award went to Fuller’s LondonPorter and the Bronze to OrkneySkullsplitter.Another Suffolk brewery, St. Peters, fromSouth Elmham, gained the bronze award inthe Stouts & Porters category for their OldStyle Porter.A panel of CAMRA experts and beerwriters at the National Winter Ales Festivaljudged the competition.Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2007competition winners:Gold – Green Jack Ripper (Lowestoft);silver – Fuller’s London Porter (Chiswick,London); bronze – Orkney Skullsplitter(Stromness, Orkney)Category winners:Old Ales & Strong Mild: Gold – B&TBlack Dragon Mild (Bedfordshire); silver –Orkney Dark Island (Orkney); bronze –Green JackBrewery’s TimDunford (right)and brewerDaron Fowletoast theirvictory in theChampionWinter Beer ofBritaincompetition.Rudgate Ruby Mild (North Yorkshire).Stouts & Porters: Gold – Fuller’s LondonPorter (London); silver – Cairngorm BlackGold (Aviemore, Highland); bronze – StPeter’s Old Style Porter (Suffolk).Barley Wines: Gold – Orkney Skullsplitter(Orkney); silver – Green Jack Ripper(Lowestoft); bronze – Durham Benedictus(Co. Durham).Email: norfolknips@yahoo.co.uk 7

Round The HousesOur “First Friday Fives” have been going strongfor several years now, visiting five pubs in theSome of our groupdecided to miss out theNorwich area on the first Friday of each month. next port of call becauseWe nearly always manage to come acrossthey believed that it did notsomething new, so the effort is worthwhile.sell real ale, but The Stores,on Dereham Road, usuallyThe March meander took (with the sound turned has something availableus to the area just west of down so it didn’t clash with through its single handcity centre, starting at the the loud music!).pump. This time it wasBelle Vue, on the corner of With quite a large group Batemans XB, which wasSt. Phillips Road andnow gathered, we moved very drinkable.Stafford Street.on down Stafford Street, The dance music and bigAn enlarged corner pub, past the chippie, to the screens may not be toit’s one of those places Alexandra Tavern.everyone’s taste but it iswhich always seems to be As landlord “Tiny” Little is good to see a “youngbusy and this night was no involved with the Chalk Hill person’s” venue making anexception, with a good mix Brewery it was noteffort to sell some decentof old and young people surprising to see their CHB beer.enjoying a drink.available (£2.20) plusWe finished at theThe real ales on offer several guest beers in the Reindeer, further downwere Woodforde’s Wherry shape of Oakham JHB Dereham Road, where it(at £2.30 a pint), Courage (£2.10), Adnams Bitter was the first night of theirBest, Greene King IPA and (£2.20) and Gales (brewed week-long beer festival.Old Speckled Hen.by Fullers) Swing LowThere’s no point in tryingDespite the crowd, we (£2.20).to list all the beers thatwere able to find seats at We managed towere available that night,tables beneath the big considerably swell the but suffice to say that thescreen TV showing football number of drinkers in the Hopback Entire Stout waspub but some of us found a excellent!few seats available whileAdrian Hennessyenjoying our beer. If wehad arrived nearer closingtime we probably wouldhave found it very difficultto find space in this popularcorner local.February MysteryOur third pub was the Coach TripBlack Horse, on Earlham Our February Mystery Trip,Road. The range of three or the first of the year, took usfour real ales included in an easterly directionAnsells Mild, which many of along the A47 and then onus sampled.the A1064 through TheAll the real ales seemed Broads to our first stop atto be at the same price the village of Ormesby St.(£2.60, I believe), which Margaret.makes for rather expensive We were a very largemild and perhaps rather group, over 40 of us, thecheap stronger beers.Continued on next page8 Web: www.norwichcamra.org.uk

Cont. from previous pagelargest party we have hadchoice of pubs were onoffer.taking in a mixture of ruraland urban pubs.for many years, and so we The main group got off in ● This was the last socialstopped in the middle of the town centre while a few organised by Ray Parker,the village halfwayof us carried on close to the who has been our Socialbetween two pubs so that sea front where we visited Secretary for the few yearswe would not all have to the Ship. This pub, on a is now standing down fromcrowd one.Friday night, was packed the Committee. May I takeThe first bunch of us set full of locals.this opportunity on behalfoff down a small lane and It took a while to get of the Branch to thank himafter a number of turns we served but when wefor all the many interestingeventually ended up at the managed to get to the bar socials and meetings thatJolly Farmers. This large Fullers London Pride and he has organised during hisopen planned pub was Greene King IPA were time in office.moderately full ofavailable.Warren Wordsworthcustomers many of whom We then carried on southwe tucking into a hearty towards Yarmouth, drove March Mysteryevening meal as we arrived. over Breydon Bridge and Coach TripEven though we had split along the bypass toOur March mystery trip, theinto two groups our arrival Gorleston where we made first organised by our newsomehow appeared to a stop on the south side of Social Secretary, Timoverwhelm the pub. As I town at the Albion.MacDonald, took us on aheard one local say: ”I saw This pub, like the Ship we rural ramble around thethem start to come in and had just left, was equallynarrow lanes of thethey just kept coming and busy on this Friday night Wensum Valley.coming”.and it was difficult to get in We set off alongWe were treated to a the door.Dereham Road turning offchoice of three real ales:at Costessey and droveOnce we finally made itFullers London Pride,along a road that followedinside the beers on offerGreene King Old Speckledthe banks of the Riverincluded Black Sheep Bitter,Hen and Woodforde’sWensum.Charles Wells Bombardier,Wherry.Greene King IPA, ExmoorOur first stop was at theAfter our first drink at the Hound Dog and CaledonianSwan Inn, situated besideJolly Farmers we still had XPA.the Wensum in the villagetime to visit the otherof Ringland. This was aNext was a short ride tovillage pub, the Kingsstrange mix of typical ruralthe New Entertainer, ourHead, which was a shortold England and a modernlast port of call of thewalk down the road. Thisaddition, an Australian styleevening. In this longpub was less busy and therestaurant “The Taste of Oz”one-bar pub, which iscustomers were drinkingattached.surrounded by streets onrather than dining.The main pub has onethree sides, we werelarge open-planned barReal ales available here treated to a wide range ofwith a large TV screen forwere Adnams Bitter and beers that included Greenelive sports.Broadside.King IPA and ArchersHere we were treated to aAfter leaving Ormesby Crystal Clear.choice of four beers, theirwe continued on to Caisteron-Sea,So the night turned outwhere again a to be an interesting tripContinued on next pageEmail: norfolknips@yahoo.co.uk 9

Round The Houses continuedCont. from previous page has been smartlyan impressive range of realregular Adnams Bitter and redecorated and there is ales.Woodforde’s Wherry plus also a separate dining area. Cask beers includedtwo guests Castle RockA large range of real ales Greene King Abbot,Snow Mist and to celebrate were available here that Adnams Bitter, Badgerthe forthcoming Stincluded Thwaites Double Tanglefoot, Brakspear’sGeorge’s Day, HookCentury, Wolf Golden Bitter and O’HanlonsNorton’s 303.Jackal, Mighty Oak Oscar Yellowhammer.After leaving the Swan Wilde Mild, Green JackWe returned back towe continued our drive Hopleaf and Hopback Norwich the quick wayfurther along the Wensum Summer Lightning.along the main A1067valley until we reachedA short ride across the Fakenham-Norwich roadLyng, where we visited the village took us to our next which allowed time for aFox & Hounds.stop Darby’s. The building quick stop at the Bridge, atThis old and verywas originally a row of Lenwade. Unfortunatelyatmospheric inn hascottages and date from the the beer quality here wasrecently reopened after 18th century. It wasdisappointing.refurbishment. The interior converted into a pub inThis was a fascinating tripis a rambling long building 1988.seeking out some of thewith a number of different The interior consists of seldom visited rural gemseating and drinking areas. It one long bar with a dining of central Norfolk.has low ceilings and retains area at one end. Like theWarren Wordsworthmany of the original beams. Angel we were treated toCask beers on offer herewere Greene King Abbotand IPA, plus Woodforde’sWherry and Black Sheep Charity cycle rideBitter.A sponsored cycle ride is being organised for Sunday,Next we continued to May 27th, with proceeds going to this year’s designatedwind our way along some Branch Charity, Nelson’s Journey, which helps Norfolkeven narrower laneschildren who have experienced the death of a closemeandering further up the relative or other significant person.Wensum Valley until weThe basic itinerary is as follows: 10 a.m. Meet ateventually arrived inCromer Road lay-by (Old Cromer Road), opposite theSwanton Morley andAirport Park and Ride, ride to Heydon Earl Arms (approx.stopped at the Angel.40 mile round trip), return to a pub in Norwich (where itThis is another oldis hoped that some food can be provided).Norfolk rural inn, with parts There will be a £3 entrance fee, which includesof the original building insurance.dating back to the earlyCycles should be in good working order and a spare17th century.inner tube should be carried, along with cycle tools andThe current owners who a puncture repair outfit.are keen CAMRA members Anyone intending to join in is advised to bring somehave been here for about food and bottles of water, plus some wet weatherthree years and a lot of clothing.refurbishment has takenFor more information please ‘phone Davey “The Train”place during this time.on 07815 172843.Inside, the spacious bar10 Web: www.norwichcamra.org.uk




Try a pint of Mild this MayMay has once again been designated Mild Monthby the Campaign for Real Ale. This annual event isa celebration of Mild, a beer style applauded bythose in the know but increasingly difficult to findat the bar.CAMRA’s 197 branchesnationwide will be takingpart in Mild Month andrunning events to promoteMild in May.This may include a crawlaround pubs in the localarea that sell mild,promotion of mild at beerfestivals, or persuadinglocal pubs to stock mildand get drinkers to try apint.CAMRA press officerOwen Morris said: “Thenumber of breweriesrediscovering the delightsof mild is on the increase,but unfortunately it is stillnot widely available inpubs.“Consumers who loveand miss mild, or eventhose who are simplycurious to try it, should askfor it in their local pub.“By letting licensees andbreweries know that thereis a demand for thisflavoursome dark beer wewill see it make a comebackat the bar.”Packs includingpromotional material forMild Month are availablefrom CAMRA HQ. The packsinclude posters with spaceto have details of eventsfilled in, and Mild Monthleaflets.To order packs call 01727867201 or emailgillian.dale@camra.org.uk.The CAMRA website alsoincludes a sectiondedicated to mild atwww.camra.org.uk/mild.The website includes adescription of mild,seasonal and regularlyavailable milds, cookingwith milds, and will includedetails of Mild Monthevents coming up in yourarea.Try a local MildSeveral Norfolk breweriesproduce mild ales on aregular basis, includingthose listed here:Buffy’s Mild (4.2%)Tipples The Hanged Monk(3.8%)Waveney East Coast Mild(3.8%)Winters Mild (3.6%)Wolf Wolf in SheepsClothing (3.7%), WoildMild (4.8%)Woodforde’s Mardlers(3.5%)You may also find somemilds produced as seasonalbrews.And don’t forget mildsproduced by other localbreweries, such as BlackDog, from Elgood’s ofWisbech.Don’t just think about it —try some Mild today!14 Web: www.norwichcamra.org.uk



Green Jack launch new beerHoliday Weekend, plenty ofsunshine, a beer festival,great entertainment and anew beer to celebrate.That was how I and sevenother invited CAMRAmembers spent EasterSaturday at the Locks Inn,Geldeston.Tim Dunford, owner ofGreen Jack Brewery, invitedus to taste his new beerMahseer IPA. Knowing thatI am not a great fan of reallyhoppy beers he didn’t thinkI would enjoy it but he waswrong.This golden ale had amalty, hop aroma and,although the taste washoppy, there was asweetness that mellowedthe flavours. It was agreedby all of us that it had afruity citrus taste but wecouldn’t decide whether itwas grapefruit or Sevilleorange marmalade and at5.5% ABV this is a beer thatcould seriously creep up onyou. It had a long finish anda pleasant lingeringaftertaste.I am told that Mahseer isan Indian fighting fish, a bitlike a Carp on ‘ecstasy’, butI have to take ChrisDearmun’s word for that asI know nothing aboutfishing.To get us in the mood forIPA Colin, Teresa and Chrisat the Locks supplied uswith three superb curriesand these complementedthe beer very well.I am sure this will beanother very successfulbeer for Tim to add to hisportfolio which includesthe National ChampionWinter Beer ‘Ripper’.Wendy ParkerFor up-to-date information about branchevents visit the branch website atwww.norwichcamra.org.ukEmail: norfolknips@yahoo.co.uk 17


Smoking ban could be good newsThe results of a survey by the Campaign for RealAle (CAMRA) seem to indicate that many pubscould benefit from the ban on smoking in publicplaces, despite predictions of doom and gloomfrom industry pundits.The sample survey’s keyfindings indicated that:● 6.2 million people(17% of all adults inEngland and Wales ) whovisit pubs regularly arelikely to visit pubs moreoften. Of that group 97%were non-smokers.● 93% of real ale drinkerssaid they would be morelikely to visit pubs moreoften or that their visitinghabits would not bechanged by the ban.● 68% of regularsmokers say it will notchange their pub visitinghabits at all.● 69% of all adults said itwould not affect their visitsto pubs at all, only 3% saidthey would not visit pubs atall as a result of the ban.● Smokers are typicallylager drinkers (43% of lagerdrinkers said they smoke).CAMRA Chief ExecutiveMike Benner said: “Thissurvey shows that nonsmokerswill be attracted topubs after the ban comesinto force, and many ofthem would like to find areal ale waiting for themwhen they get there.“The smoking ban will bea difficult transition forlicensees, but it isencouraging that only 3%of people surveyed saidthey would not visit pubs atall as a result of the ban.“The key will be to ensurethat other factors such asquality of real ale, food,atmosphere and welcomeare all superb.“If this is the case thenthe traditional CommunityPub will have a bright andhealthy future.”Some local reaction:Rik Roberts, at the KingArms, Norwich, feels thattrade could be 15-20%down but the true effectwill not be known until theautumn. His pub is lucky tohave a garden area, wherea smoking shelter will bebuilt.Tim Powell, of the RosaryTavern, feels that there willbe an initial drop in tradebut it will pick up again.There are plans for decking,seats and shelter at thefront of the pub to cater forsmokers.From July 1st virtually all enclosed public placesand workplaces in England will become smokefree by law.Local councils will be responsible for enforcement ofthe new law in Norfolk and anyone who is caughtsmoking in a smoke-free place could be given an onthe-spotfine of £50 or be prosecuted.Similarly, people in control of premises open to thepublic or used as workplaces, face penalties if they donot post prescribed signs or fail to prevent peoplesmoking in smoke-free parts of their buildings.On-the-spot fines of £200 and fines of up to £2,500can be imposed on conviction.So, how will the law affect us?After 6 a.m. on Sunday July 1st it will no longer belawful to smoke in enclosed public buildings such aspubs and clubs, restaurants, bars and cafes,membership clubs, cinemas and theatres.Smoking will also be banned in workplaces as well ason public transport or transport used for work by morethan one person, such as taxis and delivery vehicles.This will mean that if you are a smoker you will have tothink about when and where you can light up and fromJuly 1st this will have to be outside buildings.The only exceptions relate to private dwellings,designated hotel/guest house/private members clubbedrooms, designated rooms in care homes, hospicesand prisons.Email: norfolknips@yahoo.co.uk 19




Wistful thinking . . .Unlikely to happen, but wouldn’t it be hearteningif Norwich City Council were to follow the exampleof King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Counciland use Compulsory Purchase Orders to protectsome of the city’s pubs?The Rose & Crown, atGreat Massingham, wascompulsorily purchased bythe local council after theyrefused a change of use onthe last of half a dozenpubs in this large village.The council sold it on to aconsortium of local peopleand the pub has nowreopened, albeit with anunfortunate change ofname to the “DabblingDuck.”Duty of careCouncils should exercisetheir power of compulsorypurchase in circumstanceswhere it is felt that thepresent owners are failingin their duty of care to acommunity asset.In the 1980s the WhiteLion, in Oak Street,Norwich, was the premierfreehouse in the city — andthis in a period when therewere also other very goodfreehouses not far away,including the Ten Bells andthe Reindeer.It continued to be apopular pub with a goodchoice of cask beers afterownership passed to theTap & Spile chain in 1988.String of changesSubsequently, however,under Enterprise Inns, theWhite Lion suffered a stringof changes behind the barand dubious clientele,leading eventually to itsclosure in February 2005.Sadly dilapidatedIt now stands steelshutteredand sadlydilapidated, with an askingprice of about half what itmight had made in itsheyday.Almost a century haspassed since this onceheavily industrialisedstretch, running fromWestwick Street up toDrayton Road, supported38 pubs. One of the last,the Dun Cow, at the topend of Oak Street, closed in1971.The Anchor Quay — theBullards Brewery “Tap” —was reopened in October1986, pitched somewhatmore “up-market” than ithad been in its former yearsas a pub. It closed again in1999, leaving the WhiteLion as the sole survivor.Housing developmentRecently though, therehas been considerablehousing developmentnearby and the catchmentpopulation should besufficient to warrant athriving pub, given theright approach.We say we don’t wantpeople to drink and drive,don’t we?What will happen to theFerry Boat, in King Street,now that snobby incomershave put paid to the pub asone of the city’s mostinteresting music venuesand Greene King appear tohave lost interest?The Ferry Boat, at onetime called the SteamPacket, dates back to the1500s, probably earlier, andhad featured live musicsince time immemorial(longer than even Fag AshLil could remember).Luxury apartmentsYet more blocks ofpseudo “period” buildingsdivided into luxuryapartments: is that whatNorwich needs?Thinking back to the1960s — St. StephensStreet, the Inner Ring Road,Magdalen Street and AngliaSquare, the old CattleMarket and the Mall, theMarket Place, the CentralLibrary and the Forum,Riverside and King Street,the Nestlé site, the hospitaland the Chapelfieldcomplex — what hasmattered most to NorwichCity Council, preservingwhat remained of the city’smedieval heritage after theSecond World War, or theProperty Developer’spound?You don’t have to look farfor the answer.Ulph, in exileEmail: norfolknips@yahoo.co.uk 23

LettersI worked at the NorwichBeer Festival in 2002 and,having looked at the beerfestival photographs atwww.norwichbeerfestival.fotopic.net, was wonderingif there are any otherphotos of the staff.If no one remembers me Iam Alan Warnes’ brother.Me, Alan and the otherbrother dressed as punksfor the Saturday night.I would like a picture ofus three together if anyonecan find one.Stewart Warnes, via email● If anyone was there in2002 and has anyphotographs that mighthelp Stewart, pleasecontact Norfolk Nips at1 Colmangate, Pottergate,Norwich NR2 1DY, or emailnorfolknips@yahoo.co.uk‘Ave Adnams ‘ad enough?The Mill Tavern is now ahousing estate.The Horse and Drayshows no sign of life exceptfor an Australian flag in afirst floor window.The Vine is a sorry state,shut, and up for sale witheven a couple of thehandles on the beer pumpsgone.And the Wherry morphedinto a cidershed.Are Adnams about tomake a tactical withdrawalfrom our Fine City?Are our 24 Norfolkbreweries ready to stepinto the void?I for one can’t wait.Mont, via emailThe Fat Cat pub in Norwichhas got many claims tofame.One thing many peoplemay not have noticed is:the price of its filled rolls(which sell in copiousquantities) are 60p eachwhich, according to Colin(Boss), have remainedunchanged for 12 Years.How about that!Alan Kristunas, via email24 Web: www.norwichcamra.org.uk


On the trail of Real Ale in CaliforniaNewport Beachhome.another visit!Brewing CompanyBrewmaster Kirk Roberts, Snug Harbour HoneyWhen my friends Julie and who has been at NBBC for Ale (5%) is a light ale with aRodney flew over from 10 years, was very friendly delicate taste and aroma ofNorwich, to spend his 50th and took time to answer orange blossom honey.birthday in California, top our questions about the Balboa Brown Ale (5%)on our list of touring was various brews. He brews 12 won a bronze medal at thevisiting some of the local different ales, with 5 to 7 on 2006 Great American Beermicro-breweries.at any one time.Festival, and Lefty’s CreamThis made my research We tried the lighter beer, Ale (5%) is for those whoeasier, as I now hadNewport Beach Blonde prefer something slightlyadditional real ale(4%) but were not too sweet.enthusiasts to help out. impressed. Kirk admitted Newport Coast Steamhe brewed that to appeal toOur first visit was to the(5.5%) owes its smooththe lager drinkers and itNewport Beach Brewingflavour to the lager yeastwasn’t his favourite either.Company, which we foundused in brewing.However the other alesquite by accident, while onOktoberfest (6%) iswere excellent.our way to a well-knownbrewed seasonally and isseafood restaurant nearby. Pelican Pale Ale (5.5%) is described as a mediumdry hopped with cascadeThe NBBC was foundedbodied reddish lager with ahops and has a dry, crispyon April 1, 1995 and issmooth caramel maltiness.and hoppy flavour.celebrating its 12 yearNBBC also serves a rangeanniversary with specialBisbee’s ESB (5.5%) is of guest beers from otherevents and a special brew similar to traditional English micro-breweries, some oncalled 12-Step, which is ale, with a light hopdraft and some in bottles,described as a Belgian bitterness balanced with plus wines, cider and perry.quad, at 12% ABV.complex malt flavours.The menu is typical ofWe all tried a small taster The Wedge Weizen brew pubs, with steaks,and found it to be quite (5.5%) has a fruit and clove burgers, salads, pastas anddelicious, with a lovely taste and is servedbrick-oven pizzas. ESB beeramber colour.unfiltered with a lemon battered prawns are aslice.The NBBC is housed inspeciality and Mexicaninspiredfood is alsothe old Delaney’s Seafood Dockside IPA (7%) is oneMarket building in historic for the hop-heads and is available.Cannery Village on the described as the bigAlexis CiurczakBalboa Peninsula, inbrother of Pelican Pale, Newport BeachOrange County.which will put “a rush in Brewing Companyyour taste buds.”The two-storied building2920 Newport Boulevardboasts a sunny patioUnfortunately, the Dead Newport Beachoutside and two barsCowboy Imperial Stout CA 92663inside, with the brewing (8.5%) was being brewed 949-675-8449vessels behind them, a during our visit, so we www.nbbrewco.comdining area and a large car weren’t able to try it, norpark at the back.were we able to sample theIf you don’t want to drive,Pistol Packin’ Porter (6%).there is a stop for the OC At least we have a fewShuttle Bus, to take you reasons to go back for26 Web: www.norwichcamra.org.uk


Smoking out the great beersI have always enjoyedbottles of importedrauchbiers (smoked beers)from Germany.On a brief trip to the oldDDR last year (using a mapfrom 1980 that omitted allthe roads that wentanywhere near the oldborder) we discovered byaccident a magnificentbrauerei and gasthof atZwönitz, near Zwickau, inthe densely forestedlandscape of the Erzgebirgemountains.After the Wall camedown many of the old EastGerman breweries lost therace to survive in the faceof fierce competition fromthe cash rich West GermanFederal Republic but nownew breweries are openingto rekindle the oldtraditions.As well as four other beerstyles the Zwönitz(www.brauereizwoenitz.de)had justbegun brewing their ownrauchbier that was dark,dry, and with a strikingearthy smoky flavour.A superb beer to go withtop quality food,accommodation andlocation.Recently with theweather cold wet andwindy we went east again,but not quite so far.This time we went to theMariners Tavern, in HowardStreet South, in Yarmouth,to enjoy a game of crib infront of the open coal firewith its traditional tiledsurround.And on the bar? HOLYSMOKE!! At 6.7%, a newbeer I’d not seen beforefrom the BlackfriarsBrewery.It was a piquant antifreeze,warming, ignitingthe tastebuds, and thenostrils, the perfectaccompaniment to the realcoal fire.The Mariners andBlackfriars brewery: stokingup the Great in Yarmouth!Mont28 Web: www.norwichcamra.org.uk




30th Great British Beer FestivalThe Great British Beer Festival will be hosted thisyear at Earls Court, London, between Tuesday 7thand Saturday 11th August.Last year was the firsttime that the “Showcase ofBritish Beer’ had beenhosted at Earls Courtfollowing 14 successfulyears at London Olympia.Over 66,000 peopleattended the Great BritishBeer Festival in 2006,smashing record crowds by18,000!Tony Jerome, CAMRAMarketing Manager, said:“Nobody could havepredicted the success ofmoving to Earls Court andwe were amazed that morethan 66,000 people visitedthe event in 2006.“This success is atestament to how hard the1000 volunteers work at theGreat British Beer Festival.”Over 700 tasty tipplesfrom the smallest microbreweriesand largeregional brewers have beenhand-picked for visitors totry. More than ever before!The festival is not onlyabout the ale! You will alsobe able to enjoy food, livemusic, entertainment,games, tombolas, andquizzes in the comfort of afamily friendly atmosphere.Friday 6th July: When doesthe 2007 Great British BeerFestival start?Please title your email‘GBBF Competition 2007’and send your answers totony.jerome@camra.org.ukor post to Tony Jerome ,GBBF Competition 2007,Senior Marketing Manager,CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Rd, StAlbans, Herts, AL1 4LW.Winners will be notifiedand sent their ticketsbefore Friday 13th July. Ifyou are not a CAMRAmember and would like tobe sent some moreinformation on ourorganisation then please letus know on your email orposted entry.Morris Dancing and beer drinkingwith Kemps Men(proudly sponsored by Buffy’s Brewery)The 2007 Wednesday evening dance programme takesplace at the following real ale public houses:2nd May at Wymondham Feathers, 9th May outsideRibs of Beef, 16th May (to celebrate Ray’s birthday) theUpton White Horse, 23rd May Old BuckenhamGamekeeper, and 30th May at the Buffy’s tap theWicklewood Cherry Tree.On June 6th at Dereham Cock and 13th at Fox andHounds in Lyng, 20th at Horstead Recruiting Sergeantand 27th at the Fur and Feather Woodbastwick.4th July Hethersett Kings Head, 11th July at theMarket Cross for the Bungay festival, 18th July theFishermans Return with swimming trunks optional and25th July the Banningham Crown.1st August the White Horse at Chedgrave, 8th Augustthe Maltsters at Ranworth, 15th August the Lord Nelsonat Reedham. 22nd August Poringland Royal Oak and29th August the Wig and Pen in Norwich.Final stand at the Woolpack in Muspole Street on 5thSeptember.All stands begin at 7.45 p.m. Come and experienceEnglish tradition — drinking beer and dancing theMorris — first hand. Check out www.kempsmen.org.ukWin a pair of tickets!CAMRA is offering 25lucky winners a pair ofGreat British Beer Festivaltickets. All you need to doto enter this competition isemail or post your answerto this simple question by32 Web: www.norwichcamra.org.uk




Music and Real AleTraditional JazzWater Rats Jazz Band –Annual Tour of NorfolkBroadsSat 21st July to Sat 28th July.The full itinerary is as follows(l=lunchtime, e=evening):Sat. 21st July — (l) WoodsEnd, Bramerton.Sun. 22nd July — (l) Fur &Feather, Woodbastwick; (e)The Ship, Reedham.Mon. 23rd July — (l)Waveney Inn, Burgh St.Peter; (e) Locks Inn,Geldeston.Tues. 24th July — (l)Waveney House Hotel,Beccles; (e) Commodore,Oulton Broad.Wed. 25th July — (l) FerryInn, Reedham; (e)Reedcutter, Cantley.Thu. 26th July — (l) FlotillaParty on Surlingham Broad;(e) Beauchamp Arms,Carleton St Peter (nr.Claxton/Langley).Fri. 27th July — New Inn,Rockland St. Mary; ColdhamHall, Surlingham.Sat. 28th July — Playing for 1hour at Worstead Festivalaround midday.Lakenham Leisure Centre,Cricket Ground Road,Norwich (off City Road)Real ales available‘New Orleans to Norfolk’Thu. 17th May — The Goin’Home BandAfter the above date, the‘New Orleans to Norfolk’promotion is moving to thefollowing venue for a limitedperiod, the first date being:above sessions, RodPlayford 01263 862168Acle Recreation CentreReal ales available, includingsome local brewsTue. 17th July — OrientalJazz Band (Holland)Tickets/enquiries, Brian Davis01493 701880King’s Arms,Market Place, ReephamGood selection of real ales aslisted in CAMRA’s Good BeerGuideEvery Sun. lunchtime from13th May to early Sept. inthe courtyard at rear of thepub (inside if wet), thebands alternating throughthe summer will be NeneValley Jazzmen, Just Jazz,Climax Jazz Band andVintage Hot OrchestraBlack Boys, Aldborough(nr. Aylsham)Adnams Bitter and GreeneKing IPASun. 6th May (lunch) — JustJazz Good Time Jazz BandFerry House Inn,SurlinghamWoodforde’s Wherry andAdnams Broadside, plusregular guests includingHumpty Dumpty Reedcutterand other Woodforde’s beersFri. 25th May — Climax JazzBandNB: It is hoped to continueon the last Fri. of everymonth, but at time of writingthese notes it has not beenconfirmed.Wheatsheaf,West Beckham (nr. Holt)Woodforde’s Wherry andNelson’s Revenge, plus GreeneKing IPA and guest beersSun. 1st July (lunch) — JustJazz Good Time Jazz BandOstrich, South CreakeWoodforde’s Wherry, GreeneKing Abbot Ale and IPA plusguestsSun. 15th July (2.30-5.30p.m.) — Just Jazz GoodTime Jazz BandKing’s Head Hotel,Beccles, SuffolkSelection of Adnams beersplus Greene King IPA andoccasional guest alesEvery Sun. eve. — Red Beans‘n’ Rice New Orleans JazzBandFeathers Hotel,Market Place, HoltGreene King Abbot Ale and IPAFirst Fri. every month —Lumiere Rouge RagtimeBandMarsham Arms,nr. Hevingham (B1149Holt-Norwich Road)Adnams Bitter, plusalternating guests includingAdnams Broadside andWoodforde’s WherryThird Fri. every month —Lumiere Rouge RagtimeBandIngleside Hotel,Mundesley (B1159 coastroad between Mundesleyand Trimingham)Real ales include Greene KingOld Speckled Hen and IPA,plus seasonal guest beers. AlsoWeston’s Draught Scrumpy onhandpumpSun. lunchtimes fortnightlyfrom 13th May — Just JazzGood Time Jazz BandPhoenix Hotel,Church Street, DerehamReal ales include Greene KingOld Speckled Hen, IPA andRuddles County, plus seasonalguest alesThe Talk,Oak Street, NorwichWed. 4th July — BrianCarrick’s Algiers StompersTickets/enquiries for bothContinued on next page36 Web: www.norwichcamra.org.uk

Cont. from previous pageThird Sun. eve. monthly —Just Jazz Good Time JazzBandTally Ho, Mettingham(nr. Bungay), SuffolkWoodforde’s Wherry andFullers London PrideEvery Thu. — Sole Bay JazzBandQueen Charlotte,Dereham Road, NorwichReal ales include WychwoodHobgoblin, Woodforde’sWherry and Greene King IPA,plus guests including WolfStraw Dog and a selection ofBelgian beers.Every Sun. (2-5 p.m.). Variousbands consisting of trios,quartets and bigger lineups,mainly traditional butsome in a moremainstream mode.Queens Head,Stradbroke, Suffolk10th Annual Real Ale andJazz Festival, Fri. 11th toSun. 13th May — Goodselection of real ales plustop class line-up of bandsincluding Kenny Ball withan All Star Line-up, BobKerr’s Whoopee Band,Dixie Jazz Bandits, andmany moreMainstream/Modern JazzHoliday Inn,Cromer Road, NorwichSat. 5th May to Mon. 7th May— Norwich Jazz Party.Huge event comprising aninternational line-up of topclass bands and musicians.Tickets/information fromJerry Brown c/o Jazz ‘n’Blues Records 01603467777Green Man,Wroxham Road, RackheathWoodforde’s Wherry, AdnamsBitter and Broadside plusguestsEvery Tue. — Fullprogramme consisting ofvarious bands andmusiciansDereham Jazz Society,Lakeside Country Club,Quarry Lane, Lyng(nr. Dereham)Adnams beers plus Lakesidehouse bitter on handpumpEvery Wed. — Fullprogramme consisting ofvarious bands andmusicians, which usuallyincludes one ‘traditional’session each month.Zaks at the Swan,The Street, PoringlandGreene King IPA and guestsAlternate Thursdays —various bands andmusicians.Keith Chettleburgh4Music PubsBlueberry, 20 Cowgate,Norwich, 01603 475001Freehouse with range of realalesThu./Fri./Sat./Sun. everyweek (incl. Sun. lunch)Brickmakers,496 Sprowston Road,Norwich, 01603 441118Greene King IPA and OldSpeckled HenThu./Fri./Sat. every week —Rock/blues bandsKing Edward VII,63 Aylsham Road, Norwich2 real alesFri./Sat. evenings every week– Rock/blues bandsQueen Charlotte, 268Dereham Road, Norwich,01603 631144Woodforde’s Wherry,Wychwood Hobgoblin plus2/3 other real alesLive music on various nights,from jazz to indieEmail: norfolknips@yahoo.co.uk 37

Norwich &Norfolk branchPublished every 3 monthsby the Norwich & Norfolkbranch of theCampaign for Real Ale© N&N CAMRA 2007Norfolk Nips is produced anddistributed by members of thebranch in their own timeEdited by:Adrian Hennessy1 Colman Gate,Pottergate,Norwich, Norfolk NR2 1DYTel 0779 067 5057Fax 0871 661 6367Emailnorfolknips@yahoo.co.ukViews expressed in Norfolk Nipsare not necessarily those of theeditor or of CAMRAPrinted by:Gallpen Colourprint, NorwichChairman: Des O’BrienTel. 01603 270588. Email chairman@norwichcamra.org.ukSecretary: Graham FreemanTel. 07800 690048. Email secretary@norwichcamra.org.ukSocial Secretary: Tim MacDonaldTel. 01603 865505Email socialsecretary@norwichcamra.org.ukBranch website:www.norwichcamra.org.ukBranch mailing list web page:groups.yahoo.com/group/CAMRA_NorwichIf you are unhappy about the service you get in a pub,i.e. short measures, lack of a price list, or misleadinglisting of products, contact Norfolk County CouncilTrading Standards Department at County Hall,Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2UD.Branch Diary DatesPick-up times for coaches: 6.47 junc. Southwell Rd./Grove Rd.;6.55 junc. Old Palace Rd./West End St.; 7.00 Boundary Rd. (busstop nr. Whiffler); 7.02 junc. Mile Cross La./Eversley Rd.; 7.04Sprowston Fire Stn.; 7.08 Heartsease (Plumstead Rd. bus stop);7.15 Wig & Pen, Palace Plain.Bull Close Road (8 p.m.)then Artichoke, Stanley,Dyers Arms, Whalebone(for their beer festival).Tuesday June 19thBranch Meeting — To bearranged, see May entry.Thursday June 28thBeer Festival PlanningMeeting — Rosary Tavern,Rosary Road, Norwich (8p.m.).Friday July 6thFirst Friday Five —Rushcutters, YarmouthRoad, Thorpe St. Andrew(8 p.m.) then Buck,Rivergarden, Town HouseHotel, Mustard Pot.Tuesday July 17thBranch Meeting — To bearranged, see May entry.Friday May 4thto be arranged. SeeFirst Friday Five —“What’s Brewing” orGlasshouse, Wensumbranch website for latestStreet (8 p.m.) theninformation.Lawyer, Ribs of Beef,Sunday May 20thMischief, Kings Head.Branch Store Tidy-up —Saturday May 12th10 a.m.Branch Pub of the Year Friday May 25thPresentation — Royal Mystery Coach Trip —Oak, Poringland (12 noon). Route unknown! TicketsCoach from Norwich, tel. £4, from previous01603 865505 or emailmeetings or emailsocialsecretary@socialsecretary@norwichcamra.org.uk for norwichcamra.org.uk totimes.reserve seats.Tuesday May 15thFriday June 1stBranch Meeting — Venue First Friday Five — Leopard,38 Web: www.norwichcamra.org.uk

Join CAMRA online: www.camra.org.uk/joinusEmail: norfolknips@yahoo.co.uk 39

No. 141 May-July 2007 FREE - Norwich and Norfolk CAMRA

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template ?