All the latest news, views and essential information from Castle Rock Brewery

No:4 Winter 2015

www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk

A new stoutfor 2015!

See Page 2

Castle Rock to open micropubSee page 7

Let Robin Hood be your brewery tour guide!

See page 10

WelcomeHappy New Year, I hope you enjoyedthe seasonal festivities and foundtime for a good rest too!

The beginning of anew year is a timefor both reflectionand for looking tothe future. This isno exception atCastle Rock, andwhile our plansfor 2015 mayalready be oldnews to us (we’vebeen working onthem since last

May!) it’s exciting to finally reveal what Castle Rock will be bringing to you in 2015.

There’s a lot to come, with our continuedsupport of the Nottinghamshire WildlifeTrust, the addition of a new permanent beer,a new collection of Nottinghamian CelebrationAles to join our growing hall of fame, uniquebrews from the Traffic Street Specials, theonward commemoration of the Great War,and some big events to mark, too. With abeer in celebration of the 800th anniversarysince the sealing of the Magna Carta, andanother marking the Rugby World Cup beingplayed upon these shores, we think we haveeverything in place to make sure you don’t gothirsty in 2015.

In our pubs, we spent 2014 working hard toinvest in and improve on our existingfacilities. We cherish our pubs so, wherechange is due, we will continue to makeinvestments. We are also aiming to add somenew pubs too, so 2015 will surely allow youto enjoy the ‘Castle Rock way’ in a few newsites!

So that’s enough from me, I don’t want tokeep you from another great CRQ issue anylonger.

Thanks for your support.

CheersColin WildeManaging Director

Castle Rock BreweryQueensbridge Road, Nottingham NG2 1NB

Tel: 0115 985 1615General enquiries:

admin@castlerockbrewery.co.ukSales enquiries:

scott.ryder@castlerockbrewery.co.ukRecruitment:

sarah.halpin@castlerockbrewery.co.uk

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Castle Rock

New beersA new stout for a

We’ve always been extremely proud of thestouts we have brewed in the past;whether they were NottinghamianCelebration Ales, Wildlife beers orspecials. Adrian and the brewing teamhave a real knack for getting the balanceof flavours right.

It is out of this demand for a good qualitystout that we’ve decided to add one to ourpermanent range.

Representing one of the biggest projects theNottinghamshire Wildlife Trust hasundertaken and an area much loved by thoseacross the country, Sherwood Reserve is a4.5% stout brewed with fresh Columbiancoffee beans.

Flavours of rich chocolate and coffee are inthe nose, and the taste is smooth and lasting.The beer is brewed with two English hopvarieties, but much of the bitterness in thestout comes from the roasted and dark malts

that give the beer a rich decadence.

Beer lovers are alwaysvery vocal about whatthey love to drink, andwe certainly expect ourcustomers to tell ustheir thoughts.

Our Wildlife IPA recipeback in October 2008was hugely popular,and sure enough thatbeer joined ourpermanent range asScreech Owl.

On the other end of theflavour spectrum, oneof the beer styles rising in popularity and requested most often is the stout.

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Sherwood Reserve is launching inJanuary and will be permanently

available thereafter

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new year- Sherwood Reserve

Sherwood ReservesSherwood Forest is famous the world overas the home of Robin Hood. It is alsohome to magnificent oaks such as theMajor Oak, but sadly what remains of theForest is under threat. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust iscommitted to protecting the wildlife ofSherwood Forest and through ourambitious Champions of Sherwoodcampaign we are working with partnerssuch as Castle Rock Brewery to restoreand reconnect its fragmented landscape.In addition to providing advice and supportto other landowners, the Wildlife Trustcares for three nature reserves inSherwood Forest; Rainworth Heath,Strawberry Hill Heath and FoxcovertPlantation.

Rainworth Heath Nature ReserveMuch of Sherwood Forest was oncecovered by heathland. Today only elementsremain making sites such as RainworthHeath, situated just off the A617 just 3miles from Mansfield, very valuable. Thereserve provides a great setting for afamily adventure with opportunities to spot lizards basking in thesun or a kestrel hovering overhead.

Strawberry Hill HeathStrawberry Hill Heath, off Jubilee WaySouth in Mansfield, is a great place toexplore this historic landscape and offers a

glimpse into medieval Sherwood. Centralareas are largely dominated by heather andbracken, with patches of gorse and broomscrub alongside mature oaks and silverbirch trees, so typical of Sherwood.Seventeen species of fungi have beenrecorded in the heathland areas which arealso valuable for invertebrates and reptiles.

Foxcovert PlantationNottinghamshire Wildlife Trust purchasedFoxcovert Plantation, off the A614 close toCalverton, in 1996 following a fundraisingappeal. In 2005, a large part of the siteunderwent a major transformation withareas of sycamore felled to make way forthe creation of open grassland areas andthe planting of over 500 English oak. Thediversity of fungi species and survey workon moths provide evidence that theplantation was established on the site ofancient Sherwood Forest woodland.

Champions of SherwoodThanks to the expertise built up over fiftyyears of conserving Nottinghamshire’swildlife, we believe that we can make a realdifference to the future of Sherwood Forestthrough our Sherwood Forest RestorationFund. By supporting the Fund you can bepart of the next chapter in the SherwoodForest story.

To find out more visit www.championsofsherwood.com

The Work of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Castle Rock continue to be proud of our localheritage, which is why we’re even moreexcited about Sherwood Reserve, namedafter one of the most loved and well-knownreserves in the country. It is known as thehome of Robin Hood and the ancient MajorOak. However, the forest itself and thewildlife within it are severely under threat.The “Champions of Sherwood” project,spearheaded by the Nottinghamshire WildlifeTrust, is working to help sustain the forest’snatural beauty and all wildlife that liveswithin it, and we are pleased to announcethat we will be donating to this and otherprojects through the sales of next year’sWildlife beers.

Sherwood Reserve is permanently availablefrom January 2015 onwards. Remember tofollow Castle Rock and our pubs onFacebook and Twitter to find out when youcan get your hands on it. The newestmember of our core range of beers is a treatregardless of the season, enjoy it as a winterwarmer or a summer delight- most likelyboth!

Photographs by Electric Egg1. NWT Rainworth Heath2. NWT Rainworth Heath3. NWT Foxcovert4. NWT Strawberry Hill Heath5. NWT Strawberry Hill Heath6. NWT Foxcovert2

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Our seasonal brews

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The Wildlife beers of 2015

After another great year of Nottinghamian Celebration Ales (Su Pollard, George Africanus, DigbyPearson and Carl Froch) we’ll once againbe releasing a selection of four beers withvarying styles at a sessionable 4.2%.We’re pleased to announce next year’srange, available quarterly.

The first beer, available from January toMarch is Brian Clough, one of the mostsuccessful managers in football history – andthe best manager England never had! BrianClough’s beer is a pilsner-style pale ale: pale,clean and extremely drinkable.

Following Brian Clough is architect WatsonFothergill, available April-June. Born inMansfield, he is credited with designing over100 buildings in Nottingham and the EastMidlands. His namesake beer is a mild,brewed with US-derived Mosaic hops for a“New World” citrus fruit character: anexcellent springtime beer and just in time forNottingham CAMRA’s Mild in May trail.

Our Nottinghamian beer for thesummer months, July-September, isJames Shipstone and is set to be acelebration of all things local! We’re excited to announce we’ll becollaborating with the newShipstone’s brewery to recreate oneof their old IPA recipes with a moderntwist.

Closing out 2015 is a dark ruby porter,celebrating the life and works of Dame Laura Knight. Most recognisedas a war artist, she embraced Englishimpressionism through the mediums ofoil, watercolour, etching andengraving. Dame Laura Knight isavailable from October-December.

The 2015 range is revealedNottinghamians

We hope you enjoy this year’s diverse range of Nottinghamian beers. We always welcome suggestions for future years – if you have one just send us a Tweet (@CRBrewery),Facebook message, or email lewis.townsend@castlerockbrewery.co.uk

Twelve years of the Natural Selection

Idle Valley Reserve, 5%New Zealand Waimea hops givethis single hop IPA an aroma ofpine and citrus fruits, and arefreshing fruity bitternessMarch-May 2015

Skylarks Reserve, 4.5%German style wheat beer, unfinedand vegan friendly, with aromasof bananas, clove and spice.Smooth, white chocolate taste June-August 2015

Trent Vale Reserve, 4.2%Brewed with “Landlady” hops,the earthy and spicy aroma ofthis best bitter gives way to afresh and balanced finish September-November 2015

Attenborough Reserve, 4%Matching the freshness of winter,this pilsner style pale ale has analmost grassy scent and a sweetspicy finishDecember 2015-February 2016

Castle Rock has been brewing the Natural Selection for twelve years.

Known to most as our ‘wildlife’ beers, therange has consisted of one special brew amonth, with 10p from each pint donatedto the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.

The Trust has estimated a sum of over£300,000 raised through our donations;an invaluable contribution to the naturereserves and wildlife of Nottinghamshire.

For Castle Rock, the Natural Selection gave usone of our most loved beers. Brewed as asupposed ‘one-off’ in October 2008 as thatmonth’s wildlife beer, Screech Owl took homethe SIBA Champion of Champions award atthe Robin Hood Beer Festival.

The American-style pale ale went on tobecome one of our permanent beers, and hassince become a multi-award winner and muchenjoyed beer in Nottingham and beyond.

Some of the most vital work of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is focused onrestoration and preservation of the reserves.This year, the Natural Selection range ischanging in support of these causes. For2015 we are brewing four new and uniquebeers, each to be available on a three monthbasis. There may be fewer beers, but theresult we hope will be an increase inknowledge and support of Nottinghamshire’snature reserves. And when you love a wildlifebrew, you’ll have far more weeks in which toenjoy it!

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The Swan has a familiar layout to that of atraditional multi-room boozer; a bar, alounge, and a back dining area, but thereis something special about theatmosphere.

The pub is laced with an abundance offramed artworks, photographs and wallpaintings. With perimeter seating, the pub isspacious but has cosy and warm décor (notleast due to the real fire keeping the placetoasty in winter!) In a world whereeverything and everyone is becominganonymous, it is places like the Swan thatprovide salvation: a regular’s haven butwelcoming to anyone, and a quality pubflowing with conversation.

Traditional and brilliant pubs are closing daily and we’re seeing a rapid influx of trendy craft beer bars catering to those thatlove the diverse offering of the craft scene. In such a fast paced and competitivelandscape, the Swan has adapted to thesechanges in a dignified way. You’ll not onlyfind a great range of well-kept real ales

(Castle Rock, LocALe andnational favourites) andsome wonderful whiskies, but due to Discover World Beers, theSwan also offers an ever-increasing arsenal of craftbeers, both in keg andbottle, from the UK, Europeand the rest of the world.

Pie-lovers are spoilt at theSwan, which is the onlyplace in Loughborough toboast the full range of“Pieminister” pies. There isa huge selection to choose from, including atleast one vegetarian option – and the piesthemselves are absolutely delicious.

Upstairs hides the Hop Loft, the appro-priately-name function room which alsooffers a great stocking of craft and worldbeer. The Hop Loft can cater to a variety ofneeds. Equipped with its own staffed bar,private terrace and free WiFi, the Hop Loft isthe perfect place for anything from birthdayparties to business meetings to wakes.

Phil and the team at the Swan are workinghard to make sure the customers are gettingthe best deal possible; so if there is a specificdrink you’d like us to stock just let themknow and they’ll try to get it in. We’ve alsolowered a number of alcoholic drinks by 20p-40p, with a one year price-fix guarantee.This replaces our loyalty card scheme at theSwan, giving you value at the point ofpurchase by enabling you to save on a widerrange of products.

Whether you want a quiet drink, music, ahearty pie or a party, give the Swan a try!

In FocusThe Swan In The RushesThe Swan in the Rusheshas been a Castle Rockpub for nearly thirtyyears, and has remainedcentral to the real alescene in Loughborough during that time. It’s a friendly pub close to Loughborough’s MarketPlace and has recently combined the traditional with the contemporary –by traversing into the realm of craft and world beer.

Hop Loft

In the past year, Discover World Beers hasexpanded at an incredible rate, one we hadhoped for but certainly couldn’t predict.With Wayne Harvey (who as ‘World BeerBuyer’ knows virtually everything there isto know about world beers) and withfriends from breweries across the world(need we mention the visit from LeftHand??) plus amazing third partywholesalers, we are all set to go big. So, without further ado, we are thrilled toannounce our new Discover World Beersshop.

At the time of writing we are putting manyplans together but when CRQ goes to print,work on this new venture will be wellunderway. We’re building a list of 500 bottleswe’d like to offer you, to ensure we bringsomething brand new to the city ofNottingham.

Situated adjacent to the brewery on Queensbridge Road (only a 2 minute walkfrom Nottingham train station), the Discover World Beers shop will consist of alarge onsite warehouse, front of house shop,

and online store. The plan is that while you sit at home, ordering beers online, we are inthe warehouse picking them out for you. Or you can just drive up and fill up. It doesn’t get better than that, does it?

We are hoping to have everything up andrunning for the summer of 2015, but follow @DiscoverWBeers to stay in the loop withall the developments.

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Drinks in FocusDiscover World Beers goes big!

Beavertown Gamma RayThis beer is a bit of a favouriteof mine, a ‘go-to’ beer if youwill. I first tried it around twoyears ago and since then itseems to have got better andbetter.Five different hop varietiescreate a punchy tropical fruit

salad-like aroma, and it weighs in at 55 IBUsso it’s fairly bitter but not to the point ofastringency. Some of our bars stock this beer in cans(which are hard to miss) and draught onoccasion.

Chimay – Blue ‘Grande Réserve’Chimay Blue is the Trappist brewery’s mostprestigious beer; originally brewed forChristmas it proved so popular that they nowbrew it all year round. It’s the only Chimaybeer to have a vintage, and cellared bottlescan fetch considerable sums of cash.The beer itself, when young, has flavours ofcaramel, dried fruits and somespice. There is some alcoholwarmth, although this mellowswith age. Older varieties willhave more intense prune andspice. Woody notes will developas it oxidises which canresemble flavours reminiscentof Sherry. This is definitely oneto savour. Enjoy it with richcheeses and gamey meats.

Left Hand - Milk StoutLeft Hand self proclaim their flagship beer as

‘America’s stout’ – almost a directchallenge to another, well knownIrish variety. The beer is incrediblyeasy going; it’s hardly a sessionbeer either at 6%. It’s sweet andcreamy owing to the lactose sugarand has flavours of roast coffee andchocolate. This also comes as a ‘Nitro’ version,where the smooth creaminess of thebeer is aided by the addition ofnitrogen (much like that well-

known Irish variety I mentioned earlier…).Give it a try if you find it and as Left Handsay, pour hard!

Birra Del Borgo/DogfishHead – My AntoniaThis beer is a collaborationbetween two of the world’smost well regardedbreweries, Italy’s Birra DelBorgo and the USA’s DogfishHead. It’s a 7% pilsner,continually hopped during a60-minute boil. The hopsused are a mix of AmericanSimcoe, Warrior andtraditional Central EuropeanSaaz varieties.The mix of simple, traditional pilsner malt andthe high hopping rate creates something

quite elegant. There’s floral, citrus and pinearomas, flavours of stone fruit and a touch ofpepper from the hops while the malt adds alittle sweetness. This is available at theCanalhouse in bottles, although you mayoccasionally see it on draught.

World beer buyer Wayne Harvey selects his favourites thiswinter from the Discover World Beers range

@DiscoverWBeersFollow us to stay in loop with offers, events and news

Drive up and fill up

‘I want this place to be an Aladdin’s cave of beer’ - Colin Wilde, Managing Director

Competitionsuccess for IkahekaThere was success forCastle Rock Brewery atthe SIBA Craft Beer inKeg North regionalcompetition held at theCanalhouse in November.

Our craft keg beerIkaheka was awarded theBronze medal in thePremium Bitters, Pale & Golden Alescategory.

Brewed to an abvof 5.2%, Ikahekais a golden IPAfeaturing all-American hops,and dry-hopped

with Chinook.

New pub

Bringing you a Castle Rock micropub inthe transport hub of the East Midlands

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The concourse has to be the mostappealing change. Gone are the fumes ofblack cabs, replaced by a shiny flooredand airy space, filled with the scent ofcoffee and food. It’s a great place to beginyour journey, or to drop into for lunch, butdoesn’t it feel like something is stillmissing?

Ah yes. It is of course Castle Rock beer youare missing, and we are excited to announceyou won’t be missing it for long. Located justoutside the concourse is a small grade ll listedbuilding, which we are now working on tobring you a Castle Rock micropub in the transport hub of the EastMidlands.

It’s difficult to know at whatstage this project will be whenwe send CRQ to print, but weknow for sure that the pub isset to offer a unique stop-offfor travellers. Retaining mostof the original features withnods to its history including arunning train set, andexceptional real ale brewed justa minute away, this cosy pub isset to be a hub in itself. Damian Brandon will be takingon the new venture and says he

is looking forward to welcoming thirstytravellers and drinkers. “It’s great to be partof this place. I’m sure it will be an excitingaddition to the growing number of stationbars and taps across the country. It’s going tobe one of the quirkiest bars in Nottingham,that’s for sure.

“It’ll be the perfect place to relax for thirstytravellers and even locals who just need abreak on their way home.”

Watch this space, we can’t wait towelcome you to Castle Rock’s newbar…small but perfectly formed!

If you are aNottingham residentor visitor, you’ll knowthe last couple ofyears have seen somebig changes atNottingham railwaystation. Although we’ve all feltlike lost children atsome point or another,there’s no doubt thatusing the station isnow a smoother andmore enjoyableprocess.

Damian Brandon is looking forward towelcoming thirsty travellers and drinkers alike.

The NewshouseIn Focus

Traditional it may be and indeed within anactive community, but the Newshouse hasevolved over the years and under theCastle Rock banner it has flourished, whilemany traditional pubs have simplydisappeared.

At 123 Canal Street, Nottingham, sits theNewshouse. Notable for its blue exteriortiling, this unassuming, family-run hostelry istraditional in many aspects. It’s a pub thatcontinues to demonstrate the key aims thatChris Holmes set out to achieve, 38 yearsago, when Castle Rock began. Chris’s ideawas to create pubs which were friendly,welcoming, and served high quality beer.Though the years have rolled by and CastleRock pubs are now a varied mix, all of themcontinue to boast these values.

A Literary Link to the PastWhat many don’t know is that theNewshouse has an important link toNottingham’s past. Local historians claim theNewshouse is the oldest surviving addressalong Canal Street, certainly around in 1848and possibly from 1796 when the street wasformed. Most significantly, the pub is linkedto an important activity which used to takeplace back in the 1800s. Before educationbecame both compulsory and considerednecessary, the oral sharing of information wasan important process in communication.

Some pubswould employthose whowere literate toread the latestnews to thosewho were not.

In Nottinghamthere wereonly two siteswhere thistook place, thesecond ofwhich has now changed its name.

Despite being first licensed in the 1850s, andpassing through the hands of many ownersincluding Home Ales and Mansfield Brewery(and Castle Rock since 2002), TheNewshouse retains its original name today.Plus, take a step inside and you will see thepub is adorned with local news memorabilia;a constant reminder of its heritage.

We asked Colin Sinclair, licensee of theNewshouse, ‘what makes a successfulpub?’Well for as a start, as with all Castle Rockpubs, beer quality is at the top of the list.Harvest Pale is by far our best seller, andprobably the most popular beer acrossNottingham. This is where the customercomes in. Over the last twelve months we

have become mainly a LocAle pub; ourcustomers tell us what they want and whatthey don’t like, and that’s what it’s all about:Customer participation and involvement. TheCastle Rock tenancy is flexible, which meanswe have been able to offer beers from mostof Nottingham’s wonderful creative brewers.

A local food and beer reviewer Dave (visit curryandbeer.co.uk) described yourfood menu as ‘well thought-out and justabout perfect.’ Gone are the days when pubs offered apacket of crisps or salted nuts. Customersexpect, and rightly so, a bit more. We servelight lunches from a varied menu (from 12noon - 3.00pm) which is popular with ourregulars and office customers. In theevenings, we don’t compete with thefantastic eating experiences that Nottinghamhas to offer, and prefer to offer the perfectpartner to a good beer with the likes of pies,cheese and meat.

Nottingham is a great city for events. Youmust get a lot of trade when there’s a gameor gig on? The Newshouse is ideally located for fans ofsporting events, concerts and comedy nights.It’s within walking distance of both ofNottingham’s football grounds, the CapitalFM Arena, and two minutes from Nottinghamtrain station.We have always been pleased with thesupport we get from the sporting fraternity;Forest, County and the Panthers. ManySaturdays, both before and after the game,the pub is filled with both home and awaysupporters having a ‘constructive chat’ over abeer and a cob.

So what about the future? I suppose it’s a case of keep doing whatCastle Rock pubs do best: Taking care of ourcustomers whilst always on the lookout fornew ideas.

A traditional community pub onthe outskirts of the city centre

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Up & Coming BrewsThere is a great variety of beers we are looking to brew in 2015. Returning next year are the next four Nottinghamian beers (see page 4 of this issue), plus a new batch of Traffic StreetSpecials, seasonals and two more Commemoration Collection beers, marking the centenary of World War I.

Here’s a look at what’s to come in the next three months.

We’ve shaken things up for 2015. In addition to Red Riding Hood and Sherwood Reserve joining our permanent range ofbeers, we’ve got an array of exciting specials, seasonals and one-offs coming up too. Alongside our Nottinghamian Celebration Ales and Wildlife Reserves, look out for:

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4.5% abvStout with aromas of coffeeand chocolate, SherwoodReserve is brewed with

roast malt and Columbiancoffee beans. The beer

closes with a fresh hop andbitter chocolate taste, and is

very drinkable.

NEW COREBEER

4.2% abvPilsner-style pale ale,

floral aroma which givesway to a clean, slightlygrainy finish. Dedicated to the best managerEngland never had!

5.0% abvNew Zealand Waimea hopsgive this single hop IPA anaroma of pine and citrusfruits, and a refreshing

fruity bitterness.AVAILABLE FROM MARCH

4.2% abvA very well-balanced beer;

smooth to drink with wide customer appeal.

4.8% abvGerman style smoked

beer with an oaky aromaand lingering sweetness,brewed in commemoration

of the Great War.AVAILABLE MAY

3.9% abvA tribute to the women’sworkforce of the GreatWar, with this golden

beer with notes of citrusand upfront bitterness.

AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER

4.4% abvOur dark and

mysterious pumpkinporter…spooky!

AVAILABLE OCTOBER

4.0% abvThis amber beer with a long zesty finish is

brewed is dedicated toMovember, in support ofmen’s health charities.

AVAILABLE NOVEMBER

4.4% abvElsie Mo takes a festive turn with fruity flavours,spice and a bitter finish.AVAILABLE DECEMBER

5.5% abvRich, warming winter ale with a

distinctive hop and caramelfinish.

JANUARY - MARCH 2015

Beers to look out for later in the year

Plus: Magna Carta, available in June to mark 800 years since thehuman rights charter was sealed.Plus: Crafty Flanker, brewed in celebration of the 2015 RugbyWorld Cup being staged in the UK in September and October 2015

Plus: Traffic Street Specials Our artisan brews will be continuing throughout 2015. Sporadicallybrewed and limited in availability, it’s first come first served! Follow @Traffic_Street to stay up-to-date

All of our beers contain Gluten fromMalted Barley and Wheat.

Some of our special and one-off beersmay contain additional allergens,

please check our website for furtherdetails

Brewery Tours

Counter Measure

“Oo-dee-lally, oo-dee-lally, Golly Nottingham is famous for many things: the lace industry; rebel writers Alan Sillitoe, DH Lawrence and Lord Byron; Trent Bridge; two progressive universities, and beer obviously. Yet despite everything the county has to offer, the medieval legend of Robin Hood remains themost prevalent of all.

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Offers this January on soft drinksand virgin cocktailsWe’re doing our best tosupport our customers bymaking soft drinks moreaffordable during a tighttime of year.

In return, please supportyour local pub thisJanuary.

Alcohol Concern is a government-fundedcharity which perpetuates a negative viewof alcohol that we are all too familiarwith. Unfortunately, responsible drinkersin quality pubs often get lumbered withthose at the extreme end of the spectrum.The charity fails to acknowledge theimpact such a campaign has on pub-basedcommunities.

As a company, we have always been clearon our messages to encourage responsibledrinking. We love brewing, and we love thefinished result. Our beers deserve to besavoured and enjoyed.

We want our customers to enjoy our pubsthroughout the year and, throughoutJanuary in particular, we will be working to

ensure pubs remain a staple part of Britishlife. They are a safe haven for people acrossthe country, whether they are supping apint or a soft drink, or warming up withcoffee. They are places where people canchat, debate, read and relax. Encouraging people to ‘go dry’ threatensthese key establishments.

Throughout January we will be offeringgenerous discounts on our soft drinks, andmany of our pubs will be offering a numberof exciting “virgin” cocktails. Our messageis – keep coming to the pub, enjoy whatthey have to offer and always drinkresponsibly.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter formore information.

Tim Pollard, the city ofNottingham’s officialRobin Hood, and alsoa Castle Rock Brewerytour guide!

There’s something compelling aboutthis heroic outlaw that keeps himwidely present in literature, films,television, and imaginations acrossthe world.

While a child sports a Lincoln green tunic,draws their plastic bow and arrow and cries“I want to be Robin Hood when I grow up!”they have unwittingly selected an actualcareer choice. Tim Pollard, a self-proclaimed‘middle-aged man with a dressing up box’, isNottingham’s official Robin Hood. Fromhosting medieval banquets, to representingNottingham in New York, Tim has one of themost unique (and probably one of the best)jobs in the world.

As a good friend of Castle Rock and real aleenthusiast, when we asked Robin Hood if hewould be our brewery tour guide in 2011, hejumped at the chance. Liv Auckland sat downwith Tim, in costume but out of character, tochat about how he came to be Robin Hood.

TO BOOK A TOUR WITH ROBIN HOOD*,

CALL: 0115 985 0611 OR VISIT

www.castlerockbrewery.co.ukPrices start from just £12 per person andinclude the sampling of Castle Rock beers

*Subject to availability

Beer of the Year 2014-15Who will be crowned winner?

We’ve added a brand new award, Cider of the Year, in support of realcider and perry makers across the country. Many of our pubs stock

large quantities of real cider, so there’s plenty to sample and vote for.

what a Day! This is a pretty unique career you’ve gotTim, how did it happen? I used to do Viking re-enactments in theeighties with some friends, it was great fun. Iwas working in a games shop and thenopened a little hippy shop in the nineties. I guess I was travelling in the right crowds,because the people from the ‘Tales of RobinHood’ invited me to join in on their medievalbanquets. Six weeks later the former RobinHood left and they asked me.

What happened with the Sheriff’s Lodge?(The Sheriff’s Lodge, formerly based on CanalStreet in Nottingham, has recently beendemolished) I was halfway through a gig when I was toldthe building had been closed. I think theowner had a better offer. The crowd was agroup of French school children, and we toldthem that it was our last gig. They stood upand gave us a standing ovation, it was solovely.

So when you aren’t giving amazing brewery tours at Castle Rock, what are you doing? I go all over the place. I’ve been to New Yorkthree times which was fabulous. I’m greatfriends with the official Pied Piper of Hamelin in Germany, so we work together toraise money for children’s charities.I do a lot with the council and the Robin HoodPageant at Nottingham Castle, where we haveknights on horseback, medieval jousting andmedieval village building. Plus Maid Marianand I carried the Olympic Torch which was ahighlight.

Let’s talk about Sal, yourreal life Maid Marian…Oooh she’s lovely. About tenyears ago, I needed a MaidMarian and asked her. Itwasn’t a chat-up line,honestly. We workedtogether for seven yearspretending we were in love.

And then you fell in love? And then we fell in love. It’s the nextgeneration now, with Scarlett. (Tim and Sal’s daughter, Scarlett, was bornon Boxing Day 2013)

Finally, there are loads of fantasticbreweries in Nottingham, so why Castle Rock? Castle Rock asking me to do tours in the firstplace shows what a vibrant and fun companyit is. And I truly believe everyone there isdedicated to producing perfect beer.

When I ask Tim what to expect from a tourwith Robin Hood, he looks at mestraight, and in a raspy voice declares‘misery, depression….death’. I am only just absorbing his comicalpersona, when he begins listing whatto really expect. “My tours are entertaining and,although technical, they aren’t tootechnical. You gain a good backgroundinto brewing and end up with a greaterappreciation of how your beer is made.And a greater appreciation of the peoplewho make it for you.”

February brings for Castle Rock one ofour favourite events. In the monthsleading up to Beer of the Year, wereceive a mass of voting slips from ourcustomers. These are totted up toestablish who will take home LocAle ofthe Year, NewBrew of the Year, Breweryof the Year and of course the prestigiousBeer of the Year award.

Although many of you try, you can’t votefor Castle Rock beers, and you can only

vote for cask ales which have beenavailable in our pubs during the lasttwelve months. Last year’s Gold Beer ofthe Year went to Newby Wyke ‘Orsino’, agolden ale which at 4.0% is a sessionableand flavourful delight, with citrus aromasand a hoppy bite to finish. Who will becrowned winner this year?

Voting slips can be found in all Castle Rock pubs. Voting closes 16th January 2015.

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Editor’s PicksUpcoming EventsNew Year Blues? Many of us spend the start of ayear at home, avoiding thedreary weather and taking timeto reassess our lives. But whatfun is that? Check out what’s on in our pubsJanuary-March and get into theflow of 2015. Full listings can be found at www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/event

Sunday 25th JanuaryBurns’ NightCelebrating the life of Robert Burns withclassic Burns’ Night suppers, specialdishes of haggis, neeps and tatties, andoffers on Scottish beers and whisky. Vat & Fiddle, Swan in the Rushes,Lincolnshire Poacher, Kean’s Head,Stratford Haven and the Poppy & Pint

Sunday 25th-Saturday 31st JanuaryFarmhouse Breakfast WeekShaking up your wake up with a wealth ofwonderful breakfast produce, Farmhousebreakfast week includes all day breakfasts,cooked with fresh and local produce. Vat & Fiddle, Bread & Bitter,Stratford Haven, Poppy & Pint

Monday 26th JanuaryAustralia DayAussie beers & burgers are on offer, takingour British hats off to celebrate our friendsdown under. Plus the Bread hosts anAustralian themed quiz, with proceedsdonated to charity. Bread & Bitter, Lincolnshire Poacherand the Canalhouse

Sunday 1st FebruaryYorkshire Pudding DayNo roast dinner is complete withoutYorkshires. The nation loves them so muchthat, for one day every year, those light, fluffydelights are the centre of attention. Giant Yorkshire for lunch, anyone?Bread & Bitter, Swan in the Rushes,Stratford Haven and the Poppy & Pint

Monday 2nd- Sunday 8th FebruaryBramley Apple WeekDid you know that in 1809, the Bramley treewas first grown in Nottinghamshire? Now themother of cooking apples, this sweet goldentreat can be enjoyed in various forms, fromBramley burgers to spicy apple meringue. Bread & Bitter and the Kean’s Head

Tuesday 17th FebruaryShrove TuesdayIf you were a pancake, what type of pancakewould you be? Buttermilk, Kaiserschmarrn,Blini, Pannukakku, Apan Balik, or toppedwith lemon and sugar? We’re going flippingcrazy (sorry), with sweet and savourypancakes. Plus, the Swan hosts a ‘Pancake Challenge’… Swan in the Rushes, Lincolnshire Poacher, Stratford Haven, Fox & Crown andthe Poppy & Pint

Monday 2nd- Sunday 8th March British Pie WeekPie lovers unite in one of our favourite annualawareness weeks…seven whole days of pieheaven! The menu is set to include awardwinning pies from Pieminister, homemadepies, pudding pies and, at the LincolnshirePoacher, you can vote for the pie of yourdreams to be created…Swan in the Rushes, Bread & Bitter,Lincolnshire Poacher, Stratford Haven, Canalhouse, Fox & Crown and the Poppy & Pint.

BIG PICKSThirsty ThursdaysThe Bread & BitterThursday 15th January, 10amThe Bread launches ‘Thirsty Thursdays’, anew coffee morning in the hub of Mapperley. Come down to start your day with pastries, acappuccino and a catch up.

Folk DayFrom the Poppy Folk Club, the Poppy & PintSaturday 17th - Sunday 18th January Saturday night brings a spectacular display ofdancing and pyrotechnics from Mr Fox,followed by a stomping music session, asneak preview of the Sunday performers, andsome ceilidh dancing. Sunday will be packedwith various performances and folk artists.Visit www.poppyfolkclub.co.uk to watch thedetails unfold!

San Francisco Craft Beer WeekA Discover World Beers Event, theCanalhouseSaturday 7th- Monday 16th February The Canalhouse showcase beers from thecultural centre of Northern California, withbeers from the likes of Pine Street andDrake’s Brewing Co., and of course America’sfirst craft brewery, Anchor. A specially created San Francisco inspiredmenu will also be available.

American Night The Golden EagleThursday 12th February, 7pm The Golden Eagle brings the USA to you. Bet you’re “jonesing” for a burger and frieswith craft beer on the side…

SWAN BEER FESTIVAL Swan in the RushesThursday 19th March, 5pm - Saturday 21st March

Colorado Craft Beer WeekA Discover World Beers Event, the CanalhouseSaturday 21st- Sunday 29th March The Canalhouse showcase beers from thestate of Colorado, home to the “Napa Valleyof Beer”, a Northern area with high densityof craft breweries. With beers from the likesof Odell, Great Divide and New Belgium, and a specially created Colorado inspiredmenu.

Full listings onour website - updated daily

PLUS

13th March 2015Visit www.castlerockbrewery/rednose

www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk/event

The John van Geest Cancer ResearchCentre is a cutting edge facility based atthe Clifton Campus of Nottingham TrentUniversity.

Located in the heart of the local community,our scientists are doing amazing things tohelp understand and treat cancer – partic-ularly breast and prostate cancers, which kill22,000 people annually, in the UK alone.

I in 3 of us will develop a cancer of some sortin our lifetime and so it is imperative that weunderstand this complex disease and learnhow to give patients better outcomes andquality of life. The work at the centre focuses

on identifying the subtle differences betweenthe behaviour of cancer cells and normalcells, in order to develop improved ways ofdiagnosing cancer. The earlier a patient isdiagnosed, the better their survival rate; wecan then harness those differences to informthe development of therapies or vaccines thatwork with the body’s own immune system totreat and beat the cancer.

100% of the money we receive goes directlyto the research, patients locally inNottingham and the East Midlands arealready benefiting from the improveddiagnostic programmes we are developingand this inspirational work will one day have

global impact, helping to save millions of livesas well as putting our city on the world stageas a centre of excellence.

We need help with funding for this vital workand we need friends and supporters tospread the word about the research.

For more information on how you cansupport us, please go to:

or contact Sue Dewey OBE –sue.dewey@ntu.ac.uk

LocAle

We believe no other brewer supports the local brewing scene more than Castle Rock

At Castle Rock we arecommitted to supportingthe cause and work oflocal charities. This edition we’re featuring apiece from a leading cancer research centre atNottingham Trent University

In 2015 we are continuing ourcommitment to featuring new and localbreweries, as supporters of CAMRA andthe LocAle scheme.

2014 saw the likes of Hale’s Brewing andTotally Brewed hit our bars. TotallyBrewed’s ‘4 Hopmen of the Apocalypse’went on to take home Gold in the SIBARegional Beer Competition, so it’s fair tosay some great beers are being created bynew and local breweries.

We’ll be featuring beer from CharnwoodBrewery, based in Loughborough, which fallsinto both the NewBrew and LocAlecategories. Charnwood Brewery was startedby Andrew and Andrea Reed in December;Andrew formally worked as Sales Director atBatemans and, having trained with SaraBarton, Andrea is the Brewster.

Their son George is a chip off theold block too - he worked with usat Castle Rock last summer (andGeorge, we could ‘handle thebanter’). Charnwood beers will beon our bars in January, with thelikes of ‘Old School’, ‘Salvation’ and ‘Vixen’.

We also wanted to take this opportunity towelcome our friends at Black Iris toNottingham, after the recent move fromtheir site in Derby. We initially featured beersfrom Black Iris a few years back, and thebrews have been a hit, with Alex and Nicktaking home two great awards from ourannual Beer of the Year.

The Derby site has now been taken over byFrontier Brewing, set up by old schoolfriends Dave Garland and John Russell. Twoold friends brewing beer together? Soundslike you’re living the dream guys!

We’ll be featuring their beers in February, sokeep an eye out for some great new andlocal brews.

Elin Callow, Customer Service Manager, gives a sneakpeek into what she’s lined up for this New Year

What’s new in 2015

The Black Iris boys -heading to Nottingham

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For the record2014 - What a year!There were ups and there were downs, there were sleepless nights, a fewtoo many beers consumed and lots of comfort eating...but boy, what ayear we had. Thank you to everyone who made 2014 such a success!

JANUARYl The Poppy & Pint‘saved a life’, withcustomers raisingover £1000 for thelocal air ambulance

FEBRUARYl The Castle Rock Tap Room & Kitchenopened at East Midlands Airport, and

Harvest Pale became the breakfastbeer ofchoice!

l TheCanalhousewas selected byNottinghamCAMRA to

host CBON - Champion Beer of Nottinghamshire

l Midnight Owl won Gold (old ale/strongmild category) in the East Midlandsregional beer competition, at the CAMRA Winter Ales Festival

l The Derby Tup had a special visit fromRoger Protz, having been featured for 30 years in the Good Beer Guide

l Beer of the Year 2013-2014 was held,and Gold went to Newby Wyke’s Orsino

MARCHl The Nottinghamian Celebration Ales were‘Highly Commended’ in the SIBA National Business Awards

l Our five barrel fermenting vessel was setup and we launched Traffic Street Specialswith the first beer, #1 Stereotype

APRIL l Aftermonths ofwork, theWillowbrook inGedling openedand, if we sayso ourselves, isa big hit!

MAYl Our new website went livewith a enhanced functionalityand contemporary look

l We supported the Hemlock Happening for

another year, working to support localcouncils and residents

JUNEl The Commemoration Collection was

launchedwith aceremony atNottinghamCastle, 100years afterthe FirstWorld Warbegan

l BeerAche was held at the Maze, a nightof grindcore/hardcore metal to launch ourDigby Pearson Nottinghamian CelebrationAles

JULYl The Poppy & Pint won Runner Up in theNottingham CAMRA Pub of the Year 2014

l The first everDiscover WorldBeers Festival kickedoff at theCanalhouse, theKean’s Head and theLincolnshire Poacher

l We took home two golds and two silvers at Derby’s 2014 Charter Summer Beer Festival!

AUGUSTl Black Gold won bronze in theMilds category at the Great British Beer Festival

l The Peace Celebration Street Party raised funds for Amnesty International UK and the Royal British Legion, in commemoration of the Great War

SEPTEMBER l We sponsored the launch of the amazingand poignant Fields of Battle streetexhibition, in remembrance of the Great War

l The Lincolnshire Poacher had a gardenfacelift, and opened its doors to Bumble, the former England cricketer David Lloyd

l DerbyCAMRAcelebrated 40years since itwas foundedat theAlexandraHotel

OCTOBERl Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival 2014!Our favourite annual festival was betterthan ever. Nottingham Castle continues tobe the best location for a beer festival, withbreath-taking views of the city, and the setup was spot on. We launched our new liveryand Red Riding Hood, both of which hadamazing feedback. Thousands filled thegrounds over those days and, though it’sonly just passed, we’re already makingplans for RHBCF 2015!

l We brewed a one-off beer for the HockleyHustle 2014, an event which raised anamazing £23,850

l Red Riding Hood became EvilScarecrow’s beer, with a sold-out launch ofthe band’s album at the Canalhouse

NOVEMBERl We went Movember madwith the sprouting of manymoustaches, and brewed ourcharity beer, Walrus, in aid ofMen’s Health

l The Canalhouse hosted theSIBA regional Craft Beer in Keg competitionand festival, with over 100 beers available

DECEMBERWe had a very Merry Christmas!

A national award-winning blonde beer.American hops give arefreshingly crisp,

citrus finish.

A well balanced,award-winning dark

mild with somebitterness.

Full-bodied but notoverly sweet.

A full-bodiedpremium bitter of

typical East Midlandscharacter. Perfect

bitter-sweet balance.

3.8%3.8% 4.4%

Brewed to be atraditional session alewith a malty bitter

taste.

3.4%

Brewed with freshColumbian coffee

beans. Flavours of richchocolate and coffeeare in the nose, andthe taste is smooth

and lasting.

4.5% 5.5%

American-style red alebrewed with darkcrystal malt, plus

El Dorado and Kohatuhops.

4.3%

Core Castle Rock Beers

Castle Rock PubsALEXANDRA HOTEL203 Siddals Road, Derby DE1 2QETel: 01332 293993e-mail: alexandrahotel@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: Alexandra Hotel T: @Alex_Pub_Derby

CASTLE ROCK TAPROOM & KITCHENFirst Floor Departure Lounge, East Midlands Airport

FOREST TAVERN/MAZE257 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FTTel: 0115 947 5650email: info@themazerocks.com • web: www.themazerocks.comF: The Maze T: @themazenotts

KEAN’S HEAD46 St. Mary’s Gate, Nottingham NG1 1QATel: 0115 947 4052 e-mail: keanshead@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: Kean’s Head T: @keanshead

NEWSHOUSE123 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7HBTel: 0115 952 3061e-mail: newshouse@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: The Newshouse T: @NewshouseNotts

STRATFORD HAVEN2 Stratford Rd, W. Bridgford, Nott’m NG2 6BATel: 0115 982 5981 e-mail: stratfordhaven@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: Stratford Haven T: @stratfordhaven

VICTORIA HOTEL Dovecote Lane, Beeston, Nott’m NG9 1JGTel: 0115 925 4049 e-mail: vichotel@btconnect.com F: The-Victoria-Hotel T: @TheVicBeeston

BREAD AND BITTER153-155 Woodthorpe Dr, Mapperley, NG3 5JLTel: 0115 960 7541e-mail: breadandbitter@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: Bread Bitter T: @breadandbitter

DERBY TUP387 Sheffield Rd, Chesterfield S41 8LSTel: 01246 454316e-mail: derbytup@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: The Derby Tup T: @TheDerbyTup

FOX AND CROWN4-6 Appletongate, Newark, Notts NG24 1JYTel: 01636 605820e-mail: foxandcrown@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: The Fox & Crown Newark T: @TheFoxandCrown

LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER161-163 Mansfield Road, Nott’m NG1 3FRTel: 0115 941 1584e-mail: lincolnshirepoacher@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: Lincolnshire Poacher T: @lincpoacher

POPPY AND PINTPierrepont Road, Lady Bay, Notts NG2 5DXTel: 0115 981 9995e-mail: poppyandpint@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: Poppy & Pint T: @PoppyandPint

SWAN IN THE RUSHES21 The Rushes, Loughborough LE11 5BETel: 01509 217014 e-mail: swanintherushes@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: Swan Rushes T: @swanrushes

WETMORE WHISTLE 93 Wetmore Road, Burton on Trent, DE14 1SHTel: 01283 541064 e-mail: wetmorewhistle@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: The Wetmore Whistle T: @wetmorewhistle1

WILLOWBROOK 13 Main Rd, Gedling, Nottingham NG4 3HQTel: 0115 987 8596 e-mail: willowbrook@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: The Willowbrook T: @WillowbrookCRB

CANALHOUSE48-52 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7EHTel: 0115 955 5060e-mail: canalhouse@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: Canal House T: @canalhousebar

EAGLE144 West Street, Boston, Lincs PE21 8RETel: 01205 361116e-mail: eagle@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: The Eagle T: @TheEagleBoston

GOLDEN EAGLE21 High Street, Lincoln LN5 8BDTel: 01522 521058e-mail: goldeneagle@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: The Golden Eagle Free House T: @GoldenEaglePub

NEW BARRACK TAVERN601 Penistone Road, Sheffield S6 2GATel: 0114 234 9148e-mail: newbarracktavern@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: New Barrack Tavern T: @NewBarrack

ROOK AND GASKILL12 Lawrence Street, York YO10 3WPTel: 01904 655450e-mail: rookandgaskill@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: The Rook and Gaskill T: @RookGaskillYork

VAT AND FIDDLE (The Brewery Tap)

12-14 Queensbridge Rd, Nottingham NG2 1NBTel: 0115 985 0611 e-mail: vatandfiddle@castlerockbrewery.co.ukF: Vat and Fiddle T: @VatandFiddle

All of our pubs follow the latest allergen legislation.

Further details are available in eachestablishment.

(Hands On Pub Company)

The next issue of Castle Rock Quarter is published in AprilThe seasonal beers will include Idle Valley Reserve, Skylark Reserve, and Watson Fothergill

F: Sheriff TippleT: @SheriffTipple

Blonde and beautifulsingle malt golden ale

refreshing on thepalate.

4.7%

F: Elsie MoT: @Elsiemocrb

A national champion.Strong India Pale Ale.Lots of everything soproceed with caution.

F: Screech OwlT: @ScreechOwlCRB

F: Castle Rock Brewery

T: @CRBrewery