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Beer & Pub News Round-up
by John Cryne
According to a local report, the Carlton Tavern (33a Carlton Vale, NW6) has
recently started selling real ale in the form of Young's Bitter and Special. In
July 2006 the pub was added to the CAMRA London Regional Inventory of outstanding
pub interiors.
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Following up from our last issue – in Stoke Newington, Bar Lorca has
reverted to its long-standing former name of The Three Crowns, commemorating
the passing by in 1603 of King James 1, to be crowned King of Scotland, England
and Ireland. Standing on the corner of Stoke Newington Church and High Streets,
and following a long closure, it has re-opened selling Harvey's Sussex, Shepherd
Neame Spitfire and Taylor's Landlord.
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In N19 (at 47 Chester Rd, Upper Holloway), the Totnes has changed its name to
the Star, in the course of which it has been given the gastro treatment, making
it almost unrecognisable from its previous existence. The resulting pub is said
to be quite pleasing, an experience added to by the fact that it now sells London
Pride and Taylor's Landlord.
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Over in Crouch Hill, what was the Big Fat Sofa has changed to the Noble (29
Crouch Hill, N4), having been taken over by the same people who run the Northgate.
Needless to say, it has had a bit of a foodie makeover but there are still areas
for those who only want a drink and the good news now is that they can partake of
real ale – both London Pride and Wadworth's 6X having been spotted.
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In February 2005, the Beehive (Stoneleigh Rd, N17) was added to the CAMRA
London Regional Inventory of outstanding pub interiors being an interesting
Brewers Tudor type pub with a separate public bar as well as being an excellent
local community pub. Real ale is on sale in the lounge bar – London Pride at the
last visit, although with two hand pumps, the beer may change about. Worth
checking out.
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The Goat (414-416 West Green Rd, N15) is a former Wetherspoon's pub, and
although with just the one beer on sale – Adnams Broadside - it’s reported as
being in good nick, in an area generally devoid of the real stuff. ---
In WC1, the Percy Arms (26 Great Percy St) is closed, the Bull & Mouth’s closure
(31 Bloomsbury Way) has finally resulted in it becoming a Chinese restaurant,
while the Golden Lion (2 Britannia St) is reported to now be a free house selling
Greene King IPA and Courage Best.
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The Wellington on Balls Pond Rd, N1 is doing some interesting rotating guests
beers. They sell 3 real ales, 2 regulars and 1 guest. The regulars are Greene King
IPA and Fuller's London Pride. Guests have included Codingtons Codger at 4.2% from
the Cotswold Spring Brewery and the Wooden Hand brewery Black Pearl for Christmas.
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Following the merger of their brewing interests last year, Wells and Young’s
have added some further beers to their portfolio following the announcement that
Scottish and Newcastle is to sell them the rights for the production, marketing
and sales of the Courage ale brands. Currently brewed at the John Smith's brewery
in Tadcastle, following the closure of the Bristol brewery, production will move
to Bedford where it will be overseen by Jim Robertson, who trained for 10 years
as a Courage brewer at Horsleydown.
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Fuller’s has announced details if its Spring Beer Festival. For the first time,
the festival includes Gales Swing Low (above), a classic English ale which will be
available just in time for the Rugby Union Six Nations starting on February 3, 2007.
The beer at 3.8% ABV is brewed with Pale and Crystal malts plus Goldings hops for
a light, floral aroma and refreshing taste. March sees the arrival of Gales Festival
Mild (4.8% ABV), making its second festival appearance.
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Finally, during April, Fuller's India Pale Ale will be available. Another 4.8%
ABV brew, India Pale Ale is a classic version of an historic style of ale. The beer
is pale amber in colour and well hopped to leave a pleasant and distinctive bitterness.
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The Victoria will again play host to an evening in support of CAMRA’s Community
Pubs Week. Each year, the Simpletons Club holds the debate to support CAMRA’s aim
of raising awareness of the pub’s role in today's society. The title of this year’s
debate, to be held on February 20, 2007, is Communities need community pubs and
community pubs need real ale and is being proposed by a guest team from the
Kingston Debating Society.
The evening kicks off at 7pm and is open to all. The Victoria is a Fuller's
pub situated in Strathearn Place, W2 2NH, close to Lancaster Gate and Paddington
stations.
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Fuller's has announced that the Star Tavern in Belgravia has been voted the
Star Performer for December on their beer quality website, www.proudofyourpride.com.
The Star Performer title is awarded once a month to the pub that receives the
best online customer reviews for its London Pride. The site provides London Pride
drinkers with a forum in which to register details of when and where they recently
sampled Pride and asks them to rate the beer they drank.
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Fuller's London Porter has won the Gold Award in the Stouts and Porters category
in the Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition, in final tastings held at CAMRA's
National Winter Ales Festival in Manchester. This took the beer through to the
final panel where it won Silver in the overall competition, being runner-up to
Green Jack Brewery's Ripper, an 8.5% ABV barley wine.
John Cryne
Reproduced from the Full Pint, Issue 39.
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