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FREE The
Firkin
Magazine of CAMRA North Bedfordshire • Vol 44 No 1 Spring 2019
Pub of the Year 2019
It’s the Polhill Arms again
CHAIRMAN’S CORNER SPRING FESTIVALS
FULLER’S SELLS OUT NOVEMBER PUB TRIP
LOCAL CHAMPION PUBS THE JANUARY ROUND
BEER AND BEAUTY BEER IN SPACE
BEDFORD BEER FESTIVAL BRANCH DIARY
PUB AND BREWERY NEWS
The Campaign for Real Ale is a consumer organisation founded in 1971
The Fox at Carlton
North Beds
CAMRA Country
Pub of the Year
2016 & 2017
Beer Festival – 24th–27th May 2019
18 Real Ales and 6 Ciders
Live music and food Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening
01234 720235
thefoxatcarlton www.thefoxatcarlton.pub
THE DEVONSHIRE ARMS
Serving Real Draught Lovely courtyard
Cider garden
Fine Wines Free Wi-Fi available
A local community pub in the Serving a range of Quality Cask Ales
Castle Road area of Bedford with a — Eagle IPA, Young’s London Gold,
warm welcome and friendly Courage Directors and range of three
atmosphere. guest ales.
CAMRA North Beds Pub of the Year 2013,
Cider Pub of the Year 2018, Town Pub of the Year 2019
Devvy Beer Festival, Friday 3rd - Monday 6th May
www.devonshirearmsbedford.co.uk
32 Dudley Street, Bedford MK40 3TB Tel: 01234 301170
Chairman’s Corner
I
t’s awards time again on to, as is the case with the other category
and the decisions winners mentioned above. We hope to
have been made. Our make an award in this category again in the
trips over the past year future.
have revealed a good
number of pubs with Our final two awards are again branch-level
seriously good beer, more than I can recall only. The Devonshire Arms is Town Pub of
in previous years. That is encouraging, as is the Year while the Three Compasses at
the fact that more pubs are stocking real Upper Dean has been named Most
cider throughout the year. After due Improved Pub of the Year. The Three
consideration we picked the Polhill Arms, Compasses has never been in the Good
Renhold, as North Beds CAMRA Pub of the Beer Guide but has been improving steadily
Year, retaining the title they won in 2018. over a number of years. That last award
They also reclaimed the title they had in highlights an issue we have – finding all the
2017 of our Cider Pub of the Year. pubs worthy of consideration – which is
where you come in. If you like pubs and
Also reclaiming its title was the RAFA Club good beer are you a member of CAMRA? If
as Club of the Year, a title it held in 2017. not, why not? If you are then start helping
North Bedfordshire was among the first by scoring your beers through WhatPub.
branches to name a Young Members PoTY. com. That helps us identify which pubs are
It is hoped that the idea will grow with the worth a closer look on one of our trips.
development of other rounds they can go Roger Stokes
Fuller’s Sells Out to Asahi
F
uller’s in Chiswick was for some time But the buyer isn’t one of the international
the only remaining large, long- megabrewery combines, it’s a Japanese
established independent brewery in brewer, Asahi. Tokyo Pride, anyone?
London, until some the recent spate of Fuller’s says that Asahi will continue to
microbreweries began to grow bigger and brew at the Chiswick site and will still
are now known as craft breweries. Fuller’s is produce the same beers, but one cannot
very successful – its flagship beer London help having some fears. Just as Molson
Pride even gets on to airlines in canned Coors bought Sharp’s to get hold of the
form – so everyone thought it was a Doom Bar brand, perhaps Asahi really
permanency. It took over Gale’s, but wants Fuller’s for London Pride. And real
continued to make their beers at Chiswick. estate alongside the Thames in Chiswick is
Very recently it took over the justly famed very valuable. What is the future for beers
Dark Star Brewery in Sussex, keeping their like ESB, Oliver’s Island, Bengal Lancer,
site at Partridge Green open but starting to Gale’s Seafarer’s, not to mention the
badge the beers as ‘Fuller’s Dark Star’. Vintage Ales, Brewer’s Reserves and, of
course, Dark Star Hophead? In the
So it came as a great shock to read that meanwhile pop into the Parcel Yard in Kings
Fuller’s are selling their brewery and, like Cross station, and taste a wide range of
Young’s, becoming just a pubco. This is Fuller’s cask ales while you still can.
sadly what tends to happen when a family-
owned brewery becomes a plc and the Fytton Rowland
money-men replace the brewers in charge.
Contact the Firkin at firkin@northbeds.camra.org.uk 3
POLHILL ARMS
New Garden & Play Area
Cask Ale is our Speciality
*UHHQH.LQJ¿QH$OHV &KDQJLQJ
Guest Beers on Five Handpumps
Great British Pub Food Served
/DUJH)DPLO\3OD\*DUGHQ &DU
Park
T: 01234 771398 W: www.polhillarms.co.uk
Wilden Road, Renhold, Bedford, MK41 0JP
5LYHUVLGH3XE 'LQLQJ
The Anchor Inn and
Restaurant is by the riverWe have a wide range of
Great Ouse in the village real ales from a variety
of Great Barford, next to RIVRXUFHVWKDWZHR൵HU
the famous bridge.
They are the Champions!
N
orth Beds CAMRA has chosen its interesting guest beers appear as well as
best pubs for 2019 – and guess what, Greene King ones. Meals are served, except
several of them are the same as the on Sunday evenings and Mondays.
2018 champions! Which is not really
It’s now the only pub in Renhold, and it is in
surprising, as good pubs tend to stay good,
Salph End, the part of the village nearest to
although changes (for better or worse) can
Bedford. This means that to sample its
happen when a new licensee takes over
charms, townsfolk can get to within ten
looking after the cellar. Here are the 2019
minutes’ walk of the Polhill Arms on town
winners.
bus number 5, which runs in the evening. If
you haven’t been there yet, give it a try. If
you must drive, it has plenty of parking too.
Devonshire Arms
Town Pub of the Year
Since the Polhill Arms is technically a
country pub, we also have chosen our best
urban pub for 2019. It is the Devonshire
Arms in Dudley Street in Bedford’s Castle
Road neighbourhood. Licensees Ronnie
and Rebecca took it over a few years ago
Polhill Arms when Martin and Naomi decided to retire.
We all said (the Devvy is my own local) that
Pub of the Year they’d be a very hard act to follow, but
The overall Pub of the Year (PoTY) for North Ronnie and Rebecca have managed it! It’s a
Bedfordshire is, for the second year running, proper town local pub, with limited food
the Polhill Arms at Renhold. Licensees Paul (pies only) but an excellent choice of cask
Smith and Lindsay Kent have run this pub ales well kept, a couple of real ciders, and
for a long while now, and have taken it from always a friendly welcome from licensees
being threatened with closure to being very and staff alike. It’s been a Charles Wells
successful, and deservedly so – both the house ever since the man himself bought
drinks and the food are excellent, and the the site from the developers when Dudley
atmosphere is warm and welcoming too. Street was under construction in the 1890s.
It’s a Greene King house, so if you’re a fan of Nowadays that means various beers from
Greene King IPA, you’ll find the best pint of the Marston’s stable can appear, though
it for miles around at the Polhill. But Eagle remains the best-seller. Take town
bus 4 (another route with an evening
Support your local pub – don’t give them an excuse to close it! 5
They are the Champions! ... continued
service) to the Dudley Street stop; it’s just a
couple of minutes walk down the street.
Just don’t try to park in Dudley Street in the
evening…
Cider Pub of the Year
In 2018, the Devonshire Arms was our cider
pub of the year. For 2019, though, it’s….
the Polhill Arms at Renhold!
Paul Smith keeps two real ciders all year
round, rising to four in the summer months.
Nuff said.
Most Improved Pub of the Year either. It has several cask ales on all the time,
This year’s most Improved pub is possibly and these can include quite unusual ones
one of the least-known pubs in North Beds. nowadays, though Wells beers tended to
It’s also the furthest north pub in predominate in the past. The steward and
committee have always been friendly to
CAMRA and we have held meetings there
from time to time, including an East Anglian
Regional Meeting on one occasion.
Fytton Rowland
Bedfordshire, tucked away in the country
lanes – the Three Compasses at Upper
Dean. Its improvement has been slow and
gradual rather than a sudden affair in a
single year, and has taken place under
several successive licensees, so we decided
its improvement should now be recognised.
This attractive, thatched village pub serves
GK IPA, St Austell Tribute and Tim Taylor’s
Landlord all in good condition, and serves
good pub food on Monday-Saturday
evenings and Saturday and Sunday
lunchtimes.
Club of the Year
The Royal Air Force Association (RAFA)
Club in Ashburnham Road, Bedford, has
been selected as North Beds CAMRA’s club
of the year. The club is happy to admit card-
carrying CAMRA members, and you don’t
have to be ex-RAF to belong to the club
6 To advertise in the Firkin, please contact Neil Richards - 01536 358670
Beer, the Unusual Published every
three months by
Beauty Aid
the North
Bedfordshire
Branch of
W
e strive to be beautiful and there CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. The Firkin is
is a massive market out there produced and distributed by volunteers to most
selling a range of beauty pubs and clubs in Bedfordshire north of a line joining
products.. There are some people who WKH0&ORSKLOO6KHႇRUGDQG7HPSVIRUG:H
swear by using beer to make themselves welcome correspondence and any relevant features
for publication. Views expressed here may not be
look beautiful, this article explores these
those of the Editor, the Campaign for Real Ale, or its
beauty tips and I try them out for myself. North Bedfordshire Branch.
Foot Bath The Tip – Fill a bowl with warm Items for publication in the next issue should reach
water and add half a bottle of beer, the the Editor by the date shown at the foot of this page.
enzymes will soften dry skin on the feet.
Edited by Fytton Rowland, 73 Dudley Street,
Result – My feet were softer. However, I feel Bedford
that the warm water would’ve done the job MK40 3TA, ¿UNLQ#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
alone. BEAUTY. Printed by CKN Print, Northampton
Advertising sales by Neil Richards MBE, Matelot
Shiny Hair The Tip – Whilst in the shower Marketing
instead of using your regular shampoo Tel 01536 358670 Mob 07710 281381
reach for a bottle of beer instead. 15LFKDUGV#EWLQWHUQHWFRP
© Campaign for Real Ale Ltd 2019
Result – My hair smelled of beer all day, but
it felt as dry as straw. UGLY. Contact us
&KDLUPDQ3UHVVDQG3XEOLFLW\2ႈFHUDQG
Face Mask The Tip – The various vitamins &OXEV2ႈFHU Roger Stokes –
and minerals found in beer should aid in FKDLUPDQ#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
preventing premature aging. Mix beer, egg SUHVVRႈFHU#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
white and almond oil together to make a FOXEVRႈFHU#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
face mask, Allow it to dry then peel and Secretary and
Pub Campaigns Co-ordinator:
wash. Peter Argyle – 01234 822698
VHFUHWDU\#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
Result – It made my face feel sticky and the SXEFDPSDLJQV#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
egg white went all flakey. It seemed to have 1HZVOHWWHU(GLWRUDQG3XEV3URWHFWLRQ2ႈFHU
no effect (compared to actual face masks). Fytton Rowland – 01234 303221
UGLY. ¿UNLQ#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
SXESURWHFWLRQ#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
Exfoliator The Tip – Mash three strawberries Festival Organiser: To be appointed for 2019
together with beer to form a paste, and then EHHUIHVWLYDO#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
apply to the face like a standard exfoliator. It Socials: Gary Mudd – 01234 741871
should clean the skin as well as improving VRFLDOV#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
skin tone. Finance: John Keays –
WUHDVXUHU#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
Result – The strawberry seeds worked as an Membership: Neil Ratnett – 01234 344388
exfoliator but I feel the beer was just a liquid PHPEHUVKLS#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
base and water would work the same. UGLY. Website: Alan Hawkins –
ZHEPDVWHU#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
As you can see by my results, I found that Cider Rep: Sue Fossey –
typically beer doesn’t seem to have FLGHUUHSUHVHQWDWLYH#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
achieved the ultimate effect with beauty. Young Members’ Rep, Social Networking and Vice-
The wise thing to do is to drink it and not Chairman:
Dan Veal – \RXQJPHPEHUV#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
splash it on your body. YLFHFKDLUPDQ#QRUWKEHGVFDUDRUJXN
Dan Veal VRFPHGLD#QRUWKEHGVFDPUDRUJXN
Closing date for next issue - 15th May 2019 7
Bedford’s Oldest Beer Festival is
CAMRA’s - Accept no Substitutes!
T
he local branch of CAMRA has been two immediate predecessors Lynne Ratnett
running a beer festival in Bedford for and Fytton Rowland, who between them
41 years – all but one of them in the have led eight festivals. All of the regular
Corn Exchange – and the 42nd will take ingredients will be there – a wide choice of
place there on 2nd-5th October 2019. cask ales, many of them rarely available in
Bedford; a similarly wide range of real
Although other beer festivals take place in
ciders and perries; beers from around the
the town, and CAMRA members enjoy
world, including some from Bamberg,
visiting them, none of the others have such
chosen by our resident expert Malcolm
a long continuous history. The Borough
Roxburgh; excellent meals at lunchtime and
Council for some years ran a German beer
in the evening; pub games; mead and
festival each spring in connection with the
chocolate stalls. But there may also be
town’s twinning with Bamberg, but it
innovations that cannot yet be revealed, as
ceased after the 2017 event. The Bedford
we know that we can’t stand still and new
Swan Hotel also ran a festival for several
generations expect new ideas. Beer tastes
years in the autumn, shortly after the
change. And one of the things CAMRA
CAMRA one each year, but again their 2017
stands for is a wide choice of beer, which
festival was the last. A number of our
we wouldn’t have if a handful of
favourite pubs in the town and the
international megabrewery companies
surrounding villages run annual beer
were to control all beer production, as Is
festivals too, again they are very enjoyable
already the case in some countries.
and successful, and we certainly aren’t
knocking them.
So please support the oldest beer festival in
the town, preferably by volunteering to help
But the fact remains that the Bedford Beer with the event in some way. Help is needed
and Cider Festival, the oldest and biggest, before the event as well as during it email
is CAMRA’s. We pride ourselves that, like beerfestival@northbeds.camra.org.uk
other CAMRA festivals, it is run entirely by But even if that isn’t possible for you to
volunteers. As we go to press, planning for help, support a wide range of independent
this year’s festival is just beginning, so we British breweries and cider producers by
can’t yet reveal much detail about it. We do coming along to the Corn Exchange in the
now know though that our indomitable first week of October and sampling a
chairman, Roger Stokes, will be festival selection of their wares!
organiser, though he will be assisted by his
Fytton Rowland
8 Contact the Firkin at firkin@northbeds.camra.org.uk
Pub and Brewery News
Bridge, Shefford Jacqueline Spencer. Beers are much the
Welcome to same as before with Black Sheep Best
new licensees Bitter, Fuller’s London Pride, Sharp’s Doom
Tom and Bar and a guest ale. The pub is closed on
Vicki, who Monday. 01234 330049.
recently took
over this Three Cups, Newnham St, Bedford
popular pub Welcome to new manager Sarah, who is
in High Street, running this popular old pub on much the
near where a same lines as her predecessor. Although the
railway bridge once stood. Eagle IPA and up Cups is now home to White Park Brewery,
to two guest ales are available. The pub brewing has not yet re-started following the
caters for all ages, with a large sports TV move from Cranfield last year. Greene King
screen in the larger bar, while the smaller IPA, Old Speckled Hen and five changing
bar is quieter. Wednesday is quiz night and guest beers usually from microbreweries
there is usually live music or karaoke at are available, together with good home-
weekends. 01462 351395 or cooked meals. Local CAMRA Town Pub of
facebook/The-Bridge-Shefford the Year 2018. 01234 352153.
White Hart Hotel, Shefford Horse & Groom, Clapham
This handsome old coaching inn in the town A new
centre reopened after refurbishment and landlord
exterior recently
repairs. took over
Greene King the Horse
IPA and up to and
two guest Groom, an
ales are attractive
available, with old inn on
a range of bar High
snacks and Street. Greene King IPA and Abbot are
full meals served in the bar or restaurant. served, with a guest ale usually available
Four ensuite rooms are available for bed and perhaps a real cider when summer
and breakfast. Families welcome, with a comes. He is trying out new menu ideas, but
child-friendly garden available in good the pub is no longer linked to the Barrel &
weather. 01462 811144 or Stone pizza company. 01234 217502.
whitehartshefford.co.uk Brewery Z, Bedford
Cricketers, Goldington Rd, Bedford Brewery Z was formed in May 2018 by some
After a short of the team at a valve distributor called
closure in Zoedale Ltd, who sell valves, pumps and
November for actuators to the UK brewing market. It is
refurbishment, located with Zoedale in the Priory Business
this popular Park, Bedford. They use a small-batch
community brewing system marketed by Zoedale.
pub reopened Their craft beers (bottled only) are available
with new for on- and off-sale at the Beerfly in St
landlords Clay Cuthberts Street, Bedford.
and
Support your local pub – don’t give them an excuse to close it! 9
Spring Beer Festivals
Loughborough Beer Festival CAMRA Town Pub of the Year 2019.
7-9 March at Polish Club, True Lovers devonshirearmsbedford.co.uk
Walk, off William St, LE11 3DB. More
46th Cambridge Beer Festival
than 60 beers plus cider and perry,
20-25 May under canvas on Jesus
food at all sessions. Regular train
Green. Wide selection of local and
connections from Bedford and Luton.
national beers, plus cider, perry, mead,
loughboroughcamra.co.uk
wines and foreign beers. Food includes
Leicester Beer Festival local bread, pies, ham and cheese. X5
13-16 March at Haymarket Theatre, LE1 bus from Bedford, Victoria Ave 5 min.
3AF. About 240 real ales plus cider, cambridgebeerfestival.com
perry and gin bar, hot and cold food all
sessions. Regular train connections Fox Spring Beer Festival
from Bedford and Luton. 24-27 May at Fox, High St, Carlton
leicester.camra.org.uk MK43 7LA. About 18 real ales + 6 ciders
served from a temporary bar in the
St Neots ‘Booze on the Ouse’ Beer garden. Four live bands, pizza, curry
& Cider Festival and hog roast. CAMRA Country Pub of
14-16 March at Priory Centre, PE19 6BH. the year 2016-17. 25 bus from Bedford.
Over 70 real ales plus 15 ciders. Free thefoxatcarlton.pub
soft drinks for drivers, hot and cold
Northampton County Beer Festival
food at all sessions. X5 bus from
31 May to 2 June at Becket’s Park,
Bedford, Market Square 5 min.
Northampton NN1 5BB. Wide range of
hunts.camra.org.uk
real ales, craft beers, lager, cider, wines
11th Sir William Peel Beer Festival and spirits, food and local bands. Run
25-28 April at Sir William Peel, High by CAMRA with Phipps NBC Brewery.
Street, Sandy SG19 1AG. 40 real ales 41 bus from Bedford.
and ciders available, barbecue and live northants.camra.org.uk
music. 73 bus from Bedford. Hitchin Beer & Cider Festival
sirwilliampeel.webs.com 6-8 June at Rugby Football Club, Old
27th East Anglian Beer & Cider Hale Way SG5 1XL. About 150 real ales,
Festival ciders and international beers, food at
1-4 May, The Arc, Bury St Edmunds IP33 all sessions. 9A/B buses from Bedford.
3FD. Over 100 real ales and ciders, hitchinbeerfestival.org.uk
including many regional brewers. Rail And not in the Spring, but put the dates
and bus stns easy walk. into your diary anyway:
westsuffolk.camra.org.uk
Great British Beer Festival 2019
Devvie Beer & Cider Festival 6-10 August at Olympia, London
3-6 May at Devonshire Arms, Dudley St,
Black headings: CAMRA festivals;
Bedford. Extra real ales and ciders on
blue headings, others
gravity plus the regular range. Local
10 Visit www.camra.org.uk for details of all CAMRA beer festivalsHeading West
T
he recently reopened Foresters Here the
Arms in Bedford was the starting choice was
point for our November trip. Some provided by
may have thought there was no hope, as Marston’s –
it had been shut for several years, but Directors and
now it has been thoroughly refurbished Wainwright.
to form a bright attractive pub with food Both were
available as well. Eagle was ‘coming soon’ fresh casks
but we still had a choice of Young’s Knife and Cleaver and in good
Special, Adnams Ghostship and the latest condition.
Wandering Brewer ale (despite it being
The Royal Oak was the next port of call
called Error 404).
where we found ourselves to be the only
While there I was shown the cellar, customers. Eagle is the only choice here
enough to make some licensees jealous as there isn’t enough demand to allow a
as it is spacious and with a relatively high second ale to be offered if they are both
ceiling so they can use the spear taps to be in reasonable condition.
which help keep the beer in good
Wilstead was the next village, where
condition throughout the barrel.
Eagle was again the only ale available in
Then it was time to board the bus and the Red Lion. The later arrivals at the bar
circle the town (to avoid the Christmas were more fortunate than those at the
lights switch-on) to head out to the front of the queue. A fresh barrel
Stewartby replaced one that was showing it was
Club. near the end.
Rather than
No need for
being
the coach to
among the
take us to the
bingo
next venue
players we
as it was just
were in the
Stewartby Club across the
back room
road to the
where Ringwood’s Razor Back and
Woolpack.
Banks’s Amber were on the bar.
GK IPA
Mansfield’s Cask Ale was available from
drinkers were out of luck here as it was
the other bar but it was the end of the
not available. The choice was between
barrel.
the seasonal Gangly Ghoul (on special
Heading out of town towards Ampthill offer at £2.50) and the familiar Olde Trip.
we came to the Chequers, officially Despite the special offer price on the
Houghton Conquest but well out of the Ghoul both were eminently drinkable.
village. The Doom Bar and Bombardier
Given the time we did not visit the Red
were both in reasonable nick in what,
Lion in Elstow but headed straight back
given its location, has to be a food-led
into town for our regular drop-off at the
pub.
Pilgrim’s Progress.
Back in the village proper the Knife and
Roger Stokes
Cleaver is another food-led hostelry.
Support your local pub – don’t give them an excuse to close it! 11Ten Things You May Not Know About Beer
1. The water you brew with can have an impact punishment was to be drowned in it.
on the final taste of the beer. Because of the 7. Think beer is a “man’s drink”? Think again! In
success of beers from Burton upon Trent, ancient Egypt there was a law that prevented
people realised it was due to the water. Thus men from making or selling beer. Also across
the process of Burtonisation was born, this is the ancient world brewing beer was linked to
adding gypsum into water to make it similar bread making so the first brewers were
to the water from Burton upon Trent. women. In ancient Peru only women of noble
2. There are only two drinks consumed more birth were allowed to brew beer.
than beer worldwide. These are water and tea. 8. In 19th Century Germany, it was believed
3. The oldest known beer recipe is about that nursing mothers had to drink up to 7 pints
3900 years old! It was created by the of beer a day to healthily breast-feed children.
Sumerians in southern Mesopotamia (now 9. Cenosillicaphobia is the fear of an empty
known as Iraq). The recipe was part of a poem glass.
honouring Ninkasi, the goddess of brewing.
10. India Pale Ales (IPAs) were invented to
Although there is evidence of alcoholic drinks
survive the long sail between Great Britain and
similar to beer as far back as 7000BCE in
India. They found that the pale ale would go
China.
bad during the voyage, so brewers began
4. Zythology is the study of beer and brewing. brewing it with a higher alcohol content and
5. In Norse mythology they believed that added more hops to preserve the beer. Thus a
upon reaching Valhalla, there would be a goat new style of beer was born and was named
called Heiðrún waiting for them that provides IPA. Why not go to the bar now and try an
an endless supply of mead. IPA?
6. In ancient Babylonia if a brewer made bad Dan Veal
beer they were punished severely. This
12 Join over 191,000 members of CAMRA and help fight for Britain’s pub and beer heritageThe January Round
A
s regular Firkin readers will know welcomed into his warm pub, which
by now, North Beds CAMRA offered GK IPA, London Glory and Fireside
always does a series of pub crawls (GK’s winter ale) together with Brains Rev
– sorry, pub assessment visits – in January, James as guest. I tried the Fireside and
usually two rural minibus trips and one found it very palatable, and quite similar
walking tour of Bedford town centre. This to Young’s Winter Warmer.
year, no minibus was available to us on Next, a new experience for us all – a pub
17th January, so we did the walkabout visit to the Swan Hotel! The former hotel
first, starting at the Bear in the High bar, which for years had only Bombardier
Street. on a
Since it handpump,
reverted to is no more,
being a but a new
proper bar in the
pub, the River Room
Bear has has been
become a christened
good real the Pen and
ale place, Pen and Cob Bar Cob and
The Bear
and on this had two handpumps in use, with Eagle
occasion it had Bombardier, Marston’s and Marston’s EPA available. I found the
Pedigree and Hobgoblin Gold on the EPA acceptable, and it’s good to see that
handpumps – all of them from the the Swan has decided to be a year-round
Marston’s stable, though it isn’t a tied pub.
house and once belonged to Greene King!.
It wasn’t busy at 7 p.m. on a very cold A stroll along the Embankment then
Thursday in January, so having three cask brought us to – the Embankment. This
ales on was pretty good, and the hotel-restaurant-pub, a Wells house, has
Hobgoblin was in good nick. four handpumps of which three were in
use that evening – Eagle, Pedigree and
A one-minute walk across the street Marston’s 61 Deep were on them. I like 61
brought us to the Brewhouse and Kitchen, deep, and I found it in an acceptable
a little busier than the Bear as people were condition. Like the Brewhouse and
having an early meal. There were no Kitchen the Embankment had a fair
changes in the usual range of four cask number of diners in, though by now they
ales available – Banker’s Draught, were enjoying a late dinner. Strolling up
Braxator, Intrepid and Invarsity – and I the alley alongside the pub, we reached
tried the strongest, Invarsity at 6% abv. It Newnham Street and our last two pubs of
was in good shape, though perhaps a little the evening.
cold for a cask beer – it must have been
hard to keep the cellar up to temperature The Castle, another Wells house, had
on those frigid nights! Eagle, Directors, Young’s Bitter and
Special, 61 Deep again, and as guest
Next we set off for the long march down Adnams Ghost Ship. I can’t resist Ghost
to and across the town bridge to the Kings Ship, even though it’s now widely
Arms. This large Greene King house has available, and I found it in excellent
been kept by the enthusiastic Sean condition. The pub was warm and
O’Donnell for a number of years and he
Visit www.camra.org.uk for details of all CAMRA beer festivals 13The January Round ... continued
welcoming, as was our last stop, the Three found it acceptable, especially in front of
Cups. Its popular manager, Bev, had just another roaring fire.
handed in her notice, but there was no
Next, on to a real favourite pub – the
noticeable change in the welcome or the
Bedford Arms at Souldrop, a lovely old
quality of the beer. Greene King was
village pub now extended for dining, quite
represented by IPA and Old Speckled Hen
busy on that evening. A free house, it
but the local(ish) beers available were
offered some unusual beers alongside GK
Kelchners Ampthill IPA (4.5% abv) and
IPA and Black Sheep Best – the Old Pie
Small Batch (4.1% abv), XT’s Animal Milk
Factory Brewery’s Mince Pie and Parkway
Stout (4.6% abv) and Tring Side Pocket for
Brewery’s Talking Parrot. So many of our
a Toad (3.6% abv). Also in this ‘local hero’
group ordered the Parrot that it ran out, so
house was Severn Brewery’s Late Hopped
I contented myself with Black Sheep,
(4.4% abv)! The Kelchner’s IPA was very
which I found to be very well kept as we
nice.
expect at Souldrop. Licensee Fred, back
On the following Thursday, our minibus at the helm after a bout of serious illness a
tour started at the Burnaby Arms in couple of years ago, was behind the bar to
Bedford’s Prime Ministers district. This welcome us.
Wells house, kept by licensee Will, offered
Another favourite came next, the Bell at
Eagle plus the then-current Wells
Odell, a GK house now back to its best
Wandering Brewer beer Pilgrim Pale Ale,
under licensee James after a bad patch
and Young’s Winter Warmer. Winter
with the previous tenant. It offered GK
Warmer didn’t appear so much in Wells
IPA, Olde Trip and Ruddle’s Best alongside
houses this year as it had in previous
guest Hogs Back TEA; Woodforde’s
winters, so I tried it while I had the
Wherry had run out. The Hogs Back was
opportunity, and found it pretty good. We
just my cup of TEA, and well kept by a
clustered around the Burnaby’s cosy open
licensee who cares about cask ale.
fire to get warm for the long minibus ride
to the St John’s Arms in Melchbourne. We were
Once a spoiled
GK that
house, evening,
this pub as our
now next stop
offered was
entirely another
Marston’s excellent
products village
on its real ale pub, the Fox at Carlton. Licensee
St John’s Arms Alison was alone behind the bar but
handpumps: Marston’s powerful Owd coped admirably with the rush of business
Rodger (7.4% abv!), Ringwood XXXX from our bus load. She had her usual
Porter (4.7 % abv), Wainwright (4.1 % abv) Eagle and London Pride on, but her guest
and the innocuous Brakspear’s Bitter beers were uncommon in this area –
(3.4% abv). We were told that Directors Grundy’s of Derby had supplied No Man’s
and London Pride were waiting in the Land, a malty 4.5% abv beer which I
cellar, though. I like Brakspear’s and sampled, and Firebird Brewery of
14 Support your local pub – don’t give them an excuse to close it!The January Round ... continued
Rudgwick in Sussex was represented by tournament. I sampled the Brakspears
Parody, a so-called session bitter – at 4.5% and the Ghost Ship and they were in good
abv! nick, if a little pricey at £2/half.
Then we moved on to the Cock at Our minibus arrived and conveyed us the
Pavenham, where the fire was warm and short distance to Goldington Green,
licensee John O’Grady was welcoming but where we dropped in to the Anchor, a
unfortunately little cask ale was available, modern family-friendly Greene King
so our visit was brief. house mostly devoted to food.
Nevertheless, it has an area for drinkers
Our last stop before returning to Bedford
and it
was the Royal George at Stevington, no
had GK
longer the only pub in the village, as the
IPA and
Red Lion reopened in November after
Abbot,
several years of closure. The Royal George
plus
is, however, a ‘proper pub’ even though it
Belhaven
does pub food, whereas the reopened
Robert
Red Lion is more of a restaurant, so
Burns
perhaps they won’t be in direct
Brown
competition for the village’s trade. Even
Ale (4.2%
though it was close to eleven o’clock when
Anchor, Goldington Green abv) from
we arrived, we were made very welcome
GK’s
and all three handpumps were in use: the
Scottish outpost, on its handpumps.
regular beers, Eagle and Doom Bar, were
Presumably the Belhaven was left over
accompanied by a very welcome guest to
from Burns Night the week before; I tried
me, Adnams Ghost Ship, which I enjoyed
it and found it a pleasant winter ale and
greatly as it was in good condition. An
well kept. GK’s Six Nations beer, Scrum
oddity of the Royal George is that the bar
Down, was due up next. Of the three chain
is designed for heavy crowds – it has
pubs near Goldington Green the Anchor is
straps, as in old-fashioned London tube
definitely the most real-ale friendly.
trains, for the standees to hang on to!
Fortunately there were seats for us at the From the Anchor we travelled next to …
end of a long evening. the
Anchor!
Another January Thursday, another trip…
The one
We started this time from the White Horse
at Great
in Newnham Avenue, Bedford, a large
Barford
suburban-style interwar pub kept by the
this time,
popular Steve and Lucie Fuller for the last
the
few years. We found the pub quite busy
pleasant
even at 6.30, with some people already
Wells
dining. On that evening the cask ales on
house
the handpumps in this Wells house were
Anchor, Great Barford right by
Eagle and Directors accompanied by
the River
Brakspears Bitter and two non-Marston’s
Great Ouse. It was quite busy at 8 p.m.
beers – Adnams Ghost Ship and Black
with diners and drinkers in the bar. Its
Sheep Ram Tackle, the last-named a
handpumps offered Eagle, the then-
special for the Rugby Six Nations
Join over 191,000 members of CAMRA and help fight for Britain’s pub and beer heritage 15The January Round ... continued
current Wells Wandering Brewer beer,
Pilgrims Pale, and Adnams Broadside. I’d
had the Pilgrims elsewhere, so I tried
Broadside for the first time in a long while.
It’s strong – 4.7% abv – dark and malty,
rather like Directors, and it was in good
condition.
Moving
on
again
we next
arrived
at the
Royal Which could not be said for our next stop,
Oak at the Greyhound at Haynes, but even
Roxton, though it wasn’t busy it had stayed open,
a good and was rewarded by our custom. It had
GK IPA, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord and
example of the pub becoming the Oakham Scarlet Macaw on, though Tolly’s
community hub – it also incorporates the low-gravity English Ale was coming on at
village post office and a cycle repair shop, the weekend. Many of our company
and a restaurant on Thursdays to chose Landlord but I can never resist
Saturdays. On the other hand, it also has Oakham’s hoppy beers and found the
gambling machines, making it a bit like an Scarlet Macaw excellent.
Australian pub. The present licensees try
to offer beers not usually found in Final stop of this January odyssey was the
Bedfordshire and on this evening they Stone Jug at Clophill, which was busy as
offered three beers all at 3.8% abv: usual despite the lateness of the hour. Its
Woodforde’s Wherry (Norfolk), Cotleigh regulars are Otter Amber and St Austell
Tawny Owl (Somerset), and Parkway Trelawney, both West Country beers rarely
Brewery’s Talking Parrot (also Somerset), seen anywhere else in Bedfordshire, and in
the last-named at a bargain price of £2/ addition it was offering Leighton Buzzard
pint! Most of us chose the bargain, which Captain Cook, Mighty Oak Captain Bob -
turned out to be a traditional-style bitter. all of them 3.8% abv session bitters – and
Cotleigh Barn Owl (4.5% abv) for those
Next stop: the Hare and Hounds at Old customers wanting something a bit
Warden, a Wells house best known these stronger. I wasn’t one of those and tried
days for its food. It offered Eagle, Courage Captain Bob (which sounds as if it was
Best and Adnams Ghost Ship, but the named after Robert Maxwell!) and found it
Ghost Ship ran out before I could get my a conventional traditional-style bitter,
ration of it. Fortunately a cask of Young’s acceptable but not exciting.
Special was ready to replace it, and I got
the first half out of the barrel and found it Then it was home to Bedford after a
in good condition. It was getting late by month’s hard work pub-assessing.
now but some people were still eating and Fytton Rowland
the pub was quite busy.
16 To advertise in the Firkin, please contact Neil Richards - 01536 358670Beer in Space
T
heir mission was to explore Due to limitations of what astronauts
strange new worlds, seek out new can take to space they may not be able
life and new civilizations. To boldly to take a few bottles or cans of their
go where no man has gone before! favourite beer as it would also lead to
Wouldn’t it be brilliant on such a mission extra rubbish. So could they brew it in
to sit down and enjoy a pint of beer? In space?
this article we explore Beer in Space!
Kirsten Sterrett of the University of
Alcohol has already made it into space; Colorado was sponsored by Coors to
in 1969 when Buzz Aldrin took study the effects of fermentation in
communion on the moon he noted that micro-gravity back in 1998. She sent up
the wine swirled like syrup in the chalice. a small sample of wort with a packet of
The Russians took alcohol, mainly yeast, the yeast was pitched in space
spirits, to space which led to grumblings and left to ferment. They found that
when the International Space Station instead of the yeast piling at the bottom
(ISS) was established and it was it was evenly dispersed throughout the
decided that it would be alcohol free. solution. When it returned to Earth they
Spirits and wine are ok in space as they found it was very similar to beer brewed
are flat, so act like water. Beer, however, on Earth. Which means it is possible to
contains gas. ferment a beer in space.
In 1985 Pepsi and Coca-Cola were taken In December 2017 Anheuser-Busch
into space to observe the effects of (owners of Budweiser), sent some
carbonated beverages in space. They barley seeds to the ISS as part of an
found that the gases stayed within the experiment. They intended to study the
liquid instead of rising to the top, which effects of microgravity on the seeds and
meant that each sip was foamy. On top then study how barley would grow in
of this the astronauts were consuming space. Currently the results are
more gas than usual, leading to a unpublished, but this could lead to an
greater need to burp, but in micro- exciting time for beer in space. If we
gravity the gases and liquids don’t could grow barley successfully then we
separate in the stomach, meaning that are most of the way there. Anheuser-
the astronauts had ‘wet-burps’ where Busch do intend on being the first
small amounts of liquid were expelled brewer on Mars. However, there is no
with the gas. This would mean that a research into growing hops, which
space beer would have to be fairly flat require a lot of sunlight, in space.
to be enjoyed. However, in 1996 Coca-
Currently we know that water can be
Cola developed a system of dispensing
taken to space, we also know as of July
a carbonated drink in space. It involves
2018 that there might be a lake of water
pumping the drink into a bottle (similar
on Mars. We know that yeast can survive
to a key-keg) where the bag inside the
and ferment alcohol in space, if the
container maintains pressure around
barley was grown successfully then we
the liquid which helps to preserve the
are very close to seeing beer in space.
carbonation, taste and to serve it more
easily. Dan Veal
To advertise in the Firkin, please contact Neil Richards - 01536 358670 17Branch Diary
CAMRA North Beds Branch business Thursday 14th-Friday 15th – Informal
meetings are normally held on the second Socials
Thursday of alternate months. Social At the St Neots Beer and Cider Festival
events are held on the third Thursday of (see page 10)
each month. Monday 18th – Branch Annual General
Guests are welcome at social events, but Meeting
members have priority on brewery visits. At Eagle Brewery Visitors’ Centre,
For latest information visit the branch Havelock Street, Bedford, at 7.30 for 8 p.m.
website at northbeds.camra.org.uk CAMRA members only.
Unless otherwise stated, for all events APRIL
further details can be obtained from, and Thursday 25th – Local brewery visit
bookings made with, Gary Mudd on 01234 To Potton Brewing Company. Booking
741871 or e-mail essential.
socials@northbeds.camra.org.uk MAY
Monday 6th – Branch May Day Breakfast
MARCH Details to be announced.
Thursday 7th – Branch Meeting
Business Meeting at Kings Arms, St Mary’s Thursday 9th – Branch Meeting
Street, Bedford, at 8 p.m. CAMRA Business Meeting at Bedford Rowing Club,
members only. Duckmill Lane, Bedford, at 8 p.m. CAMRA
members only.
Thursday 16th – Pubs visit
Details to be announced.
JUNE
Thursday 6th – Summer Day Out
Details to be announced.
Thursday 20th – Pubs visit
Details to be announced.
The Anchor at Goldington
Green – an Apology
In the Winter 2018-19 issue of the Firkin,
we described a visit to the Anchor at
Goldington Green, Bedford, illustrated by
a photograph. Unfortunately the
photograph was not The Anchor!
We apologise to the manager of the
Anchor for this error. An actual
photograph of the Anchor is included in
this issue – see page 15.
The wrong photo was actually the Park
Pub and Kitchen in Kimbolton Road. We
also apologise to its licensee for
attributing that photo to another pub.
Join over 191,000 members of CAMRA and help fight for Britain’s pub and beer heritage 19You can also read
