Hop Press

Issue 3 – October 1981

A rough scan & OCR of the original leaving out adverts & some sections such as the Crossword
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Contents

• Whitbread - The Latest
• Letters
• Diat lagers - The Fattening Truth
• Bass Campaign
• Pub News
• Beer Drinkers Fault Finder
• Many a True Word; Recipe - see pdf version
• Collectors Corner
• Competition Pages - see pdf version
• Real Ale Travels ... Southampton
• Branch Diary

(The views expressed in HOP PRESS are not necessarily the views of the branch or campaign as a whole).

WHITBREAD, THE LATEST Hop Press index

One of the many people who took interest in the letter written by the local Branch Secretary in the Southern Evening Echo, regarding the end of brewing at Romsey, was the Whitbread Director, Mr Ralph Spreckley, After seeing the letter, he got in touch with CAMRA to discuss this in more detail.

Three members of the branch were invited to visit Mr Spreckley at his home, one of the questions put to him was whether the Strong Country Bitter would be the same when brewed at Portsmouth. Mr Spreckley assured us that every effort would be made to keep the brew the same, several trial beers would be brewed he said, and in fact we were later invited to the sample room to taste the new beer - but more about this later.

One question, of great concern to branch members, was put to the Director, that is the future of Wessex Mild - a beer which seems to be fast disappearing from local Whitbread pubs, Several landlords have been told by Whitbread Sales Representatives that the mild is no longer available - due to lack of demand - despite the fact that it forms a large proportion of the beer sold in several pubs in the area. Mr Spreckley surprised us by saying that as far as he was aware, there were no plans to discontinue Wessex Mild - it would be continued as long as there was a demand for it.

We also expressed concern at the number of Whitbread pubs that ore being sold without licenses. Mr Spreckley assured us that the brewery had a social responsibility towards the public and told us that pubs would not be sold de-licenced if there was no other pub in that area.

We also asked about the future of the site at Romsey, now to be used for bottling and distribution only. Mr Spreckley said that the brewing equipment was likely to be sold. There had also been rumours that in two years time, all bottling and distribution would be moved to a new depot in Rownhams, but we were assured that this rumour was unfounded.

On the subject of the new beer, on 22 June we were invited to the Brewery to sample it. Our palates could spot the difference between the two beers, but this would not be the final trial before the new beer was put on sale.

Although we were sorry to hear that Romsey was to stop brewing, we are pleased that Whitbread have come forward to put their side of the story. This shows that the brewers are willing to consult CAMRA rather than ignore them - as was their policy when the Campaign first started.

LETTERS Hop Press index

Dear Ed,

Your Editorial on the front page of May's Hop Press prompted a few thoughts among local Imbibers- initially over the notion that at £4.80 a gallon, beer is cheaper than petrol. OK, so on the dray perhaps, but we wonder...

The other thing, however, is the notion that in any recent period, Romsey has been producing decent beer. In the boat trade there is now a feeling that marinas are a good thing because they provide places for 'that sort of person' with 'that sort of boat', and thus leave the decent moorings and anchorages free for those of us who enjoy the peace and freedom that is part of the essence of sailing.

May I submit that CAMRA is sponsoring the same thing with pubs? On the one hand we hove the birth of small brewers, such as Ringwood and New Forest, where the care necessary with the brew is on a satisfactory basis, and on the other, we have still those brewers who are prepared to take the trouble now extending themselves far into the free trade - Adnams, Wadworth, Gales, Marstons and the rest. In so doing, perhaps the drinking public is also becoming polarised - between those of us who appreciate a decent pint and the conservation of our fellow men - and women, and those who want Eurofizz, Whitbread-fizz, the juke box, space invaders and scampi & Chips.

There can be little doubt now that these are the major ingredients of the Whitbread's marketing 'philosophy' and so as long as the inroads being made for the decent stuff continues, why not? Let 'that sort of person' drink 'that sort of beer' in 'that sort of pub' - and leave the civilised ale houses free for those of us who enjoy the peace and freedom that is part of the essence of drinking.

Cheers!

A J SIGGERY - 7 Duart Court, New Milton

Dear Ed,

Whitbread:
Believe their Wessex cask mild brewed in Portsmouth is not sweet enough for drinkers in the Western part of their trading area, Southampton and New Forest.

Believe their Keg Best Mild is sweet enough for these customers. Withdrew a cask mild that was brewed locally in Romsey in 1980.

Have withdrawn the cask mild even from pubs where it was popular and are still doing so in favour of the new best mild.

And have promised to stop supplying cask mild altogether if total sales fall below a target figure in the Wessex area.

Why don't they:
Publicise the cask mild and encourage people to try it?

Brew a cask version of the Best Mild?

Change the cask mild?

Buy in someone else's mild?

Or Even:
Ask the customers what they want?

Yours mildly disappointed,
Norman Spalding

DIAT LAGERS..
THE FATTENING TRUTH Hop Press index

Ever thought_ of including Guinness in a weight reduction programme? Of Course not. But the fact 1s that the well-known black liquid which has done more for inflation than any number of governments, has less calories than some of the popular slimmers beers.

The big problem is that many people confuse the words DIAT with diet, and think low carbohydrate means low calorie which it doesn't, and it is calories that count when slimming.

Diat Pils are low in carbohydrate as they are brewed for longer and most of the sugar turns to alcohol, but as alcohol has more calories per gram than carbohydrates, a high alcohol/low carbohydrate beer would contain as many calories as a normal beer.

The only people who benefit from these beers are diabetics who because of the low sugar level, can drink it without including it in their diet, then it is only recommended if they overweight.

Lite lagers are not as strong as diat Pils being of equal alcohol content as an ordinary bitter, but as it has been pointed out, all alcohol is fattening.

So what do you do? The following chart shows the calories and carbohydrate counts of the more popular diats and lites and those of alternatives.

*Calorific and carbohydrate values obtained directly from the breweries.

As can be seen, many of the so-called slimming beers contain more calories than the milds and bitters, which can cost up to 10p per pint dearer. The obvious fact to be gleaned from the chart is - if you want to lose weight you don't have to drink the high strength/high profit beers just cut down on the consumption of your usual drink.

But why are these more expensive? When was the last time you saw mild advertised on TV amid exploding glasses and lasers? (Whitbread spent £2m advertising Heldenbrau and we still don't know what we did to deserve it!)

With Diats and Lites accounting for about 10% of lager sales it is no wonder that brewers want you to drink their brand. But it is no reason for them to con the public by implying that their beers will help you slim because there is simply only one rule to follow, that is "If you want to lose weight, but don't want to give up drink completely, the simple solution is to cut back on the quantity you consume."

- and if you want to save a few pence as well try the mild!

* A professional dietitian as appeared in What's Brewing August 1979.

BASS CAMPAIGN Hop Press index

As readers of What's Brewing, CAMRA's national magazine, will know, Bass last month announced the closure of their No 2 Brewery at Burton-upon-Trent. This decision, to be implemented in September 1982, also means that the famous Burton Union system of fermentation will be-taken out of use. This Victorian construction has been used for many years to ferment the distinctively flavoured draught Bass. Worthington Best Bitter and the naturally-conditioned bottled White Shield, are also passed through it.

Despite their advertising claims in the past, which emphasized the uniqueness and tradition of draught Bass, the company has been actively seeking a substitute method of brewing for these beers, using conical fermenters (the type they brew lager or anything else in). Despite CAMRA's concern that the flavour may change after fifty or more years of brewing in the same equipment and with the same strain of yeast (or at least its derivative) the company told representatives of CAMRA at a meeting in 1980 that they were already near to reproducing the taste so closely that no-one would be able to tell the difference.

Now, What's Brewing reports, this goal appears to hove been reached. CAMRA's party of tasters could not tell Burton-Union brewed Bass from the new variety at a specially arranged sampling session in May this year. However, it may still fail to achieve consistency in mass production over a long period, and for this reason CAMRA has reservations as yet about giving the new brew unconditional approval. Experience when Bass closed Joules Brewery at Stone, Staffordshire, in the early 1970s leads us to suspect the worst of any change they introduce, regardless of their assurances.

The message for you, the drinker, is that the new Bass is being tested in selected pubs at this moment. You could be drinking it tonight. If you notice any change in draught Bass (or, for that matter, White Shield or Worthington Best Bitter - the traditional variety) write and tell :

Mr Jack Leachman, Chairman, Bass Brewing Ltd,
137 High Street, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffs DEl 4 lJZ

The Burton Unions [See pdf version for photo] are an old and proven brewing system dating back to the 1840s. Beer ferments in a series of interconnected large oak casks, called Unions. The frothing brew circulates round the system continuously passing over the yeast - and it is this process that helps to give Draught Bass its unique taste and character. The Union system also plays a vital role in preserving the Bass yeast - which has remained unchanged for over 150 years.

PUB NEWS Hop Press index

It was reported in the last issue of the HOP PRESS that the Sun Inn at Romsey had a new landlord. However, this is a reporters error as the news is 16 years late. We apologise to everybody for this mistake.

Several Marstons pubs now have the newly named Mercian Mild and Capital Bitter (PXX) which up till now has not been widely available in this area.

The Crown at Eastleigh has changed its name to the Golden Eagle and now sells Eldridge Pope beers.

The Frog & Frigate now brews and sells its own beers in Southampton.

White Horse at Droxford now sells Fullers E.S.B.

The Plough at ltchen Abbas is now a Free House.

The Waterside, Hythe now sells Watneys Tamplins.

Anglers Arms, Bishopstoke now has Strong Country and Pompey Royal on gravity.

Prince of Wales, Bishopstoke has lost its Whitbread Wessex Mild.

Fair Oak Wine Shop now sells 6X on draught to take away.

Black Horse, Waltham Chase has re-opened.

BEER DRINKERS FAULT FINDER Hop Press index

COLLECTORS CORNER Hop Press index

[See pdf version for images]

As was expected, brewers up and down the country have celebrated the Royal Wedding by issuing a commemorative brew. Although there is not really a final list, there are about 87 bottles from various breweries. Some brewers produced a special draught beer for the occasion which was not bottled.

Obviously some of these are easier to obtain than others, (the Three Tuns and Woods Brewery are for instance, limited in number - whilst Carlsberg and Whitbread are only available to trade). The main reason for the larger number of Wedding beers than Jubilee beers is the growth of the small breweries many of whom did not exist in 1977 (Ringwood Brewery who have issued Royal Match and Bourne Valley Brewery with Belle & Crown).

One of the more interesting developments in the Wedding beers is the use of non-return containers, at least three brewers have used ring-pull wide-necked bottles, whilst Felinfoel have put their Princes Ale in a-can.

Another feature is the cost of certain bottles, whilst in Jubilee Year it was unusual to pay over 50p for a bottle, many of them are now around the £1 mark, with a few being over £2 or more.

The list is still growing as the Old House at Home (Chidham) have just issued one. CAMRA members have a list of bottles in What's Brewing, and anyone wishing to have a list should send an S.A.E. to the Editor.

Other collectable bottles which have been issued since the last issue include:

GALES: Who issued "Jubilee Ale" to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of the Old Rutlishians.

HARVEY: Who issued "Round Table Ale" for Lewes Round Table Association.

WATNEYS: Whose Isleworth Brewery issued a bottle called "The Mayors Ale" to commemorate the Lord Mayors visit to the brewery on 2 April.

SELBY: Whose "Fire Iron Bitter" is brewed for the Yorkshire Dales Railway.

PENRHOS: Who had a special beer for the 4th Annual Wye River Raft Race.

FOX & HOUNDS: At Shoddesdon better known as Dasher Downings had a beer called "Babys Bottle" to celebrate the birth of a daughter.

Also look out for 50th Anniversary from Border Brewery. TRAQUAIR HOUSE have issued a Silver Wedding Brew bottled by Belhaven, issued to celebrate the Lairds 25th Wedding Anniversary.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

CAMRA have celebrated their 10th Anniversary by issuing a bottled beer (illustrated above) the beer brewed by Ridleys is a bottle-conditioned beer with an OG of 1055, and a limited number are available at Branch Meetings.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

CALLING ALL BOTTLE COLLECTORS!!

If you have any unwanted bottles for sale or swap, send a list of what you are offering and your requirements to me (with an SAE) and I will compare your list with others and inform you of who else wants what.

REAL ALE TRAVELS... SOUTHAMPTON Hop Press index

RAB NOOLAS

We avoid the City Centre for this walk-about, and instead start working our way down St. Mary Street, which boasts 5 pubs all selling real ale.

We start off with the two Whitbread pubs, firstly the Kingsland Tavern where mild and Strong Country Bitter is served. Conveniently, only a few yards down the road is the Plume of Feathers serving Whitbread's other local real ale, Pompey Royal on handpump.

Next stop is the Joiner's Arms, an Eldridge Pope house. Besides having Dorchester Bitter, IPA and Royal Oak on handpump, the pub is also the centre of a variety of music clubs with folk, jazz and various other groups performing in the large lounge bar to the rear of the building.

Over the road again, and we find ourselves at the Oddfellows Arms, a Courage house. If you don't notice the sign, take a look at the Courage mosaics on the doorsteps. Directors and Best Bitter are served here.

Last on the list of St. Mary Street pubs is the Mason's Arms, a Gales house. This is well worth a visit, although be prepared to breathe in as it is a small, narrow pub and tends to get very crowded. The pub serves Bitter, HSB, light Mild and 5X during the winter months. It is one of the many pubs that Whitbread sold off, and has been tastefully re-decorated by Gales.

If, by this time, you have availed yourself solely of the Pompey Royal the Royal Oak Directors and HSB, it might be wiser to finish here. If you're still raring to go, carry on along St. Mary Street to the right, where it joins a dual-carriageway. Turn left here and to the right is Oxford Street. You don't need much imagination to see that Oxford Street must have been a classy place to live once. Sloan's Wine Bar is one of the few attractive buildings in what is now a sadly neglected area-of the city. Opened for only a few months, it serves Devenish Wessex Bitter on handpump, as well as a wide range of wines and some unusual bottled lagers. The bar meals are also well worth sampling.

Make your way now towards the new Itchen Bridge. In Royal Albert Road under the shadow of the bridge, you'll find the last three pubs of the evening. In the Queens Hotel you can sample a fine pint of Bass.

The Royal Albert, a few yards further on, is Gale's latest foothold in Southampton. Gales beers are all available on handpump in this pub, which stood derelict for several years before being taken over by the brewery. Rumour has it that a quarter of a million pounds were spent on renovating the building, which has a huge amount of bar space and four floors.

The last pub on this walk-about brings us to Marstons, the Marsh a corner pub with a rather unusual interior design. You'll find Burton Bitter and Mild here on handpump.

[See pdf version for map]

BRANCH DIARY Hop Press index

For details of any event please contact either myself, or the Branch Secretary - Nick Martin on Milford-on-Sea 3585.

We are please to advise you that the new HAMPSHIRE REAL ALE GUIDE 1981/82 is now on sale, available in most Real Ale pubs in the Hampshire area.

The cost for this exceptionally good value book is a mere £1.00 which lists over 1000 pubs selling Real Ale in the Hampshire Area.

Buy now and good drinking!

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

I wish to become:

* A full member of CAMRA Ltd (£7. 00 per year)
* A joint member with my wife/husband (£7. 00 per year)

Please make cheques payable to "Campaign for Real Ale Ltd", and send completed applications to: CAMRA Membership, 34 Alma Road, St. Albans, Herts, All 3BW

Name .......................................................

Address .......................................................

After joining you will receive your members monthly magazine 'What's Brewing' but more importantly you will find out about local CAMRA branch activities they will be delighted to welcome you at any time - find out more.

Hop Press issue number 3 – October 1981

Editor: Jon Tugwell
15 Belleview Road
Eastleigh
Tel: Eastleigh 615209
hop-press@shantscamra.org.uk

©CAMRA Ltd. 1981