BEER NEWS - September 2010

Arkell's Beer Festival

Following the sad death of Arkell's Brewery's former chairman Peter Arkell last month, the Swindon-based brewery has confirmed that its planned beer festival on Saturday September 11 will being going ahead, in tribute to a great British Brewer (Peter, pictured in 2005). Beers from across England and Wales will start being delivered to the brewery next week for the weekend's festival, which is being held to raise money for local charity Prospect Hospice. Entry costs �5 to include a commemorative glass and two � pint beer vouchers. A tour inside the Victorian steam brewery costs �4 - with all proceeds going to the charity. All tickets are available to purchase on-line: www.arkells.com. Peter's son and current chairman, James Arkell, said: "I can think of no better way to

Rugger gluggers

Greene King IPA, the Official Beer of Harlequins, is getting fans ready for the new season with the launch of the 2010/11 Official Harlequins Supporter Pub Network. For the new Aviva Premiership season, the network will consist of nine pubs across Twickenham and South London, all of which will serve Greene King IPA cask ale to the legions of rugby fans packed in for every game. The nine pubs each received a Greene King IPA Supporter Pub kit prior to Harlequins first game of the new season - against London Wasps at Twickenham last Saturday, 4 September. Consisting of glassware, t-shirts, posters and bar runners with dual Harlequins and Greene King IPA

Bye bye Woolpack?

It was announced at the end of August that the pub famous for being the "Woolpack" in long-running TV soap Emmerdale is due to close due to the departure of its tenants. The pub, which is used in the external shots of the popular show, is tied to Enterprise Inns, and reports have indicated that the current tenant Nichola McGrath is struggling due to inflated rents and high beer prices. Mike Benner, Chief Executive of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale said: "No doubt the tight-knit (albeit fictional) community in Emmerdale would jump at the chance to buy this icon of a pub together, but unfortunately the

Shandy is just dandy

We are mystified by most of the information in a press release on behalf of the Bittersweet Partnership, which tells us they joined with "celebrity nightclub Kanaloa" to create special Shandy cocktails which were apparently a huge hit in August. Even more exciting (?) the shandies were enjoyed by aficionados such as Coco Sumner (Sting's daughter - at least we've heard of him, if not her) and someone called Jamila Jameel (pictured). Accusations of us being boring old farts are cruel, but perhaps fair. Here's a recipe: Shandy Blush 15ml fresh raspberry juice 15ml lemon juice 15ml sugar syrup 165ml Kasteel Cru Rose 100ml ginger ale Churn all ingredients with crushed ice in a 14oz catalina glass. Garnish with two raspberries and an apple fan.

Someone's got to do it...

The London Ale Taster, who was recently appointed in a ceremony at Old Spitalfields Market, London, has embarked on an epic year-long quest to visit over 300 London pubs in search of the best ales, writing a blog about his experiences along the way. Steve Williams, a 49-year-old Chartered Accountant from South West London, took the crown in front of an assembled crowd at Old Spitalfields Market earlier this summer. He commented: "I am delighted to be the winner of this coveted role. The judges decided that my passion for beer was the deciding factor and I will do my best to make sure I live up to the title of London Ale Taster. Cheers!" Steve started his journey at Old