tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.comments2015-06-08T08:51:00.035+01:00British Beer And Real AleAlex Cookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07527006757795657635noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-45203679919587000722011-09-12T10:14:49.383+01:002011-09-12T10:14:49.383+01:00You should do a re-visit... I live just around the...You should do a re-visit... I live just around the corner and it's now the best pub around for real ale in my point of view, the pub has been taken over and the new guys love ale! There are six ales on every day and all change constantly- they say "it's one barrel then something new"! They guys opened in April and have already filled a full wall with different pump clips! Plus most of the ales are local, oh and tasty!!Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00685749796647346626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-78698761955557578462011-02-10T14:51:57.429+00:002011-02-10T14:51:57.429+00:00Having just recently come across this blog/rant re...Having just recently come across this blog/rant re Archers beer never found in Swindon, but just about everywhere else North of Watford I thought I would drop you a few lines. <br />As an ex-Archers employee (yes, I was there until the bitter end (nearly), it was always extremely frustrating to hear to hear comments such as the above uttered by nearly every CAMRA or real ale drinker I encountered (usually on my day off), when the answer to the question (why are there little or no signs of Archers beer in Swindon) is extremely simple when you think about it......It begins with A....go on....ok, second letter is R....followed by K, yep, you got it, Arkells brewery, who on my last check owned 102 pubs in total, with approx a third of those in Swindon (not to mention surrounding areas such as Wanborough, Purton etc)! And don't get me started on the other ties, such as Enterprise, S&N, Wadworths etc etc.<br /><br />Whilst I don't quite understand why the Archers Directors at the time decided to sell off the brewery pubs (including the Glue Pot), what I do understand is why so much of the beer was to be found further afield. Simply because we could.<br /><br />I am still in the brewery trade, in Wiltshire and I still have the same issues here that I faced selling beer at Archers in that the number of Freehouses are on the decline and the number of tied and managed are on the increase. <br /><br />As for Bath, well, aside from a handful of freehouses (Green Tree, The Bell on Walcot Street, The Raven, Volunteer Rifleman and the Royal Oak spring to mind), guest ales are just that, guest ales and without a permanent placement, an Archers ale would not have been found 365 days of the year within the city walls. <br /><br />As to the widely held view that Archers produced far too many beers, the main reason for this is simple. Because there was a market for it. How many pubs do you come across who boast of their ever changing range and proudly display hundreds of pump clips across the ceiling and over the bar? And as to the numbers banded about by all and sundry, having actually seen the recipe books and counted them individually, I can tell you it was nearer the 120 mark (when you consider the core range changed from 9 to 6 over the years and seasonals were 6 a month and repeated each year, plus a few extra).<br /><br /><br />I do hope this answers a few questions for you, and in case you were not aware, the Archers brewery site is to re-open in the near future as a brew-pub-cum-restaurant, taken on by an enterprising local landlord, so hurrah! Beer will once again be brewed in that lovely old building for (hopefully) many years to come.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-57245183262312483932011-01-09T12:30:49.437+00:002011-01-09T12:30:49.437+00:00has it closed again as of Jan 2011????has it closed again as of Jan 2011????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-45032792360398995682010-01-03T11:51:05.737+00:002010-01-03T11:51:05.737+00:00HELLO.MY NAME IS DAVE,AND I AM A COLLECTOR OF ARCH...HELLO.MY NAME IS DAVE,AND I AM A COLLECTOR OF ARCHERS PUMP CLIPS.ARE THERE ANY PERSONS OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP ME ADD CLIPS TO MY COLLECTION.HAPPY NEW YEAR,DAVE.DAVEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05650144054464504718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-78882506285214086692010-01-03T11:45:03.323+00:002010-01-03T11:45:03.323+00:00HELLO.I AM A COLLECTOR OF ARCHERS PUMP CLIPS,I AM ...HELLO.I AM A COLLECTOR OF ARCHERS PUMP CLIPS,I AM LOOKING TO ADD TO MY COLLECTION.IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN HELP.KINDLY GET IN TOUCH.HAPPY NEW YEAR.DAVE.DAVEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05650144054464504718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-45506745164113858162009-09-15T11:20:52.323+01:002009-09-15T11:20:52.323+01:00Among some exotic Pub gardens in Britain & Ire...Among some exotic Pub gardens in Britain & Ireland, Ran inn; Firle, East Sussex has evolved into a pub for everybody. As it caters to everyone’s needs like good food, attractive drinking and affable service. Royal Oak; neham, West Sussex has 13th century touch with classic & delicious food. Square & Compass; Worth Matravers, Dorset is perfect for relaxation with winning informal mood with ancient roman relics and fossils. Shave Cross Inn; Bridport, Dorset is 700 year old pub. It is attracting all kinda people with its live & fun atmosphere.Pub Gardenhttp://www.travelfront.com/best-pub-gardens-of-britain-and-ireland-part-i/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-29000460474063864962009-06-19T16:20:00.302+01:002009-06-19T16:20:00.302+01:00Ineed the Star and Dove is in new hands. From the ...Ineed the Star and Dove is in new hands. From the makers of The Martket Place on St Nicholas Street, BS1 we bring you The Star & Dove. Over the last couple of months we have listened to the comments of all and are underway of implementing a lot of changes. We have introduced a new sitting room with childrens area, showing kids dvds everyday. The restaurant will soon be open again, serving the same fantastic food as downstairs, within a more intimate setting. We've intoruced more seating in the garden at the back and new benches out the front. We have a wide selection of lagers and ales in stock, come and take a look at the changes we'd love to see you!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14638327930188034584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-19783366815612768542009-04-30T09:29:00.000+01:002009-04-30T09:29:00.000+01:00Dire isn't it?
When I've criticised this sort of ...Dire isn't it?<br /><br />When I've criticised this sort of thing in hardcore real ale circles the instant defence is always "it's just a laugh, innit?"<br /><br />The "it's just a laugh" defence is expected by its proponents to trump all criticism, but, I ask, who exactly is doing the laughing?Jeff Pickthallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06343140031285101096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-25557975333802219542009-04-16T19:18:00.000+01:002009-04-16T19:18:00.000+01:00Just to correct, The Old Green Tree, is not owned ...Just to correct, The Old Green Tree, is not owned by butcombe, it is a freehouse.Cornubiahttp://thecornubia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-56395339563190063632009-04-12T23:33:00.000+01:002009-04-12T23:33:00.000+01:00A really enjoyable and accurate review. I have alw...A really enjoyable and accurate review. I have always enjoyed my visits to The Old Green Tree. Tourists must pose a real challenge for bar staff in Bath city centre. I recall a barman in The Raven saying how many times every day he had to explain enthusiastically what a "pie" was to visitors from overseas. Serves him right for serving Pieminister.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-71413563202799887072009-03-31T09:07:00.000+01:002009-03-31T09:07:00.000+01:00The other Lib Dem doing good things for pubs is hi...The other Lib Dem doing good things for pubs is his mate Tim Farron, chairman of Fair Pint.<BR/><BR/>I interviewed Farron recently and found him to be highly clued up about what's going on the pub trade and the subtle factors at play within such phenomena as binge drinking.Jeff Pickthallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06343140031285101096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-12205573894943358012009-03-30T14:29:00.000+01:002009-03-30T14:29:00.000+01:00Benjy. In recent years Archers had done some work ...Benjy. In recent years Archers had done some work to improve this problem and actually sorted out tours and tastings - for their own beers obviously. Not that I ever went on one but then I guess I was part of the problem...<BR/><BR/>But fair play to you, an American tourist going to Swindon! I wouldn't recommend it to anyone from Chippenham, let alone all the way from the US.Alex Cookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07527006757795657635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-59475322728613104952009-03-30T10:12:00.000+01:002009-03-30T10:12:00.000+01:00I suspect these breweries just love the media atte...I suspect these breweries just love the media attention they get. After all, no publicity is bad publicity.<BR/><BR/>I sort of hope that the combination of progressive breweries and beer writers like Pete we can give beer greater reverence.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11319272987951077205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-86217876376665016122009-03-25T20:45:00.000+00:002009-03-25T20:45:00.000+00:00Here's a fond memory I have of Archers: as an Amer...Here's a fond memory I have of Archers: as an American tourist who is fanatical about real ale, I visited the brewery for a tour and to buy some pump clips from their shop. I didn't get a tour and they didn't really have a shop, but in the shed outside the brewery they kept a vast collection of pump clips from Archer's and dozens of other breweries. I was able to buy 30 or more different clips from them, instantly expanding my collection by several times. <BR/><BR/>I think that was in 2002 or so. The chap told me they were a distribution depot for many breweries in the area, and when delivering the various casks they needed to supply the pubs with the clips for the particular beer. <BR/><BR/>I went back a few years later but they were no longer a distribution depot and had no pump clips. Can't say I ever saw their beer in a pub, either.Benjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17485810211407482525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-52504581783919866312009-03-25T13:10:00.000+00:002009-03-25T13:10:00.000+00:00Thanks Tommy N, that's very interesting and perhap...Thanks Tommy N, that's very interesting and perhaps a warning to a few others that even brewers with established number of outlets can lose out to micros if they fail to innovate (and maintain quality).Alex Cookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07527006757795657635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-23773157063490432602009-03-25T13:06:00.000+00:002009-03-25T13:06:00.000+00:00If that's true I'll look forward to Brewdog's equi...If that's true I'll look forward to Brewdog's equivalent of 'American Idiot' then Eddie.Alex Cookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07527006757795657635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-41274160055230496662009-03-25T12:59:00.000+00:002009-03-25T12:59:00.000+00:00I've always thought Brewdog were more Green Day th...I've always thought Brewdog were more Green Day than anything..."Eddie Rowles"https://www.blogger.com/profile/16504751692086571702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-18021013350896084072009-03-25T11:48:00.000+00:002009-03-25T11:48:00.000+00:00Archers tried to deliver over the whole country. A...Archers tried to deliver over the whole country. A few years ago their beer was everywhere; even here in Suffolk most free houses would use them for guests (and as permanent fixtures). There beer was average but cheap (£40 a firkin), but as more small micros started opening and brewing more interesting beers they were squeezed out. A good example is their Mild. A few years ago Archers mild was one of only an handful of dark cask ales available all over the country, now micros all over the place are brewing Mild. Last summer Archers stop having their mild as a permanent. <BR/>To compete they sold their beers ridiculously cheaply, and made no money. Sad to see any real ale brewery go though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-23261202804114534562009-03-24T21:54:00.000+00:002009-03-24T21:54:00.000+00:00The reason they have gone bust is because they hav...The reason they have gone bust is because they have been churning out cr*p beer for years.Just recently their beers have been a lot better but their bad reputation has probably killed them off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-84782374641044546472009-03-13T22:31:00.000+00:002009-03-13T22:31:00.000+00:00Actually, I think you are on the money about Brewd...Actually, I think you are on the money about Brewdog. Too much hyperbole can eventually detract.Tandlemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06804499573827044693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-49900086007063904682009-03-13T10:54:00.000+00:002009-03-13T10:54:00.000+00:00Sorry Tandleman and Dave I didn't mean to doubt an...Sorry Tandleman and Dave I didn't mean to doubt any aspect of anyone's ability, through natural processes, to pitch an groinal awning that would make even Pele proud...<BR/><BR/>I concede my experience of WIPAs has been a bit limited having spent most of my more recent US trips on the Eastern shore and my earlier West Coast forays in the company of games hacks who are stuck to their flasks of weak lemon drink rather than explore. <BR/><BR/>As for Thornbridge, I quite like Jaipur (it's on the blog somewhere) but I'm just not wholly enamoured with this particular beer, it just wasn't as good as the comments had lead me to believe - which isn't even Brewdog's responbility - the problem lies with my tastebuds.<BR/><BR/>It's not my fault that I take everything I read at face value!<BR/><BR/>Relump could be a useful word actually. Next time I'm in some marketing meeting I shall use it.Alex Cookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07527006757795657635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-24589825749005913742009-03-12T18:07:00.000+00:002009-03-12T18:07:00.000+00:00I've had some American "Bitter Bombs" which I thou...I've had some American "Bitter Bombs" which I thought tasted similar to the beer that has been overfilling my stomach for around 2 hours and finally makes a bid for freedom. The one in question has a note on the back that said something similar to the BrewDog words and I think is called "Arrogant Beer" or something. Good marketing, crap beer.<BR/><BR/>I've also had many very nice beers from the West Coast USA that I liked. They taste remarkably like Punk IPA. I think BrewDog have got their marketing right and the product ain't bad either.<BR/><BR/>Is it over hyped? Probably, but good luck to them.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, I find little blue tablets do the trouser tent thing better for me, although presence of the right person helps. Beer bottles don't seem to somehow, maybe something is wrong with me?<BR/><BR/>Oh, and word verification is "relump"Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11319272987951077205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-56999550777196361012009-03-12T14:35:00.000+00:002009-03-12T14:35:00.000+00:00This is outrageous. How dare you attack the Blesse...This is outrageous. How dare you attack the Blessed 'Dog. You'll be starting on the saintly Thornbridge next if your snide remark is anything to go by. Just don't that's all, just don't.<BR/><BR/>And, I'll have you know, my trousers tent, because I'm a man. A man do you hear. It has nothing to do with misplaced hype.Tandlemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06804499573827044693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-20598714723730310302009-03-08T20:24:00.000+00:002009-03-08T20:24:00.000+00:00Is Protzy becoming an anachronism?Is Protzy becoming an anachronism?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890147381638811891.post-16937673025161400502009-02-20T21:34:00.000+00:002009-02-20T21:34:00.000+00:00"Could we not think in widescreen for a moment, an..."Could we not think in widescreen for a moment, and not 4:3"<BR/><BR/>I like that.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11319272987951077205noreply@blogger.com