Hi To Everyone Out There In Beery Beerland

It’s been a little while since I last put out one of my highly entertaining, educational and informative issues so I thought I’d bother you with a few rambling thoughts inspired by a quiet February afternoon in the Brewhouse.

My Wee Journey

Many of you will know that it is customary for me to return to my spiritual home of County Donegal in January and to find joy in the howling gales and perpetual downpours. There are many wonderous things about this wild area including massive sea swells, eerie snow-topped mountains, bogs and far-reaching empty beaches but ............... and there always is one I suppose, there is no real ale whatsoever. For me, this puts a rather larger dampener on what is already a very damp place (sorry Rory, if you happen to read this !). It’s a case of the old adage “When in Rome” and all that. Personally, I am not a great fan of Guinness or Smithwick’s, let alone Tennant’s or Heineken but, due to my capacious belly’s requirements I do somehow manage to struggle through my encounters with these liquids and their associated purveyors.

I was delighted when the Dwan brewery started in Tipperary as their bottled beers travelled up to us in the North-West and they were good. Alas, they didn’t catch on and disappeared. Then there was Hilden’s from the North which I have never actually seen anywhere in the Republic.

And then it happened. BEER !

Blimmin’ typically, I was driving back to Derry Airport for the flight home and decided to stop in Donegal Town for lunch as I have done for many years. I popped in to see a friend in O’Donnells bar. One pint of Smithwicks later, I wander off to the next bar down, The Castle Bar. Beautifully warm and friendly place. Smithwick’s pint number 2 is on its way. As my eyes  became accustomed to the comfy gloom, I began to realize that there were  posters on every wall declaring, “Red Hugh Brew” sold here. It turned out that the owner had an American style strongish I.P.A. made especially for his pub by some chaps down in Roscommon. Of course, I had to give it a go and guess what............there was a good and distinctive flavour ! Just my luck that I couldn’t stay and give it the full road-test as time was pressing and Ryanair waits for no man. I have a very quick trip to Donny planned soon and so will be able to explore this beers possibilities further and I have since discovered that it has a sister beer by the name of Galway Hooker. Can’t wait !

D-Day Map Room Visit 2012

A couple of years ago we ran an extremely successful trip to the amazing map room at Southwick Park where we received an impressive lecture and great insight into the build-up, preparations and final assault regarding the invasion of France by the allied forces in 1944. Later in the year, a Saturday in April/May time probably, we were thinking of repeating the trip. If anybody is interested in this visit, please e-mail me so that I can form an idea of numbers. Friends and families welcome. sales@southwickbrewhouse.co.uk

Specialist Groups and Clubs

If you are a member of a group be it classic cars, bikes, steam –rollers, collections, fish juggling or whatever, why not organise a social visit to the Brewhouse for a tour and a sample. The Golden Lion pub can offer refreshments as well from a simple cup of tea to a full party blow-out. Loads of parking too. Just a thought ! Give us a call :

- Brewhouse - 02392 201133
- Golden Lion - 02392 210437

Miscellaneous  Stuff

In case anyone hasn’t realised, we are back to our normal opening hours i.e Wednesday to Sunday inclusive so why not treat yourself to a friendly greeting from the now defrosted cheery shopkeeper and a few beers or ciders. Here are a few new ones that arrived recently..........

Durham White Stout 7.2%, Buxton Black Rocks 5.5%, Cropton Yorkshire Moors 4.6%, Fyne Ales Hurricane Jack 4.4%, Moor Revival 4.0%, Mallinson’s Omnom 4.2% and there’s more. Many more.

Cheers and best wishes to one and all.

Al and Martin

A Happy New Year And A Cheery 2012

I hope a top time was had by all and some fine ales discovered and enjoyed. It really is a great time of year to play with some truly mad and robust ales.

Beer Fun

Like many people this Christmas, I too had a revolting cold to endure. Unlike most people, I decided to embrace it and put my newly dulled senses to good use and experiment with some of our more pungent and extreme tasting beers. Two particularly good finds include the Naylor's Premium 1000 at 10% from Keighley and the Mikkeller Beer Hop Breakfast at 7.5% from Denmark. Both sublime. Also, on a lighter note, a lovely surprise from the Wensleydale Brewery with Foresters Session Bitter at 3.7%. Clean, crisp, and so, so easy. In stock now.

Where's The Snow ?

Typical innit ! Having just invested in a new heating system for the brewhouse, this Winter has been warmer than William the Conqueror's frogs legs under an ill-placed magnifying glass on a cloudless day. He was quite a short chap, you know. Never trust a short Frenchman. Goodbye-ee Sarkozy. Anyway, should there be a chilly snap in January we are well prepared and look forward to seeing you.

Umm... January

Just to remind you that during the merry month of January we do our old trick of doing a three day week. Therefore, for the course of this month only, we shall be opening on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Then it goes back to the normal five days in February. Ok ?

Cheers then....

I am writing this nonsense on New Year's Eve so you are unlikely to receive it for a couple of days but I would like to thank all of our brewhouse friends for their custom throughout the year and I am now about to take a wander across to the Golden Lion for a well earned and warming Old Dick (or Skew !) to round off a great year.

Cheers from us all.

Al, Martin and, of course, Jane.

A Week Long Celebration of St. David's Day

Great news. We are having a bit of a Welsh extravaganza and have managed to source 23 assorted beers and ciders. All this fantastic Celtic druid fluid will be winging it's way over the Severn this week and will be ready for inspection and purchase from Saturday 26th February until stocks last. Not long, I fear.

Free beer ! Print off this newsletter, bring it along with you to the brewhouse and you'll qualify for a free pint in The Golden Lion pub. You can look forward to a Tomos Watkin's OSB or a Dewi Sant. This offer is only available to newsletter readers at lunchtimes and, of course, while stocks last. The pub will also be offering a menu befitting this great Saint's day. Something leeky or lamby but inevitably delicious. Maybe best to book.

A Flavour of the Incoming
Otley 06 Porter 6.6%
Otley Dark 0 4.1%
Otley O Garden 4.8%
Tomos Watkin's OSB, Cwrw Haf, Cwrw Gaeaf, Cwrw Braf, Magic Lager, Cwrw Idris, Cwrw Ceridwen.
Breconshire Rescue Brew 4.0 %
Breconshire Night Beacon % not sure yet
Breconshire Really Wild Nut Brown % not sure yet
Kingstone Tewdric's Tipple 3.8 %, Challenger 4.0%, Gold Fine 4.0%, Classic 4.5%, Abbey 5.1%, Humpty's Fuddle 5.8%, 1503 Tudor Ale 4.8%, No. 1 Premium Stout 4.4%.
Plus Taffey Apple cider and pear cider from Tomos Watkin's. Must be sampled !

This is the first of a string of beery events planned for the year and if it goes well we shall try to fit in a few more interesting propositions to tempt you.
N.B.
Please remember that we are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and that the Golden Lion is closed on Tuesday lunchtimes.
See you next week or the week after ? Hope so !
Cheers Martin and Al.