Wells and Youngs have announced a series of seasonal ales to join their regular portfolio of Young's, Courage and Charles Wells beers.
The first will be a welcome return in cask for Ram Rod, the bottled beer that was legendary in the Young's boozers of a bygone age. The mixture of Ram and Special marked a right of passage for any youthful Young's drinker - a light and bitter for grown ups !
Since the Young's pubs in London have gradually scrubbed up in recent years, bottles of Ram Rod have become scarce. My local refused to stock it as it attracted custom that they were trying to move on. The reason also that they turned the public bar into a Bellini Bar and the gents toilet into a "Ladies Pamper Room"
So I guess that the new cask Ram Rod will not be seen in my neck of the woods.
It should be around during September but also Wetherspoons will have it exclusively in October as part of their beer festival.
Ram Rod is described as a 5% amber beer, with a fruity, vinous and hoppy nose, packed full of flavour. It is full bodied with a fine balance between malt and hops.
I look forward to meeting this old friend again.
Showing posts with label Youngs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Youngs. Show all posts
Monday, 6 September 2010
Monday, 9 August 2010
Green Man
A long week at Great British Beer Festival with much to share over the coming days. 
Long time readers of this blog may remember that one of the first themes I wrote about some two years ago was the current trend to modernise pub signs.
I wrote a small piece here about this sign which had appeared at the Green Man in Putney Heath.
At the time it was clear that the regular drinkers at the pub were none too impressed with this illustration of the pub's historic name and there were moves afoot to make their dissatisfaction known to the pub's owners, Young's.
I passed the pub each night last week on my ride home from the Great British Beer Festival and noticed that the old sign, the one that was in situ before the gingerbread man, had reappeared.
In my CAMRA life, I have always been a fan of local campaigning, beer drinkers making their views known. If there is little to be gained by keeping the status quo, the pub operating companies can get a little more respect by bending their views a little in the face of customer concerns.
Bravo to the beer drinkers in the Green Man for making noise and bravo to Young's for accommodating their request.
Personally I am not sure which one I prefer but that is another story.
Long time readers of this blog may remember that one of the first themes I wrote about some two years ago was the current trend to modernise pub signs.
I wrote a small piece here about this sign which had appeared at the Green Man in Putney Heath.
At the time it was clear that the regular drinkers at the pub were none too impressed with this illustration of the pub's historic name and there were moves afoot to make their dissatisfaction known to the pub's owners, Young's.
I passed the pub each night last week on my ride home from the Great British Beer Festival and noticed that the old sign, the one that was in situ before the gingerbread man, had reappeared.
In my CAMRA life, I have always been a fan of local campaigning, beer drinkers making their views known. If there is little to be gained by keeping the status quo, the pub operating companies can get a little more respect by bending their views a little in the face of customer concerns.
Bravo to the beer drinkers in the Green Man for making noise and bravo to Young's for accommodating their request.Personally I am not sure which one I prefer but that is another story.
Thursday, 24 June 2010
London's Secret Brewery
A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the now mothballed Ram Brewery in Wandsworth, formerly the Young's Brewery which was sold to property company, Minerva, in 2006 for £69 million.
Much of the brewing equipment has been scrapped during the decommission but there is plenty that remains in situ much of it awaiting review by English Heritage to determine whether any of it should be preserved.
I have also seen the architects models of the planned redevelopment and can say that it intends to make as much of the brewing heritage as possible. The intention is to build two mainly residential tower blocks of 29 - 39 stories at the rear of the site (the stable end for those who know it) while the front of the site will be more open courtyard overlooked by the old brewery. They are restrained to a certain extent by the listed building status on the old brewery, the brewer's house, the beam engines, the chimney and the stable house so will be building the around the existing plant and buildings where necessary. It is intended that there will be a brewing museum on-site and a microbrewery - which may be operated by Young's.
To this end, I can let you into a little secret. Brewing has been continuous in the brewery since Young's departed for Bedford.
John Hatch, one of the Young's brewing team was retained as site-manager by the owners, Minerva and was charged with making sure that brewing continues in the interim period until any microbrewery or brewpub can be developed.
John set to his task with gusto salvaging any parts of the brewing kit that the scrap merchants refused; begging, borrowing and simply making do to build a tiny brewing plant. For example the brewing kettle was cobbled together using the cut-off tea urn from the canteen.
John has put together a quarter barrel brewery and has been brewing 72 pints a week. The beer is used by Minerva for company meetings and John sometimes hosts small gatherings for the friends of the brewery.
Sad as it was to see the old Young's brewery disappear and I know that not everyone agrees with me that it was unavoidable, I now raise a glass to brewing in Wandsworth and am encouraged by the enthusiasm that Minerva are showing with regard to the brewing heritage of the site. It is expected that the planning permission will be approved in the next month or so after which we will start seeing the redevelopment.
I hope we will eventually see the pub on the corner re-opening, another new brewery for London and a Ram Brewery museum.
Saturday, 19 June 2010
Young's Ram Brewery - Photos by Steve Lyne
In my posting about the Brewery History Society I mentioned that the Journal had included a photographic essay cataloguing the final year of the Young's Ram Brewery in Wandsworth.
Steve Lyne spent the best part of a year with his camera (and leads, laptop, lamps, tripods etc) and unrestricted access to the working brewery in its final days.
Ken Don, Young's head brewer said "Steve has captured the spirit of what made Young's one of the most admired brewery companies in Britain. There is a warmth of feeling in these images which goes beyond the actual pictures and makes the reader feel part of the history, tradition and fun that working at Young's was all about."
The photos are available to view in full colour at Steve's website www.lyne.co.uk and are available to purchase in limited edition prints - details if you scroll down here.
More news from the Ram Brewery next week - stay tuned ....
Steve Lyne spent the best part of a year with his camera (and leads, laptop, lamps, tripods etc) and unrestricted access to the working brewery in its final days.
Ken Don, Young's head brewer said "Steve has captured the spirit of what made Young's one of the most admired brewery companies in Britain. There is a warmth of feeling in these images which goes beyond the actual pictures and makes the reader feel part of the history, tradition and fun that working at Young's was all about."
The photos are available to view in full colour at Steve's website www.lyne.co.uk and are available to purchase in limited edition prints - details if you scroll down here.
More news from the Ram Brewery next week - stay tuned ....
Friday, 28 August 2009
Hare and Hounds
My other local pub in the news lately is The Hare and Hounds in East Sheen. This is my real local. It has been my local pub of choice for just over thirty years. It's a big pub and over the years has proved to be all things to all people. Owned by Young's it has recently been the subject of their current phase of makeovers and refurbishments.
You may remember that it was closed for the work to be done just before Easter.
The pub was closed for months due to various problems with planning and disputes with the local authority but eventually re-opened about a month ago.
First impressions were good. The pub remains very much a pub rather than a restaurant style gastropub. Being so large, it can still provide different drinking or dining experiences for everyone. The garden is hidden and huge and has been scrubbed up and is a pleasant place for a pint in the fine weather. The back of the pub used to house a snooker table (removed in a previous refurb) so is large enough to have a waiter service dining room. The other two bars are spacious, comfortable and well furnished. A large screen TV is unobtrusively sat on one wall and will be used for special sporting events. The food offering is much improved and the pub is also now open for morning coffee. A real local amenity and very much what the best local pub should be. All things to all people.
Which brings us back round to the front and the public bar that we all fought so hard to retain. The council's heritage officer agreed with complaints that this was of historic importance to the area being one of the last 30's style public bars in any of the local pubs and refused an initial Young's application to make the pub wholly open plan.
Bloody Hell ! The public bar has been turned into a Bellini Lounge ! Worse still, it is now only available for private hire and is locked most of the time. A real thumb in the eye for those of us who campaigned for its retention and a real lost opportunity for Young's (IMHO). It really does seem that that they are hell bent on removing the old style drinker for a more affluent diner.
That is fine and Young's results do not lie with approaching 30% of turnover being food driven. However, with a such a large pub surely there was space to accommodate the blokes who want to visit the betting shop next door and return to the comfort of the pub for a pint or two.
Blimey, even the gent's urinal in the old public bar has been turned into a ladies pamper room !
One saving grace is that the beer quality is superb. I have visited a few times in the last month and each time I have been struck by how good the beer is. It is my honestly held belief that a pub will change in character over time but it is the beer that is the most important for me. With the quality of the beer this good, I will hopefully be a regular visitor for the next thirty years.
You may remember that it was closed for the work to be done just before Easter.
The pub was closed for months due to various problems with planning and disputes with the local authority but eventually re-opened about a month ago.
First impressions were good. The pub remains very much a pub rather than a restaurant style gastropub. Being so large, it can still provide different drinking or dining experiences for everyone. The garden is hidden and huge and has been scrubbed up and is a pleasant place for a pint in the fine weather. The back of the pub used to house a snooker table (removed in a previous refurb) so is large enough to have a waiter service dining room. The other two bars are spacious, comfortable and well furnished. A large screen TV is unobtrusively sat on one wall and will be used for special sporting events. The food offering is much improved and the pub is also now open for morning coffee. A real local amenity and very much what the best local pub should be. All things to all people.
Which brings us back round to the front and the public bar that we all fought so hard to retain. The council's heritage officer agreed with complaints that this was of historic importance to the area being one of the last 30's style public bars in any of the local pubs and refused an initial Young's application to make the pub wholly open plan.
Bloody Hell ! The public bar has been turned into a Bellini Lounge ! Worse still, it is now only available for private hire and is locked most of the time. A real thumb in the eye for those of us who campaigned for its retention and a real lost opportunity for Young's (IMHO). It really does seem that that they are hell bent on removing the old style drinker for a more affluent diner.
That is fine and Young's results do not lie with approaching 30% of turnover being food driven. However, with a such a large pub surely there was space to accommodate the blokes who want to visit the betting shop next door and return to the comfort of the pub for a pint or two.
Blimey, even the gent's urinal in the old public bar has been turned into a ladies pamper room !
One saving grace is that the beer quality is superb. I have visited a few times in the last month and each time I have been struck by how good the beer is. It is my honestly held belief that a pub will change in character over time but it is the beer that is the most important for me. With the quality of the beer this good, I will hopefully be a regular visitor for the next thirty years.
Thursday, 11 June 2009
AGMs
I know that some readers here are also regulars at the Young's and Fuller's annual general meetings each year. I can confirm that the dates this year are 14th and 21st July respectively.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Hare and Hounds
You may remember the story of my family enjoying the ages old tradition of father and son using the same watering hole. Well, it did not last long.
The Hare and Hounds closed a couple of months ago to enjoy the current trend of a Young's makeover. Originally the planning application was going to replace the 1930's public bar with a new gents toilet but a robust protest by drinkers to the local authority planning office was successful and Young's had to push ahead with plans for a makeover rather than a full refurbishment.
At the time, a huge bill board was posted outside the pub stating "At last".
What it means nobody knows.
However, ironically work on the pub stopped abruptly before Easter and the local paper published that there was a problem with planning for an upstairs kitchen and Youngs are now waiting until that planning application is agreed so that they can open with a fully operational food offering.
When it does finally reopen, we at least will be able to say "At Last".
Friday, 13 February 2009
Good Beer Guide
Some analysis of Good Beer Guide pubs in London reached me a while ago and I think it worthy of sharing and comment.
The last three guides have the following numbers of Youngs pubs :
2007 = 53 pubs
2008 = 44 pubs
2009 = 35 pubs
The following is the same total for Fullers pubs :
2006 = 40
2007 = 38
2008 = 36
2009 = 36
The total number of Fullers pubs in the last four years has remained relatively stable, but there are very few that have been in for all of the four years, with most only being in one or two of those years. There is a lot more change as to which pub is in which year.
And finally Wetherspoons :
2006 = 26
2007 = 30
2008 = 24
2009 = 34
Wetherspoons has increased in number steadily over the years apart from a glitch in 2008 which relates to the end of the poor eras around 2006 & 2007 when real ale was less of a priority before its current policy and much improved availability and quality. I believe that Wetherspoons managers are on a bonus scheme that includes extra benefit if the pub makes it into the Guide.
Nothing really significant to add. I don't suppose Youngs will be too bothered by this statistic as it could be argued that this shows that their pubs are moving away from being beer led to a more mixed offering - a deliberate movement for them that has had significant investment since the brewery sale.
Although Fuller has the current largest number, I believe there is the potential to do much better. It is clear that they have many pubs on the fringe of the guide. Some more deliberate focus could improve their number.
Wetherspoons are improving (No sh*t Sherlock). Their excellent beer festivals and deliberate focus on CAMRA campaigning has done much to ingratiate them with CAMRA branches around the country. Reports are often mixed but the figures cannot lie.
The last three guides have the following numbers of Youngs pubs :
2007 = 53 pubs
2008 = 44 pubs
2009 = 35 pubs
The following is the same total for Fullers pubs :
2006 = 40
2007 = 38
2008 = 36
2009 = 36
The total number of Fullers pubs in the last four years has remained relatively stable, but there are very few that have been in for all of the four years, with most only being in one or two of those years. There is a lot more change as to which pub is in which year.
And finally Wetherspoons :
2006 = 26
2007 = 30
2008 = 24
2009 = 34
Wetherspoons has increased in number steadily over the years apart from a glitch in 2008 which relates to the end of the poor eras around 2006 & 2007 when real ale was less of a priority before its current policy and much improved availability and quality. I believe that Wetherspoons managers are on a bonus scheme that includes extra benefit if the pub makes it into the Guide.
Nothing really significant to add. I don't suppose Youngs will be too bothered by this statistic as it could be argued that this shows that their pubs are moving away from being beer led to a more mixed offering - a deliberate movement for them that has had significant investment since the brewery sale.
Although Fuller has the current largest number, I believe there is the potential to do much better. It is clear that they have many pubs on the fringe of the guide. Some more deliberate focus could improve their number.
Wetherspoons are improving (No sh*t Sherlock). Their excellent beer festivals and deliberate focus on CAMRA campaigning has done much to ingratiate them with CAMRA branches around the country. Reports are often mixed but the figures cannot lie.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Winter Warmer
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I have just spent the morning trying the new Young's Winter Warmer. The traditional breakfast at The White Cross in Richmond to coincide with the clocks going back is now hosted by the pub rather than the brewery but it brings that rare breakfast combo of 2 pints of Winter Warmer together with a traditional breakfast. The pub sold the tickets for a tenner.
Although the kidney, black pudding and haggis added to the usual sausage, egg and bacon etc made for a great breakfast, it was the beer we had assembled for. A standard version of Winter Warmer, the malty, sweet 5% brew was in great form. For my memory, slightly less bitter than last year with more residual sweetness although the best thing from a brewer's perspective about a seasonal ale is that no-one has tried it for 9 months so it is hard to remember the exact taste profile.
Some issues over turnover led to some quality issues last year so the 2008/09 vintage may be curtailed slightly. However, it will be available to at least the end of January. Make the most of it while it is there. It is what winter was made for.
Thursday, 18 September 2008
The Green Man
Here is another from Young's new portfolio of modern pub signs. This one appeared after a recent refurbishment at The Green Man on Putney Heath, a pub dating from 1700 and owned by Young's since 1831.
The history and traditions of the name The Green Man are well documented but I can find no reference to its relationship with a gingerbread man.
The history and traditions of the name The Green Man are well documented but I can find no reference to its relationship with a gingerbread man.
Friday, 5 September 2008
Good Beer Guide
The 2009 Good Beer Guide has landed and is the usual beefy tome at 900 pages.
However, the first deletion arrived in my inbox earlier this week. The Wheatsheaf on Putney Bridge Road in Wandsworth, SW18 is to be closed by Youngs.
Described in the Guide as ...a fantastic unspoilt pub ....a little gem ... welcoming.....worth seeking out, The Wheatsheaf made it into the book for the first ever time in 2008 and is retained for 2009. This is of course, no mean feat for the licensees given the abundance of excellent pubs in the Wandsworth area.
The Wheatsheaf is a tiny pub, a legacy of a bygone age, where the beer drinker was king, and after work drinking holes were always full.
My favourite memories of it will be after visits to the brewery or agm on the usual tour of Wandsworth. There used to be a large pub dog, doberman type, who , given the slightest invitation, would disconcertingly choose to sit on your lap.
The pub will be closing on Saturday 27th September.
However, every cloud has a silver lining and I am pleased to report that the licensees of The Wheatsheaf are moving to their nearest other pub, the Crane, Armoury Way. This has been a pub fraught with problems for years. Flooding was the latest but Youngs have now invested in yet another refurbishment, this time to include flood protection and the pub will be opening on 28th or 29th with hosts who now have a reputation for one of the best pints in town.
The Crane has not been in the Good Beer Guide for approaching 25 years so there is clearly a job to be done on the real ale side. I look forward to a visit in the interests of research.
However, the first deletion arrived in my inbox earlier this week. The Wheatsheaf on Putney Bridge Road in Wandsworth, SW18 is to be closed by Youngs.
Described in the Guide as ...a fantastic unspoilt pub ....a little gem ... welcoming.....worth seeking out, The Wheatsheaf made it into the book for the first ever time in 2008 and is retained for 2009. This is of course, no mean feat for the licensees given the abundance of excellent pubs in the Wandsworth area.
The Wheatsheaf is a tiny pub, a legacy of a bygone age, where the beer drinker was king, and after work drinking holes were always full.
My favourite memories of it will be after visits to the brewery or agm on the usual tour of Wandsworth. There used to be a large pub dog, doberman type, who , given the slightest invitation, would disconcertingly choose to sit on your lap.
The pub will be closing on Saturday 27th September.
However, every cloud has a silver lining and I am pleased to report that the licensees of The Wheatsheaf are moving to their nearest other pub, the Crane, Armoury Way. This has been a pub fraught with problems for years. Flooding was the latest but Youngs have now invested in yet another refurbishment, this time to include flood protection and the pub will be opening on 28th or 29th with hosts who now have a reputation for one of the best pints in town.
The Crane has not been in the Good Beer Guide for approaching 25 years so there is clearly a job to be done on the real ale side. I look forward to a visit in the interests of research.
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Dog and Fox
.JPG)
Continuing the theme, I happened across these examples of Young's new pub signs in Wimbledon last night. Did not manage to sample the pub's beer as I was hot footing it to a "meet the Downton brewer" evening at the Brewery Tap opposite, where the Quadhop was in great form; one of my current favourites.
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
Spotted Horse
At the Young's agm a month or so ago, there was a comment from the floor from a small shareholder that he was disgusted that some of the company's pubs now had pub signs that had been painted by the local kindergarten.
The only pub that I caught the name of was The Green Man at Putney Heath, though I have yet to visit to see for myself.
However, on my way home from the volunteers party after GBBF, I changed night bus in Putney. As I waited for my connection, I glanced across the road to see this :
Now I can't get worked up about pub signs - my campaigning is all about the actual drink that I love - however, I can concede that "disgusted of Wandsworth" does have a point. For a company that is working hard to convince us (not always successfully) that they are focused on their company's history and heritage, I cannot see the value in causing such a storm in a teacup by such nonsense.
A visit to The Green Man is now a must to see their new signs, I am led to believe they are not quite as "basic" as this one.
The only pub that I caught the name of was The Green Man at Putney Heath, though I have yet to visit to see for myself.
However, on my way home from the volunteers party after GBBF, I changed night bus in Putney. As I waited for my connection, I glanced across the road to see this :
Now I can't get worked up about pub signs - my campaigning is all about the actual drink that I love - however, I can concede that "disgusted of Wandsworth" does have a point. For a company that is working hard to convince us (not always successfully) that they are focused on their company's history and heritage, I cannot see the value in causing such a storm in a teacup by such nonsense.
A visit to The Green Man is now a must to see their new signs, I am led to believe they are not quite as "basic" as this one.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Young's AGM
As usual the small shareholders turned out in force for the agm in Wandsworth.
A good year but the chairman was disappointed that the credit crunch meant he could no longer get fillet steak in any pubs. The dividend has doubled in 2 years and the results from the brewing outfit, Wells & Youngs has met targets and contributed good profit. 9 or 10 new pubs - mainly freehold. No mention of those closed pubs and no complaints from the floor. Apart from a complaint about the disapplication of pre-emption rights (I kid you not), the main complaint was that some new pub signs had been painted by the local kindergarten - more on this another time once I have taken a look at the refurbished Green Man, Putney.
Non-Executive director, Roy Summers, responsible for production and beer quality has retired and been replaced by a banker and a resauranteur - a sign of the times for a progressive company.
Lager brands are suffering but real ale sales are outperforming the market - a fact we are hearing more and more on the circuit.
It is the intention that all pubs sell real ale - the only one missing presently, the Fire Stables in Wimbledon will reintroduce Young's Bitter in September.
The usual fairly short meeting was followed by the usual dash for beer. Cask conditioned beer rather than racked bright was available for the first time given the logistics of beer now coming from Bedford. There were certainly no complaints about the beer from the most discerning crowd - a testament to the brewers at Wells and Youngs.
Bottled beers were available to take away (again all real ale) and after an hour or so, we went on the usual march around Wandsworth. Beer in the Spread Eagle, Brewers Inn and the Grapes was all excellently kept followed by one for the road in the Alma.
As usual the executive were all around town and more than happy to answer questions and give confidence about the direction of the company from a cask ale perspective.
Even the city boys, so vociferous in the past about "extracting value from the property portfolio" were more circumspect in the current clime. "Sit tight, this is a well run business, it will be good to see the estate expand ..."
A long day as this was followed by a visit to the GBBF publicty pub crawl and then the North London branch agm for more Young's Bitter. Slept well !
A good year but the chairman was disappointed that the credit crunch meant he could no longer get fillet steak in any pubs. The dividend has doubled in 2 years and the results from the brewing outfit, Wells & Youngs has met targets and contributed good profit. 9 or 10 new pubs - mainly freehold. No mention of those closed pubs and no complaints from the floor. Apart from a complaint about the disapplication of pre-emption rights (I kid you not), the main complaint was that some new pub signs had been painted by the local kindergarten - more on this another time once I have taken a look at the refurbished Green Man, Putney.
Non-Executive director, Roy Summers, responsible for production and beer quality has retired and been replaced by a banker and a resauranteur - a sign of the times for a progressive company.
Lager brands are suffering but real ale sales are outperforming the market - a fact we are hearing more and more on the circuit.
It is the intention that all pubs sell real ale - the only one missing presently, the Fire Stables in Wimbledon will reintroduce Young's Bitter in September.
The usual fairly short meeting was followed by the usual dash for beer. Cask conditioned beer rather than racked bright was available for the first time given the logistics of beer now coming from Bedford. There were certainly no complaints about the beer from the most discerning crowd - a testament to the brewers at Wells and Youngs.
Bottled beers were available to take away (again all real ale) and after an hour or so, we went on the usual march around Wandsworth. Beer in the Spread Eagle, Brewers Inn and the Grapes was all excellently kept followed by one for the road in the Alma.
As usual the executive were all around town and more than happy to answer questions and give confidence about the direction of the company from a cask ale perspective.
Even the city boys, so vociferous in the past about "extracting value from the property portfolio" were more circumspect in the current clime. "Sit tight, this is a well run business, it will be good to see the estate expand ..."
A long day as this was followed by a visit to the GBBF publicty pub crawl and then the North London branch agm for more Young's Bitter. Slept well !
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