As we approach St George's Day, I am again pleased to give a shout-out to my friends at one of my favourite pubs, The Willoughby Arms in Kingston.
Their traditional St George's Day beer festival starts at noon on Thursday and ends on Saturday offering the usual 30 odd beers.
The beer list is on their website - www.thewilloughbyarms.com
Highlights from the beer list are the two beers, Wandle and Junction, from Sambrook's Brewery which seem hard to find in my patch, together with Spring Ale and Honeydance from Twickenham Fine Ales . I guess Honeydance is a special Sundance brewed with honey. There is also the legendary Downton Chocolate Orange Delight and, although I have been going on about it for two years, I challenge anyone not to love that beer. Dark Star are also represented with their Saison, Festival and IPA beers. To finish there is another rare cask of Fullers Golden Pride. Something for everyone.
If you dig deep on the Willoughby Arms web-site you will also find a copy of this video that I took at the event last year. Come along on Friday at six and you can see them in the flesh so to speak.
Showing posts with label twickenham brewery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label twickenham brewery. Show all posts
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Friday, 6 November 2009
Twickenham Brewery
I took the short bus ride to Twickenham Brewery on Saturday with the CAMRA London Tasting Panel to visit the brewery, gather up-to-date news and assist with Good Beer Guide tasting notes for their four beers that are available throughout the year.
The four regular beers are :
Naked Ladies, a name inspired by the statues of water nymphs in York House gardens in Twickenham, a 4.4% golden ale with a distinct hop aroma and flavour,
Twickenham Original, a malty 4.2% best bitter
Sundancer, their CAMRA award winning 3.7% session bitter
and
Grandstand Bitter - a well hopped, 3.8% brownish amber, session bitter.
The success of these beers together with a seasonal offering and occasional specials, means that Twickenham Fine Ales are, like many other local micros, working flat out, at full capacity, to fulfill the order book.
The next expansion plan is in progress as they invest in a new fermenter, new bigger delivery vehicle, additional staff member and additional space to grow capacity significantly over the coming months.
In theory, the country is in the depths of deep recession but many micro breweries seem to be reporting the same growth in business despite all of the barriers that Government seems to put in their way and despite reports that up to 50 pubs are closing each week.
Cheers to Twickenham, Sambrooks and Brodies for flying the flag for London.
We will also welcome the new Redemption Brewery to London's brewing scene in the next month too.
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Twickenham Brewery
There are so few London breweries that I should write about them all more often. Fuller's is the biggest and most available and I am CAMRA's Brewery Liaison Officer for Sambrook's so both of those have been well represented among my musings on this site over the last year.
Meantime, Twickenham and Brodies have been covered less than comprehensively which is an oversight because all of their beers are generally excellent. The handful of London's brew pubs have not been mentioned at all. Perhaps I should get out more.
Twickenham Fine Ales started brewing in 2004 and became quickly established in local pubs and beer festivals and has won a number of awards for their beers including a silver medal in the Bitter category at Great British Beer Festival in 2007 for Sundancer - a 3.7% hoppy, session bitter.
Every beer - in my opinion - has been a winner. They are all brewed without any use of adjuncts by expert brewer, Tom Madeiros.
The beer that I tasted most recently is London Gold 4.9%, a well balanced strong(er) hoppy beer that has a malty backbone with a long bitter finish. Using four varieties of American hops combined with two British ones it is described as a Normandy invasion on your tongue. On a warm day, it was both refreshing and satisfying - another winner.
Beers from Twickenham will always be a reliable choice if you ever see any among the pumps and casks.
Meantime, Twickenham and Brodies have been covered less than comprehensively which is an oversight because all of their beers are generally excellent. The handful of London's brew pubs have not been mentioned at all. Perhaps I should get out more.
Twickenham Fine Ales started brewing in 2004 and became quickly established in local pubs and beer festivals and has won a number of awards for their beers including a silver medal in the Bitter category at Great British Beer Festival in 2007 for Sundancer - a 3.7% hoppy, session bitter.
Every beer - in my opinion - has been a winner. They are all brewed without any use of adjuncts by expert brewer, Tom Madeiros.
The beer that I tasted most recently is London Gold 4.9%, a well balanced strong(er) hoppy beer that has a malty backbone with a long bitter finish. Using four varieties of American hops combined with two British ones it is described as a Normandy invasion on your tongue. On a warm day, it was both refreshing and satisfying - another winner.
Beers from Twickenham will always be a reliable choice if you ever see any among the pumps and casks.
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
A pound a pint
On my way to Wells and Youngs Brewery in Bedford this week, I took a detour via the local Wetherspoons in the town centre having arrived somewhat early.
The pub this week is showcasing the beers from Great Oakley Brewery, a new one on me and probably one I won't see again for a while. The beer was good, both the mild and the stronger Tailshaker. They weren't the best beers I had tasted recently but but they certainly were the cheapest. The promotion was selling the beers at £1.50 a pint and by the time I had volunteered one of my CAMRA vouchers, it was a pound.
Of course there are many who say this is not a good thing, there are many pubs in Bedford already boarded up and plenty more on the breadline. For me, on that day, I thought it was excellent value.
This is an opportune time to pass on the information that the Wetherspoon in Surbiton, The Cap in Hand, will be showcasing the range of eight beers from Twickenham Brewery over this coming weekend. Take a bit of extra money though as the price there will be £1.59 a pint.
The Kings Arms, Albion Road, Twickenham is also showcasing Twickenham Brewery beers this weekend. As this is not a Wetherspoons, the beer will not be a cheap as £1.59 but is a good pub and worthy of a visit all the same.
The pub this week is showcasing the beers from Great Oakley Brewery, a new one on me and probably one I won't see again for a while. The beer was good, both the mild and the stronger Tailshaker. They weren't the best beers I had tasted recently but but they certainly were the cheapest. The promotion was selling the beers at £1.50 a pint and by the time I had volunteered one of my CAMRA vouchers, it was a pound.
Of course there are many who say this is not a good thing, there are many pubs in Bedford already boarded up and plenty more on the breadline. For me, on that day, I thought it was excellent value.
This is an opportune time to pass on the information that the Wetherspoon in Surbiton, The Cap in Hand, will be showcasing the range of eight beers from Twickenham Brewery over this coming weekend. Take a bit of extra money though as the price there will be £1.59 a pint.
The Kings Arms, Albion Road, Twickenham is also showcasing Twickenham Brewery beers this weekend. As this is not a Wetherspoons, the beer will not be a cheap as £1.59 but is a good pub and worthy of a visit all the same.
Friday, 27 March 2009
Cask Ale Week
As part of Cask Ale Week, on Thursday 9th April, Tom Madeiros, chief brewer at Twickenham Fine Ales, will be visiting The Willoughby Arms in Kingston for a 'Meet the Brewer' evening, from 8pm.
No charge for the event apart from your beers. Everyone is welcome.
Thursday 9th also sees a Brodie's Brewery Evening at Leyton Orient Supporters Club, where the full range of Brodies beers from Sweet William Brewery are expected to be available.
The Willoughby Arms will also be participating in the 'World's Biggest Toast' on Saturday 11th April. Be there for the toast at 7pm followed by a disco, raffle etc.
No charge for the event apart from your beers. Everyone is welcome.
Thursday 9th also sees a Brodie's Brewery Evening at Leyton Orient Supporters Club, where the full range of Brodies beers from Sweet William Brewery are expected to be available.
The Willoughby Arms will also be participating in the 'World's Biggest Toast' on Saturday 11th April. Be there for the toast at 7pm followed by a disco, raffle etc.
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