Volume 15, Issue 4Winter 2013

Ayrshire and WigtownshireCAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

Globetrotter’s Edition

FREE

CHINA :: NETHERLANDS :: USA :: CUMBRIA :: WALES :: TROON :: TAYSIDE

Winter 2013

2

Craigmill Brewery, Strathaven ML10 6PBtel: 01357 520419 email: info@strathavenales.comwww.strathavenales.com

give me strengthand light...

...that will do nicely

www.awcamra.org.uk

3

Troon Festival breaks records

Chairman: Lindsay GrantEmail: chair@awcamra.org.uk

Secretary: Clare ScottEmail: secretary@awcamra.org.uk

Minutes of Branch Meetings are available to members from the Secretary.

Editor: Stuart McMahon, 93 Montfode Drive, Ardrossan KA22 7PH Tel: 01294 603848 Email: fullpints@awcamra.org.uk

Advertising: Bob Wallace, Tel: 07929 990972 Email: advertising@awcamra.org.uk

Advertising Rates (from Jan 2014):Full Page: £60 1/2 Page: £35

Websites: www.awcamra.org.uk www.ayrshirebeerfestival.co.uk

@awcamra; @troonbeerfest

Ayrshire & Wigtownshire CAMRA Ayrshire Real Ale Festival

Full Pints: Published every 3 months and distributed to all Real Ale outlets in our region. The views expressed in this publication are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the editor or of the Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. © Campaign for Real Ale Ltd

Ayrshire and Wigtownshire CAMRA Branch

The next edition of will be published in March 2014.

Articles, photos and contributions should be sent to the editor no later than Friday 21st February, 2014.

Front Cover: © Festival Glass by George Crawford. www.croftglenimages.blogspot.co.uk

More festival photos on page 10

This year’s Ayrshire Real Ale Festival, held in Troon from 3-5th October was our biggest and best one yet.Over 2,650 people attended and managed to consume 11,220 pints of ale from 131 different breweries! Friday night was the busiest night the festival has seen in its 14 years of selling ale. The first ale to sell out was Long Man Long Blonde, closely followed by Fyne Ales’ award-winning Jarl (despite us having an 18 gallon kilderkin of it).

However, the Beer of the Festival as chosen by festival drinkers was Burnside Brewery’s Stealth - a 6% Extra Special Dark Ale with rich chocolate and liquorice flavours and a good bitter finish. A presentation will be made in due course to the Laurencekirk-based brewery.

Local band Wildcard provided music on Friday evening and proved to be extremely popular judging by feedback. Saturday saw Troon Blackrock Pipe Band entertain in the afternoon, and in the evening, Scottish folk singer Andrew Gordon gave an enjoyable and contrasting style of music.

Our festival website also proved a hit, with almost 9,000 users visiting this year’s site and generating over half a million hits! Visit the site to view lots of photos from the festival. Our Facebook site and Twitter feeds were also busy with plenty of likes and tweets.

Visitors came from far and wide, including the USA and China - Ruixin Cai and Ying Nie from Gui Yang in China (pictured below with piper Iain Cox) were visiting Troon and attended their first ever beer festival.

So, a big thank you from the organising committee to everyone who attended, and we look forward to welcoming you back at next year’s festival which will run from 2nd-4th October 2014.

Craigmill Brewery, Strathaven ML10 6PBtel: 01357 520419 email: info@strathavenales.comwww.strathavenales.com

give me strengthand light...

...that will do nicely

Winter 2013

4

UPPER DECK HOLIDAY FLAT For availability see our website: www.holiday�atfairlie.co.uk

LIVE Music every month with 3-course meal, just £20 per head

Evening Dinner Menu served from 5pm

2-Course Menu, Monday - Sunday: £9.99Available between 12 noon - 2pm, and 5pm - 6.30pm

Outside al-fresco dining area / beer garden

Winter Warmer (from 7th January)Monday - Thursday, Set Menu. Main dishes just £5.99 from 12-2.30pm, or £6.99 from 5-7pmFriday Night Steak NightTwo 8oz Sirloins with choice of sauce for £20Add bottle of Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc for £10

Open every dayChildren welcome until 10pm

Traditional Family Fayre with something for everyone......where a great meal doesn’t cost the earth.

46 Bay Street, Fairlie. Tel: 01475 568432www.villageinnfairlie.co.uk

Check our website for menus and entertainment programmeFREEWiFi

Welcoming Family Atmosphere

RUNNER UP

Best Pub Grub2013 Scottish

Entertainment Awards

WINNER

Ayrshire &Wigtownshire CAMRA Pub of

the Year 2012

3 REAL ALES USUALLY AVAILABLEAMPLE FREE PARKING

Book Now for Hogmanay

Four courses, plus co�ee and tablet, with live music and a piper,

from 7.30pm till late - £49.95

www.awcamra.org.uk

5

Local Brewery NewsAyr BrewingScaur O’Doon Raspberry Ale won a Gold Medal at the recent Peterborough Beer Festival. Somerset Boab’s Black & White Beer, brewed using three types of malt and three varieties of hop is proving popular. For every bottle sold, 20p goes towards Somerset Boab’s Ayr United Development Fund. Watch out for their smart new pumpclips featuring the new brewery logo.

Arran BreweryIt’s been a busy time recently at Arran Brewery - turnover grew by 15% to £835K last year and profits rose by 30%. A grant of half a million pounds was received from Historic Scotland to help with the preservation of the former Rosebank Distillery site in Falkirk, at which the brewery hopes to open a bottling facility and new brewery and micro distillery. They have also bought the former Drummond Hotel in St Fillans on Loch Earn with plans to refurbish the hotel, restaurant and open a new brewery and visitor centre.

Small donations from the sale of every Arran Red Squirrel bottle have enabled six wildlife cameras to be donated to three Red Squirrel Charities to help monitor this declining species. Arran Dark recently crossed the Atlantic and went down well at the Toronto Beer Festival in Canada which featured 230 cask ales. One reviewer described Arran Dark as a beer which “Took her to a happy place. I could honestly have had that all day and be perfectly content”.

Finally, the company hopes to raise up to £4m to fund its projects through a crowd funding campaign and hopes to emulate Brew Dog’s success with this model of funding. Information on the scheme should be available on the brewery website by the time Full Pints is printed.

Toronto Beer Festival

Somerset Boab’s Black & White Beer

SIBA Scotland AwardsSIBA held their regional beer competition in Glasgow in early November and several local breweries managed to win awards. Overall Champion Beer of Scotland was yet another success for Orkney’s Highland Brewery with Island Hopping. They also came away with a further 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medals - a remarkable achievement. Runners up in the

Overall Champion Beer competition were Fyne Ales with Vital Spark in Silver place, and Kelburn’s Dark Moor in Bronze. Strathaven Ales won Gold for Craigmill Mild in the Standard Mild Ales category. Ayr Brewing gained a silver for Leezie Lundie, and Arran a bronze for Arran Blonde, both in the Bottled Gold Beers category. And Ayr also won Silver for Somerset Boab’s Black and White Ale in the Bottled Speciality Beers category. Congratulations to them and all the other medal winners.

UPPER DECK HOLIDAY FLAT For availability see our website: www.holiday�atfairlie.co.uk

LIVE Music every month with 3-course meal, just £20 per head

Evening Dinner Menu served from 5pm

2-Course Menu, Monday - Sunday: £9.99Available between 12 noon - 2pm, and 5pm - 6.30pm

Outside al-fresco dining area / beer garden

Winter Warmer (from 7th January)Monday - Thursday, Set Menu. Main dishes just £5.99 from 12-2.30pm, or £6.99 from 5-7pmFriday Night Steak NightTwo 8oz Sirloins with choice of sauce for £20Add bottle of Merlot or Sauvignon Blanc for £10

Open every dayChildren welcome until 10pm

Traditional Family Fayre with something for everyone......where a great meal doesn’t cost the earth.

46 Bay Street, Fairlie. Tel: 01475 568432www.villageinnfairlie.co.uk

Check our website for menus and entertainment programmeFREEWiFi

Welcoming Family Atmosphere

RUNNER UP

Best Pub Grub2013 Scottish

Entertainment Awards

WINNER

Ayrshire &Wigtownshire CAMRA Pub of

the Year 2012

3 REAL ALES USUALLY AVAILABLEAMPLE FREE PARKING

Book Now for Hogmanay

Four courses, plus co�ee and tablet, with live music and a piper,

from 7.30pm till late - £49.95

Winter 2013

6

The Grapes, 4-6 Bridge Street, StranraerTel: 01776 703386

www.thegrapesbar.co.uk

If you are ever in Stranraer, a visit to The Grapes is one you won’t regret. The Grapes was originally a coaching inn which was erected in 1862. The gantry in the bar is over 100 years old and the bar still has an original working bell-box for the pub.

The present owners, Billy and Sally, are only the 5th in line since the pub was built. The bar has a warm, friendly and welcoming atmosphere and has had visits from people from various parts of the world. Upstairs the pub divides into two rooms - the quiet room which was said to be the first cocktail lounge in Stranraer is now the ladies powder room, and on the other side is a lounge and snug room which has been refurbished with the 1940’s style of the pub.• AccordionbandmostFridaysfrom5–8pm• Realaleondraught• Over40maltwhiskies-oneforeachregioninScotland• OccasionalLiveMusic

Wigtownshire CAMRA

Pub of the Year 2012

www.awcamra.org.uk

7

EditorialAs you’ll read in this edition of Full Pints our local ale drinkers are becoming far travelled - from China, Amsterdam and the USA, in addition to trips to all parts of the UK. What is evident though, there is a huge demand for good beer all over the world. In the USA there are now over 2,500 breweries producing ‘craft’ ales, but it is a rapidly expanding market providing great choice for the drinker. Even here in the UK the number of breweries is at an all-time high with over 1,140 businesses now trading, 187 of which were opened in the last year, an increase of 14%. So, there is no better reason than to go down to your local pub and enjoy a decent pint of ale (and if your local doesn’t stock any, ask them why, and encourage them to try it!).

If you fancy trying some different outlets, then why not come along to our Festive Crawl around Largs on 27th December - it’s a great day out and you’ll be able to sample a variety of ales throughout the day. Details are overleaf on page 9.

Finally, it won’t be long till we start planning the 2014 Ayrshire Real Ale Festival - we always like feedback on it - so let us know what you liked, or what you didn’t like, or maybe something that you would like to see at it that we don’t already do.

Stuart McMahon, Editor

Kildonan Country HouseBarrhill, South Ayrshire, KA26 0PSwww.kildonancountryhouse.co.ukTel: 01465 821458

Winter Hours:Bar open: 11am - 11pm, Fri, Sat , SunRestaurant and Tea Room: 12-4pm Fri, Sat , Sun (other times by arrangement)

Follow us on for details of our guest ales and forthcoming events

Winter 2013

8

The WatersideBath Street, Largs

Tel: 01475 672224

One Real Ale available throughout the winter

Wednesdays - PokerFridays - Karaoke

Tuesdays - Quiz Night

Food available every day except Monday

Saturdays - Live MusicSundays - Open Mic Night

• Greatrooms• Fantasticfood• Everchangingrealales• Functionsuites

• CHRISTMASBOOKINGSnowbeingtakeninourrefurbishedrestaurant

4 DEAN STREET, STEWARTON, KA3 5EQTel: 01560 482255

www.millhousehotelayrshire.co.uk

www.awcamra.org.uk

9

Our Branch has Social Groups covering North, South and East Ayrshire, and Wigtownshire. All CAMRA members are encouraged to attend these informal events, but non-CAMRA members are equally welcome. For more information, please contact the area coordinators listed below:North Ayrshire - meets 3rd Thursday of every month.Contact Ian Middleditch. Email: vicechair1@awcamra.org.uk

South Ayrshire - coordinator required

East Ayrshire - meets last Wednesday of every month.Contact Bob Wallace. Email: membership@awcamra.org.uk

Wigtownshire Contact Malcolm McNeil. Email: wigtownshire@awcamra.org.uk

BRANCH SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Additionally, the Branch also holds social outings on a regular basis to places such as Strathaven or Fyne Ales breweries - contact social secretary Donald Clark at social@awcamra.org.uk for details of these trips.

DATES FOR YOUR WINTER DIARY

Festive Crawl

Thurs 12 Dec, Wigtownshire Christmas Dinner, The GrapesSat 14 Dec, Branch Christmas Lunch, Struthers Farmhouse, 1pm. Booking essential - contact Donald Clark for details.Fri 27 Dec, Branch Festive Crawl, Largs - see oppositeTues 14 Jan, Branch meeting, Harbour Bar, Troon, with guest speaker tbc.Thurs 16 Jan, North Ayrshire Social - Village Inn, Fairlie, 8pmSat 25 Jan, Wigtownshire Burns Night, TBCSat 25 Jan, East Ayrshire Social Dinner, Sorn InnWed 29 Jan, East Ayrshire Social - The Taps, Kilmaurs, 7.30pmThurs 20 Feb, North Ayrshire Social - Salt Cot, Saltcoats, 8pmWed 26 Feb, East Ayrshire Social - Fanny by Gaslight, Kilmarnock, 7.30pmSat 1 Mar, SNIB meeting, Abbotsford Hotel, Ayr 1pm followed by Branch Social crawl from 5pm

Enjoying a grand day out at Fyne Ales

This year it is the turn of Largs to host the annual Christmas/New Year Crawl on Friday 27th December. Festivities will commence at 1 p.m. in JG Sharps, at the corner of Nelson Street and Boyd Street. Caledonian Deuchars IPA is the usual beer in this GBG listed pub.

We will then walk down Nelson Street and along the sea-front to Charlie Smith’s in Gallowgate Street (opposite the Cumbrae Ferry Terminal) at 1.45 p.m. One or two guest beers are offered in the second of the town’s GBG listed pubs.

A short walk to Bath Street finds the Waterside at 2.30 p.m. One guest ale is currently on offer. Back to the Main Street and The Lounge at 3.15 p.m. Greene King IPA is the usual beer here. Further along Main Street we find MacAulay’s at 4 p.m. Again 1 or 2 guest ales are offered.

We then catch the 4.42 p.m. bus (Stagecoach 585) to Fairlie (arrive 4.48 p.m.) for a visit to the Village Inn. This GBG entry is the current Branch Pub of the Year with up to three ever-changing ales on tap.

All are welcome, indeed encouraged, to join us for all or part of the crawl. Whilst we do our best to adhere to the published times, it is the nature of this sort of event that timings can become “flexible” (especially towards the end of the crawl). If you want to join the crawl at any particular time then you can call Lindsay Grant on 07767 888756 to find out exactly where we are.

Winter 2013

10

www.awcamra.org.uk

11

Outing to Houston BreweryAfter the Ayrshire Real Festival is finished a ‘staff outing’ is organised by way of a thank you to all who help out at Troon.

This year’s trip saw 40 folk go to the Houston Brewery based at the Fox & Hounds in Houston, Renfrewshire and it also enabled the Branch to present Carl Wengel, head brewer, with a certificate for winning the 2012 Ayrshire & Wigtownshire Beer of the Year with their APA (American Pale Ale) - a 3.9% session ale with lots of flavour. Pictured opposite is Carl being presented with his certificate from Lindsay Grant, Branch Chairman.

Of all the ales on tap, Crystal, 5%, was clearly everyone’s favourite. A great afternoon, which included a short tour of the brewery, was had by all and thanks must go to the staff at the Fox & Hounds for their kind hospitality.

1. Carl being presented with his certificate2. The young ones3. New volunteer Elaine with Bob4. Our own Little and Large5. Ronnie’s plate of sandwiches6. Houston Brewery kit7. Happy Chappy, aka the Social Secretary8. The Grumpy Corner9. Tour of the Brewery

1.

2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7.

8. 9.

Winter 2013

12

From Shenyang to ConistonIn a previous Full Pints we were asked to let you know if we had any days out involving beer. Well, here in Shenyang, even I experienced something new involving alcohol!

On 28 June, I was told that I was one of the VIP’s who had been invited to the first China International Beer Festival to be held in Shenyang. I don’t know why I’d been selected but, hey ho! Anyway, about twenty Westerners were picked up from Uncle Sam’s Bar (my watering hole) early in the evening by coach and were transported to Fangte Happy World Square where the Festival was to be held. We were escorted into one of the ten huge tents that were in the grounds. And that’s where the similarity between a Chinese Festival and

one of ours was brought home. The tent was sponsored by Hacher-Pschorr Brewery in Germany and, therefore, the only beer you

could drink was theirs. This was the case with all the other tents but we couldn’t go to other ones as that might have

upset our hosts. In the tent we were treated like royalty and applauded to the front of the hall. I was wearing my Ireland rugby shirt and got interviewed on local TV. Apparently, the Irish are famous for drinking. Don’t know where they got that idea! Then large jugs of beer started to appear. Well, it was lager! And it was free! However, jugs of black beer also appeared so I decided I’d try that.

It turns out it was Munchner Dunkel

which is a black lager. Still, it did the trick at

5.0% ABV. There was also food. I can now say that I’ve eaten barbecued centipede, cicada, cricket, spiders and worm. Yum, yum! I also can’t remember how many Chinese people had their picture taken with me. It was fun though and ended with a Westerner-led dance on the stage where we were joined by numerous Chinese people before being whisked back to Sam’s.

The following weekend I returned to Scotland to a rapturous welcome from ‘she who must be obeyed’ (well, it had been five months). On the Monday, we headed down to Carnforth, Lancashire, for a few days in the Lake District at Pine Lakes, a beautiful timeshare resort just outside the town.

And it was at Carnforth Railway Station that I discovered a gem of a pub. Carnforth Station is famous as the place where the film, ‘Brief Encounter’, was filmed. But it may become more famous for The Snug, a true gem of a pub on the down platform.

by Paddy Brennanour China Correspondent

www.awcamra.org.uk

13

Owned by Gregg and Julie Beaman (very convivial hosts), the pub is only three hundred feet square and opens from Tuesday to Saturday from 12.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 21.00. It has no television, music or games machines and doesn’t sell lager or spirits. And it works! Gregg normally has five or six real ales and a couple of real ciders on and that’s it. While I was there he had three ales, cider, a perry and a porter on. I was in heaven when I saw Westons Old Rosie on tap when we went there on the Tuesday evening. It was on our last call on Wednesday evening where I also tried the Smuttynose Robust Porter at 6.2%. And very robust it was !

Earlier in the day we had headed off to the delightful town of Kendal where I made straight for the Miles Thompson, a Wetherspoons pub in the centre of the town. It was twelve o’clock but there was already a sizeable amount of customers in. And, joy of joys, it was Cider Festival 2013 time and there were eight ready for me! I had Gwynt y Ddraig’s Fiery Fox, very fiery ay 6.5%, Rosie’s Pig, a Westons concoction at 4.8% and then I upset the missus by having a couple of Field Farm Perry from Mr. Whitehead’s at a very nice 7.0%. We then went for a drive to look at the countryside before heading to Ings Village where another local legend was, the Watermill Inn & Brewery. They had fourteen real ales on including eight that they brew themselves! The pub has been winning awards for over ten years and was the Own Brew Pub Of The Year in the 2013 Good Pub Guide. I can’t tell you what there brews were like however as Old Rosie was there and, having come from a cider-less China, I was pigging out on the stuff. But, I would advise anyone going to the area to pop in. It’s in a beautiful setting, is large and, according to the missus, the food was fantastic!

On the Wednesday, we headed for Coniston famous, of course, for Bluebird. After a look around the town we first went to the Sun Hotel where I tried Cumbria Brewing Company’s, Ladysvale Ale which won the 2011 Golden Ale Award. At 4.3%, it was a tad mild for me but was still very pleasant and drinkable. We then went down to the main road of the village where the Black Bull and Yewdale Hotel are opposite each other. We went to the Black Bull first where the main beers on sale are from Coniston Brewing Company, founded by the owner’s son, Ian Bradley. So I had the Special Oatmeal Stout which won the 2009 Cumbrian Micro-Challenge Gold Medal in it’s debut competition. It’s a sweet stout at 4.5% and I enjoyed a couple of them before heading across to the Yewdale Hotel. And they had a very familiar brew with Theakston’s Old Peculier on board at 5.6%. After a couple of those I was ready to head back to Carnforth and The Snug. All in all, an enjoyable little break with lovely countryside, weather but, best of all, real Cider and Beers. The following weekend it was back to reality! And bloody lager!

Coniston - by Peer Lawther via flickr

Winter 2013

14

www.awcamra.org.uk

15

• Aconstantlychangingchoiceofrealales• Freshlypreparedmealsusinglocallysourced

produce• Fullydeckedriversidebeergarden• Familieswelcomeinourdogfriendlypub• Wealsocaterforprivatefunctions• Dailyfishingpermitsavailableforsaleatthebar

Failford Inn, Failford, Near Mauchline, Ayrshire KA5 5TF

Tel: 01292 540117 Email: info@failfordinn.com

www.failfordinn.com

The Village Inn, Dunlop

2-6 Stewarton Road, KA3 4AA. Tel: 01560 483130

E-mail : villageinn98@live.com/ facebook

“Two minute walk from railway station”

Dogs Welcome

The Village Inn, Dunlop

2-6 Stewarton Road, KA3 4AA. Tel: 01560 483130

E-mail : villageinn98@live.com/ facebook

“Two minute walk from railway station”

Dogs Welcome

Winter 2013

16

Ayrshire to Amsterdam – by Train by Matt Miller

There are many ways to travel to The Netherlands and, for most people, train travel would not be first choice. However, at the end of May 2013, four CAMRA members (who enjoy train journeys) set off from Ayrshire to Glasgow to catch the overnight sleeper train to London.

The holiday started in a suitable manner with a visit to the Drum & Monkey in Glasgow. The usual interesting variety of ales was available here including the house ale, Nicholson’s Pale Ale brewed by St Austell. Also sampled were Scottish Borders Foxy Blonde and Adnams Krystal White.

Then it was back to Central Station to join the waiting sleeper train. Trains are quite a civilised way to travel and, in Great Britain, this is exemplified when sitting in the lounge car of a sleeper train with a glass of whisky as a nightcap prior to retiring to your bed for the night.

Arrival at London Euston was on schedule and allowed ample time for a hearty breakfast before making our way to the magnificent St. Pancras International Eurostar Terminal. After the airport-style security checks, we are allowed on to our train to Brussels which whisked us swiftly and comfortably to the Belgian capital in around 2 hours. A change of train here is required to join the high-speed Paris to Amsterdam “Thalys” service. This journey also takes about 2 hours and delivers you to Amsterdam city centre.

Accommodation had been booked at the Ibis Amsterdam Centre Hotel next to Amsterdam Centraal station – some of the rooms are actually over the platforms. We started with the tourist bus tour of the city. As luck would have it, one of the stops on this tour is at the Gooyer windmill which just happens to be the home of the Brouwerij ‘t IJ. This company have been brewing since 1985 using traditional methods without filtration or pasteurisation and their products can be found in bottle or on draught in good pubs or cafes. The brewery bar is only open from 2pm – 8pm and

www.awcamra.org.uk

17

appeared to be very popular, especially with younger drinkers many of whom were female. One of the most popular beers is Columbus, a strong golden ale of 9% abv. Also sampled were Natte and Ijwit (both 6.5%) plus a seasonal ale called PaasiJ (7%).

Some research had been undertaken before our visit regarding good outlets for decent beer and two bars were highly recommended. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to visit the first (Café Gollum at Raamsteeg 4) but did spend an interesting Friday evening at Arendsnest at Herengracht 90. This gem is definitely worth seeking out as it sells 30 Dutch beers on draught, plus at least one hundred bottled beers! Amongst the offerings was a wheat beer from La Trappe called Witte Trappist (5.5%), Snab Pale Ale (6.3%) and De Eem Fisz (6.5%). Prices range from 4-5€ for 25cl. I’m not sure if there is an equivalent of Wetherspoons in Holland!

Amsterdam has another brewery in the city centre which, although it is close to the infamous red light district, it is not easy to find which maybe why it never appeared to be very busy. The Brouwerij De Prael has a beer tasting house on Oudezijds Armsteeg (where you can see

the brewery) plus a beer and gift shop around the corner. Sitting in a comfy armchair in the beer house, we tried Heintje which is a fruity wheat beer at

5.4%, Johnny a 5.7% bitter, and the seasonal Andre, a pale Maibok beer at 6.6%. All of the beers are named after Dutch singers and are available bottle conditioned. Not very far from here, crowds of tourists were packing out bars where they were drinking Heineken, Amstel, etc. If only they knew what they were missing just a few hundred metres away!

Part of the holiday for us was the journey to and from Amsterdam. Returning on a Sunday, a first class ticket to London was available for not much more than a standard fare and this included breakfast on the Thalys train to Brussels as well as lunch with wine on the Eurostar service to London.

Any of you who have used Euston station in London should know not to miss the opportunity to visit The Bree Louise just around the corner in Cobourg Street. This famous

real ale pub offers a discount to CAMRA members and had a large selection of beer and cider to choose from although, on this visit, there was too great an emphasis on milds for our taste. We did manage to try Windsor & Eton Bostin’ Mild (3.5%), Burton Bridge Moorish Mild (3.9%), Marlow Rebellion Blonde (4.3%), Kelham Island Mistress Flames (5%) and Sharp’s Own (4.4%). This pub is under threat of demolition to allow for construction of a high speed rail line known as HS2 so pay a visit while you still can!

There was just time before catching our Virgin train to Glasgow to pay a very quick visit to the excellent Euston Tap where samples of Thornbridge Sierra Nevada (5%), Ilkley Joshua Jane (3.7%) and Pale (4.2%) were partaken.

This was a relaxed holiday organised at a pace to suit our group and, as beer drinkers, allowed comparisons between British and Dutch beers. The most striking difference is the manner in which Dutch beer enthusiasts drink mainly stronger beers than we are used to, but they consume it in smaller quantities. This seems to be the style of drinking which is being promoted by Brewdog as they expand their chain of pubs around Britain.

Winter 2013

18

Telephone: 01671 402121 Fax: 01671 403258www.creebridge.co.uk Email: info@creebridge.co.uk

Creebridge House Hotel, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire DG8 6NP

Meals Served Daily12-2pm and 6-9pm

Traditional Roast Served every SundayExtensive Bar Menu

Award-winning Table D’Hôteand À La Carte Dining Available

REAL ALES SERVED HERE

• RealFood

• RealBeer

• RealAtmosphere

27MainStreet,Kilmaurs,KA32RQTel:01563538805www.westontavern.co.uk

www.awcamra.org.uk

19

The Canny Drinker Outlets NewsThe following changes in outlets have occurred since the last edition of

.New Outlet: Stewarton Arms, Stewarton

Losses: Christina’s Bar, Ayr: No Ale Malt Cross, Ayr: Closed Poosie Nansies, Mauchline: No longer selling ale

Other news: Bladnoch Inn: now has changing ales rather than Belhaven IPAGolf Inn, Prestwick: Still hoping to have real ale soonThe Taps, Kilmaurs: Aitken font installed so real ale should follow soon.Pier Head Tavern, Lamlash: Has been taken over by Arran Brewery and should be offering their own real ales.

Tayside Short Break

During the October school holidays I managed a short 2-night stay at the Fisherman’s Tavern in Broughty Ferry with the family. The tavern is a Belhaven-run pub which has been converted into a small hotel with 12 rooms from three old fisherman’s cottages. The staff were very helpful and the rooms were adequately equipped, and a hearty breakfast and evening meals were available.

However, as a pub the Fisherman’s Tavern has 6 handpumps featuring ales from the Belhaven lists. Over the 2 nights I sampled Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker (which was in fantastic condition), Greene King St Edmund, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Scottish Borders Holy Cow, Inveralmond Ossian and Cairngorm Trade Winds.

Around the corner from the Tavern, is the Ship Inn, and it too has real ales as well as an excellent restaurant. The cask ales on offer were Williams Birds and Bees and a new one for myself, the local Eden Brewery Clock Brew, both of which were also in excellent condition. For anyone wanting to visit the area, the Tayside CAMRA branch also has a series of ale trails available on their website at www.taysidecamra.co.uk/aletrails.html.

On the way home I also managed a quick visit to the Eden Brewery at Guardbridge to stock up with a selection of their bottled ales!

Are you always keen to seek out a bargain? As a CAMRA member you will be aware of (and hopefully use) your £20 of 50p vouchers in Wetherspoons, which is a pretty good saving. In England and Wales it is also quite common for pubs to offer CAMRA members a small discount (often 10 or 20p) off a pint.

Due to licensing laws in Scotland similar discounts are rare, but recently some outlets in Glasgow have started offering discounts for CAMRA members on production of your membership card: Arlington Bar, 130 Woodlands Road (10% off real ale); Scaramouche, 140 Elderslie Street (10% off real ale); Three Judges, 141 Dumbarton Road (30p off per pint).

Additionally, Nicholson’s pubs (eg Drum & Monkey, St Vincent Street) have regular discount offers (e.g. a voucher for a festival pint for £1) when you sign up to their club at www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/caskaleclub/

More locally, CAMRA members can get a large Fish Tea for the price of a small one at Fanny by Gaslight in Kilmarnock, simply by mentioning that you’ve read their advert on p31 in this edition!

by Stuart McMahon

Winter 2013

20

Largs

Fairlie Beith

GatesideLugton

Dunlop

KilmaursStewarton

Kilmarnock

Craigie

Sorn

Stair

Hollybush

Kirkmichael

Girvan

Bargrennan

Barrhill

Newton Stewart

Wigtown

BladnochIsle of Whithorn

New Luce

Glenluce

Drummore

SandheadPortpatrick

Kirkcolm

Stranraer

Failford

Ardrossan

SaltcoatsIrvineTroon

Prestwick

Ayr

Millport

Lochranza

Catacol

Blackwaterfoot

BrodickLamlash

Arran

Ayr

Houston

Kelburn

Strathaven

Sulwath

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey map data by permission of the Ordnance Survey © Crown Copyright 2013

www.awcamra.org.uk

21

AYRSHIRE & WIGTOWNSHIRE REAL ALE OUTLETSISLE OF ARRAN

BLACKWATERFOOTBlackwaterfoot LodgeKinloch Hotel

BRODICKBrodick BarOrmidale HotelWine Port

CATACOLCatacol Bay Hotel

LAMLASHDrift Inn

LOCHRANZALochranza Hotel

NORTH AYRSHIRE

ARDROSSANArdrossan Rugby Club (weekends)Lauriston Hotel

BEITHMasonic Arms

FAIRLIEVillage Inn

GATESIDEGateside Inn

IRVINEShip Inn

LARGSCharlie Smith’sJ G SharpsLargs Sailing Club (weekends)LoungeMacAulaysWaterside

LUGTONCanny Man

MILLPORTFraser’s Bar

SALTCOATSSalt Cot

SOUTH AYRSHIRE

AYRAbbotsford HotelAyrshire & GallowayChestnuts HotelCourtyard BarGeordie’s ByreGlen Park HotelHarry’s BarMarket InnNewton ArmsOld Racecourse HotelTam O’ Shanter*Twa DugsWellingtons BarWest Kirk

BARRHILL Kildonan Country House

CRAIGIECraigie Inn

FAILFORDFailford Inn

GIRVANRoxy Cafe Bar

KIRKMICHAELKirkmichael Arms

PRESTWICKEagle Tavern Prestwick Pioneer

TROONBruce’s WellFullartonsGirvansHarbour BarLonsdale BarMcKay’sMarr Rugby Club (weekends)South Beach Hotel

EAST AYRSHIRE

DUNLOPAuld HooseVillage Inn

HOLLYBUSHHollybush Inn

KILMARNOCKBrass & Granite Fanny by GaslightFirst EditionWheatsheaf Inn

KILMAURSWeston Tavern

SORNSorn Inn

STAIRStair Inn

STEWARTONMillhouse HotelStewarton Hotel

WIGTOWNSHIRE

BARGRENNANHouse O’ Hill Hotel

BLADNOCHBladnoch Inn

DRUMMOREClashwhannon

GLENLUCEKelvin House Hotel

ISLE OF WHITHORNSteam Packet Inn

KIRKCOLMBlue Peter Hotel

NEW LUCEKenmuir Arms Hotel

NEWTON STEWARTCreebridge House HotelGalloway Arm Hotel

PORTPATRICKCrown HotelDownshire ArmsHarbour House Hotel

SANDHEADTigh-na-Mara Hotel

STRANRAERGrapes

WIGTOWNWigtown Ploughman

Do you know of a pub that sells real ale and isn’t listed? Please let us know.* CAMRA members have noted that real ale is not

always available at these pubs.

CAMRA members can now score beers for any pubs visited at www.whatpub.com. These scores help the branch choose its entries for the Good Beer Guide. Scoring guidelines are:0 No cask ale available

1 Poor: Beer that is anything from barely drinkable to drinkable with considerable resentment.

2 Average: Competently kept, drinkable pint but doesn’t inspire in any way, not worth moving to another pub but you drink the beer without really noticing.

3 Good: Good beer in good form. You may cancel plans to move to the next pub. You want to stay for another pint and may seek out the beer again.

4 Very Good: Excellent beer in excellent condition.

5 Perfect: Probably the best you are ever likely to find. A seasoned drinker will award this score very rarely.

22

RAY’S ROUND UP by Ray Turpie

It seems a long time now since our Beer Festival in October. If you are interested, planning for the next one will soon be underway, with the first meeting arranged for the 27th January 2014 in the Village Inn, Dunlop. If you have any new ideas for next year or thoughts for a theme or logo, please come and join us, particularly younger members. You will be made most welcome.

Before the festival kicked off, however, I managed a few days autumn break in North Wales. We actually based ourselves at the GBG listed Mill Hotel, Chester which is just over the border. It had about ten hand pumps to choose from and although I tried several, my favourite was Golden Pippin from Copper Dragon in Skipton. You are spoiled for choice of good pubs in Chester but I would pick out the local Spitting Feathers Brewery Tap and Telford’s Warehouse on the canal basin as definitely worth a visit.

Anyway, let us get on to Wales which, I must confess, I had never visited before. Day one

took us to the quaint walkers’ paradise of Betws-y-Coed on our way to Blaenau Ffestiniog to catch the steam train to Porthmadog.

The town is famous for Portmeirion tableware and the Purple Moose Brewery. Mrs Roundup was interested in the former but needless to say, I was more interested in the latter. I am pleased to say I had the pleasure of tasting a pint of their award winning Snowdonia Ale in Spooner’s Bar at the terminus, where the brewery is situated, before boarding the train back.

I could have stayed there all night but wanted to visit Telford’s Pontcycylte aqueduct at Llangollen on the way back before it got dark. It was only wide enough for a barge and walkway but the views were stunning. We retired to nearby former National Pub of the Year, the Bridge End Inn, Ruabon for a pint of McGivern’s Bridge Pale, which is brewed on the premises, before returning to Chester.

Day two took us along the coast to Caernarfon and Bangor before crossing the Menai Bridge to Anglesey. We found Beaumaris by chance and what a beautiful place it is. It has an impressive castle and, wait for it, the largest single hinged gate in the world, attached to the Olde Bull’s Head Inn. I did not manage a

RAY’S ROUND UP

Thousands of pubsat your fingertips!

Information updated by thousands of CAMRA volunteers

Over 96% of Britain’s

real ale pubs featured

Created by CAMRA who produce the

UK’s best beer & pub guidewhatpub.com

Featuring over 35,000 real ale pubs

The Bridge End Inn

The Mill Hotel

Brewery Tap

RAY’S ROUND UP

www.awcamra.org.uk

23

beer as I was driving but had a look round this historic inn which has all its rooms named after Dickens characters following a visit by the well known author.

On the way back, we stopped in Llandudno, and walked far enough up the Great Orme to get a memorable view of the town. The remainder of the resorts along the coast were very holiday orientated so we did not tarry long, as there was beer to be drunk in Chester. On our last day we took the train to Wrexham

for a look around and visited the ‘Spoons named after local Elihu Yale who founded Yale University in America.

Back home, more mundane matters have to be addressed such as what events I can look forward to over the coming months. Top of the list must be the annual CAMRA dinner and the festive crawl in Largs, details of which can be found at www.awcamra.org.uk or elsewhere in the magazine. Before that though, I might manage a winter break somewhere exciting, but more of that next time.

In the meantime, enjoy your winter ales but drink wisely. Best wishes to all our readers for the festive season and a happy new year.

Ed - Congratulations to Ray on his recent appointment as CAMRA Scotland & Northern Ireland Director (SNID), taking over from outgoing Director, and our Branch Chairman, Lindsay Grant.

Thousands of pubsat your fingertips!

Information updated by thousands of CAMRA volunteers

Over 96% of Britain’s

real ale pubs featured

Created by CAMRA who produce the

UK’s best beer & pub guidewhatpub.com

Featuring over 35,000 real ale pubs

Spooners

Winter 2013

24

Great food and local Real Ales from Arran, Houston and Kelburn breweries Sundays – Ceilidh band sessions

Tel: 01505 850510www.thecannyman.co.uk

Find us on the A736 Irvine to Barrhead Road, at Lugton

FRASERS BARMillport

Find us just up the road from the pier

7 Cardiff Street, Millport, Isle of Cumbrae KA28 0ASTel: 01475 530518

Quality Cask Ales Served All Year

Meals Served Every Day12 noon - 2.30pm / 5.30pm -7.30pm

www.awcamra.org.uk

25

V B A V N E W L U C E I B E P A NW B TO L M K W B O D D L N L E C L E G P C EH A M I L C O K S E S R B N R C R G A EL D C B A D R O F L I A F E I E A A R WT N R T R O O N O G R B L W S V OW I FH O A H G O N O T R A W E T S O R N A HL C I S S A D T H Z W T WO C K R I T II H G U S A R I N S N I E N G O R N S BD O I B G O L A C K C A G S H L A O N NA U E Y P L R M E K K C H T I E B T R NB E N L K H G D A T E E I E O D R G S GK L L L C P I Y R L K H F W NW E U N GM I T O O F R E T A W K C A L B N L A LM L L H N P V Z N F L L D R U M M O R EU R R M R S A P O R T P A T R I C K N NE O T N A N N E R G R A B D A S L M R LG H A N M U L E A H C I M K R I K R K UT N C R L S R N B U E I U I D A A E N CC B H M I A W S A N D H E A D E A C H EN K I R K C O L M T G U T M U T C H T O

BLACKWATERFOOTBRODICKCATACOLLAMLASHLOCHRANZAARDROSSANBEITHFAIRLIEGATESIDEIRVINELARGSLUGTONMILLPORTSALTCOATSAYRBARRHILLCRAIGIEFAILFORDGIRVANKIRKMICHAELPRESTWICKTROONDUNLOPHOLLYBUSHKILMARNOCKKILMAURSSORNSTAIRSTEWARTONBARGRENNANBLADNOCHDRUMMOREGLENLUCEISLEOFWHITHORNKIRKCOLMNEWLUCENEWTONSTEWARTPORTPATRICKSANDHEADWIGTOWN

Just for Fun

The towns in Ayrshire and Wigtownshire shown opposite all have real ale pubs in them. Can you find them in the wordsearch?

Solutions on Page 33

8 1 9

3 9 2

5 8 1 6

5 9 4

2 3

4 9 5

7 1 9 2

5 6 3

2 4 7

SUDOKUEach row, column and 3x3 box

must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once.

BEERIt always makes you think you’re a good dancer

Winter 2013

26

When our esteemed editor heard that my wife and I were to attend a wedding in the USofA he quickly made clear that a report on the beer industry over there was to be added to my plans. A tall order but, I suppose, it had to be done.

First impressionsIn the three years since we were last across the pond it was quickly clear that the reach of the growing number of small breweries continues to spread. Our first couple of days were spent in Plymouth, south of Boston. This small but historic town, had many signs outside bars advertising Samuel Adams, Harpoon, Shipyard and Smuttynose beers, all of which I had good memories of, but the town also has two ‘beer bars’. The New World Tavern and Driftwood both had beer menus to go with the food menu and listed up to 20/30 taps and 100+ bottles from local, national and international suppliers, including Williams Bros, Orkney and Traquair – just to stop me missing the Ayrshire beer festival too much.

I also found out about the local brewery, unsurprisingly named Mayflower, and found their IPA and Porter to be excellent, as well as a superb beer shop, Pioppi’s, with over 300 beers in stock, directly opposite our hotel. It was here I found the wonderfully named Whale’s Tale Pale Ale from Nantuket Island brewers, Cisco. So, in one small town I have a brewery, two speciality beer pubs and an off-sales to rival even Hippo Beers. Not a bad start.

Beer PressWithin a few days of our arrival I found an article in USA Today on the growth of the speciality beer sector, headlining the growth of sales from 2011 to 2012 by $2.3 billion to 8.5% of total beer sales. I then discovered that The Boston Globe regularly carries beer features, the one I caught was on a blind tasting of 23 ales and lagers. Their main finding seemed to be that ‘the best ales have intense, complex, and balanced flavours’. No news there, then! They picked out beers from Stone, Dogfish Head, Sam Adams and Shock Top for special mention.

I also came across a publication called Yankee Brew News, which proclaims itself “New England’s Beeriodical since

A State of the Beer Address

by Bob Wallace

1989”, and covers all manner of beer stories from the six New England states plus New York. A great resource if you plan to visit the north-eastern states.

TelevisionOn the subject of the media, one night in our hotel I happened across a listing for double episodes of a programme called Brew Dogs. It couldn’t be. Could it? After acquiring a decent selection of craft beers I settled down to watch and, yes, indeed, it was Fraserburgh’s own shy brewers doing programmes on beer from San Diego and then San Francisco.

The San Diego one featured the brewing of a beer using the world’s hottest chilies and the other a beer brewed on the train north to San Francisco. Strange but good publicity, which is, after all, Brew Dog’s speciality. Each programme featured looks at the best brewers and pubs in the area. Future programmes are to feature Seattle, Denver, Philadelphia, Portland and Boston, and are intended for the UK in the future.

www.awcamra.org.uk

27

The HighspotsFinding Sierra Nevada pale ale in a Ruby Tuesday’s restaurant.

Max’s Taproom in Baltimore. An amazing pub with 5 casks from the local Yards brewery plus a claimed 140 other draught beers and 1,200 bottles. Problem was I was driving and only had time for one. A ruby mild called Brawler. Have a look at their list for yourselves at www.maxs.com/index.

Unexpectedly coming across Bar Louis in the basement of a posh hotel in Milford at the junction of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. It had no draught beer but a fantastic range of Belgian, UK and USA bottles at very competitive prices.

Finally, two surprises in Boston’s Logan airport departure lounge. Not only did the Airport Diner have a good choice of 8 craft beers but, they gave us a receipt for our meal that got us fast-track through security. Even then, I wasn’t finished as the airside lounge had a Cisco Brewery Bar offering 6 of their own beers so my final beer Stateside was a return to Whale’s Tale Pale Ale.

Strange discoveriesIn the southern New Jersey resort town of Wildwood, we found a boardwalk and wonderful expanse of sand, which was deserted, despite the temperature being over 80. Our hotel explained that Americans only go to the seaside on weekends after Labour Day (3rd Sept). Never mind when we needed to cool down we found Goodnight Irene’s and Dog Tooth Bar and Grill provided extensive ranges of beer including some from the local Cape May brewery. It was here that I had Dogfish Head and Flying Dog beers which were my favourites of the trip.

Even stranger, when we moved on to Pennsylvania, was the state law which allows beer stores only to sell beer in full cases, either 12 pints or 24 half-pints. No use at all if you want to sample many different beers and are moving on in a few days. The saving grace was that we were only 10 miles north of the Maryland state line and there was an off-sales on just about every road over that border. In the hamlet of Whiteford, I found a supermarket with a separate beer and wine store, where I could put together my own 6 pack of half-pints for $9.99.

One tip though! Ask the bartender to use a glass which has not been frozen. The beers are served very cool but there is a good chance you will be able to enjoy the flavours if you don’t have to chip ice off the glass. Some of them were even able to understand my thinking.

CASC (Cask-conditioned Ale Support Campaign)To end this article on a high, you should be told a little about this organisation which is the foremost cask ale organisation in the US. Based in Massachusetts it organises two annual beer festivals, NERAX in Somerville, near Boston and NERAX North in Haverhill on the New Hampshire border. New England Real Ale eXhibition serves over 100 firkins of Real Ale and Cider, comprised of over 50 British beers from England, Scotland, and Wales; and over 50 American beers, mostly from New England. All the beers are cask-conditioned, served by gravity or hand-pump. Sounds very similar to a smaller Troon festival. See www.nerax.org. for more information. As an organisation, CASC also encourage bars to sell cask ales and their website provides a map giving details of where to find cask and what is on offer.

Winter 2013

28

BAR OPEN: Friday to Monday 11am – 11pm

Tuesday to �ursday 11am– 2.30pm & 6pm – 11pm Timothy Taylor Landlord plus �ve guest ales

Outside seating area on the harbourside

All food freshly prepared on the premises. Daily changing chefs specials using the �nest

fresh produce and local seafood.

Lunches 12-2pm. Evening Meals 6.30-9pm.Sunday Carvery: 3 Courses £12

Monday: 3-course meal for £10 ~ Tuesday: Big Mixed Grill £12 �ursday: Steak Night - Rump or Sirloin £10 ~ Friday: Curry Night £7.95

Children and Dogs Welcome

ACCOMMODATIONComfortable en suite accommodation overlooking the harbour

From £30 pppn B&B. Special accommodation o�ers to CAMRA members.For bookings, call Alastair on 01988 500334 or e-mail steampacketinn@btconnect.com

www.steampacketinn.biz

Family run village inn located on the harbour in the picturesque fishing village of Isle of Whithorn

www.awcamra.org.uk

29

BAR OPEN: Friday to Monday 11am – 11pm

Tuesday to �ursday 11am– 2.30pm & 6pm – 11pm Timothy Taylor Landlord plus �ve guest ales

Outside seating area on the harbourside

All food freshly prepared on the premises. Daily changing chefs specials using the �nest

fresh produce and local seafood.

Lunches 12-2pm. Evening Meals 6.30-9pm.Sunday Carvery: 3 Courses £12

Monday: 3-course meal for £10 ~ Tuesday: Big Mixed Grill £12 �ursday: Steak Night - Rump or Sirloin £10 ~ Friday: Curry Night £7.95

Children and Dogs Welcome

ACCOMMODATIONComfortable en suite accommodation overlooking the harbour

From £30 pppn B&B. Special accommodation o�ers to CAMRA members.For bookings, call Alastair on 01988 500334 or e-mail steampacketinn@btconnect.com

www.steampacketinn.biz

Family run village inn located on the harbour in the picturesque fishing village of Isle of Whithorn

Scotland & Northern Ireland Presentations

by Ray Turpie

A good turn out gathered in October at the Cobbles Inn, Kelso for the presentation of the Scottish and Northern Ireland Pub of the Year (SNIPOTY) certificate, especially from host branch Edinburgh and SE Scotland which laid on a mini bus for members. This pub now goes forward to the next round of the national finals.

The Cobbles Freehouse & Dining, to give its formal name, is situated at 7 Bowmont Street, just off the NE side of the Town Square. The proprietors Annika & Gavin Meiklejohn have owned the inn for some 5 years. Basically, Annika runs the pub and restaurant while Gavin runs the nearby Tempest Brewery. Gavin is from the Borders whilst Annika is from New Zealand. Apparently, they first met while Gavin was working in the Land of the Long White Cloud, now one of the Tempest beer range.

Annika said “We are delighted to have been voted CAMRA’s Best Pub of 2013. It is a huge achievement that we are very proud of. We would like to thank our wonderful staff and the guys from Tempest for producing great beers”. Branch Chair, Roger Preece, commented on how the assessors were impressed, not only with the quality of the ales but also with the friendly service and the pub’s community focus.

A few of the local members turned out in early November at the Ravenswood British Legion Club, Banchory for the presentation of the Scottish and Northern Ireland Club of The Year (SNICOTY) certificate. This club now goes forward to the next round of the national finals.

The Club is situated at Ramsey Road, above and parallel to the main street. Bus service number 202 from Aberdeen runs every half hour. Entry can be gained by showing your CAMRA membership card.

The Head Bar Steward, Craig Mason said “We are delighted to have been voted CAMRA’s Best Club of 2013.” Two ever changing guest ales are available. On this occasion they were St Austell Trelawny and Cameron’s Harvest.

Let us all raise a glass to both The Cobbles Inn and the Ravenswood British Legion Club for their successes and wish them all the best for the next round.

PUB OF THE YEAR

CLUB OF THE YEAR

Winter 2013

30

www.awcamra.org.uk

31

Winter 2013

32

Pre-register Now for

Members’Weekend & AGM, 25th - 27th April 2014

Membership Number Joint Member Number (if applicable)

Full Names First Surname

(Joint member First Surname details if applicable)

Volunteer at the Members’ Weekend

Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm

I would like to pre-register (Closing Date for Pre-registration is Friday 28th March 2014)

Please return the completed form to:Members’ Weekend 2014 Registration, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 4LW. Closing date for pre-registration is Friday 28th March 2014

There are plenty of volunteering opportunities to get involved in at the Members’ Weekend. If you wish to volunteer to work at Weekend please mark in the boxes below, Tuesday the 22nd April to Monday 28th April 2014, the day and times which you would be available. Your details will be passed to the Members’ Weekend Staffing Office and you will be contacted nearer the time.

�

Email

CAMRA Members’ Weekend, featuring the National AGM and Conference, is where our members discuss our future policy and direction. The weekend also offers the opportunity to members to socialise with friends, visit recommended pubs and go on organised trips. The Members’ Weekend is open to all CAMRA members and will be held at The Spa Complex, Scarborough from 25th April to 27th April 2014.Pre-register your interest todayYou can pre-register online through the Members' Weekend website: 1. Visit the Members' Weekend website: www.camraagm.org.uk 2. Select "Member Login" at the top right hand corner to log in to the website

3. Once logged in, click "Register" on the home page or on the navigation bar located in the top right hand corner 4. Once clicked, you should receive on-screen confirmation that your registration has been successful

Please note that joint members will need to login and register individually. Closing date forpre-registration is Friday 28th March 2014.

Alternatively you can register by returning the form below. As a pre-registered member you will receive the Members' Weekend Handbook before the event. This will be sent out the week following the cut off for pre-registration. Members’ Conference packs will be available at the venue.

www.awcamra.org.uk

33

Listed below are some useful contact details for transport providers in our Branch area.

Stagecoach West Scotland - www.stagecoachbus.comTel: 01292 613500 / 01294 607007 / Disability Helpdesk 07736 892253

James King Bus Services (Stranraer Area) - www.kingscoachhire.com Tel: 01671 830284

ScotRail - www.scotrail.co.ukTel: 0845 601 5929

Caledonian MacBrayne - www.calmac.co.ukTel: 0800 066 5000

Traveline Scotland - www.travelinescotland.com

Trading Standards Offices for issues such as consistent short measures or no visible price lists

Email addresses can be found on your local authority website.

GETTING AROUND

Puzzle Solutions

Other Useful Numbers

Ayr: 01292 616060Irvine: 01294 324900Kilmarnock: 01563 521502Stranraer: 01776 703260

Ayrshire CAMRA member George Bryden is hoping to undertake what he describes as Britain’s longest pub crawl by attempting to walk solo from Lands End to John o’ Groats early next year.George, from Kirkmichael, will begin his walk at Lands End on January 7th, and aims to reach John o’ Groats on February 28th. His route has been designed to take him to over 60 Good Beer Guide pubs, as well as many others en route, and he looks forward to extolling the health-giving properties of real ale the length of Britain.

His training has been assiduous - he can be found most nights practising hard in the Kirkmichael Arms, his local hostelry!

On a more serious note, he is hoping to raise a substantial sum for The Ayrshire Hospice and other charities, and donations can be made online at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeorgeBryden , or pledge by phone on 01655 750333, where more information can be obtained. Better still, get down to the Kirkmichael Arms, buy yourself a pint, and fill in the sheet in the bar!

We look forward to hearing about George’s efforts in a future edition of .

Britain’s Longest Pub Crawl

Pre-register Now for

Members’Weekend & AGM, 25th - 27th April 2014

Membership Number Joint Member Number (if applicable)

Full Names First Surname

(Joint member First Surname details if applicable)

Volunteer at the Members’ Weekend

Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm

I would like to pre-register (Closing Date for Pre-registration is Friday 28th March 2014)

Please return the completed form to:Members’ Weekend 2014 Registration, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 4LW. Closing date for pre-registration is Friday 28th March 2014

There are plenty of volunteering opportunities to get involved in at the Members’ Weekend. If you wish to volunteer to work at Weekend please mark in the boxes below, Tuesday the 22nd April to Monday 28th April 2014, the day and times which you would be available. Your details will be passed to the Members’ Weekend Staffing Office and you will be contacted nearer the time.

�

Email

CAMRA Members’ Weekend, featuring the National AGM and Conference, is where our members discuss our future policy and direction. The weekend also offers the opportunity to members to socialise with friends, visit recommended pubs and go on organised trips. The Members’ Weekend is open to all CAMRA members and will be held at The Spa Complex, Scarborough from 25th April to 27th April 2014.Pre-register your interest todayYou can pre-register online through the Members' Weekend website: 1. Visit the Members' Weekend website: www.camraagm.org.uk 2. Select "Member Login" at the top right hand corner to log in to the website

3. Once logged in, click "Register" on the home page or on the navigation bar located in the top right hand corner 4. Once clicked, you should receive on-screen confirmation that your registration has been successful

Please note that joint members will need to login and register individually. Closing date forpre-registration is Friday 28th March 2014.

Alternatively you can register by returning the form below. As a pre-registered member you will receive the Members' Weekend Handbook before the event. This will be sent out the week following the cut off for pre-registration. Members’ Conference packs will be available at the venue.

VBAVNEWLUCEIBEPANWBTOLMKWBODDLNLECLEGPCEHAMILCOKSESRBNRCRGAELDCBADROFLIAFEIEAARWTNRTROONOGRBLWSVOWIFHOAHGONOTRAWETSORNAHLCISSADTHZWTWOCKRITIIHGUSARINSNIENGORNSBDOIBGOLACKCAGSHLAONNAUEYPLRMEKKCHTIEBTRNBENLKHGDATEEIEODRGSGKLLLCPIYRLKHFWNWEUNGMITOOFRETAWKCALBNLALMLLHNPVZNFLLDRUMMOREURRMRSAPORTPATRICKNNEOTNANNERGRABDASLMRLGHANMULEAHCIMKRIKRKUTNCRLSRNBUEIUIDAAENCCBHMIAWSANDHEADEACHENKIRKCOLMTGUTMUTCHTO

BLACKWATERFOOTBRODICKCATACOLLAMLASHLOCHRANZAARDROSSANBEITHFAIRLIEGATESIDEIRVINELARGSLUGTONMILLPORTSALTCOATSAYRBARRHILLCRAIGIEFAILFORDGIRVANKIRKMICHAELPRESTWICKTROONDUNLOPHOLLYBUSHKILMARNOCKKILMAURSSORNSTAIRSTEWARTONBARGRENNANBLADNOCHDRUMMOREGLENLUCEISLEOFWHITHORNKIRKCOLMNEWLUCENEWTONSTEWARTPORTPATRICKSANDHEADWIGTOWN

816345972439762581725981364594813726267459813381276495673194258148527639952638147

AYRSHIRE and

WIGTOWNSHIRE

Winter 2013Available after September 12th

www.awcamra.org.uk

35

Stewarton Arms 6 Avenue SquareStewarton, KA3 5AB

Tel: 01560 482365

Opening Times: Sun-Wed: 11am - midnight

Thurs-Sat: 11am - 1am365 days per year

Functions Available

Now selling Real Ales from Arran Brewery

Live Football and Horse Racing

Cocktails by the Glass or Jug

• KaraokeeveryFriday

• LiveEntertainmenteverySaturday

• Every2ndTuesdayofmonth:40’s,50’s,60’s&70’sCabaret

Winter 2013

36

Ye Olde

Did you know that a wide range of clothing, books and collectables can be ordered online in the CAMRA shop?shop.camra.org.uk

£11 £11

£11

£18 £12

£4.99

£12.99

Pomona T

Apple T

Hoodie

*NEW*8th Edition

Bottled Beer Guide

*NEW*2014 Good Beer

Guide

Year of BEER T

HeritagePubs

www.awcamra.org.uk

37

£11

£4.99

Ayrshire Real Ale Festival 2013 - Gallery

You can view more photos on the festival website www.ayrshirebeerfestival.co.uk.

Next year’s festival will be held in Troon from 2nd - 4th October 2014.

Winter 2013

38

Hand Crafted, Award Winning, Traditional Cask Conditioned AleBrewed in the Heart of Burns Country

All ales are available in Firkins (72 Pints), Pins (36 Pints) and Mini Casks (8.8 Pints)Ayr Brewing Company, 5 Racecourse Road, Ayr KA7 2DG

Telephone: 01292 263891 Fax: 01292 830450 Mobile: 07834 922142www.ayrbrewingcompany.com

Our range of Real Ales includes:

www.awcamra.org.uk

39

Ayrshire & Wigtownshire CAMRA has its own website, www.awcamra.org.uk, which includes info on all our events, local outlets and past copies of ‘Full Pints’.

‘Walking and Crawling’ is a wonderful blog, written by the encyclopaedic Adam who travels around the country – mainly Scotland – on foot, bus, bike, boat and train. His travels all feature visits to pubs, beer festivals and local sites of interest. Well worth a read. http://walkingandcrawling.blogspot.co.uk

Oh Beautiful Beer, www.ohbeautifulbeer.com is a site dedicated to the graphic design

and branding of beers. The standard of graphic design nowadays is extremely high and Beautiful Beer showcases the best of the best.

Available on the ‘net, and on smartphones, untappd.com is a simple beery social networking site with an associated app. The purpose is to let you log and rate the beers you drink by checking them in to a location. Additionally, you can add friends (a bit like facebook) and see what and where they’re drinking. Mr Beer Surfer has been using it for a while and is always amazed at how many beers are in its database – if you are unlucky to find one not listed, then you can submit it for inclusion.

And with Christmas just around the corner, you may be tempted by some of these offerings: http://bit.ly/XOj8BJ

The Beer Surfer accepts no responsibility for the content of any third party websites or apps listed here!

Mr Beer Surfer is connected, some would say wired, to the internet. He enjoys nothing better than drinking his bottled conditioned ales in front of his computer, whilst watching Doctor Who repeats on the iPlayer, surfin’ the ‘net for all things beer related, and logging his beers on his smartphone app.

The internet world of beer is huge. But where to begin? As this is a magazine produced by a local branch of CAMRA we’ll start with the main CAMRA website, www.camra.org.uk. There is a kilderkin of information on the site – from the latest CAMRA news, forthcoming beer festivals, campaigns, joining information. There is also a member’s area which every CAMRA member can access – digital copies of What’s Brewing and BEER can be downloaded here. Hands up those who have never signed in – shame on you!

Telephone: 01556 504525

The Brewery, King StreetCastle Douglas, DG7 1DTwww.sulwathbrewers.co.uk

Open Mon-Sat, 10am-6pmOff-sales also available

At Sulwath Brewers we give you the chance to see the craft of brewing in action, and to taste our speciality ales at our fully licensed brewery tap visitor centre.