Wetherspoon Real Ale Festival 11 to 22 October

Between Wednesday 11th October to Sunday 22nd October the Wetherspoon pub company is running another of its highly successful and very popular real ale festivals at all of its pubs up and down the country.

Real ale fans will be able to sample beers from award-winning brewers, taste brews from five international breweries, take a look at 25 ales that are totally new to Wetherspoon pubs and enjoy up to 30 different ales and beers.

Beers you could try will include Conwy Kashmir IPA, Harviestoun Broken Dial, Joe’s Garage

Bohemian Pale Ale, all the way from the Czech Republic, From the USA there's New Realm Hoptropolis IPA, Robinsons Fear Of The Dark, Steel & Oak Easy Stout from Canada, Yazoo Dos Perros from Tennessee, Zululand Zulu Blonde from South Africa.

Also there's Salopian The Murmurings of a Lost Leviathan, Titanic Cherry Porter, Thornbridge Hubble, Wychwood King Goblin, Hogs Back Ratfink & Ripsnorter, Evan Evans Challenger, Maxim Slovenian Pale Ale, Inveralmond Ossian Oatmeal Stout, Castle Rock Phoenix Tears and other beers besides, plus the usual array of other ales. Plus several ciders (including craft ciders, usually) and food is available all day.

Prices may vary between pubs, also check if the Festival Third of a Pint scheme is still operating.

For full details check out the link here https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/news/2023/09/autumn-real-ale-festival

We are fortunate that we have four Wetherspoon pubs all reasonably local to us and we'll plan our visits accordingly. 

Salcombe Brewery Co. Celebrates Double Win at the World Beer Awards

Salcombe Brewery Co. is celebrating a double win for its Island Street Porter at the 2023 World Beer Awards. Not only did it win a gold in the porter category, but it was crowned overall 'Country Winner' too, meaning that they judged it to be the best porter in the country.

Says Jordan Mace, who is Salcombe Brewery's MD: “We're obviously thrilled with these new accolades for our Island Street Porter, which has already won a Gold Award from SIBA and a Champion Beer Award from Taste of the West.

"Its burgeoning trophy cabinet is testament to the brew team's hard work, creativity and focus on quality. Not only have they created a beer that has beaten off competition from all over the world to achieve a gold award but, it's also been recognised as the best of its kind in the country, too.”

Island Street Porter (ABV 5.9%) is a carefully crafted, velvety, delicately bitter porter with just a hint of sweetness. Eight different malts combine to suggest the tangs of dark chocolate, coffee and black cherries, while the aroma pleasingly suggests a tasty Black Forest gateau!

The World Beer Awards recognise the very best beers from all over the world. To learn more about the World Beer Awards visit www.worldbeerawards.com.

Award-winning, SALSA accredited Salcombe Brewery Co. produces a range of premium cask ale and keg products at its innovative Estuary View brewery which nestles in the Devon countryside above the world famous Salcombe Estuary. 

Salcombe Brewery's range of beers is available nationwide in pubs and hospitality venues as well as retail outlets and online. For further information on Salcombe Brewery Co. and for online purchasing, please visit www.salcombebrewery.com follow Salcombe Brewery Co. on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  

(EDITOR: I'd suggest laying a few cases down for the Christmas and New Year's Eve party season!)

DC Brau Penn Quarter Porter

DC Brau Penn Quarter Porter is described as a "robust porter.

It is brewed and canned in Washington DC by the DC Brau Brewing company LLC.

It is made using barley, oats, hops yeast and water. 

It has an alcohol level by vol of 5.5%, so is a medium strength porter.

How does it taste? Absolutely delicious! Yes, it's a very decent porter which is robust and very well-rounded. It leaves a very pleasant aftertaste. 

Penn Quarter is a part of Washington DC famed for being the home of Ford's Theatre, where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

Where did I find this delicious porter? In my local Home Bargains branch! Home Bargains happens to stock an interesting range of bottled and canned beers and ales. Even more than some wine and spirit merchants.

It cost £1.49, I recall.

Chestnuts From Porter Foods: Adding Flavour All Year Round

Renowned purveyors of fine food, Porter Foods, bring flavoursome chestnuts that can be used in cooking and baking all year round, not just at Christmas. Unlike other chestnut brands in the UK, many of which source their chestnuts from China, the Porter Foods range is sourced closer to home, from Galicia in Spain, where they are renowned as a nutritious delicacy.

Porter Foods introduce three excellent products ideal for trade (food service and manufacturing):

Whole Organic Chestnuts peeled and cooked 10 x 1kg, Vacuum Packed for added freshness: the Porter Foods new range of chestnuts now boasts an organic variety available in 1 kilo bags (10 bags per case trade sized).

Whole Chestnuts peeled and cooked 10 X 1kg, Vacuum Packed for added freshness: Porter Foods whole chestnuts have a beautiful consistency and are ideal for stuffing and pates where texture is desired. Available in 1 kilo bags (10 bags per case trade sized).

Chestnut Puree (Unsweetened) 475g, Porter Foods Chestnut Puree comes in a convenient tray, and is ideal to use in stuffing and delicious puddings.

www.porterfoods.co.uk