All hail the ale! Nicholson's pubs launch their Spring Beer Festival

Spring is finally here and to celebrate Nicholson’s Pubs will showcase a beer extravaganza of 50 delicious cask ales and ciders during its Spring Beer festival (March 24 - April 19).

Proudly serving the finest choices from across the UK tantalise your taste buds with fruity and zesty flavours across a range of blonde, IPAs, speciality, traditional and dark brews available nationwide across the 77 pub estate during the four week period.

We were greeted at Ye Olde Watling, on Watling Street, London (map here) by manager Toby Shelley who enthusiastically guided us through what his pub is doing for the festival.

Ye Olde Watling was the perfect setting to indulge in some spring ales

The pub itself is a real artistic gem - said to be built from old ships' timbers by Sir Christopher Wren, Ye Olde Watling has a remarkable heritage dating to 1668. The building encapsulates what Nicholson's is all about - traditionalist, taste and authenticity.

One claim to fame is that the upstairs rooms were used as a drawing office during the building of St Paul's Cathedral. The pub also catered for Wren's workmen after the Great Fire.

After being seated, we were told how we were going to be guided through nine of their ales on sale. Toby's selection was supreme - from citrus red ale to bitter stout, it mirrored the fabulous selection of products the company has for not only the experienced but for those who are new to ale-drinking.

It did start at halves....promise!

My favourite, which surprised me somewhat, was the 3.5% St Austell Dartmoor. The slightly bitter, malty finish is just what I look for in an ale, and one that can be a perfect accompaniment to a meal. My colleague's top tipple was the World Top, Marmelade Porter, 5%. Again a nice, warm dark finish, he commented on how the subtle orange tones compliment the coffee essence perfectly. We again, both agreed, it could be perfect as a stand-alone drink or with a meal.

It was a real pleasure meeting Toby - his knowledge and passion for the brand as well as his ales is entirely refreshing, while at the same time knowing what the customer expects. If you want a warm welcome as well as a knowledgeable and likeable host, Ye Old Watling is the place to be.

In addition to promoting brewers who push the boundaries in taste and creativity, exclusive highlights during the festival will include a beer launch by British writer, author and presenter Danny Wallace, four beer writer collaborations with Brains Brewery and the launch of a new beer created by the brand’s very own senior cask masters.

Danny Wallace is known to champion the good, old British pub

Working with Danny Wallace – a champion of the traditional British pub - to celebrate the forthcoming launch of his book Who Is Tom Ditto? by Ebury publishing on April 24, Nicholson’s and Truman’s brewery has created Tom Ditto IPA (5% ABV) which will be available exclusively throughout the Nicholson’s Pubs estate, where coincidently two of the pubs – The Bear and Staff and the Dog and Duck – are featured within the book.

The American IPA combines the best of British and US hops including Challenger, Centennial and an experimental hop called ‘Wallex’ to mirror the dual settings of London and New York in the book.  The secondary character in the book - Pia (an anagram of IPA) resulted in a classic pale gold IPA brew, offering hoppy aromas of citrus zest and fresh red fruits.  Full of juicy hoppy flavours it has a refreshing seam of bitterness to balance the malt sweetness.

A nice bit of history

Dedicated to serving great quality ales, Nicholson’s very own team of Senior Cask Masters were challenged to brew their own beer to showcase during the festival. In collaboration with Acorn Brewery in Barnsley they created the flavoursome Dead Good (4.5% ABV) - a Spring blonde ale with a zesty tropical taste, created with a touch of Caramalt for a creamy malt base and well hopped with American Cascade and Crystal hops for a fruity marmalade aroma and a citrusy taste.  Definitely one to try.

As well as proudly serving brewing greats such as St. Austell, Liberation and Ikley, Nicholson’s has pulled together a special showcase of four beer writer collaborations with Brains brewery.  These four beers best highlight the creativity and enthusiasm to deliver interesting and diverse flavours in beer – plus they’re lip-smackingly good. These include:

Boilermaker (6.5% ABV) -  Crowned the ‘Ultimate IPA’ in Brains’ inaugural annual collaboration brew challenge, ‘Thinking Drinkers’ Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham worked with the brewery to produce a Welsh whisky IPA, matured with Penderyn whisky infused oak chips in casks from the distillery, resulting in a complex and fruity beer, with a warming whisky buzz.

Rye Catcher (5.0% ABV) - Winner of the annual Continental Beer Challenge this American rye beer was brewed in collaboration with Glenn Payne.  Using Rye and Rye Crystal malts to provide a spicy malt base and a vibrant copper colour to this beer, it is powerfully hopped with Apollo, Columbus, Amarillo and Citra hops from the USA, producing an assertive bitterness with robust flavours of citrus and grapefruit.

The Solution (6.0% ABV) - Award-winning beer writer Pete Brown collaborated with Brains to produce The Solution – an abbey-style Belgian dubbel traditionally brewed by the Trappist monks of Belgium. Using Munich and Dark Crystal malts, Saaz and Styrian Golding hops and a traditional Trappist Ale Yeast, this dark, full bodied and complex beer is full of rich, fruity plum flavours with a sweet raisin aroma and spicy, warming finish.
 
Three C’son (5.0% ABV) - Beer writer Adrian Tierney-Jones collaborated with Brains for the Continental Beer Challenge to produce Three-C’Son – a traditional farmhouse Saison with an added twist of three American hops – Centennial, Columbus, Citra – giving the name Three-C’Son.  The sweet nose of ripe peach and citrus, a green apple snappiness on the palate and a hint of white pepper combines with an earthy spice from the use of a traditional Saison yeast that is followed by a firm, refreshingly dry finish.

So get yourself down to a Nicholson's where you will find 50 ales and ciders to choose from. And remember to share your thoughts and love for the ale. Tag on Instagram NICHOLSONSPUBS which pubs and ales deserve a thumbs up. #HailTheAle

Tweet @NICHOLSONSPUBS and let the company know which of the Spring Beer Festival ales are delighting your taste buds #NichsBeerFest

Find them on Facebook if you just want to talk beer. Nicholson's would love to hear what you've got to say.

Nicholson's Pubs have the answer to the perils of autumn

It's one of my favourite times of the year.

The time where the cold snap is just starting, and I have to think of ways to keep warm. Which leads me for my annual jaunt to sample the delights of the Nicholson's Autumn Ale Festival.

What better way to warm the cockles than sampling some fine and varied ales.

You are sure to be welcomed at the Nicholson's Autumn Ale Festival

Showcasing some of the best British ales available from October 21 until November 17, as well as exclusive brews available to Nicholson’s across its 77 venues nationwide, it's time to discover why our national drink is becoming more and more popular.

Our love of ale pre-dates all other alcoholic drinks produced in England and ten brewing giants with over a 100 years’ experience including Thwaites, Liberation and Camerons breweries will join a selection of 50 cask ales supplied on rotation. 

You can sample a variety of flavours through a carefully selected range of IPAs, Pales, Traditional, Dark and Speciality brews, in addition to the seasonal ales currently being sold and a choice range of ciders.

The Nicholson’s brothers opened their first pub in 1873. Today the Cask Marque accredited pubs offer iconic and historic settings, providing a real ale pub experience with its unrivalled range of cask conditioned ales. 

As well as pulling pints, Nicholson’s Pubs drive innovation by working with equally impassioned breweries to create new flavours and great tasting exclusive, seasonal ales.

New for the festival will be guest ales from Northern Ireland, plus Portobello Brewery will be creating a brand new and exclusive 7% IPA, just for the festival. 

We met cask master Ben Lockwood in The White Horse on Carnaby Street London to sample some of the delights on offer.And here are our observations:

Broughton, Hopopotamus

ABV: 3.8%

Style: Pale

Colour: Blonde

Taste: Golden, tropical fruits, Grapefruit

Hops: Amarillo, Cascade, Chinook Willamette (US)

Sparkler: Yes

Location: Scottish Borders

Thoughts: A very light and very tasty ale. Could comfortably be a drink for the night, as well as suited for a complement to a meal.

Whale, Pale Whale

ABV: 3.6%

Style: Pale

Colour: Blonde

Taste: Lemon grass, honey, hoppy

Hops: Challenger (UK), Goldings (UK), Cascade (UK)

Sparkler: Yes

Location: Warwickshire

Thoughts: A new addition for Nicholson's, the lemon taste is both refreshing, yet subtle. Again, would complement a meal as an alternative to wine. However, perhaps lack the kick to be one to remember.

There is sure to be plenty to tempt customers

Thwaites, 13 Guns

ABV: 5.5%

Style: IPA

Colour: Pale

Taste: Hoppy, drinkable, distinctive IPA

Hops: Amarillo, Centennial, Citra, Chinook, Kohatu

Sparkler: Yes

Location: Blackburn

Thoughts: Those from Blackburn have got it spot on with this delight. Full bodied and bursting with flavour, this Autumn the 13 Guns is one not to miss out on.

Cameron's Gold Bullion

ABV: 4.3%

Style: Pale

Colour: Golden

Taste: Citrus, Hoppy

Hops: Fuggles, Cascade, Chinook

Sparkler: Yes

Location: Hartlepool

Thoughts: A pure gold coloured, full bodied ale with good hop flavour from a late copper addition of the outstanding North American Chinook hop to give a powerful citrus character. The ale underpins a more robust flavour and mouth feel for greater satisfaction.

Orchard Pig, Explorer BIB

ABV: 4.5%

Thoughts: A hint of farmyard always appeals to me when drinking a cider, that you are drinking the 'real deal.' Then comes the sweet smell of apple bloosom, and the flavours result in a balanced effort that will make you want number two, three, four.....

Want to know more about ale? Feel free to ask the fully-trained Nicholson’s Cask Masters, the company’s specially chosen, enthusiastic experts who can talk through the range in more detail and offer recommendations.

Nicholson’s Pubs will keep its Cask Ale club members up to date with initiatives and exclusive promotions available to them throughout the festival. The club provides news on the new ales available in the market and the initiatives taking place across pubs nationwide. To join visit www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/caskaleclub

The staff will be well trained to match your liking to a perfect pint

To find your nearest pub visit www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk or follow @Nicholsonspubs on Twitter and on Facebook for news updates, events and offers during the festival.

Scrumptious food - Made in Mayfair

Mayfair.  Now, I can hardly claim to frequent the area.  It is by no means my stomping ground, and I can't pretend that I would ever be at home in The Ritz.  In fact, if I'm honest, I don't think they'd let me in.  But if you feel the same about this rather upmarket area of our dear capital city, but find yourself lost and in need of a beer and some bloody good pub grub, then fear not!  Take a left down Dover Street and step inside The Clarence.

The Clarence, Dover Street, London

On entering the pub, I was instantly hit by the warm atmosphere, the aroma of mulled wine in the air, and the bustle of people enjoying a few post-work beverages in the run-up to the festive season.  It seemed to be the perfect place for a cosy winter drink, and while you can dine in the bar area, I highly recommend taking the steps upstairs to the restaurant where you can choose from the same menu, but enjoy the benefits and comfort of quieter surroundings alongside impeccable table service.

After catching the sweet and spicy fragrance of the mulled wine in the bar area I'd already decided what my drink for the evening would be; sweetly flavoured and perfectly warm it was a fantastic start to the evening.  My partner took the excellent advice of our server for the evening, Anna, and tried a couple of ales throughout the meal, and all were thoroughly enjoyed.  There is a great selection and, if you are an ale drinker, you should definitely take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of the staff as they will be more than happy to find the right one for you.

We chose a pint of the Nicholson's home ale, and a festive mulled wine

For my starter I went for the smoked Scottish salmon, and what an absolutely great start to the meal.  The salmon was delicately flavoured, and was complemented perfectly by the yummy, salty cornichons (which might not be your bag but have a go, don't be pathetic).  I didn't finish all of the soda bread this was served with this as I found it a little heavy for a starter, but if you have a bigger appetite than me, get stuck in.  My partner went for the crispy squid with garlic mayonnaise; a generous portion and steaming hot with perfectly crispy batter.

The Scottish smoked salmon starter

Crispy squid starter

 My partner didn't hold back on the main and went for the ribeye steak, served with chips and a peppercorn sauce, plus two enormous king prawns to 'surf' it.  This was a proper man-feast and was beautifully cooked, and definitely enjoyed, but it's not a particularly cheap choice, and there are plenty of other delicious options on the menu if you find this one a little pricey. 

The fish basket main course was positively loaded!

I went for the basket of fish, which included cod goujons, scampi, king prawns and calamari, served with chips and tartare sauce.  The fish was really delicious, and beautifully presented in a basket with a stack of crispy chips on the side.  The portion was very generous, but I personally would have preferred a smaller amount, but served with some salad on the side - this came with no garnish at all which, for me, was the only thing I missed.  There is, however, a good selection of sides on the menu, including the house salad or vegetables, but whether you add these in or not, you won't be going hungry!

Dessert was out of the question, much as it pains me to say it, as we were way too full, so I chose to have a pot of tea whilst my partner went for an Amaretto latte (I nicked a bit when he was looking the other way and it was delicious, take it from me). 

Anna gave fantastic service, and was extremely attentive and helpful, and very keen to give assistance and advice.  She is a real credit to the company.

If you are ever in the area I thoroughly recommend a trip to The Clarence.  You will receive a warm welcome and friendly service, as well as some really good quality British pub food.  Then you can round off your evening with a stroll to see the Christmas lights, or perhaps down to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.  Or you can pop next door to Mahiki and pull a celebrity.

This wasn't your usual surf 'n' turf as you can see!

Guest blogger - AB

Click here to make a booking or for more information on The Clarence, Mayfair.

Christmas time, mistletoe and..... ALE!

As a follow-up to the fantastic afternoon sampling Nicholson's ale festival specialities, I was cordially invited to sample the company's Christmas ales one evening at the De Hems Dutch Cafe Bar in Soho London.

Accompanying me on this festive delight was long-time school friend Daniel.

Nicholson’s Pubs celebrates the festive season by producing a selection of seven exclusive Christmas Ales in collaboration with some of the UK’s key top brewers.

The speakers line up to present their Christmas ales

The company’s experienced Cask Masters have specially crafted their own ales, brewed in collaboration with Moorhouse, Oxfordshire, Andwells, Broughton, Sambrooks, Vale and Brentwood breweries and available across over 80 pubs nationwide throughout December 2012. 

So our evening involved tasting the seven specialities on offer, and here they are, with a brief description, our thoughts and ratings!

Ding Dong - but did it make the bells ring?

Ding Dong

ABV: 4.5%
Taste: A warm chestnut beer with a rich marmalade aroma
Brewery: Andwell

This was our first Christmas ale of the evening, and was some start. It had a sweet, dessert flavour, and as oppose to some other ales that promises a flavour it can't really provide, the sweet aftertaste of marmelade was delightful.

Scores

Daniel - 7

John - 8

Meads Must

ABV: 4.7%
Taste: A superb dark ruby red ale with a hint of honey and quince.
Brewery: Oxfordshire

Although higher in ABV content than the first, this ale lacked any kind of bite, and had a rather weak aftertaste. We both deduced that unfortunately it's smell, which was rich and sweet, was better than its taste.

Scores

Daniel -6

John - 5

The representatives from those involved with The Only Way Is Santa  put on an enthusiastic presentation

Five Gold Rings

ABV: 4.8%
Taste: A dark mahogany coloured brew with an aroma of roasted malt, the taste of fruit and subtle spice flavours are followed by a long , warm and slightly bitter finish.
Brewery: Vale

A lovely, warm and spicy ale, a real winter special. This had a good, all-round solid taste which could be felt in between drinks. Although early in the evening, we knew this was going to be up there with the best.

Scores

Daniel -7

John -8

 
London Winter Ale

ABV: 4.6%
Taste: A deep red ale which takes its spicy aroma from a blend of English hops.  With a rich sweet and tangy taste this beer is an ideal accompaniment to steak, venison, game and Christmas Pudding.
Brewery: Sambrookes

Both of us had heard of the Sambrookes brewery, so were pleasantly surprised to hear that it had only been brewing from Battersea since 2008. And with this concoction, they are on to a winner. It had a real chocolatey taste, and we felt was one of the more powerful on the palate of the evening.

Scores

Daniel -8

John -7

Elves Bells

ABV: 4%
Taste: A deep chestnut brown coloured ale, brewed with Maris Otter malted barley and crystal malt to give hints of sweet malt, biscuit and caramel tones.  Balanced by the use of cascade hops to give floral and spice notes on the nose, there is a pleasant full bitterness in the aftertaste.
Brewery: Moorhouse

This was the 'most drinkable' ale of the evening - that is to say it was the one most suited to staying on all night. This may be to do with the alcohol content, but it was also to do with its succinct, dessert taaste, where each of the ingredients were discernable. Also, the fact that is was devoid of sugar added to its popularity!

Scores

Daniel -8

John -8

The Only Way Is Santa

ABV: 5.2%
Taste: A rich ruby beer with a smooth malt character, Willamette hops give this beer spicy, blackcurrant aromas and flavours. Plums and cinnamon have been added to compliment the beers character with a delectably rich flavour and a gentle spice. 
Brewery: Brentwood

The highest ABV of the evening, and also, the joint-highest overall score from our ratings! While Joey Essex and Chloe Simms from TOWIE may not choose this tipple on their night out in the Sugar Hut, Essex should be very proud of this particular concoction (could these characters also be labelled 'concoctions' though??). We were told this ale gives you 'one of your five-a-day' and if five glasses of this sorted that out, then we'll raise our glass to that!

Scores

Daniel -9

John -8

Santa's Oatmeal Stout SOS

ABV: 4.8%
Taste: Bursting with oatmeal and chocolate aromas, this dark brown ale uses a blend of five malts and oats, delivering a mouthful of smooth roasted flavours and a lingering rich taste.
Brewery: Broughton

Certainly one of the liveliest ales on the palate of the evening, and with a lingering taste in the mouth and throat, this finished joint-top in the ratings with The Only Way Is Santa. Again, the flavours mingled exceptionally well, and the aftertaste left us wanting more. It felt as strong as the previous ale, and felt, as we did here, it would be the perfect pint to round off an evening with (and probably start off with too!).

Scores

Daniel -9

John -8

The presentations all came across as genuine and knowledgable

After the presentations from representatives from the various breweries were finished, expertly hosted by British Craft Guild of Beer Writers member and author Melissa Cole, those present were invited to help themselves to the casks of Christmas ales. There was no desire to take advantage of the volume of alcohol on offer - it was the kind of night to enjoy the varied tastes of all the respective ales, chat to others present, and then be on our sober way home.

Well, most of that is true!

For more information on Nicholson's Christmas Ales, visit the website at www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk

Nicholson’s offers an historic and distinctive collection of pubs across the UK, with warm and inviting hospitality through its authentic British pub atmosphere.  Delivering quality hearty British classics served with a modern twist, take a break from Christmas shopping and enjoy lunch or dinner at many of the hidden upstairs dining rooms.  Alternatively the festive menus provide a great solution for office get-togethers or groups of friends and family.

Guest ales are expertly matched with dishes from the food menu, or alternatively, experience Nicholson’s equalled passion for fine wine with its impressive cellars containing classics and vintages from the old and new world.  

 

 

 

Warm the cockles with Nicholson's Autumn Ale Festival!

An afternoon sampling ale sounded right up my street. Added to that was the fact that I was scheduled to be meeting up with a couple of old University friends, and the seed was sown, and we were cordially invited to sample the delights of Nicholson's Ale Festival. (Click here for history of the Nicholson's branding on the 'reviews' page).

The Nicholson's London Ale trail runs through Soho and Oxford Street, Theatreland, Piccadilly to Westminster, the Financial District, historical Blackfriars and London Bridge to Tower Bridge, in the city centre.

Add another three sites just outside the centre of London, and there's 43 pubs to sample the delight of Great British ales.

Left to right; Cask ale expert Ben Lockwood, The Clachan manager Greg Yates,
and yours truly

We settled for an afternoon in one of the venues (not lazy, just comfortable), and this was The Clachan, near to Oxford Circus tube station on Kingly Street.

On notifying the bar manager that we weren't just dossers taking an afternoon off to tank up on the super selection of ales on offer, but that I was there to review the festival, we were offered our first sample - a pint of the 24 Carat Gold, a Liverpool-brewed ale.

And a great start that was! The ale was lively and refreshing, the orange notes very clear in the pint, a superb selection from manager Greg Yates.

After finishing a meeting, assistant brand manager and cask ale expert Ben Lockwood joined us at the table - and after being briefed of his experience and enthusiasm for his line of work, I expected a 40-years-old + gent to be joining us.

I was wrong, as shuffling down next to us was a youthful smartly-dressed chap, who, similar to me as I am a youthful, smartly-dressed chap, was 28-years-old.

His knowledge and history in the trade was fascinating, his pride and dedication very evident, and it helped that he asked us questions as well as us quizzing him, and it made it a nicely-settled atmosphere.

After some interesting conversation, Ben decided that we would crack on with sampling some of the ales on offer. And here's how they went down, with scoring courtesy of myself, my home-brewing ale expert Andy, and some geezer we met on the way (joke) Greg.

Proper Job

ABV: 4.5%
Style: IPA
Taste: A powerfully hopped golden bitter that explodes with citrus grapefruit flavours
Location: Cornwall

It is always difficult to score an ale when it is first (discounting our pre-drink) on the menu. Yet all three of us were confident this would be right up there. The ale was crisp, the flavours of the hops spicy, yet not overwhelming, and it left a really strong mouthfeel.

Scores

Andy - 9
Greg - 7
John - 8

There were certainly a few ales to get through...

Lamplighter

ABV: 4.8%
Style: Amber
Taste: Roasted malts, fruity and hoppy
Location: Essex

This beer is brewed in memory of founder William Nicholson, whose original homemade gin, before trying his expert hand to ale, was called Lamplighter. The citric aromas, mixed with an earthy aftertaste made it seem all ends up a sure-fire house ale. The taste however, seemed like it could be of a seasonal nature, perhaps more an autumn/winter warmer, which affected the scoring.

Scores

Andy - 8
Greg - 6
John - 9


Real Blonde

ABV: 4%
Style: Blonde
Taste: Refreshing, balanced, light and fruity
Location: Batley

Admittedly, I went into this taste-test with a bias insofar that Batley is close to where I was brought up. However, this ale turned out to be my least favourite. Nothing to do with its qualities as a blonde ale, but simply that I prefer a heavy, dark ale. We all felt it tasted very 'light' and hit little effect on the palate - but perhaps it is an acquired taste!

I had a go at pulling my own - apparently it was the 'perfect pint'

Scores

Andy - 5
Greg - 5
John - 6


Black Gold

ABV: 3.7%
Style: Mild
Taste: Roasted malts giving a unique rich and luscious flavour
Location: Skipton

Again I wanted to be biased - Skipton is a lovely place not far from my home in Leeds. So I naturally scored it high - but for good reason. I found the ale very flavoursome, like a well-nurtured desert, very grainy and caramel-like. Sadly, I think my colleagues were getting full up as shown in their scoring.

Scores

Andy - 6
Greg - 6
John - 8

Think the lads were happy with the afternoon's entertainment!

Titanic Iceberg

ABV: 4.1%
Style: Pale
Taste: A fantastic wheat beer that holes any passing thirst
Location: Stoke-on-Trent

A really refreshing beer that had a very special zest that makes you forget that it contains any alcohol. This is certainly an ale you could spend a night on and be happy with your choice. However, it might lack that special edge that others might bring.

Scores

Andy - 6
Greg - 7
John - 7


Three Swords

ABV: 4.5%
Style: Pale
Taste: The three hops give a delightful citrus nose
Location: Leeds

Now here it was, the final ale, from my home town, Leeds. And I was not disappointed, and neither were my colleagues, who had no bias whatsoever! This was the clear winner! It is a real thirst-quencher, containing a different sensation on each taste. It was a complex taste with many different flavours on the palate, but each one discernible. A sure fire winner!

Scores

Andy - 9
Greg - 8
John - 9


And so we were shortly on our way. Well oiled for the evening, but with a realisation that we didn't want to ruin it with sub-standard alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, as we didn't frequent any more Nicholson's pubs on our tour of London, we knew there was no point trying the ales of other establishments as they wouldn't match up. So we decided to stay on water for the evening to as to not spoil the palate.

Well, that might not be wholly true, but our ale-tasting session at The Clachan was certainly the highlight of our meeting. Bravo!

The Autumn Ale Festival runs until November 18 in all Nicholson's pubs in London and beyond. For more information contact visit the website at www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk