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.