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Champion Beer of Britain

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Mild by Penzance Brewing Co has been crowned CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain 2025 at the Great British Beer Festival, which took place at the NEC in Birmingham in August.

Twelve amazing finalists were whittled down to the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners by an expert judging panel.

The long-standing CAMRA award is one of the most coveted and well-respected cask beer competitions in the world, putting the winner firmly in both the UK-wide and international spotlight.

The competition is fiercely independent, with judging taking two years to complete. Each year kicks off with individual nominations from CAMRA members and volunteer tasting panels, then regional competitions. Every round of judging uses a strict blind tasting policy.

Lewis Elliott and Richard Hickman (pictured above) of Penzance Brewing said:

“It’s quite overwhelming. I’m really glad the style has come back. It’s down to the founder of our brewery Peter Elvin and his nephew Rob, who showed me the ropes. I can’t believe we are here right now, its mad!”

Christine Cryne, Champion Beer of Britain Judging Coordinator described Mild as:

“The aroma of this classic dark mild has all the enticing aromas one would expect. Chocolate and sweet cocoa on the nose. Chocolate, sultanas and dry roast on the palate where the gentle pleasant sweetness is balanced by a roasty, subtle, dry bitterness. Packs a lot of flavour for a 3.6% beer!”

The Silver and Bronze winners for 2025 were:

Silver: Snowflake, Sarah Hughes was described by the judges as: “a gorgeous barley wine and a classic example of the style. The flavour is complex, with sweet bitter marmalade on a smooth palate.”

Bronze: Fallen Angel by Church End was described by the judges as having: “A sweet honey toast, butterscotch aroma with a little spice. It’s a rich pale ale with bitter spicy hops that are balanced by notes of honey.”

Gary Timmins, CAMRA Awards Director said:

“I’m over the moon for Penzance, with Mild being a deserving Champion Beer of Britain. From CAMRA members nominating their favourites, through to those tough regional rounds, to the final panel of judges, this is a vigorous and fiercely independent competition, and Mild has come out on top.

The winners of the Champion Bottled Beer of Britain were also announced at the Great British Beer Festival, with St Austell’s Proper Job claiming Gold.

Brewing Director Georgina Young said: “We are very honoured and delighted to be recognised in this category with our amazing Proper Job IPA, which was first brewed in 2004, created using original new style hops made with Chinook and Cascade.”

Judges described the bottled beer as: “The forerunner of many New World IPAs. A gorgeous looking gold coloured IPA with strong fruity nose and a perfect balance of biscuit, citrus fruits and bitter hops, with an ABV of 5.5% this is a beer to savour and enjoy.”

Silver was won by Monty’s Mischief and Bronze was won by Kernal’s Imperial Brown Stout.

Gold, silver and bronze winners

Gold
Penzance, Mild

Silver
Sarah Hughes, Snowflake

Bronze
Church End, Fallen Angel

Category winners

Mild
Penzance, Mild

Session Bitter
Butcombe, Butcombe Original

Premium Bitter
Cairngorm, Wildcat

IPAs
Elusive, Oregon Trail

Session Pale, Blond and Golden Ales
Track, Sonoma

Premium Pale, Blond and Golden Ales
Church End, Fallen Angel

Brown and Red Ales, Old Ales and Strong Milds
Tintagel, Caliburn

Session Stouts and Porters
Cairngorm, Black Gold

Strong Stouts and Porters
Grain, Slate

Specialty, Differently Flavoured
Siren, Broken Dream Breakfast Stout

Specialty, Differently Produced
Allendale, Adder Lager

Barely Wines and Strong Old Ales
Sarah Hughes, Snowflake

Notre Dame Lujan

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Notre Dame Lujan is the first and only pub to serve real ale and has hosted the Rand Festival since 2018. We have already done 7 editions of our festival (the first was only 2 casks and each year we add more, than the last one, which was 9). 
In Argentina casks do not exist, so Alberto Eyherabide, owner of the pub and cellarman, had them made to suit him. Same as all the tools to serve cask ale. Every time a friend or family traveled outside of Argentina he bought them taps, and cask ale elements.
We also have natural ciders. 1 year ago we are the only pub in Latin America with cask marquee and we also serve real ale from wooden cask. We have the support of the SPBW. On Saturday the guys from Brampton brewery were here and they left me a Sheffield Unlted t-shirt! We must work to be sister cities! After a recent visit to Sheffield, Alberto explored Kelham/Neepsend to gather ideas, and sample the fine beers. 
I was in England on several occasions and in the USA I won a cellarman scholarship at the Nerax in Boston 2019 and in 2023 I participated as a cask ale judge at the Atlanta Cask Ale Festival. 

My dream is to be able to go to the GBBF one day. We have the support of CAMRA since 2018.
www.notredamelujan.com

Abbeydale Brewery

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Another new month and we’ve got a cornucopia of beers this month spanning the whole spectrum! On the light side of things, we’re starting September with Japanese Cedar (3.9%) – a citrussy sensation of a pale ale, hopped with Mosaic and Amarillo for zesty notes of orange and grapefruit and a pithy bitter finish. New to our Mythical Creatures inspired series slithers in the Basilisk (4.3%), a refreshing pale ale that’s smooth on the palate, with no scales in sight! And from the Doctor Morton’s range we’re welcoming back Mandarin Claw of Death, a 4.1% pale with – as the name may suggest – notes of mandarin from the Cascade and Amarillo hop combination.

From the Brewers’ Emporium, Parkin Stout (5.2%) is a seasonally appropriate addition to our Salvation range. A full bodied oatmeal stout with flavours of rich molasses and a tickle of punchy ginger, gently spiced to evoke our favourite regional seasonal treat, Yorkshire Parkin. Warming and wonderful! 

We’re really excited to be hosting local pals Triple Point Brewery for the return leg of our collaboration – together we’ll be creating Golden Peaks, a UK hopped IPA at 6.2%. We’ll be showcasing the new kids of the crop Harlequin and Olicana with their vibrant tropical flavours, which meld seamlessly with the classic orange and hedgerow character from Admiral and East Kent Goldings.

And finally, you must have known it was coming… towards the end of the month PILGRIM IS BACK! Tis the season for pumpkin spice and all things nice and we can’t wait for this classic to be back in our lives and on bars around Sheffield and beyond!

Abbeydale Brewery

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August is our birthday month! We turn 29 this year – it’s a privilege to have been here doing what we do for almost three whole decades and we’re so excited for what the future holds in our new chapter of being 100% employee owned. Thank you for joining us on this journey!

Anyway, enough of the emotional sentiments, here’s what we’ve got coming up this month. Live, Laugh, Loch Lomond (4.2%) is the return leg of our collaboration with Scott, previously part of our brewteam and now at, as the beer name suggests, Loch Lomond Brewery! A light biscuity base meets uniquely flavourful Krush hops to create a fruity little number with a luscious impact!

From the imaginarium of Doctor Morton we have the return of Proper Gander (4.1%), Get up really close and get a long, careful look at this Chinook and Pacific Gem hopped pale. Another returning beer to our line up is seasonal special Harvested, a 4.1% pale with Galaxy hops. Expect a fruity beer with refreshing tropical character alongside a clean, grapefruit bitterness and a subtle spiciness in the finish.

And on the Brewers Emporium side of things look out for Hazelnut Frappé Stout (5.2%) from our Salvation series, in collaboration with Castleton Coffee Co. Smooth and silky, with a bold coffee character balanced by sweet, nutty overtones and notes of chocolate and vanilla. And finally we have vibrant, juicy pale ale Trailblazer (4.4%) riding into town, with Amarillo, Simcoe and Galaxy hops.  

Thornbridge Brewery

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Thornbridge Brewery and Garrett Oliver collaborate on a special release to support The Michael James Jackson Foundation

Thornbridge Brewery is proud to announce a special collaboration with Garrett Oliver, Brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery, to create a unique beer brewed on the world’s only operational Burton Union set. Proceeds from this limited-edition release will benefit The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing and Distilling (MJF).

In 2024, Garrett Oliver played a pivotal role in assisting Thornbridge with the rescue and restoration of an historic Burton Union Set – a legendary system once central to British brewing. Now operational at Thornbridge’s brewery in Bakewell, it stands as the sole functioning example of its kind anywhere in the world.

Since its installation, Thornbridge has used the Union to explore heritage styles and innovative collaborations. This new release marks the first beer brewed on the system with Garrett Oliver himself: a Strong Dark Mild crafted with Maris Otter, premium Crystal and Chocolate malts, and West African Fonio, an ancient grain that contributes creaminess and subtle fruit character. Dark brewing sugars further enhance the beer with complex layers of caramel and richness.

In addition to its historical and technical significance, the collaboration supports a vital cause. Garrett Oliver founded The MJF, a non-profit organisation that funds technical education and career advancement for people of colour in the brewing and distilling industries. For every pint and can of this beer sold, 10 pence will be donated to the foundation.

“We were incredibly excited to brew with Garrett using the Union,” said Simon Webster, Co-Founder and CEO of Thornbridge Brewery. “To combine this brewing milestone with the opportunity to support such an important cause makes it all the more meaningful.”

Garrett Oliver continued …. “I’m 36 years into my brewing career, and yet this still counts as one of the most personally significant beers I’ve had the opportunity to brew. My journey into brewing started with British cask beers at the pub, and to brew on this singular and wondrous beast is a great privilege.”

This unique beer will be available in Thornbridge bars and Free Trade pubs around the UK.

National Breweriana Auction

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CAMRA’s 39th National Breweriana Auction; Saturday 25th October 2025

Have you ever fancied owning a slice of brewing history? Then this Auction is just the thing for you. Run by the Campaign for Real Ale, the National Breweriana Auction returns to Burton on Trent’s Town Hall on Saturday 25th October. It will have circa 150 interesting auction lots; everything from mirrors to trays; advertising signs, water jugs, flagons, bottles, books and pump clips as well as a few more unusual items. Plus there will be a number of stands selling brewery memorabilia adding to the atmosphere in this wonderful Victorian venue.

There are all sorts of items from all over the country to decorate your home. What about a Guinness clock or a delightful plate from Lincolnshire’s Batemans Brewery. The plate was issued to their employees after the brewery was saved from closure in 1987 when the sister and brother of George Bateman wanted to sell. One of the key components to saving the Brewery was their XXXB winning CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain, resulting in full order books.

As always, there are a number of advertising display cards including two from London’s Barclay Perkins (set up in 1616 and merged with Courage in 1955) and one from the less known Simpson’s of Baldock, Hertfordshire. The brewery was founded in the 1730s and renamed Simpsons in 1853 when it was bought by Joseph & Thomas George Simpson. To avoid death duties, the business was sold to Greene King with 130 pubs in 1954 for £525,000 and closed in 1965.

Another item from Barclay Perkins is a corked bottle of Imperial Russian Stout, probably 70 years old. Other items from past London brewing giants are two Toby jugs from Charringtons, who were famous for its Toby Jug logo. They were founded in 1770, merging with Bass, Mitchell & Butler, to form Bass Charringtons in 1967, which made them the largest brewery in the UK at that time. The London brewery was closed and brewing moved to the Midlands in 1975.

Two items, you can either use or more likely display, are trays from Wadworth of Devizes (founded in 1875 and still in family hands) and the less known Tennants. This is not the better known Scottish Tennents Brewery but a brewery established by two brothers in 1840 in Sheffield. They were acquired by Whitbread in 1961 with 700 tied houses becoming Whitbread East Pennines but closed in 1993.

These are just a few of the items on sale, each with a history to tell. You don’t have to be an expert to attend the National Breweriana Auction. The Auction is great fun to take part in (or even just to watch) and it’s an opportunity to get some great bargains plus many of the items on sale can appreciate in value. And, of course, like any CAMRA event, there is some good beer on sale all day (from a local brewery).

Burton on Trent is less than an hour by train from Shefield and the Town Hall is just a short walk from the railway station. The event starts at 10.30am with the opportunity to view the lots and browse the breweriana stands that will also be there. Bidding starts at noon and is normally finished by 3pm, giving a chance to have a final perusal of the stands before visiting some of Burton’s iconic pubs and heading home.

Entrance is by catalogue (£3.00), available on the day, or in advance by post: £6.15 (first class) from Bill Austin: 07831 688276 or baustin1951@btinternet.com. If you can’t get there, postal bids are accepted, just contact Bill. Similarly contact Bill if you have Breweriana items you would like to enter into the Auction. Wheelchair accessible. For more details see: www.gandc.camra.org.uk.

Christine Cryne

Cider month

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CAMRA chooses July to promote real cider but what exactly is that? – Vice Chairman (Cider) of CAMRA’s Real Ale, Cider and Perry Campaigns Committee, Ian Packham talks traditional cider and perry and CAMRA’s campaigning.

Real cider and perry are long established traditional drinks, which in certain parts of the country were supplied as part of the payment for farm labour up until 1887.

Traditional Cider and Perry are completely natural products, unlike most of the cold fizzy commercial products we are used to seeing, which are far from the real thing. Real cider and perry is produced naturally from apples (cider) and pears (perry) and is not normally carbonated or pasteurised. The harvesting of the fruit normally happens around October although this can vary dependent on the weather throughout the growing season.

The basics of traditional cider and perry production have remained the same for centuries – simply pick, wash, mill and press the fruit, place into a suitable container (in many cases oak barrels in the older days), allow to ferment and enjoy, although a number of producers do use separate yeast rather than that which naturally occurs on the skin of the fruit. Either way production uses virtually no energy at all, from picking of the fruit to the product being ready for sale, meaning that the production process is very environmentally friendly. Many of these natural ciders and perries tend to be dry as they have largely fully fermented using the natural sugar within the fruit. Some of them are sweetened by the addition of fresh apple juice, sugar, or other sweetener but perry tends to be naturally sweeter than cider.

The popularity of real cider and perry is rising as more people discover how deliciously mellow and aromatic the flavours of naturally produced cider and perry can be. A glass of real cider or perry represents generations of production dating back hundreds of years. There are also many new producers of cider and perry who are using the traditional process – albeit in some cases with more modern equipment – which still creates the traditional product.

Real cider was traditionally produced from cider apples which are different from eating or cooking apples. These typically have high levels of tannin which lead to a very bitter taste. There are many varieties of cider apple which have different characteristics and vary in levels of tannin and acid. They tended to grow in the Three Counties (Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire) as well as the West Country, especially Devon and Somerset. Cider is also made in many parts of the country with producers using eating or cooking apples instead, which leads to a different taste profile again. Similarly, perry pears are different to desert pears in that they are smaller in size and are high in tannin which tends to give an astringent taste rather than bitterness found in cider apples. They tend to dominate in the Three Counties which is where the majority of real perry is produced.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many of the well-known ciders and perries sold in the UK that are not produced using the natural process from apples and pears but have been produced artificially using concentrated juice, chaptalised juice or syrup, some involving many processes prior to being ready for sale, that makes them far less environmentally friendly than the traditional product.

Concentrated juice is where the fruit has been pressed and then much of the water content has been removed to reduce the volume for transportation. It is then rehydrated prior to starting the fermentation process. Chaptalised juice is where the fruit has been pressed and then large amounts of sugar are added to the juice. This is then fermented to a very high ABV where it can be stored prior to being diluted with water in order to achieve the desired alcohol content for sale.

The use of these methods, plus the changing methods of dispense for traditional cider and perry, often from polypins to bag in boxes, led to CAMRA reviewing its definition for real cider and perry.

The wording of the new definition states ‘CAMRA defines Real Cider or Perry as being fermented from the whole juice of fresh pressed apples or pears, without the use of concentrated or chaptalized juices’. The definition document also includes a number of pointers to best practice which identify the preferred options for cider and perry. These identify fruit or flavoured ciders as a separate category, as they are for HMRC purposes, ensuring that any added fruit or flavourings are pure and not from concentrates, extracts or essences. A full copy of this document can be found on the CAMRA website.

Following this, CAMRA contacted as many cider and perry producers as possible in order to confirm their production processes and generated a list of producers complying with the definition. This is available as a map showing cider and perry producers as well as producers of fruit and flavoured ciders and perries, or as a downloadable list. These are available via the CAMRA website or directly at producers.camra.org.uk and the map is a living document that is updated on a regular basis.

One of the areas that CAMRA has concentrated on in the last year is information for people who are interested in learning more about cider and perry. The Learn & Discover platform can be found at https://camra.org.uk/learn-discover/ and covers the Basics for beginners – available to everyone – as well as Learn More for enthusiasts and Discover for connoisseurs – which is available exclusively for CAMRA members. You can learn about what real cider and perry are, and where to find them, an introduction to tasting cider and perry, cider and perry styles, cider terminology, how cider and perry is made, food pairing, cider apple and perry pear varieties and much more.

If you are keen on learning more about the product, enjoy drinking and supporting real cider and perry, and discovering a wide range of tastes and flavours then go have a look at the CAMRA website. Cheers and Wassail!

WHERE TO FIND CIDER IN SHEFFIELD

Unfortunately whilst Sheffield is a really good place for beer, the options for decent cider is somewhat limited! Here are a few suggestions but the list isn’t comprehensive

The Old Shoe

New Barrack Tavern

Hop Hideout

Perch

Harlequin

PRODUCERS OF REAL CIDER ACROSS THE UK

  • 146 Cider Company
  • 99 Pines
  • Ad Astra Cider
  • Addington Garden Cider
  • Afal Y Graig Welsh Artisan Cider & Perry
  • Against the Grain Cider
  • Aitchesons
  • Ampleforth Abbey
  • Apple Cottage Cider Limited
  • Apple County Cider Co
  • Apple Orphanage
  • Appletreewick Cider
  • Armagh Cider
  • Artistraw Cider
  • Ascension Cider Company
  • Ashover Cider Co Ltd
  • Austringer Cider
  • Axminster Craft Cider
  • Ayrshire Riviera Cider
  • Bad Boy Cider
  • Badgers Hill Farm & Cidery
  • Barbourne Cider
  • Barkers Real Cider & Perry
  • Barley Wood Orchard
  • Barnard’s Cyder ltd
  • Barnfield Winery and Cider Mill
  • Bartestree Cider
  • Battle Organic Cider
  • BEARDspoon Cider
  • Beechwood
  • Beetle Hill Cider – Hollymount Orchard
  • Bennetts Farmhouse Cider
  • Bere Cider Company
  • Berties Cider Co
  • Biddenden Vineyards
  • Big Bear Cider Mill
  • Bignose & Beardy Cider
  • Black Pig Orchards
  • Blackmore Vale Cider
  • Blue Barrel Cider
  • Bollhayes Cider
  • Borderlands Cider
  • Bottle Kicking Cider (The)
  • Brakes
  • Branch Cider
  • Bray’s Cider
  • Brecon Beacons Cider
  • Brennan’s Cider
  • Brew Shed Cider
  • Brick Lock Orchard Ltd
  • Bridge Farm Cider
  • Brimblecombe’s Cider
  • Bristol Cider Shop
  • Broadway Press
  • Brogdale Craft Cider
  • Brooks & Conquest Cyder
  • Brooksgrove Farm
  • Broughton Bank Perry and Cider
  • Bulkamore Orchard Cider
  • BumbleBee Cider
  • Burnard’s Cider
  • Burrow Hill Cider Farm
  • Bushel+Peck Cider & Perry
  • Butford Organics Cider and Perry
  • Cairn O’Mohr Fruit Wines and Ciders
  • Caledonian Cider Co
  • Cam Valley Orchards
  • Cambridge Cider Company
  • Camrose Cider
  • Caneys Cider
  • Canterbury Cider
  • Castlings Heath Cottage Cider – Little Earth Project Brewery
  • Cefynan Perry
  • Celtic Marches (inc PULP Cider)
  • Chalkdown Cider
  • Chant Cider
  • Chapel Sider
  • Charnwood Cider
  • Charrington’s
  • Chiblers
  • Chiltern Cider Company (The)
  • Chucklehead Cider
  • Churchill Cider
  • Cidentro Cider House
  • Cider By Rosie
  • Cider is Wine
  • Cider Syndicate (The)
  • CiderinCider
  • Ciderniks
  • Cleeve Orchard
  • Clive’s Fruit Farm
  • Clyde Cider
  • Colcombe House Cider
  • Cork & Crown – Cider Merchant
  • Cotswold Cider
  • Countryman Cider
  • Courtney’s
  • Crackington Cider Co.
  • Crafty Apple by the Real Al Co.
  • Crafty Nectar
  • Cranborne Chase Cider
  • Cranes
  • Crest Cider
  • Crispin’s Cider
  • Cromwell Cider
  • Crones Cider
  • Crossman’s Farmhouse Cider
  • Crucider
  • Cuckoo Valley Cider
  • Cumbrian Cider
  • Cwm Maddoc Cider and Perry – Hollow Ash Orchard
  • Cydefx
  • Daisy Farm Cider
  • Dalton Moor Farm Cider
  • Dark Side Cider
  • Darley Abbey Cider
  • Daws Hill Vineyard
  • Days Cottage Cider and Perry
  • Dee Ciders
  • Dengie Cider – Wibblers Brewery
  • Dick Willows Farm
  • Diggers Fine Cider
  • Dorset Nectar Cider
  • Dorset Orchards
  • Dorset Star Cider Orchard
  • Dorset Sunshine Cider
  • Double Vision Cider
  • Dour Cider
  • Dowdings Cider
  • Downham Cider
  • Dreymans cider
  • Drove Orchards
  • Drovers Hill Organic Still Cider
  • Duckchicken Cider
  • Dudda’s Tun Cider
  • Dunham Press Cider
  • Dunkertons Cider Company
  • Durham Cider
  • Duxford Scrumpy
  • East Norfolk Cider
  • East Stour Cider
  • Easterton Cider
  • Elevate Cider
  • Eltham Gold Cider
  • Elvet Cider
  • Ermine’s Treat Cider
  • EVEN Cider – English Wine Project
  • Ex-Press Cider
  • Exemption Cider House
  • Fair Oak Cider
  • Falkland Estate Cider
  • Farmer Jims
  • Fetch the Drinks
  • Find and Foster
  • Fine Cider Company
  • Flemings Fife Cider
  • Fletchers Cider
  • Flitteriss Park Farm Cider
  • Forbidden Fruits
  • Four Acres Estate
  • Four Elms Cider
  • Fowey Valley Cidery & Distillery
  • Foxhay English Cider
  • Ganley & Naish
  • Garden Cider Co
  • Gethins Pembrokeshire Cyder
  • Giggler Cider
  • Glyn Farm Cider – Seidr Y Glyn
  • Gospel Green Cyder Company
  • Gould ciders and perries
  • Grasmere Brewery Cider
  • Grays Devon Cider
  • Grazed Knee Cider
  • GREEN FEN
  • Green Man Cider
  • Green Shed Cider
  • Greggs Pit Cider & Perry
  • Grotley Subcider
  • Grover’s Cider
  • Grumpy Johns Cider
  • Gulval Goose Cider
  • Gwatkin Cider
  • Halfpenny Green Cidery
  • Hallets Cider
  • ham hill cider
  • Hamilton Cider Company
  • Hancocks Cider
  • Hancocks Meadow Farm
  • Hanging Wood Cider
  • Hard Pressed Cider
  • Hare Moon Cider
  • Harefields Craft Cider
  • Harrow Wood Farm – Dickies Dribble
  • Harry’s Cider Company
  • Hartlands Farmhouse Traditional Cider
  • Haye Farm Cornish Cider
  • Haywood Farm Cider
  • Healy’s of Winwick
  • Hecks Cider Farm
  • Henhope Cider
  • Henney’s Cider
  • Hernhill Cider
  • Heron Valley Cider
  • High Peak Cider
  • Hitchcox Cider
  • Hogan’s Cider
  • Holborn Hill Cider
  • Honey Wood Orchard
  • Honey’s Cider
  • Horse Kick
  • Hunt’s Cider
  • Hunts Sussex Cider
  • Hurst View Cider
  • Hurstwood Cider
  • Hush Heath Estate – Jakes Cider
  • Hyrneside Aipple Cider
  • Iford Cider
  • Impens 8 Cider
  • Indicknowle Cider & Farm Shop
  • innocentPilgrim
  • Isaac Cider
  • IVOR Cider Ltd
  • Jack’s Cider
  • JARS Cider
  • Jaspels Fine Cider Makers
  • JB Cider
  • Jolter Press
  • Kent Cider Co
  • Kentish Pip Cider
  • Kernowek Bevvies – Davvers Cider
  • Kicking Goat Cider
  • Kilmegan Cider
  • King Brain Cider
  • Kniveton Cider
  • La Mare Wine Estate – Branhcage Cider
  • La Robeline Cider Company
  • Langar Cider
  • Lawrence’s Cider
  • Laycock Cider
  • Leeds Urban Harvest Cider
  • Letchford’s Cyder
  • Liberty Fields
  • Little Cider Press Company
  • Little Pomona
  • Little Weeke
  • Llanblethian Orchards
  • Loader’s Cider
  • Loader’s Cider
  • Long Creedon
  • Long Meadow Cider
  • Long Mynd Cider
  • Longtail Cider
  • Lost Orchards Cider
  • Loxley Cider
  • Luke’s Cider
  • Lulworth Skipper Cider
  • Lyme Bay Winery and Cider
  • Lyne Down Cider and Perry limited
  • MacIvors Cider
  • Mahorall Farm Cider
  • Manx Cider Co
  • Marshland Cider
  • Marshwood Vale Cider Company
  • Masham Cider Press
  • Mates Cider
  • Mayfayre Cider
  • McCrindles Cider
  • Meon Valley Cider
  • Middle Farm Cider Barn
  • Mill Farm Cider
  • Mill Lane Cider Company
  • Miners Cider
  • Monkey Bridge Cider
  • Monnow Valley Cider
  • Moons Cider
  • Mortestone Drinks Co – Shipwrecked Cider
  • Mosser Cider
  • Mousesweet
  • Mr. Whitehead’s Cider Company Limited
  • Nailsea
  • Napton Cidery
  • Naughton Cyder
  • Nempnett Cider Company
  • New Forest Cider
  • New Lodge Vineyard
  • Newt in Somerset (The)
  • Newton Court Cider
  • Nightingale Cider Company
  • Noddy’s Cider
  • Norfolk Raider Cider
  • Northern Cider Association
  • NOVAR Cider
  • Nuthurst Orchard
  • Oak Hill Orchard Farm
  • Oakfield Farm
  • Offley Cider – Bar-N Cidery & Workshop
  • Old Jollop
  • Old Meadow Cider
  • Old Monty Cider
  • Old Stag Cider
  • Oldfields Cider
  • Oliver’s Cider and Perry
  • On Point
  • Once Upon A Tree Ltd
  • One Tree Hill Cider
  • Orchard Project (The)
  • Orchard Revival Cider
  • Orchards Cider and Perry Co
  • Orchards of Husthwaite – Galtres Ciders
  • Orgasmic Cider Company (The)
  • Out of the Orchard
  • Oxford Farmhouse
  • Palmers Upland Cyder
  • Palmershayes
  • Pang Valley Cider
  • Pant du
  • Parrett Cider Company (The)
  • Parson’s Choice Cider
  • Pearsons Cider
  • Pembrokeshire Cider Company
  • Penallt
  • Peopleton Press
  • Perry’s Cider
  • Pershore Press @ Pershore College
  • Pilton Cider
  • Pippins Farm Orchards
  • Pips Cider
  • Polgoon Vineyard and Orchard
  • Pollen Cider
  • Pontymeddyg Seidr
  • Potton Press Cider
  • Priors Tipple Cider
  • PULPT Cider
  • Purbeck Cider
  • Ragged Stone Cider & Perry (& Naked Orchards)
  • Ralphs Cider
  • Ravenscroft Cider
  • Rawlins Family Cider
  • Red Bank Cider
  • Reddaway’s Cider
  • Redvers Cider and Perry
  • Rennies Winslow
  • Rich’s Farmhouse Cider
  • Ridge and Furrow Cider
  • Ridgeway Cider
  • Rigg and Furrow Brewery
  • Ripe Cider
  • Robinsons Cider
  • Rock Hill Cider
  • Rocquette Cider Farm
  • Rosie’s Triple D Cider
  • Ross on Wye Cider & Perry Company
  • Rull Orchard
  • Rutts Lane Cider
  • Ruxton Cider
  • Sail We Must Cider
  • Salutation Inn (The) Sally Cider
  • Sam’s Cider Produced By Winkleigh Cider
  • Sampford Courtenay Cider
  • Sandford Orchards
  • Sandringham Cider
  • Saxby’s Cider Shop
  • Schralfs cider
  • Seacider
  • Seb’s Cider
  • Secret Orchard Cider
  • seidear The Wee Scottish Cider Company
  • Seidr Ci Ddu
  • Seidr Dwynwen Cider
  • Seidr o Sir
  • Seidr y Mynydd
  • Seven Trees Cider
  • Severn Cider Ltd
  • Shed Cider
  • Shed Head Cider
  • Sheppy’s Cider Farm
  • Sicklesmere Cider
  • SiDa
  • Silly Buckers Cider
  • Silly Moo Cider – Trenchmore Farm
  • Simon’s Cider
  • Simply Cider
  • Sisson & Smith Cider
  • Skidbrooke Cyder
  • Skittery Apple Juice and Cider
  • Skreach Cider
  • Skyborry Cider
  • Smith and Evans Wine – Half Moon Cider
  • Smith Hayne Orchards
  • Snails Bank Cider
  • Sneinton Cider
  • South Hams Drinks
  • Southdown Cider
  • Spinney Abbey
  • Spitting Feathers Cider
  • Sprywood Cross Cider
  • Square & Compass (The)
  • St Ives Cider
  • Steilhead Cider
  • Stoke Farm Orchards
  • Stone Broke Cider – Hewletts Mill
  • Stones Cider
  • Sunnyhill Vine yard
  • Talbot Harris Cider Co
  • Tamworth Cider
  • Tardebigge Cider
  • Taunton Cider
  • Temperance Street Cider
  • Temple Cider
  • Tempted Cider
  • The Cider Chiefs
  • The Houghton Project
  • The Real Al Cider Company
  • Thirsty Farmer
  • Thornborough Cider
  • Three Cats Cider
  • Three Counties Cider and Perry Association
  • Three Saints Perry and Cider
  • Tillingham / Starvecrow Cyder
  • Tinston Wines and Ciders
  • Toloja Orchards
  • Tor Cider Company
  • Torkard Cider
  • Torn Plant Ciders and Blends
  • Torre Cider Co
  • Touchwood Cider
  • Traction Cider
  • Tre-rhew Cider and Perry
  • Tree Top Press
  • Trenchmore Farm – Silly Moo Cider
  • Trevibban Mill Vineyard and Orchards
  • Trevor’s Farmhouse Cider
  • Tricky Cider
  • Troggi Seidr
  • Tucketts Farm Cider
  • Turners Cider
  • Tutts Clump Cider
  • Twisted Cider
  • Two Magpies Cider and Perry
  • Two Orchard Cider
  • Two Shires Cidery
  • Ty Gwyn Cider Ltd
  • Udders Orchard Cider
  • Vale Cider
  • Ventons Devon Cyder
  • Village Green Cider – Norfolk
  • Village Green Cider – Sussex
  • Wadys Cider
  • Wallen Down Farm – Cosdon Cider
  • Wasted Apple Co
  • Watchet Cider Company
  • Watergull Orchards
  • Wattles Cider
  • Welland Valley vineyard
  • Welsh Mountain Cider
  • Welsh Perry & Cider Society
  • West Croft Cider Farm
  • West Milton Cider Co
  • Westward Farm Dry Cyder
  • Wharie Experience
  • Whinhill Norfolk Cider Ltd
  • White Lodge Farm Cider
  • Wilces Cider
  • Wilcox Cider
  • Wild Cider
  • Wild West Cider
  • Wilding Cider
  • Wilkins Cider
  • Williams Brothers Cider
  • Wise Owl Cider
  • Wobblegate Orchards – The Cider Tap & Orchard – Rebel Root Cider
  • Wolds Wine Estate
  • Woodman’s Cider
  • Woodredding Cider
  • Woodsys Cider
  • Woodthorpe Hall
  • Woody’s Cider
  • Worley’s Cider
  • Yarcle Cyder
  • Yarde Cider
  • Zig Zag Zider – Melbury Vale Winery

Pub of the Month

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Pub of the Month

Since 1979 we’ve awarded pubs and bars that consistently serve good quality real ale in a friendly and comfortable environment.

At our recent AGM we agreed some changes to the nomination and voting process for Pub of the Month (POTM). These will be published in more detail on the website, but from now on we’ll be giving a POTM award 11 times a year – so you can expect to see one in each issue of Beer Matters. A POTM award will be given to the pub with the most votes each month.

How to nominate

You’ll have 3 weeks after a winner is announced to nominate a pub to win the next award, You can nominate using the form on the site, or in person at one of our meetings or events.

How to vote

A shortlist of nominees will be confirmed at the branch’s monthly committee meeting, after which you’ll have a week to vote.

Changes you’ll see

As we’ll have to work fast to get through nominations and voting within a month, you won’t see a list of nominees in Beer Matters. When the final list is available to vote on it will be published on the website, and members will also receive an email. Full guidance and rules will be published on the POTM page in the coming weeks.

Sipping in Salzburg

Posted on by Guest

Salzburg is in Austria, situated in a mountainous area close to the German border. The city centre is a UNESCO world heritage site with a rich history. It was the birthplace and residence of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the river Salzach was used to export salt from the surrounding salt mines. More recently, the film The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews and Christpher Plummer was filmed at many locations in the salzburg area, and bus tours of these can be booked by enthusiasts.

I visited Salzburg for the third time with my husband James at the end of May 2025. We arrived in a drizzly city centre with one hour before checking into our apartment. We decided to head to nearby Zum Zirkelwirt. This is a lovely bar/restaurant serving traditional Austrian dishes and beers on Keg taps from the Hirter brewery. They have a Beer of the Month but this had sold out, so I opted for a Hirter weissbier (5.4%). This was very refreshing after travelling and had a soft taste. A great start to our trip.

On our first evening, I had booked Zwettler’s restaurant for dinner. Here, they serve beer from the Kaiser Karl brewery on draught. James had the Kaiser Karl dark beer (5%), which had a very malty taste and coffee aroma. My choice was the Zwickle unfiltered beer (5%), which had a refreshing and clean taste. Both beers went very well with our Austrian meal of beef soup with pancakes, Zwettler Schnitzel and mixed dumplings.

On day two, we visited Salzburg Zoo, which is a short bus ride from the city centre. Here, there is a bar serving meals, coffees and bottled beer from the Stiegl brewery. I chose the refreshing Stiegl-Hell lager (4.5%), which was very tasty and full bodied and great for a sunny day. James had the Steigl-Wiess beer (5.1%) This tastes malty, and has a beautiful golden colour and a banana aftertaste. We had the Stiegl-Weiss beer again later on in our trip, when we visited Hofwerfen fortress, which is a filming location for the film Where Eagles Dare, and also includes a falconry display, guided castle tour and an exhibition on witchcraft. Stiegl-Weiss beer is commonly served at tourist attractions.

On our second evening, we visited the central Coffee and Booze micropub, which serves a range of international beers. I tried Starobrno (5%) on draught. This is a Czech beer with a deep golden colour and toffee notes, James drink of choice here was Weizenbergal Shwartzbier, served in a bottle (4.8%), which was a tasty dark beer. Accompanied by a 1980s soundtrack, this bar brings a fun and relaxed vibe. Later on in the same bar, i tasted the Edelweiss Hofbrau (4.5%). This is a rust coloured beer with banana notes.

Day three saw a visit to the Celtic Spirit Irish Bar. Here, I tasted the Obertrumer zwickl beer (4.8%). This was the hoppiest beer I had so far. It was a pale colour and slightly fizzy with toffee notes. James had bottled die weiss dunkel here (5.4%). This was a smooth, malty beer with a banana taste.

My favourite drinking establishment in Salzburg is Augustiner Bräustübl. This is a monastry situated at the foot of the Montsberg hill, and is close to thecity centre. Here, there is only one choice of beer, Märzen Bier (4.6%) that is brewed on site by the resident monks. It is served on cask by the litre and half litre. You begin by buying a beer token for the size of beer you would like, collect a stein from the shelf, rinse your stein in the water fountain, then hand your token and stein to the bartender who will fill it up for you. The beer can then be enjoyed either in one of their beer halls or in the 1000 seat beer garden. The beer is very easy drinking and refreshing authentic Austrian taste. Soft drinks and snacks are also available from various stalls. We visited here on multiple nights of our trip.

Me and James had a great time visiting salzburg. It is an excellent destination for a city break, with opportunities to visit the mountains too. The majority of draught beer served here is brewed on site or close by. This, along with the beer culture, has made it a good choice for us. Goodbye Salzburg, until next time.

Diane Lymer

Abbeydale Brewery

Posted on by Guest

July already! And that means it’s time for the release of our annual charity beer, which this year is supporting the work of wonderful local cause Ben’s Centre. Ben’s Bazaar will be a classic, cask only, hop forward 4.1% pale ale. Please do visit our website to read more about this partnership, it’s such a unique and worthy charity and we’d love to raise as much awareness and funds as we can.

From our travel poster themed collaboration series, we’re looking forward to welcome our friends at Brampton Brewery to Abbeydale HQ to brew Inspired in Chesterfield (4.3%), with hints of pine and gentle pepper alongside punchy passionfruit citrussy notes from the combination of Columbus, Centennial and Vic Secret hops.

Dr Morton’s Demon Drink 4.2% is making a reappearance to our selection, a tasty and refreshing golden beer with aromas of berry fruits and citrus overlying a caramel and biscuit malt character. And new to the stained glass series will be Invocation (4.2%), melding Citra and Pacific Gem hops for a refreshing beer with notes of zesty citrus and blackberry, rounded off with a clean cutting bitterness in the finish. 

From the Brewers Emporium, look out for the return of Dry-Hopped Deception, an amped up iteration of our familiar Nelson Sauvin hopped NZ pale which was incredibly popular last time we released it. And from the Salvation Series we have a smooth and inviting Oatmeal Stout (4.5%) on the way too. 

Cheers!