Between a Rock and a hard act

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Castle Rock has added another beer to its portfolio, Harvest Pale, which brings the total number of ales produced by the Nottingham brewer to seven....

Castle Rock has added another beer to its portfolio, Harvest Pale, which brings the total number of ales produced by the Nottingham brewer to seven. The 3.8% abv ale was voted beer of the festival at the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) Midlands region's annual competition, held in January. Harvest Pale was brewed originally as a one-off for the 2003 Nottingham beer festival, organised by Camra (the Campaign for Real Ale). Then, it was called Trammie Dodger in celebration of the new tram system in the city. Head brewer Pete Wooding said winning the SIBA title was "great news for us all at the brewery and I think it's good news for everyone with an interest in what is happening in brewing today". He added: "Harvest Pale is the culmination of two years' research into what makes the perfect beer for the 21st century palate. It has proved particularly popular with those who enjoy tastes at the lighter end of the beer spectrum." To achieve its light taste, Castle Rock uses a pale malt base and a blend of two, high alpha acid American hops. Harvest Pale will be a regular in pubs belonging to Castle Rock and Tynemill estates. Hydes has announced its range of seasonal ales for 2004. There are six ales in the portfolio and each will be available over a two-month period. The current seasonal is Hunky Dory, 4.8% abv, which lasts until the end of February. From then on, the sequence will be Fine and Dandy (4.2% abv), Cloud Nine (4.4% abv), Ticketyboo (4.1% abv), Over the Moon (4.5% abv), and Seventh Heaven (5.0% abv). Refresh UK is continuing to brew the seasonal ales from two former brewers ­ Ushers and Brakspear. In March, Ushers' Spring Fever will be introduced in nine-gallon casks and be available until June. The 4.0% abv ale has a "creamy toasted flavour from the malted Borders oats", which is "complemented by the light hop note from the Styrian Goldings". Also in March, Refresh will be supplying Three Sheets, a 4.6% abv ale from the Brakspearstable. Three Sheets is a "rugged and genuine India pale ale" that has a pale golden colour with "a robust floral and hoppy flavour". The supreme champion winter beer is Old Freddy Walker from Bridgwater, Somerset-based Moor Beer Company. It was accorded the award at Camra's national winter beer festival held in Burton on Trent at the end of January. Old Freddy is a 7.3% abv barley wine, which is described as "a rich, dark, strong ale with a fruity complex taste, leaving a fruitcake finish". It also won the barley wines category. Second place overall and winner of the old ales and strong milds category was Festival Mild from Hampshire brewer George Gale. Third place overall and winner of the stouts and porters category was Original Porter from Kent brewer Shepherd Neame. Camra's head of campaigns Mike Benner commented: "It's an incredible achievement for everyone at Moors. There are many hundreds of old ales, barley wines, stouts, porters and other winter beer styles, so the competition is always stiff." Moor's owner Arthur Frampton said: "It's a great result and a reward for all the hard work we have put in at the brewery." Enigma is the current seasonal ale from Stockport-based brewer Frederic Robinson. The 4.7% abv ale is brewed traditionally, using only the finest ingredients, to give a chestnut brown-coloured ale that has a distinctive citrus hop character balanced by a crisp bitterness. Enigma is available until the beginning of March. Perfick is the next ale in Leicester brewer Everards' seasonal ales programme. It will be available from the beginning of March until the end of May. Perfick, a 4.3% abv ale, is dry-hopped with East Kent Goldings for added character and is described as offering a refreshing, thirst-quenching alternative to Everards' core range. The brewer's current seasonal, 4.5% abv Terra Firma, is available until the end of this month and is one of only a few organic beers to receive accreditation from the Soil Association. Chairman Richard Everard commented: "We know many pub-goers like the comfort of the old favourites' like Tiger, Original and Beacon, but introducing seasonal ales like Perfick and our very own Terra Firma means that they can try a variety of drinks, whilst being guaranteed the same quality.

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