Craft beer comes to Devon! New bar & shop in Newton Abbot

Posted on 07/05/2013 by

There’s been a lot of talk lately about the term craft beer but I’m just going to say craft and carry on. Not least because it is the subject of the next Beertalkers podcast and I don’t want to spoil the programme for you. However, for clarity in relation to drinking establishments, to me it implies one that sells a wide selection of non-mainstream brews dispensed in a variety of ways (cask, keg and bottle).

Now we’ve got that out of the way let me tell you the exciting news that a craft beer bar has opened less than 10 miles from my house. Woo hoo! (As they say).

Teign Cellars was formerly a small speciality beer shop in a side street close to Newton Abbot town centre, owners Chris and Stuart had been looking to branch out for some time and now they have. Taking over a building that was previously an average boozer (I use the term generically because I never went to the pub in question) called The Greene Man, they have moved their shop to the new premises and opened a bar too.

Chris and Stuart behind the bar at Teign Cellars

Chris and Stuart behind the bar at Teign Cellars

I attended their launch party last week and did a dance of glee at the beers on offer. Cornwall’s Harbour Brewing had a big presence on the bar with three of their brews available in keg and among others there was also Flying Dog’s ‘Doggie Style’ pale ale (5.5%) – which I tried for the first time – a bronzed golden glass of delightfully thirst quenching tropical fruit bitterness mixed with barley-sugared maltiness.

I followed it up with one of the Harbour beers. An 8.7% Imperial Chocolate Stout (No. 1) apparently aged in Jack Daniels whisky barrels. A slight red hue when I held it to the light and a buff-coloured head were the two subtle shades that broke up the blackness of the brew which although it had some pleasing rich roastiness to it did feel a little like drinking a beer-flavoured version of JD and coke.

Sample beer menu

Sample beer menu

Cask beer is also on offer via two pumps on the bar and two jacketed casks on a stillage. On the night of the launch these included one from another Cornish name, The Rebel Brewing Co (who I must add make a jolly tasty brew recently enjoyed by Beer Husband and myself – 80 Shilling, a scotch ale) and from my old friends Art Brew from Dorset. Expect also a regular local cask ale which Chris and Stuart hope to be able to offer at just £1.85 per pint.

That the launch party featured a superior buffet including obligatory sandwiches but also lovely smoked salmon and cream cheese wraps, chicken kebab skewers with mushroom and cherry tomatoes and generous hunks of tiger bread with crudités type veg tucked inside bodes well for plans to not just to serve food at Teign Cellars but also to develop a beer and food matched menu.

You can also expect beer tastings and meet the brewer events bringing the best of the craft beer movement – until now largely restricted to metropolitan areas – to this Devon market town.

So… plan your trips to the Westcountry with a visit to Teign Cellars in mind. It is easy to jump off the train en route to Cornwall as you’ll likely have to change at Newton Abbot anyway or make a stop overnight if you’re driving; or if you are already in Devon take note that trains from Newton’ to Plymouth or Exeter run till quite late so it is perfectly possible to have a decent night out and get back without any hassle.

You can have a double plus good beery experience in Newton Abbot by also visiting Tuckers Maltings – one of only four malthouses in England that still produce malt in the traditional way and the the only Maltings in England open for regular guided tours – and its fabulous beer shop as well.

What are you waiting for? It’s all happening in Newton Abbot. Book a trip now before everyone else discovers this new beery Mecca.

Flying Dog 'Doggie Style' - just one of the beers on offer at Teign Cellars

Flying Dog ‘Doggie Style’ – just one of the beers on offer at Teign Cellars

Teign Cellars is at 67 East Street, Newton Abbot, TQ12 2JR. Find out more about the bar (and shop) here and details of Tuckers Maltings here. 

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Guest post: Bournemouth Beer Festival – a beginner’s guide

Posted on 19/04/2013 by

Another guest post for you but back to A FemAle view this time with my good friend and long time beer-drinking buddy (but self-confessed beer ‘novice’) Rachel Woolgar giving us her take on what it’s like to attend a beer festival if you are still at the beer-curious rather than beer-literate stage.

Let me make a confession. I, at 36 years of age, am a cheap lager drinker. There, I said it. However, under the tutelage of Sophie whom I have known for almost 20 years (Yes, thanks I know we don‘t look old enough!) I have graduated – albeit not completely – from lager and gravitated towards real ale. It was because of this I noticed the 4th Big Bournemouth Beer Festival was taking place over Easter and as I was due to visit the area with a friend I decided to get tickets and lose my beer festival virginity.

The event itself took part in Purbeck Hall part of the Bournemouth International Centre (or BIC as it’s more commonly referred to) which is round the back and quite a walk from the main, glitzy entrance. The Festival was running a Good Friday session and two sessions on the Saturday. We had tickets for the Good Friday evening event and a good thing too as it had completely sold out. We exchanged our ticket for the special commemorative glasses and tasting guide and were given a chance to buy beer tokens ahead of the queues inside.

The venue itself was a lot smaller and more compact than I had envisaged. I had somehow imagined a number of stalls represented by numerous breweries offering their ales, advice, info, banter and maybe a few snacks to help wash the drinks down. I was not expecting a hall full of long trestle style tables and chairs with just one main bar area in the centre. The bar was staffed either side and held all the casks on stillages down the middle. The clientele was fairly young and I’d say the gender split was equal – which was encouraging to see. On arrival, I felt a bit out of my depth at first so had to take a wild stab in the dark on the first drink I wanted to try.

First choice: Rachel loved Beartown's Peach Melbear

First choice: Rachel loved Beartown’s Peach Melbear

 

I opted for a pint of Beartown Peach Melbear (4.4%) and my friend chose Palmers Dorset Gold (4.5%). I was very glad I’d chosen Peach Melbear as it is exactly what I look for in a beer. I’m a big fan of Badger’s Golden Glory and found this very similar. It was a glorious amber colour and had a light peach and elderflower aroma. The taste was very peachy with hints of apricot coming through. I absolutely loved it and found it very refreshing. I wanted to carry on drinking it all night!

The Dorset Gold was slightly disappointing. The tasting notes promised banana and mango but we didn’t feel that we got mango at all. It did have a banana cake taste though, with a hint of Maltesers. We found it quite sour, slightly astringent and not refreshing. The caveat here I suppose is we do normally drink lager, so are used to drinks being carbonated, cold, refreshing and not too hoppy. So I suppose we were trying to go for drinks that emulated that.

After our inaugural drink we relaxed a bit more into the surroundings and felt more confident in what to do. We studied the tasting guide, while we were still able to, to pick out what else we wanted to try. Next up for me was a pint of Barngates Cat Nap (3.6%) and for my friend Coach House Brewing’s Ginger Nut Premium (5%). I felt confident I would enjoy Cat Nap as it promised a ‘fruity, zesty character’ but I could not taste that at all. It had no definitive smell or taste that I could pick out. I think I was spoiled by the wonderful Peach Melbear though and everything subsequent had a tough act to follow.

The Gingernut Premium was interesting. The smell was extremely gingery as was the initial swig however my friend said, “I feel quite robbed when I drink it because the aroma and initial taste are very gingery but then it dissipates very quickly. There is no longevity in the ginger flavour. It robs you at the end!” 

Rachel found out that tasting notes can be rather subjective

Rachel found out that tasting notes can be rather subjective

 

Of the Cat Nap he remarked, “It’s a beer that has had a lobotomy. All its character has been removed!”

As it was Good Friday I plumped for a half of Brentwood Hot Cross Buns (3.9%) next. The smell was spot on the smell of buns – rich cinnamon and cloves infused with citrus peel and yeast. Unfortunately the smell was vastly superior to the taste. Rather than the fruity, spicy flavour I was hoping for I got a strange, rather bubblegum like taste. It was slightly mahogany in hue but, I noted also cloudy. Hmm.

My friend chose Salopian Lemon Dream (4.5%). This had a fresh, zesty lemon mousse aroma and a tart grapefruit taste with a bitter aftertaste. We both preferred this to Hot Cross Buns!

We had a slight interval whilst we walked round the venue for a bit. There was also a cider, perry and wine bar but the queue for this was epic at all times. The only hot food on offer was pies (in fact the whole hall had a strong meat pie aroma for the whole duration!) and hot dogs. We opted for some spicy crisps and nuts instead.

 

Getting into her stride - Rachel at Bournemouth with beer in hand

Getting into her stride – Rachel at Bournemouth with beer in hand

Next up were halves of BHB Red Dwarf (4.5%) and Blue Monkey Sanctuary (4.1%). Mine was supposed to be the Sanctuary but we swapped drinks deciding we preferred each other’s! Red Dwarf suggested fruit and toffee flavours but instead was quite bland and non descript – although I did identify a slight toasted cumin flavour. All I got from the Sanctuary was a very slight mustard and cress flavour. Both of these choices were disappointing.

For the last drink of the evening I was determined to try something different so I chose Dark Star Espresso (4.2%) while my friend took a half of my beloved ‘Melbear.

 

The Espresso resembled Guinness in colour and we thought it smelt very similar to black bean sauce, but definitely had a coffee taste at first, but then followed by something treacly, almost tar like and wait a minute, I can taste blue cheese! A very eclectic drink indeed.

Although I was slightly worse for wear the next day I have to say I hope this beer festival was the first of many as I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. On the whole the staff were welcoming, friendly, efficient and seemed able to answer any questions we put their way. So now I know the form I’d feel much more confident in attending beer festivals in the future.

Cheers!

Follow Rachel on Twitter or have a look at her own blog which she plans to relaunch over the summer (if not before!).

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Guest post: Beer Husband’s beer scoring ratings (a male view)

Posted on 09/04/2013 by

A guest post by my husband. Already a confirmed cask ale drinker when we met (indeed we bonded over a shared love of Adnams Broadside) I have since taken him out of his beer comfort zone on many occasions although not always to successful effect. This is his explanation of how he grades some of the many brews I try to persuade him to drink…

Level 1 – Entry level beer…

“Here, try this Beer Husband”. Mmmm. The first hurdle is passed as Beer Husband likes it enough to drink the rest. Often a beer is refused at this point on the basis of having been ‘mucked about with’, and not a ‘proper beer’. So called ‘Christmas beers’ with added spices are a good example of mucked about with beers, as are some of the pseudo/ersatz ‘craft beers’ that may interlope, proliferate and contaminate the bars and shelves of this otherwise fine brewing land. So too a good beer badly kept or bottled may fall by the wayside at this point. On to…

Level 2 – I’ll have another ...

This beer has passed level 1 successfully and is here due to a response of “Yes please!” if Beer Husband is offered another of the same. Specifically excludes any third or more successive pints of a session as an attempt may be made to sneak in a level 1 failure, particularly if taste buds in shock following the devilment of Scratchings. Note that the beer is bought for him, as spending his own money would be a significant game changer, upping the beverage in question to the next level.

 Level 3 - Approval

The beer has passed levels 1 & 2, or has jumped straight in at Level 3, as we find that Beer Husband is already at the bar and paying for a pint of this beer with his own money. This is clearly a significant ale.

Cheers! Beer Husband, turkey & Sorachi Ace. Who'd have thought I'd choose a US beer to go with Xmas dinner.

Cheers! Beer Husband, turkey & Sorachi Ace. Who’d have thought he’d choose a US beer to go with Xmas dinner.

Level 4 - Repeat quaffage

To achieve this level a beer requires the co-operation of the publican, the drayperson, the brewery, the brewer, the bank manager, the weather and of course Mrs Beer Husband to enable Beer Husband to return to the pub on a later occasion to try and get that same beer again. Also relies on the above for, the beer to be there and in addition requires a working cashpoint, reasonably clement weather, and the hmmm… consent?…hmmm… acknowledgement?… (whatever!) of Wifey and reference to her notes to supply the name of the beer. Actually it’s more like “You can’t go to the pub without me! Wait…I’m not ready…”

Level 5 – The ultimate (almost).

Beer Husband has returned to the pub – or a different pub – seeking that beer and it is still available and Beer Husband has independently remembered the name of the beer without any reference to Mrs Beer Husband’s notes or any other written source.

Adnams Broadside has always been one of Beer Husband's favourite beers

Adnams Broadside has always been one of Beer Husband’s favourite beers

Beer Husband’s Level 5 beers (not an exhaustive list; includes bottles)

Adnams Broadside (Cask 4.7% Bottle: 6.3%) 

Palmers Tally Ho (5.5%)

Brains Dark (4.1% bottle; 3.5% cask) and Reverend James (4.5%)

Jennings Snecklifter (5.1%)

Porters in general, and in particular:

Thwaites Tavern Porter (4.7%)

Einstock Toasted Porter (6%)

Gadds’ Dog Bolter (5.6%)

Stouts in general, and in particular:

Gadds’ Black Pearl Oyster Stout (6.2%).

Thwaites Lancaster Bomber (4.4%)

Wadworth 6X (4.3%)

Gadds’ No. 5 (4.4%)

Brooklyn Brewery Sorachi Ace (but then who wouldn’t?) (7.6%)

Meeting Garrett Oliver and having a beer with him at Brooklyn Brewery changed Beer Husband's view of American brews.

Meeting Garrett Oliver and having a beer with him at Brooklyn Brewery changed Beer Husband’s view of American brews.

Beer Husband’s Level 4 beers that he enjoyed according to Mrs Beer Husband’s notes (Steady there with the use of Mrs – Ed) …. Your name isn’t Ed. It’s Sophie!

Smuttynose Robust Porter (5.7%)

Bronx Brewery Pale Ale (6.3%)

Exeter Brewery Darkness (5.1%)

Downton Brewery Chimera Dark Delight, and IPA (6% and 6.8% respectively)

RCH Old Slug Porter (4.5%)

Woodforde Nog (4.6%)

Three Castles Knight’s Porter (4.6%)

Bath Ales Dark Side (4%)

Daleside Monkey Wrench (5.3%)

Arbor Ales Down Deeperer (12%)

Odell Cutthroat Porter (5.1%)

Sharp’s Connoisseurs No.5 Spiced Red and No.1 Quadrupel – 2011 Vintage (9% and 10% respectively)

Funny, odd beers that I wouldn’t even consider tasting except when given the opportunity to but found that I indeed liked. 

Brooklyn Brewery’s Post Road Pumpkin Ale (5%)

Rock Saison from Kubla Brewery – flavoured with lavender and chamomile (4.2%).

Bottoms Up! (unless it’s bottle-conditioned of course).

Follow @BeerHusband on Twitter

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