FALLEN ACORN - How many more?

There was more devastating news today as one of the most respected breweries in Hampshire announced it was going into voluntary liquidation.

Fallen Acorn stated:

Despite doing our best to weather the storm that the industry has been facing since COVID-19 and now from the inflationary impact on consumers and hospitality, trade has yet to return to normalised levels. Further, a combination of an increase in material costs, utilities and increasing cashflow pressure puts the business in a position where it cannot continue to trade any further.

Born as Oakleaf
The brewery started in Gosport as Oakleaf in 2000 and very quickly established itself as one of the leading producers of quality beers winning multiple awards, including taking the Hampshire Beer of the Year Award five times with its flagship cask ale Hole Hearted, one of the first beers to use Cascade hops.

A new name
In 2016 it was taken over which led to a rebranding and a new brewery name. As well as traditional cask beers Fallen Acorn increased its production of high quality craft keg beers and gained a deserved reputation of being one of the most innovative breweries in the UK.
They were known for pushing the boundaries in brewing and for "breaking the divide between traditional and craft and instead seeing all as simply, beer."

We had the World in Our Hands
Amongst its most recent releases was the 11% Imperial Stout We had the World in Our Hands. That name proved itself sadly a reflection of the breweries position; one not helped by the continuing lack of support for the brewing industry by the current Government!

Our Government should be ashamed
How many more breweries will be lost; how many more people put out of work; how many more livelihoods lost; how many more communities devastated, before the Government wakes up and provides meaningful support?

This Government has a lot to answer for.

 

WHITCHURCH CLUB WINS AWARD

Whitchurch Sports & Social Club has been awarded the local CAMRA Campaign for Real Ale Club of the Year Award for the north Hampshire area. At a presentation last week the popular Social Club received its certificate, and now progresses into the Wessex round of the national competition. It is the third time the Club has won, previously being a winner in 2008 and 2018.

Home to many
The Club offers a wide range of facilities including being home to the Social Club, Whitchurch United Football Club, the Bowls Club and Squash Club.
There are two large bars as well as the indoor and outdoor bowls areas, two squash courts and the football pitch.

Entertainment
The Club provides one of the best selections of entertainment in the area with forthcoming events including the Clive Fortune Big Band, a Fawlty Towers Comedy Dinner, and the Basingstoke Male Voice Choir as well as being the base for Whitty's Nightclub.
An open acoustic session is also held on some Sunday afternoons when all are welcome to just join in or listen.

Boxing evenings are arranged as well as discos, bands and popular bingo evenings, while the bars can be used for celebration parties and private events.

The well stocked bar is amongst the best value in the area and also provides at least two cask beers on handpumps, always including a beer from a local brewery.

Membership is fantastic value at just £10 per year and it provides a number of additional benefits including special events and discounts on some events – forms are available from the bar. 

Club Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/WhitchurchSocialClub

LONGDOG in AWARD FINALS

Local brewery Longdog of Worting, on the edge of Basingstoke, has reached the shortlist of Finalists in the local Inspire Business Awards, which cover the Test Valley, Basingstoke & Deane, and Rushmoor areas.

The announcements of winners will be made at the Anvil in Basingstoke on July 13th. INSPIRE showcases regional businesses and the prestigious gala ceremony promotes their successes.

Environmental Responsibility Finalist
Longdog Brewery, which produces an excellent range of local cask and bottled beers is shortlisted within the 'Environmental Responsibility' category, for its commitment to a sustainable and environmentally aware business model. The category is sponsored by Vitacress.

Truly a LOCAL Business
Established in 2011, and owned by Rod and Jenny since 2019, the micro-brewery supplies many local pubs as well as regularly attending local markets. It has also opened a taproom at the brewery where beers can be sampled and tasting tours are organised.

We wish them all the best at the Awards as they really deserve to WIN.

Longdog's Facebook page is at:
https://www.facebook.com/Longdogbrewery

CIDER PUB OF THE YEAR

Congratulations must go to the team at The Andover Tap at the Lamb for achieving the local award for Cider Pub of the Year, presented by the north Hampshire group of the Campaign for Real Ale. 

The pub, under the enthusiastic ownership of Tim Abrams has become the 'go-to' outlet in the area to try traditional ciders and perries.
Up to a dozen traditional ciders and perries are usually available including from such artisanal producers as Newton Court, Snails Bank, and Farmer Jim's.

Not all Cider is Real
In fact only a very small amount of cider produced these days can be considered real cider and this award recognises those who produced and support the 'real thing'.

In order to be real, cider and perry should never be concentrated then diluted – either in terms of the juice used, or the alcohol content.

The ciders at the Andover Tap at the Lamb comply with this definition and will always be served in the traditional manner. The pub now goes on the compete against other venues in the Wessex Regional Round of the competition.

Let us pop in and enjoy and cider and wish them the best in the competition. 

CAMRA has details on what constitutes real cider here:
https://camra.org.uk/beer-and-cider/cider/promoting-real-cider-and-perry/

Pictured: Tim Abram who has brought traditional ciders and perries to the Andover Tap at the Lamb.