A NEW HAMPSHIRE BREWERY

Even in these difficult times little can deter genuine innovation and that is endemic throughout the craft beer world.

This week's exciting news is that a new Hampshire brewery has announced the launch of its first public releases, an imperial baltic porter named 'Living in Darkness'  and a double chocolate stout named 'Melody Madness'. 

Whilst the owners Mike and Holly have been brewing and developing their recipes over a number of years, these are their first commercially available beers for the public to enjoy.

Breakbeat Brewery is a nano-brewery based in Southampton, which is becoming a hotbed of interesting brewing. Being small they are specialising in "all things imperial" and that they say "We brew what we love, with no sensible options involved and we go against the crowd".

Here at Happy Pint, this is a philosophy that excites us! Definitely 😄

Breakbeat also say
"We love big strong beers and try to brew some of the strongest beers in the UK ranging from 10% imperial stouts to 25% freeze distilled madness."

Their strongest brew to date is an incredible 25.2% freeze distilled strawberry ice cream imperial pastry stout.
Just from the description beer lovers will understand what this brewery is all about – craft beer at its best.

We cannot wait to try their beers.

BREAKBEAT BREWING

GOOD NEWS from THE HALF MOON & SPREAD EAGLE

As reported earlier The Half Moon and Spread Eagle at Micheldever had suddenly closed, but today there was an announcement of Good News.

An announcement by Charles Holden on 'Micheldever Village' stated:

"I am thrilled to be able to announce that the Half Moon and Spread Eagle is back in business! It will re-open in early July".

Plans include opening 7-days a week and having a pizza oven in the garden. 

Staff are currently being sought and anyone interested should register with Matt via halfmoonmicheldever@gmail.com

From secateurs to willing hands
There are plans to carry out a tidy-up at the pub and volunteers are being sought to help – and to come along on the morning of Sunday 4th June from 9.30pm "armed with secateurs, strimmers, mowers or just willing hands!"


This is all very good news and hopefully The Half Moon and Spread Eagle will again be providing great service over the Summer months.

IS THE KINGS ARMS AT RISK?

Is another Whitchurch pub at risk? Hopefully not.

The rural country town has lost several to developers in recent times, including The Railway, The Harvest Home, and The Red House, although the latter is currently subject of a Planning Appeal.

This week Red Oak Taverns, owners of the 17th-century King's Arms in Church Street have put the popular pub on the market to Let.

Tough times
Pubs have had one of the toughest times of late and many are suffering with increasing brewery costs, massive energy bill increases and and lease restrictions. It is not known why the King's Arms has been made available 'To Let', but if we are to retain these important amenities in our communities we must support them.
This is not just by visiting but also by lobbying government and councils to provide assistance and to recognise the importance of their local economic and social value. 

Popular publicans
The King's Arms is a great pub with hard-working committed publicans who provide a real community welcome and serve Whitchurch well. Numerous events have been held including Live Music, Beer Festivals, Quizzes and food promotions. Terrific people.

They posted on their social media:

'We have decided after 5 years here that it is time to hand over the pub to someone new.
We are here until the end of August and will be smashing out the summer as always.
Thank you all for your support over the past 5 years and we wish whoever follows us here the best of success.'

We also wish them all the very best and hope that whoever takes on the pub continues to maintain the excellence service and fine reputation that has been built up for this fine community pub.

Red Oak Taverns
Red Oak Taverns are an independent pub company founded in 2011. They have around 180 pubs in the UK. 
They say:

"As a pub company we will do all that we can to safeguard the future of each property as a pub. However, due to changes in local demand this is not always possible, and in such circumstances we will always explore the most suitable alternative for the community in question.

We hope Red Oak's plans of the King's Arms are that it remains a pub serving both the local people Whitchurch and those who visit the town.

But for now:
Let's all visit the pub, and raise our glasses with a vote of thanks to the publicans and staff of the King's Arms. Cheers.

SUMMER OF PUB

The annual Summer of Pub campaign, promoted by CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale), has been launched.

Events will be organised over the summer months by pubs, breweries and CAMRA groups – including open mic nights, ale trails, pub quizzes and tap takeovers.

Happy Pint is supporting this by listing a large number of local events over the Summer.
See: 
FREE LOCAL EVENTS CALENDAR

Events can be added by using the Contact Form on this Page.

The past few years have presented an enormous challenge for the pub and brewing industry as venues have faced skyrocketing energy and business costs.
The Summer of Pub campaign aims to support and promote pub and club-going throughout the summer and there’s plenty to celebrate.

CAMRA is encouraging its network of members to get their locals involved in the campaign and host events of their own. 

CAMRA’s national campaigns director Nick Boley said:

“I think we’re all looking forward to summer after a tough winter that has seen the pub trade, brewers, and consumers hit hard by parallel cost-of-living and cost-of-business crises.

“The Coronation bank holiday was the perfect time to start Summer of Pub celebrations with a visit to the pub, to enjoy the community spirit that only a pint of real ale or cider down the local can bring.

“I encourage everyone to head to their local and start their Summer of Pub.”

SAVING LOCAL PUBS AND AMENITIES

Communities are being encouraged to bid for new cash to save their local public houses, and other amenities.

The third round of the Government's Community Ownership Fund announced on 12th May, makes it easier for local communities to "seize back control of prized local assets" including their pubs at risk with £1 million available. In addition match funding is being reduced to as low as 10%.
It can also be used for a wide range of other community facilities.

One pub might benefit

For the first time Parish Councils can also apply to the Fund that was previously only available to charities and community groups.

 
The Fund may be of use in one local Hampshire town.
In Whitchurch, the Red House, a valued Listed Building, is closed and awaiting the outcome of an Appeal to change its use to residential property. Meanwhile it is deteriorating and has become an eyesore. 
The Fund is already supporting nearly 100 projects throughout the UK – maybe something for the Whitchurch Town Council to consider give that so many pubs have already closed which has been detrimental to the economic and social needs of the town.

Welcomed by CAMRA
The launch of the third round has been welcomed by the Campaign for Real Ale.
Chairman Nik Antona said:

“Our locals are a vital part of both our social fabric and our local economies. They deserve to be protected as community assets which is why more and more local people up and down the country are taking over their local as a community-owned pub when it is faced with closure, demolition or conversion.

“It is really encouraging to see Levelling Up Ministers announcing today that another round of funding is being made available through the Government’s Community Ownership Fund. This funding is a lifeline for local people who have come together to save their local pub and keep it at the heart of community life.

“I hope that as many communities as possible that are looking to save their local pub submit bids for funding."  

Full details are available on the government’s website:
COMMUNITY FUNDING

SURPRISE AS COMMUNITY PUB CLOSES

The sudden closure of a popular community pub in Micheldever has caused both concern over its future and sadness for its publicans.
In an announcement yesterday (10th May) Paula and Andy published a statement commencing with "With enormous sadness we have ceased to trade with immediate effect".

They cited the effect of Covid, personal illness and the cost of living crisis, saying "any one of those things would be hard to manage".

The pub has a long history, being a drovers inn dating back to 1703. It had been saved by the local community after Greene King put it up for sale in 2018. It reopened just three years ago after a Community Benefit Society was formed and many hours of hard work were spent by local people renovating the premises with the aims of creating a vibrant community hub. It was subsequently bought by two local businessmen and the tenant built up a very popular business catering for all needs. 

With its excellent food, cosy country ambience, the friendly hospitality and a lovely garden, the Half Moon and Spread Eagle had become a popular destination, making the closure even more surprising.

The Future
It is currently not known what the plans are for the pub. Hopefully it will reopen although there are are other threats lurking. Let us hope plans are made that keep it available as a pub for both Micheldever and the those who visit the area.

The publicans are wished all the best and are thanked for all the good times many have enjoyed in the pub.

Below is their full statement.

NEW GREENE KING BEERS

Cask beers have been declining in popularity and sales falling as the 'craft' keg style of beer becomes more established. 
So it is encouraging that Greene King has announced its next three limited edition cask beers and hopefully they will be available in local pubs. They make up part of the 'Fresh Cask Release' series of 18 beers available at various times throughout the year.

PAVE THE WAY is a beer brewed in collaboration with Big Hug Brewery. At 4.6% it is described as being a beer with malty caramel flavours with stone fruits, watermelon and peach. 

The beer supports the 'Only a Pavement Away' charity. 50% of Big Hug's profit will be given to the good cause. The charity was founded by members of the hospitality industry to help deal with homelessness, prison leavers and veterans who are struggling to get into work.

HOPPING SPECIAL is a new 4.2% brew created from five malts with addition of Citra and Galaxy hops to add a fruitiness to the amber beer. The name comes from the train services that were run for families mainly from London who went hop-picking in the 19th and 20th centuries before modern technology was employed. Many of these families will have travelled to hop fields in Hampshire.

St EDMUNDS is a hoppy golden ale at 4.2% brewed with cascade hops and makes a welcome return to the portfolio of cask beers.

The beers also support the Cask Project initiative as a means to try and reverse the fall in cask beer sales. Cask beer is perceived to be a drink for the older generations of drinker and needs an image makeover. It is a product we should all be proud of and enjoy.

Greene King has said:
"Our vision is to reignite the passion for cask within the industry" 

There are several Greene King pubs in the Happy Pint area so why not ask the publican to get one of these beers in. 

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.

DUCK & TIPPLE OPENS

The Duck & Tipple has opened its new lovely bar in Andover and is selling four keg brews from the revered brewery Siren Craft, including a changing special.

Siren Craft is a small modern craft brewery specialising in modern style beers. Their beers can also be found at the sister Duck & Tipple in Basingstoke.

This small comfortable bar in London Street also features a range of cocktails and a food menu, but to be sure of a table it would be best to book.
A very popular feature is the Bottomless Brunch.

The Duck & Tipple is a great addition to the town's attractions.

Full details:
https://www.duckandtipple.co.uk/

BREACH FARM KEG FRIENDS

New brewery Breach Farm Brewing has launched its ‘Keg Friend’ scheme to help the completion of their tasting room at their new premises, 4 miles west of Andover near Amport. This week’s funds will help fit the tasting room’s tap system.

The brewery, run and owned by Tim Hartigan was ‘founded out of a love for craft beer’ with the beers having a distinct American influence as befits Tim’s roots. A small barn on Hay Down Farm in Wiremead Lane is to open this Spring with its new nano-brewery and tasting room.

For £100 a ‘Keg Friend’ bundle includes a £115 tasting room credit, a first tasting room beer on the brewery, and a Friends of Breach Farm Brewing sticker. Your name will also go on the keg.

The ‘Friend-Funding’ concept includes a number of ‘Bundles’ that allow funds to be raised to help the brewery open. These range from the Pay-it-Forward-Pint to the Angel Friend which includes a whole range of benefits.

Full details are here:
www.breachfarmbrewing.co.uk

These are exciting times.