GUIDING LIGHT
This year’s South West London branch Christmas party was held in some stables and guided by a star. The stables are the historic ones on the site of the former Ram Brewery and the undoubted star was brewer John Hatch. About 30 members attended and were treated to a selection of John’s excellent beers, brewed on the premises using his ‘do-it-yourself’ brewing equipment.
If all goes according to plan, this will be John’s last Christmas in the present arrangement. Sometime in 2020 he is due to join up with Sambrook’s Brewery when it moves onto the old Ram Brewery site. To mark the occasion the branch presented John with a framed certificate saying ‘Presented to John Hatch in grateful recognition of his fine achievement in keeping brewing alive on the site of the Ram Brewery, Wandsworth, since 2006’. We thank John for his warm hospitality. The brewery is not a commercial operation and visits are strictly by appointment only.
Tony Hedger
DRINKERS COME TOGETHER FOR PIG’S EAR 36
3 to 7 December saw Hackney’s Round Chapel filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and conversation as the 36th version of the Pig’s Ear Beer Festival, organised by CAMRA’s East London & City Branch. took place. With an increased turn out compared with 2018, the festival served over 15,550 pints from 97 breweries with a range spanning over 220 casks. A limited range of real ale was served from KeyKegs, with this bar being sold out well before the festival closed on Saturday night.
Since the festival moved to Hackney, charitable donations have been made to causes chosen by the Speaker of Hackney, with a grand total of £1,138.52 gifted by drinkers in 2019. Speaker Kam Adams formally opened the festival and was very keen to pour a few pints to welcome visitors to Hackney.
This year’s beer of the festival again comes from within the branch boundaries, the winner being Mechanic Brewery’s Green Diesel stout.
Pigs Ear will return for the 37th time from 1 to 5 December in 2020; keep an eye on www.pigsear.org.uk and future editions of London Drinker for news!
Alan Perryman
SPBW NEWS
Congratulations to Ye Olde Mitre in Ely Place which has been voted the Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood’s London Pub of the Year for 2019.
Compiled by Tony Hedger �