BARNET BREWERY
This brewery was based at the Black Horse in High Barnet (EN5 4BW). The pub was operated by Oak Taverns who, in November, surrendered their lease to the freeholders, Heineken. As a consequence, the brewing of both Barnet and Hadley beers has ended. It is understood that Oak Taverns are still trading but this was their only pub in the London area.
HOP STUFF BREWERY
Molson Coors rescued Hop Stuff from administration in 2019. It appears not to have fitted in with their long term plans however and the company has now been sold to the Salt Beer Factory brewery from Saltaire in West Yorkshire. It is not clear as to whether they are continuing to use the brewery in Thamesmead but the two taprooms, in Royal Arsenal (Woolwich) and Deptford appear to be open. They are now branded as Salt Craft + Pizza.
PARK BREWERY
Congratulations to Park for winning two medals at the SIBA Independent Bottle & Can Beer Awards last year. Their amber lager, Schone Eiche Marzen (5% ABV), won the Gold in the Amber and Dark Lagers category and their Amelia Pale (4.2% ABV) received a Silver in the Session IPA category. Park had two seasonal beers for December. The first was Winter XPA (4% ABV) which was not your traditional ‘heavy, dark and malty’ Christmas beer but was light in colour, clear (although unfined) and with clementine, orange citrus notes. It was a refreshing session bitter.
The other was Mid-Winter Fire (4.1% ABV). Again unfined (and possibly hazy) this was heavily dry hopped with US Cascade and Mandarin Bavaria hops providing notes of orange and citrus flavours. Both West Coast Pale and Amelia were also available. We look forward to a hoppy New Year!
Dave and Gill Morgan
WIMBLEDON BREWERY AWARDS
Congratulations to Wimbledon for winning two prizes at the International Brewing Awards in November. These were a gold for their 2019 vintage XXXK barley wine in the ‘International strong beer (Speciality) (ABV range 7-9.9%)’ category and a bronze for their Wimbledon Gold lager in the ‘Keg lager (ABV range 4.5-6.9%)’ category.