Railway related beers

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Railway related beers

This topic has 52 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 27 June 2011 at 18:38 by Kelvin Barber.

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25 May 2010 at 16:16 #52133
Kelvin Barber
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@kelvinbarber70274
Has anyone else noticed the amount of railway related beers that seem to be around these days? Spotted in our local Tescos the other day was a bottle from the Buntingford Brewery titled ’92 Squadron’. To quote from the label:

“This pale brown beer has been specially brewed to support the Battle of Britain Locomotive Society, which owns and operates No. 34081 ’92 Squadron’. By buying this beer you are helping them to keep this locomotive in steam.”

A brief history of the locomotive follows and finishes with its website address http://www.92squadron.co.uk

Who would have thought that by drinking beer you could help keep a classic loco on the tracks!

For more locomotive beers from Buntingford see The Steam Engine Beers

Edited By Kelvin Barber on 07/06/2010 16:06:30
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25 May 2010 at 16:16 #21697
Kelvin Barber
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@kelvinbarber70274
25 May 2010 at 17:04 #52134
Terryd
Participant
@terryd72465
Hi Kelvin,

Quite a few years ago in the late 90’s I think, Hoskins and Oldfield, a local Brewery of Leicester (now Hoskins Brothers) brewed a bitter called Midnight Express. This was to celebrate I think, the restoration of an A1 class Pacific. A contribution made for each pint drunk. I think I own the boiler at least!

I don’t remember much about it, or the exact loco it was supporting. I think I must have drunk too much of it in our village local here in S Leics in order to counter the effects of the fiery Thai curries served there by the female Thai owner. At least that was my excuse at the time.

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 25/05/2010 17:06:12
25 May 2010 at 17:48 #52135
Kelvin Barber
Participant
@kelvinbarber70274
Hi Terry

FYI. Just looked up Hoskins in this year’s CAMRA Good Beer Guide and it says: “Hoskins Brothers are not currently brewing pending the building of a new brewery at the Ale Wagon in Leicester. Their beers are currently contract brewed at Tower Brewery, Burton upon Trent.

However, no mention of ‘Midnight Express’ beer in Tower’s list of brews so has obviously long gone!

Kelvin
25 May 2010 at 17:53 #52136
pcb1962
Participant
@pcb1962
Based on my observations in the bars of many preserved steam railways, I’d say that there’s a strong correlation between CAMRA members and railway enthusiasts. I for one would be much more likely to pick a bottle off the shelf with a picture of a loco on it than a pack of hounds.

.
25 May 2010 at 18:40 #52137
NJH
Participant
@njh
Hey Kelvin – what possible interest could Real Ale be to Model Engineers? !!

Our local star turn is The Beer Engine – a pub in deepest Devon which brews its own beer.
Varieties are:-
- Rail Ale 3.8% abv
- Piston Bitter 4.3% abv
- Sleeper Heavy 5.4% abv
- Silver Bullet 4% abv
You may view ttheir web site at:- http://www.thebeerengine.co.uk/

I thouroughly recommend a visit if you are down here on holiday – but bring a reserve driver!

Thanks for that, I will be sure to look them up when next down the west Country.

Kelvin
Edited By Kelvin Barber on 26/05/2010 09:12:35
25 May 2010 at 21:32 #52140
Terryd
Participant
@terryd72465
Hi Kelvin,

Yes, the beer did disappear a long time ago, it was only brewed for a short time. The Hoskins Brothers were an interesting duo, and still are probably. Their ‘new’ brewery has been on the cards for many years now. But they did make some fine beers in their time. They came from a long line of independent brewers, Their dad owned the ‘Hoskins’ brewery in Beaumanor road (I think) in Leicester but for legal reasons they adopted the name of their solicitor i.e. ‘Oldfield’ when they formed the new brewery after the demise of the old one. Something to do with copyright I believe. For a listing of their past specials see the beermad database Here.

Terry
26 May 2010 at 19:51 #52154
Sub Mandrel
Participant
@submandrel
Kelvin

I suppose the beer for Model Engineers should be the mythical “Piston Broke”.

I do like a drop of Old Sopeckled Hen, but that’s named after a car not a chuff chuff.

Neil
27 May 2010 at 09:30 #52161
Kelvin Barber
Participant
@kelvinbarber70274
Hi Neil

Agree, a nice drop of beer!

For how it got its name here’s a quote from their website:

“Old Speckled Hen was first brewed to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the MG car factory
in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Named after an old MG car which was used
as the factory run
around, they would park the old MG Featherweight Fabric Saloon outside
the paint shop where
it would normally get spattered in paint and so it became known as the
‘Owld Speckl’d Un’.
This turned into Old Speckled Hen when the beer was unveiled”.

Kelvin

Edited By Kelvin Barber on 27/05/2010 09:36:15
27 May 2010 at 12:47 #52164
Geoff Theasby
Participant
@geofftheasby
Mention of CAMRA reminds me that it is widely alleged, although unproven, that CAMRA was formed during a ride on a train at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, which used to be my local railway.

Old Speckled Hen is one of my favourite beers. I have a photograph of a delivery van advertising that beer, which also bears a photograph of a vintage car, possibly a Bentley, sized to coincide with the van’s wheelbase. It looks really good. Unfortunately, I can’t post a picture of it, because my photo album is not accessible from here.

Regards

Geoff
27 May 2010 at 14:30 #52168
Geoff Theasby
Participant
@geofftheasby
Here it is:

That’s a great example of trompe l’oeil – thanks for managing to get it posted.

Kelvin

Edited By Kelvin Barber on 27/05/2010 14:39:14
27 May 2010 at 22:39 #52178
Sub Mandrel
Participant
@submandrel
It’s Black Sheep this evening, no ME connection there I’m afraid.

Neil
28 May 2010 at 08:48 #52186
Gordon W
Participant
@gordonw
Tenuous connection, Black Sheep , Theakstons ,just across the road from Masham steam rally, used to run the beer tent there.
28 May 2010 at 15:24 #52207
Mike
Participant
@mike89748
Seems to be about time this website had its official beer tester. I offer my services, free of charge.
28 May 2010 at 15:36 #52208
Kelvin Barber
Participant
@kelvinbarber70274
That’s a most generous offer Mike. However, you’ll have to join the queue behind me!
28 May 2010 at 15:51 #52212
AndyP
Participant
@andyp13730
Surely the obvious ME tipple is Theakstons Old Peculiar ? I wish I could remember the many nights partaking of that particular brew.
29 May 2010 at 16:43 #52262
Geoff Sheppard
Participant
@geoffsheppard46476
Kelvin,

What about the products of the Cottage Brewing Co. from Castle Cary in Somerset? These include Southern Bitter, Somerset & Dorset Ale, Broadgauge Bitter,and Golden Arrow. All most palatable!

Regards, Geoff
30 May 2010 at 12:01 #52283
Kelvin Barber
Participant
@kelvinbarber70274
Hi Geoff

You beat me to it! I was about to add a post about these fine ales as our local pub regularly stocks them. They also have had ales called ‘Black Prince’ and ‘Deltic Diesel’ in their range.

Cheers, Kelvin

Edited By Kelvin Barber on 04/06/2010 17:57:37
4 June 2010 at 16:53 #52423
Kelvin Barber
Participant
@kelvinbarber70274
This strong pale ale from Hepworth has the following explanatory text on the label.

“The term IRON HORSE has always signified a mixture of controlled strength, and unbridled power almost beyond the imagination. Richard Trevithick was the first to harness this power in a new way by putting his engine on rails. He was the founder of all railways.”

Hepworth also have a beer called ‘Pullman’ in their range named after the famous railway carriage.

Hepworth Brewery

Edited By Kelvin Barber on 04/06/2010 17:02:31
4 June 2010 at 21:23 #52428
Sub Mandrel
Participant
@submandrel
I must admit, there are three locos I’d consider modelling:

Pen-Y-Darren*

Kruger

Dukedog

I have a big soft-spot for ugly machines!

Neil

*The one on Kelvin’s beer bottle – this isn’t a totally random post!

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 04/06/2010 21:23:48
7 June 2010 at 08:53 #52479
Kelvin Barber
Participant
@kelvinbarber70274
Returning to the Buntingford Brewery and the item that started this thread. I have now had a chance to check-out their website and there’s a whole range of railway related beers on draught! Listed on ‘The Steam Engine Beers’ page is The Britannia Class, The LNER Beers plus a promised forthcoming one for The Expresses. Also available in bottles is ‘Western Champion’ which has a Class D1015 Diesel Locomotive on the label.

See The Steam Engine Beers for more details.

Edited By Kelvin Barber on 07/06/2010 16:09:03
7 June 2010 at 13:18 #52495
NJH
Participant
@njh
Although not directly railway related there is a strong connection between the Hook Norton Brewery and model engineering in that it STILL uses a steam engine in the beer production process. Still in use since it’s installation in 1899! – hows that for Victorian engineering. You can see details on their site at :- Hook Norton Brewery

I used to live that way and still have the memory of a pint of Old Hooky with lunch in Hook Norton.

The brewery is well worth a visit for the Victorian building and engine - even if you don’t like beer.

Edited By Kelvin Barber on 07/06/2010 14:24:46
20 June 2010 at 16:44 #52792
Kelvin Barber
Participant
@kelvinbarber70274
Just remembered another railway related beer! A few years ago we used to have a monthly Model Engineer meeting in a railway carriage at the Didcot Railway Centre. In the cafe here they sold some excellent beers from the local Wickwar Brewing Co. Ltd. one of which was ’Station Porter’. This was the Supreme Champion Winter beer of 2008 and is described as “A smooth dark ruby-brown ale with aromas of roasted malt, coffee and spiced fruit”. However, with an ABV of 6.1% it’s probably a good idea to take it home!
20 June 2010 at 22:49 #52798
pcb1962
Participant
@pcb1962
And they still sell it there, I had a bottle only the weekend before last, a great way to end a day at Didcot.
5 July 2010 at 17:21 #53169
Kelvin Barber
Participant
@kelvinbarber70274
If you are real ale fan and like riding on miniature trains, then why not check out The Fancott pub Nr. Toddington in Bedfordshire. Having visited myself a couple of times I can assure you that it’s a fun venue! See the railway’s website below for its operating times:

http://www.fancottrailway.tk/

Edited By Kelvin Barber on 05/07/2010 17:39:41
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