The following pub and brewery news was reported at the September 2022 Committee Meeting held in the Providence Inn, Greenbank.

Pub News

Hotel Mount Batten serves three regular live beers – Dartmoor Jail Ale, Bass and Tribute. The Bridge Bar & Restaurant, also at Mount Batten, also serves three ales: Bays Topsail, Otter Bright and St Austell Tribute, although payment is card payment only. The Clovelly Bay Inn at Turnchapel is also serving three ales, all from St Austell: Anthem, Proper Job and Tribute. The Boringdon Arms, also at Turnchapel had Fullers London Pride, Sharps Atlantic and Sea Fury, and also confirmed that CAMRA discount is still available here, despite the previous report stating it wasn’t. The Royal Oak, at Hooe, served Dartmoor Jail Ale and Sharps Atlantic recently. Around the corner, the Victoria Inn had Dartmoor Jail Ale on handpump. The previously unknown cocktail bar, The Vault, Mutley Plain, is closed and is “To Let”. Steel Brew Co Taproom, RWY, has closed unexpectedly with immediate effect (Thursday 25/8/22). The Ford Inn, Alexandria Road, Ford, is under new the management of Graham Eaveson, wef Saturday 27th August and serves two Live Beers (real ales), believed to be Courage Best and Ringwood Boondoggle. Live musical entertainment is planned for Saturday evenings. Sky Sports is also available.

Drake's Drinker Magazine

The latest edition of the branch magazine can be found by clicking on Drake's Drinker Magazine link. These can now be viewed on screen or downloaded to your device.

Beer Scoring

The following analysis covers the period from 1st April to 31st August 2022 inclusive. We have received a total of 1, 198 (845 last month) beer scores for 111 different pubs (95 last month), submitted by 46 members (41 last month) from 23 branches (21 last month), including 18 Plymouth branch members (17 last month). The Plymouth members submitted 1, 047 beer scores (718 last month); 28 non branch members (24 last month) submitted 151 (127 last month). These members came from AMV, BAT, BEN, BIR, BNS, COR, DUR, EXE, GER, HEB, MCH, NEW, NSY, OXF, OXN, RED, SAL, SCH, SDE, SOX, STN, TAU and TEW branches.

Thank You all very much! Beer Scoring informs the Branch that those particular named pubs are open and serving cask conditioned real ale (or not, if zero scored). It also helps us to monitor the quality and consistency of the real ales available, and to help keep What Pub as up-to-date as possible.

Cider News

The Fortescue, Mutley Plain, now appears to be selling real cider from Lilley’s only. Summerskills are now offering Devon Dabber cider in their drink’s portfolio. Check our Real Cider Pub Guide here: Real Cider Pub Guide

Plymouth CAMRA LocAle Scheme

There are currently 70 establishments listed as being accredited to the Plymouth CAMRA LocAle Scheme. These are listed on the branch website here: LocAle Scheme

CAMRA Member Discount Scheme and CAMRA Voucher Scheme

There are currently 21 establishments listed as being members of the CAMRA Member Discount Scheme, and a further nine which are part of the CAMRA Voucher Scheme, making 30 in total. Please give these pubs your support if/when you go out! These are listed on the branch website here: Member Discount Scheme

Planning Applications

The pubs officer will update on planning applications re pubs.

Cask Marque Accreditation

The King’s Arms, Oreston, is no longer Cask Marque accredited. We are not aware of any pubs that have gained accreditation in the last month or so.

Brewery News

Anchor House: No news. Has anyone seen or heard of anything about them recently? Brewery Liaison Officer (BLO) post vacant – any volunteers please contact branch Vice Chair. Bere (BLO Bob Holmes): Bere Brewery are now doing Taproom openings again on Saturday's (cash only), check their website for the dates. They are still doing sales on Wednesday's and Saturday's, please check with their website. Bulletproof (BLO Alan Warden): The brewery have taken on two new members of staff, doubling their workforce to four. The Bulletproof Brewing Tap Haus, Mutley Plain, is now open six days a week: Monday 1500 - 2300; Tuesday to Friday 1500 - midnight; Saturday midday to midnight; closed on Sundays. Dartmoor (19 Jan 2022, BLO Ian Packham): No news reported by the BLO since January 2022. However, I (Ian Dickinson) have found the following: Last December, Dartmoor offered 100 casks of Jail Ale for 100 local good causes throughout the year 2022. The brewery supplied HMS Tamar, a state-of-the-art Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel, with a good supply of Jail Ale to help remind the crew of a little bit of home on their current deployment overseas. The limited-edition Ice Warrior has also made a reappearance due to popular demand. Launched in April 2021 in support of local polar explorer, Jim McNeill and the Ice Warrior Project, the first batch sold out. It is based on Jail Ale but with some changes to the recipe, with profits going to the project. Dartmoor beers are now available from Mole Valley Farmers, specialists in the supply of equestrian and farming supplies, home and garden items, clothing and footwear, as well as some great food and drink. In July, each of their five most popular beers was honoured with a Taste Of The West Gold Award – their original and famous Jail Ale, Dartmoor IPA, Legend, Dragon's Breath and the limited-edition Ice Warrior Ale. The brewery provided a bar at the recent Chagford Show on Thursday 18th August, with all their beers available in cask, as well as their Wistman’s Cider and Dartmoor Gin. And finally, but not least, they brewery are offering free home delivery of two cases of eight beers or more until 31st August. Ivybridge (BLO Andrew Richardson): Their new Tap and Bottle Shop opened recently, about two months ago. Morwell (06 June 2022, BLO Bob Holmes): They are still brewing for the Ship Inn on the Morwellham Quay site, with casks as well their bottled beers which are also available in the shop next door. Noss Beer Works (03 Jun 2022, BLO Andrew Richardson): The brewery continues to brew both cask and bottled beers for the take home market. Church Ledge, ABV 4.0%, Mew Stone ABV 4.3% and Ebb Rock ABV 4.9% are still available in both cask and bottle, with Black Rock ABV 4.0% making occasional appearances in cask, and is always available in bottle. Santa's Little Helper ABV 4.5% was available during the winter season in cask. Roam (BLO Andrew Richardson): Roam have continued brewing beers throughout the pandemic, and the Tap Room re-opened when permitted in 2021. They hosted a Jubilee Beer Festival from 1200 on Thursday 2nd until 2100 on Saturday 4th June 2022. Approximately 15 beers were available, plus some collaboration beers brewed with selected other Devon Brewers, including Ivybridge, New Lion, Steel Brew Co, and Firebrand from Cornwall. Roam have also brewed a new beer, Back Bone, ABV 5.1% pale ale. Stannary (05 May 2022, BLO Ian Daniels): The brewery recently won 4 SIBA South West beer awards in their classes. Gold medals for Fathead and Repeat Offender (also best in class). Also, silver medals for Half Pint Mafia and Hare Trigger IPA. Steel Brew Co (BLO Bob Holmes): Sadly, the company announced that they had ceased trading “with immediate effect” on Thursday 25/8/22. Summerskills (BLO George McCarron): Summerskills report that business is improving after the very difficult last couple of years. They have undertaken a rebrand of their bottle labels and pump clips which are proving to be very well received. Stating the obvious, costs have increased significantly recently, most notably fuel charges have doubled and bottles have increased by 33%. Their fuel costs are due to be reassessed in December. The brewery has taken on students with learning disabilities, from City Collage, for some work experience over the summer, which has proved beneficial for all. Summerskills contracted a cider producer to produce a cider for them for the summer – Devon Dabber ABV 6.0% – possibly for longer, depending on how things go. They will also be supplying JDW with Tamar for the Autumn.

Beer Festival News

The Walkhampton Inn Sausage and Cider Festival 2022 took place over August Bank Holiday, Friday 26th to Monday 29th 2022.

The Great British Beer Festival 2022 returned to Olympia from Tuesday 2nd until Saturday 6th August 2022.

The charity festival, Abbfest 2022, also makes a welcome return, and runs from Friday 16th until Sunday 18th September 2022.

The next JD Wetherspoon Autumn 2022 Beer Festival runs from Wednesday 12th October until Sunday 23rd October in all six JDW pubs in our branch area:

Britannia Inn, Milehouse,
Gog & Magog, Barbican,
Mannamead, Mutley,
Queens Head Hotel, Tavistock,
Stannary Court, Plympton, and
Union Rooms, City Centre.

The Two Bridges Saltash Beer Festival 2022 will take place from Thursday 20th until Sunday 23rd October. There will be up to ten real ales (Live Beer) and eight real ciders, in addition to their usual offerings. This will replace the one usually held in the Minerva Inn, Looe Street.

Plymouth CAMRA would like to wish all new Publicans and Brewers all the very best in their ventures.