How did Downham Market, North Wootton, King's Lynn and West Norfolk pubs fare in CAMRA awards?
Bar Man by Jeff Hoyle
It seems an age ago when we were sat around on a summer’s evening in our garden sampling some of the best bottled beers in Norfolk. During the past few years, it has become a highly anticipated regular event where we blind taste some beer and then have an excellent buffet prepared by the Barwife.
As we are just a small cog in the Norfolk CAMRA machine, we have to wait until all the other classes are judged before the results are revealed, but at last the time has come, and it is a success story for our local breweries.
While the overall champion was Lacons Audit ale from Yarmouth, four of the classes were won by West Norfolk breweries. Lynn brewery is a small-scale operation based in North Wootton and their Red Mount Mild was judged the best mild ale.
The session bitter class was taken by Lynn Ferry Bitter and they made it a hat trick when Vancouver Blonde was named the best Session Blonde or Golden Ale. It’s quite a haul for a first-time entry into the awards.
The beer is only available in bottles and if you wish to try some, check out the monthly market at North Wootton village hall where head brewer Jason usually has a stall. Lynn brewery were not the only local success.
In Downham another small-scale brewery came out on top with their Dark Amber Stout in the Strong Stout and Porter section. A similar operation to the Lynn brewery set up, you may well find them on Lynn’s monthly farmers market if you wish to sample their wares.
Given the competition provided by the likes of Moon Gazer, and Lacons both of our local breweries deserve massive credit for their achievements, and we look forward to judging them once again next year when the standard is likely to be even higher as we are accepting canned beer into the competition for the first time.
At the other end of the scale, the National CAMRA Pub of the Year was announced recently, with the winner being the Tamworth Tap in Tamworth, Staffordshire. It is a micropub with a brewery attached and has only been in operation for five years. It is not a pub that I have been to so far, but it is on the list when we are next in the area.
My only previous visit to Tamworth was for an FA Cup tie in November 1999, where the Mighty Shakers came away with a fortunate draw on a quagmire of a pitch and I came away with puddles in my pockets after standing in the pouring rain for a couple of hours ‘enjoying’ the spectacle. The thought of a nice warm pub with great beer seems rather more attractive for a future visit.
Meanwhile the quest to become next year’s winner reaches another milestone and by the time you read this, the West Norfolk branch will have chosen our Pub of the Year. It’s going to be a close contest with former champion Larling Angel locked in a tight contest against our current champion, the White Hart Free House at Ashill and a couple of new challengers in the Black Horse at Thetford and the Globe at Upwell completing the field.
I have been around them all, and have made my decision, but will other branch members agree? Our winner will go head-to-head with the Norwich Branch choice and last year I though our selection had the edge on their Kings Head, which went on to become the national runner up. Go West Norfolk!
