Fenland Branch Reports

Fen Men go South - Hook Norton

Dave Mellor has been on another of his jaunts.  Here is his report from deepest Oxfordshire.

Not content with visiting hostelries on the south coast and sampling some of Ringwoods, Wadworths, Botley, Havant, and Cairngorm finest brews, plus a new brewery Flack Manor with Flack Double 3.7% from Romsey (see 2011 GBG), two of Fenland's finest friends then travelled north to Oxfordshire. To Hook Norton in fact where the first stop off was the Pear Tree to make sure the B&B was booked but mainly to sample the Hooky Dark. The dauntless duo were not disappointed- aah nectar.  However no time to sample the full range as it was on to the brewery just down the lane.

Having signed in and pinned on their HN badges the small party made its way first of all to the stables where the dray horses were having their shoes replaced.

The photographer captured the business end of things but unfortunately forgot to check and had missed off the horses heads.

On then to the tour and to see the 25 HP steam engine that is still used occasionally. The liquor is drawn from wells beneath the brewery, from the same aquifer since 1849, and stored in tanks at the top of the brewery.

Then up six flights of this fine Victorian tower brewery which still has in use the large belt driven machinery for milling the malt, pumping the wort and hauling the sacks of grain etc. and as you can imagine is quite noisy and shakes the whole building.

Back at the visitor centre the important task of tackling the HN range in small sampling glasses starting with Hooky Dark, then the bitter, and Hooky Gold, all in excellent form as you would expect. Then, disaster, the Old Hooky had the nose of vinegar and although looking OK was obviously off and so returned to the bar. After some embarrassment and apologies the barrel was changed and business resumed and then a real bonus as Special Dark Mild 4.6%, brewed specially for CAMRA was dispatched from handpump to eager tumblers. Utopia.  Haymaker, HN's July special was also on offer. Various bottled versions were sampled including the bottle conditioned Double Stout. Superb. An excellent tour and visitor centre all round, and is recommended.