Return to Rye Waterworks...

Well, I didn't walk there and back this time, indeed, a quiet Friday and it seemed a good time to catch the train back to Rye (£6.30 cheap day return from Hastings, not bad) and revisit the Rye Waterworks micropub (facebook) on the corner of Tower Street and Rope Walk, TN31 7AT. Not much more work on the building to do for David now, I imagine, just the usual upkeep, and no doubt he has many small alterations he wants to make here and there! Anyway, I wrote about the history of this lovely cool wee building before, so, if you haven't already read it I suggest you go to my previous blog, cheers!

This was the array of beers and ciders I was presented with even before entering the building, so a good time to talk about what I had to drink, regular readers will know I prefer pale hoppy ales, but, as you can see, there is a good variety of traditional bitters, darker ales, and ciders too. I went for 3 of the ales again on this visit... From Hopfuzz of West Hythe (website), and remember, David sources his beers from a 20 mile radius of Rye, I began with their 3.6% Fallout, a golden session bitter, with a slight maltiness and hints of fruits, starting off with a sweetness to the taste, but a nice bitter finish. Not a bad start at all...

Then I moved on to the stronger ale from Romney of New Romney (website), their 5% American Pale, slightly darker golden/amber, does what it says on the label, apparently using American hops that may change between brews, eg they have so far used Azacca, Citra, Summit and Simcoe hops in their brews. I'm guessing they hadn't used Citra in this brew, at least I didn't detect any hints, this ale had much more body, as you'd expect, a little bit too sweet for me at first taste, but certainly dries out with a nice bitter finish, getting there...

Before I go on to the third ale of the day I'll quickly mention that David is now providing local gins for customers too, a selection of which arrived just after I wandered in; and included Tom Cat Dry Sussex Gin (website), Chapel Down Bacchus Gin (website), and Mayfield Sussex Hop Gin (website). I'm also aware that David is also seeking out local producers of perry, indeed, as I write, so there's even more to look forward to...

Oh! And remember that I told you in my previous blog that, basically, if it's not nailed down, all the furniture and curios at Rye Waterworks are for sale, consequently every time you visit you are likely to be witnessing a slightly different micropub. See the image below for a comparison from the last time I visited, similar view/different furniture.

Oh yes, and my final ale, well actually I had more than just the one pint of it, but I do like their regular pale session bitter, from The Three Legs of Broad Oak (website), that is the 3.7% Pale. I haven't written much different in my notes this time: "pale golden, lovely, dry and bitter, fruity aroma and taste, very nice!" And with a smiley face too 😊

Anything else to add? Well I ate one of their locally produced (that morning!) Scotch Eggs (please look away of you're vegetarian), it was nice, tasty and large, and served up with English Mustard and/or a very locally produced spicy chutney, indeed, made by David's next door neighbour I seem to remember him saying, both Scotch Egg and Chutney were quite delicious!

I must have enjoyed myself, because I stayed for a few hours, cool inside on a hot day, nice ale and food, and plenty of pleasant company and dscourse...

Finally, for today, David told me that, due to the huge number of charities that keep asking for support or wanting him to display their collection boxes, he has chosen just the one local charity as the defined charity of Rye Waterworks, ie Little Gate Farm (website), which "helps adults and children with Learning Disabilities and Autism." Nice one, cheers again David!

England's First Trappist Beer!

Yes, very true, Cistercian monks in Leicestershire are now brewing to help pay for their simple lifestyle, and have developed, following help and advice from other Trappist breweries and local brewers, a complex ale. Named after the plot of land the monastery was built on, as is traditional with Trappist breweries, Tynt Meadow (7.4%) is brewed using English barley and hops, an English strain of yeast, and with a secondary fermentation in the bottle. Tynt Meadow is described by beer writer Roger Protz as "seriously nice."

Tynt Meadow is "mahogany-coloured, with a subtle, warm red hue, and a lasting beige head. Its aroma carries hints of dark chocolate, liquorice, and rich fruit flavours. The beer is full-bodied, gently balancing the taste of dark chocolate, pepper, and fig. It leaves a warm and dry finish on the palate." See website.  I need to taste this!

Mount Saint Bernard Abbey

Mount Saint Bernard Abbey was founded in 1835, but this permanent building, originally designed by Augustus Welby Pugin, was opened in 1844 though, because of the cost, without a completely finished church until after 1935, with a new architect, Albert Herbert of Leicester.

Tynt Meadow will be on sale from the 9th of July 2018, cheers!

No Beer Emergency?!?

If you find that beer may be running out in pubs and bars during the next couple of weeks it's because of a shortage of carbon dioxide (CO2 - see New Scientist website), which is kind of ironic considering carbon dioxide is a byproduct of fermentation; I remember, in my brewery working days, the first person who arrived in the morning had to open the doors to the fermentation room to release the gas from the room, memories... 

Even cask-conditioned ales may be at risk too, as many pubs use gas to raise the beer from the cellar, oh well, they'll just have to use gravity dispense and bring ales up to the bar, or sell bottled beers, if they want to sell the stuff to customers, cheers! Don't panic... 😉

A Weekend in London, and a Surprise or Two...

I visited my brother over the weekend, and, OK, this isn't just about ale, but ale does play an important part of the story, particularly noting the miles we walked between Friday afternoon and Sunday to get to pubs. Anyway, first to The Rocket (website) close by Putney Bridge and St Mary's Church, where the 'Putney Debates' were held during the English Civil War (website). Indeed, we think the pub could have a better choice of name, eg 'The Leveller' or something with 'Cromwell' in the title, and not just because of Oliver, but his great-grandfather Thomas Cromwell was born and lived locally. Anyway, The Rocket is the best pub for real ale in Putney, simples!

So, to Friday's ale, and Windsor & Eton's (website) Knight of the Garter, a 3.8% 'golden ale' as it says on the pumpclip, and pretty damn good too! This ale has a nice fruity grapefruit flavour, presumably from the Amarillo hops used in the brewing, with a slightly nutty bitter finish, Dan suggested 'slightly tart' and I couldn't disagree. We didn't drink anything else here but this ale, as I doubted we'd enjoy any other of their range as much, so we went back for more... And the price? Well, this is a 'spoons, so a mere £2.30 a pint, but for CAMRA members like me, another 50p knocked off the price, so £1.80 a pint, cheers muchly!

You'll have noticed by now that the miles of walking were between Putney and, well, it was to be Rotherhithe, and along the Thames Embankment. Consequently, we crossed Wandsworth Bridge from the Surrey side, then re-crossed Albert Bridge back, one of my favourite bridges!

We carried on past our later in the day visits on our way to Rotherhithe and  looking back up the Thames caught this view, with so many old and newer landmarks included.

Thence to the last boarding place in London from whence the pilgrims embarked in 1620 before heading for Southampton, then America! And why this pub's name was changed to The Mayflower (website), another old favourite pub, which I have been visiting since the 1970s.

Which glorious ale did we imbibe at the Mayflower in Rotherhithe? Well, it was very good indeed, though I can't rate Kent Brewery (website) highly enough, consistently good ales they brew! This was one of their 'single hopped' pale bitters called Citra, Citra being the hop used, in case they hadn't made it plain enough. You'll be aware I do love ales brewed with Citra, and this 4.5% offering didn't disappoint. With a lovely fruity aroma, this very pale golden ale had citrus, grapefruit and bitter orange, in the taste, and with a lovely dry bitter finish, Dan said 'tart' - extremely delicious and refreshing indeed, though a bit more pricey at £4.40 a pint!

We walked back to Borough Market, and I suggested we go into Southwark Cathedral (website), where our paternal great-grandparents were married when it was still a parish church, and Dan was very happy we did (so was I) as there was a rehearsal playing for a concert, and a favourite piece of music of his, ie Vaughan Williams 'Lark Ascending' (youtube example for your appreciation if, like me, you'd never heard it before).

We then walked the very short distance to The Rake by Borough Market (twitter page), a regular haunt when we are in the vicinity, and, despite the noisy young clientele (and Fagin!) at the time (they'd obviously been drinking too much during the afternoon!), and when we managed to find a seat inside, we thoroughly enjoyed the Fyne Ales Jarl (3.8% and £4.50 a pint).

Fyne Ales (website) are one of the breweries whose ales I have never been disappointed with, indeed, 4 years ago I placed their Jarl, which I first drank 6 years ago, as my 'champion' session  bitter (blog). OK, this wasn't the best I've ever tasted it, but still good... If you cannot be bothered to look back at the older blog here is how I describe it (if you can be bothered to carry on reading this 😉): "a crackin' dry, pale golden and hoppy ale, with plenty of citrus flavours, nice and bitter, and very refreshing" and brewed with Citra hops, what more can I say?!?

We then wandered another short distance to The Globe Theatre, a slightly smaller replica of the original Globe that Shakespeare used to produce his plays at in the late 16th/early 17th centuries, to see The Two Noble Kinsmen, written in collaboration with John Fletcher.

The Stage

I have to admit I'd never heard of this play, but Dan bought a ticket for me and, as groundlings (standing rather than sitting, but right in front of the stage, quality, and very much part of what goes on!), we enjoyed the play very much. There was so much humour, not to mention pathos, and with some fine performances, notably by the actors playing Arcite, Palamon, Emilia, and the Jailer's Daughter. I wrote my own review of this excellent play, but, unless it reappears, they don't seem to like what I said, which was very appreciative, oh well... Anyway, see their website.

We then caught 2 buses back to Dan's as it was late, cheers!

Hoppy Beer Day!

Enjoy the annual Beer Day Britain today (website), it should be interesting, hopfully with much appreciation of ales, but then...

What an appropriate day for CAMRA members living in, and visiting, Hastings to discover that it's not just Wetherspoons giving discount to them, but now the award winning (more of that soon) Dolphin Inn, 11-12 Rock-a-Nore Road TN34 3DW (website) gives discount on real ale to card-carrying Campaign for Real Ale members, cheers!

Eel & Bear, Hastings

 

OK, this isn't about real ale, sorry, but I recently visited the Eel & Bear, which opened a couple of weeks ago in Hastings at 28 Waldegrave Street TN34 1SJ  (01424 602055 - facebook), and a mighty fine find too, and very close by the town centre. Consequently I had to pop in and admire their many varied beers from local breweries (some I'd never heard of before) and many from further afield, and I've been back since too! Opens, for now, Tuesday-Friday 12-9pm; Saturday 12-10pm; Sunday 12-7pm.

So, what is this place? Well, they sell a decent old range of beers as 'off sales' here (bottles and cans, and they can provide the draught craft beers available in containers too), but it is also a bar, with 3 crafty kegs on draught, it is run by a friendly young couple who moved in very recently, and it is well worth the visit, unless you don't like craft beers, of course! It's quite small a small establishment, used to be a newsagents, a bit like a 'micropub' crossed with an off licence, and, well, I enjoyed myself...

I tried 2 of the draught crafty kegs, from Brighton, Cloak & Dagger (website) Komodo Bozo (4.2%), a fruity bitter beer, heavily hopped with Mosaic, very nice, and from Abyss Brewing of Lewes (twitter), a rather fuller and hazy beer, but similar in taste, their 6.2% Hank Marvin.

A convivial time was spent here. indeed, and an old friend, Larry, turned up whilst I was there the first time, cheers!





Rye Waterworks micropub, my first!

OK, not MY first micropub, but the first micropub I have ever visited, I've tried before, for example when visiting Deal a couple of years ago, but Deal's micropubs weren't open; NB make sure you know a micropub is open before visiting! So, what is a micropub? It appears to be accepted that a micropub essentially serves ale from casks, no lagers, probably wine, few spirits, and traditional bar snacks, but with no television, electronic games or fruit machines, and they're often situated in ex-shops! So, to my first, and also the first micropub in East Sussex...

The Rye Waterworks micropub

To The Rye Waterworks, Tower Street (corner with Rope Walk), Rye, East Sussex TN31 7AT (01797 224110), which was originally a water pumping house (1869), and has since been a soup kitchen, public lavatories, and a shop selling antiques and curios more recently (still is, sort of, but more later). However, with a history going back at least 300 years! See further down for the 'potted history' I have written, following talking to David (the licensee), and from researching a 19th century book by William Holloway and a recent online engineering journal.

David when he first held the keys!

The above photograph is borrowed from the Rye Waterworks facebook page, many thanks, and there are some great photographs showing the progression of the considerable work done on the fabric of the micropub since, so well worth a look! David is the licensee, and a warmer and more friendly publican you could never expect to meet, indeed his enthusiasm for this project, a micropub he opened just over a couple of weeks ago, seems unlimited (by the way, many thanks to Rod, who tipped me off about the Rye Waterworks, cheers!). David told me that the interior still has a small amount of work to finish off, "93% complete" he estimates, but it is already comfortable. Indeed, on this blue sky day, it was lovely and cool inside, but in the evening he lit the wood burner to ensure his customers remained comfortable.

Regarding the 'curios' I mentioned earlier? Well, David is still selling furniture and curios on behalf of the last incumbent at this address, indeed, most of what isn't nailed down you can buy, including all the tables and chairs, stools and other furniture, framed prints and curios! For example, just out of shot of my photograph to the right, there is a crackin' brass pub bell and a rather fancy ice bucket for sale... so, the Waterworks isn't just a unique micropub for being in an old pump house rather than an old shop, it will also look different every time you visit, as the furniture and decorations change each time some are purchased! Of course, all this is evidence of the great character of the place, but I really do need to talk about the ales...

There are 8 ales available (all from microbreweries within 20 miles of Rye), and served by gravity from this rather large fridge behind the bar. The 8 include 2 'regular' ales, one brewed by Old Dairy Brewery (website), a 4% session ale called Carrot Top (£3.60 a pint), much beloved by Sussex Best drinkers it appears, and the one we drank, from Three Legs Brewing Company (website), their excellent 3.7% session pale golden and hoppy session bitter Pale (£3.70 a pint). My notes: "Golden with a strong fruity aroma, a gorgeous fruity bitter." Can't say better than that! We also drank the 'guest' Black Pale (4.3% and £3.70 a pint) from Three Legs, a deep very dark red colour, roasted barley in the aroma and taste, quite bitter and "sharp on the palate" said my brother, couldn't disagree, very nice too, but I did prefer the golden Pale, as is my taste!

There were 5 other guest ales, FILO Cardinal (a 4.6% Porter, £3.80), Rother Valley Copper Ale (4.1% and £3.70), Hop Fuzz English (3.8% and £3.70), Range Ales Double Tap (4.1% and £3.70), and I also had a half of the 4.4% Romney Marsh Brewery (website) Amber Ale (£3.70 a pint), a sweetish complex fruity and nutty bitter which is sweet to taste, but dries out at the finish... There were also 3 ciders, Norman Hunt & Sons Conquest (4.8% and £3.70 a pint) and Big Kev's Summer of Fruit (6% and £3.8) and Dickens (8% and £4). Also, of course, some fine gins, wines and soft drinks are available too.

David has recently received his Food Hygiene Certificate, so expect to see rolls with various fillings on sale, sausage rolls, pork pies and scotch eggs, and the usual crisps and nuts, not to mention homemade spicy pickled eggs, and I do love pickled eggs!

Oh yes, so you don't attempt to visit when it is closed (noting my earlier failures when trying to visit micropubs elsewhere) the opening times at present are: 

Mon-Thursdays 2-10pm

Fridays 2-11pm

Saturdays 12-11pm

Sundays 12-10pm

Brick Cistern & Tower

"Potted History" (as promised!):

A 'water-house' was known to have been built on this site by 1628, but the present building includes what appears to be a foundation stone from when it was rebuilt in 1718, with a pump driven by a 'horse gin' piping water from the Ashdown Sands Springs; a horse gin was a wheel which had a horse harnessed to it, the horse walked around in circles and powered the pump.

A lead water pump was added in 1826 to pump water up Conduit Hill to the oval brick cistern (now grade II listed) that is by St Mary's Church. Then, in 1869, the Victorians rebuilt the water-house again and installed a steam engine and pump. As I said earlier, it has since been a soup kitchen (1907), public lavatories, and a shop selling antiques and curios... 

Now it is a micropub, cheers! 

My sources: 

Roder, David  Licensee, The Rye Waterworks.

Holloway, William  The history and antiquities of the ancient town and port of Rye, in the county of Sussex. With incidental notices of the Cinque Ports, published by J R Smith (London) 1847.

Rye Ancient Water Supply on www.engineering-timelines.com 2018.