Author: Bob

Lincoln Pub of the Year 2019

Just one week after being named Best Cask Ale Pub by Heineken-owned Star Pubs & Bars, Lincoln’s Strugglers Inn has won another award. The Lincoln Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale has chosen The Struggs as their Pub of the Year for 2019.

The competition was divided into two categories, with CAMRA members voting for their favourite city pub and their favourite from the villages in the Branch area. Five judges then visited the top three pubs in each category to assess the quality of the beer, the atmosphere, service and community focus.

Standing in the shadow of Lincoln Castle, the Strugglers Inn is big on character and conversation, and a warm welcome from the staff is assured. The ceilings of the main bar and snug are adorned with pumpclips of beers that have appeared on the bar. There is regular live music on Sunday teatimes.

Lincoln CAMRA chairman, Aaron Joyce, said, “The Struggs is a classic community local. And with ten handpumps on the bar, it’s a magnet for real-ale drinkers from near and far.”

The runner-up and Lincoln CAMRA Country Pub of the Year is the Dambusters Inn in Scampton. The other city pubs in the final were the Cardinal’s Hat and the Jolly Brewer. The Butcher and Beast in Heighington and the Ivy in Wragby were the other country finalists.

The Strugglers Inn now goes forward to the Lincolnshire round of the competition, where it will be up against the winners from the Gainsborough, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Louth, Grantham and Fenland CAMRA Branches.

Dambusters Inn takes county crown

Lincoln CAMRA’s top pub, the Dambusters Inn at Scampton, has gone one better, with the award of Lincolnshire Pub of the Year for 2018. Judges from the Campaign for Real Ale visited the winning pubs from each of the CAMRA branches in the county and assessed the quality of the beer, the atmosphere, service and community focus.
Landlord, Greg Algar, has been in charge at the Dambusters since 2009. During that time, he has increased the number of handpumps from two to seven, dispensing a changing selection of ales from breweries in the local area and further afield. And he has installed a microbrewery behind the pub to produce house beers. However, the most striking feature is the unique collection of memorabilia and information about 617 Squadron and the famous bombing raid. The murals on the walls of the toilets are also a talking point.
Lincoln CAMRA chairman, Aaron Joyce, said, “We’re delighted that the Dambusters is getting the recognition it deserves. This is the third year running that it has been our local winner and now it’s gone one better. Greg and his team do a great job.”

The runner-up in the competition was the Brown Cow at Louth.
The other pubs in contention were:
Ebrington Arms, Kirkby on Bain
Sun and Anchor, Scotter
Red Lion, Newton
Station Hotel, Habrough
Anchor, Bourne
White Swan, Barton upon Humber

The Dambusters now goes forward to the East Midlands round of the competition, where it will be up against the best pubs from Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire.

2017 Champion Beer of Britain Results

Announced at the 2017 Great British Beer Festival on 8 August

Champion Beer of Britain results
Overall winners
Brewery Beer Region
Gold Church End Goats Milk Warwickshire
Silver Bishop Nick Ridley’s Rite Essex
Bronze Tiny Rebel Cwtch Wales
Mild
Brewery Beer Region
Gold Rudgate Ruby Mild Yorkshire
Silver West Berkshire Maggs Magnificent Mild Berkshire
Bronze Winter’s Mild East Anglia
Bitter
Brewery Beer Region
Gold Church End Goats Milk Warwickshire
Silver Bishop Nick Ridley’s Rite Essex
Bronze Triple fff Alton’s Pride Hampshire
Sambrook’s Wandle Ale London
Best Bitter
Brewery Beer Region
Gold Tiny Rebel Cwtch Wales
Silver Blackedge Pike Greater Manchester
Bronze Surrey Hills Shere Drop Surrey
West Berkshire Good Old Boy Berkshire
Golden Ale
Brewery Beer Region
Gold Blue Monkey Infinity Nottingham
Silver Fyne Ales Jarl Argyll
Bronze Oakham Citra Peterborough
Ludlow Gold Shropshire
Strong Bitter
Brewery Beer Region
Gold Greytrees Afghan Pale Ale Wales
Silver Barngates Red Bull Terrier Cumbria
Bronze Salopian Automaton Shrewsbury
Speciality
Brewery Beer Region
Gold Saltaire Triple Chocoholic Yorkshire
Silver Blackedge Black Port Porter Greater Manchester
Silver Cromarty Red Rocker Scottish Highlands
Champion Winter Beer of Britain Winners
 Region
Gold Old Ales/Strong Milds Grainstore – Rutland Beast East Midlands
Silver Porters Sulwath – Black Galloway Kirkcudbrightshire
Silver Stouts Magic Rock – Dark Arts Yorkshire
Bronze Barley wines/Strong Old Ales Moor – Old Freddy Walker Bristol