REAL ALE AROUND BADSWORTH
If your idea of a pleasant drink is drinking blue liquid straight from the bottle or lager so cold that it gives you stomach cramp you may not be particularly interested in what follows. You may even enjoy a glass of ice with cider poured over it. On the other hand, you may well have already discovered traditional real ale or this article might encourage you to give it a try.
Real ale is also known as cask-conditioned ale, which means that it is a living product which continues to mature and acquire its distinctive taste after it has left the brewery. A handpump on the bar usually means that the beer is real. Other beers and lagers have been processed and rely on chilling and gas pressure to create the illusion that they have been brought back to life again.
There is a very good choice of real ale within easy reach of Badsworth. To begin with, a pleasant walk will take you to the Jacobean Pub at Rogerthorpe Manor. They have Black Sheep Bitter and Black Sheep Ale, both excellent beers brewed in Masham, and have recently been admitted to Cask Marque, which is an independent accreditation scheme "to recognise excellence in the service of cask ale". They are also noted for their bar meals.
Rogerthorpe Manor Barnsley Oak
The Barnsley Oak at the crossroads near Minsthorpe School were awarded Wakefield Campaign for Real Ale's Pub of the Season award in Summer 2007, so it goes without saying that the beer will be superb. It is an excellent community pub serving John Smith's cask ale and a frequently changing guest beer. Food is served in a smart new conservatory with panoramic views and the meals are superb value for money.They are included in the 2008 Camra Good Beer Guide.
The Spread Eagle in Darrington is also heavily committed to real ale. They always have two guest beers available, often from smaller breweries. Here too, the beer quality is outstanding. Good food is served and they manage to create a pleasant restaurant atmosphere. They too are in the Good Beer Guide
Spread Eagle Blue Bell
One of the best known real ales in Britain is the award-winning Timothy Taylor's Landlord. On a TV chat show, Madonna admitted that she enjoyed this particular ale. The Blue Bell at Wentbridge has served Landlord for many years and it is the reason why many regulars go there. Some years ago, a brewery area manager ordered that Landlord be removed, trade plummeted and a hasty U-turn followed. They usually have three real ales on offer along with a varied menu.
The Shoulder of Mutton in Kirk Smeaton is similarly noted for its Black Sheep Bitter and they normally have a guest ale from Old Mill Brewery, Snaith. This fine village pub was a worthy winner of Doncaster Camra's Pub of the Year award. As well as real ale, they have real fires.
Looking a little further afield, the Angler's Retreat in Wintersett, the New Inn at Walton, the Boot and Shoe, Ackworth and the Robin Hood, Pontefract are well worth visiting for real ale of the highest quality. They have featured regularly in Camra's Good Beer Guide, the 2008 edition of is now available.
Angler's Retreat New Inn Boot and Shoe
To find out more about Camra locally, including Wakefield Beer Festival and other events, visit www.camra.org.uk/wakefield.
Camra promotes sensible drinking. Needless to say, you must be 18 years or over to purchase real ale or any other alcoholic drinks.
Thanks to Colin Williams for this contribution -
From Webmaster (not that I take a drink you understand)