Harvey's Brewery Tour

By Steve the Beermeister:

A group of Hastings lads visited the brewery for a tour on Tuesday evening last, it was well worth the visit, and I write about it at the Steve the Beermeister blog if you want to know more. I do recommend that if your local sells Harvey's beers regularly, suggest to the publican that s/he organise a similar trip, we had a great old time!

Hastings Herring Fair 23-24 November 2019

Once again, the Hastings Herring Fair organisers invite you to celebrate the 'silver darlings of the sea' at this free fish, food, drink and music festival at the Stade Open Space this weekend; 11am to 4pm both days. Meet the fishermen and learn traditional skills. With many food and drink traders, a bar run by Lewes brewery Harvey's, live music (see at bottom of blog), cooking demonstrations, and plenty of entertainment for children, indeed there's plenty for everyone. See visit1066country website.

Herring are small tasty silver coloured fish that can be fried, smoked or cured, and they are full of healthy oils and, because they have existed in abundance, they were so named; the word herring comes from the Old German for “multitude”. The Atlantic Herring (Clupea Harengus), is caught around the British coast, though in the biggest numbers in the North Sea, and can reach up to 16 inches in length, but we usually see them at about 8 inches. There is locally caught herring in Hastings this year, so nice and fresh from our local fishing industry, nice one.

The Weekend Music

The Fair is free, so do visit The Stade Open Space in Hastings 'old town' and sample the local fare, not to mention wine, cider and beer, and much local music too, enjoy!

Midsummer Fish Festival 2019

The Hastings Midsummer Fish Festival 2019 will be starting tomorrow at 11.00am, 22-23 June 2019, at The Stade (website). As always, food, drink and music all day, both days, with admission in advance from the Tourist Information Centre, Breeds Place, for £1.50 the whole weekend; at the 'gate' £3.00, and under 18s free. There will be a bar with crafty keg beers, and Harveys Brewery (website) will have a real ale bar (no FILO this year), if you would prefer ales from local microbreweries, try the Jolly Fisherman or the Dolphin Inn, the nearest free houses.

Christmas Beer is Back!

By Steve the Beermeister...

It's that time of year and, for the past few years, we have not only had Harveys 7.5% Christmas Ale available in East Sussex, but also the, much more local Hastings brewed, FILO Our Auld Ale at 6.5%. This is a gorgeous 'Christmas Pudding' of an ale, well worth the visit to the First In Last Out in the old town High Street, rich, but not too sweet, with a dry bitter finish... I had my first pint of the year yesterday, and it's at least as excellent as previous years, cheers!

Ales and Jack in the Green!

By Steve the Beermeister:

Well, we all know how busy this 4-day weekend is going to be! Overall, the weather forecast is currently looking not too bad, though Monday morning may well see rain, but we are blessed with 2 special ales for Jack this year, from Harveys is Bogie Man Ale (4.3%), which will be available this weekend, and at the start of the procession on Monday, at the Dolphin Inn, Rock-a-Nore Road (opens at 09.00 on Monday). For further details of the weekend fun, go to the website.

The second ale, brewed by the FILO Brewing Company, Thirst of May (4.1%), will obviously be available at the First In Last Out (FILO) pub, High Street, over the weekend and on Monday (opens at 10.00 on Monday), and also at various other pubs, including The Crown, All Saints Street, and...

The Albion, George Street, is having another beer festival this weekend, starting Saturday evening! Ales available will be pretty similar to those available at the St George's Day festival (link to my blog detailing ales), but will be including the FILO Thirst of May and Harveys mild for CAMRA's Mild May month (website), Knots of May (3%).

I'll see if I can try the 2 ales out before Monday and report back, cheers!

Beer on the Pier, cheers!

Hastings Pier opened its gates today, so I decided to christen the pier with a bottle of their 'special' ale, 1872 Blonde Ale (3.7%), Harveys re-badged Wild Hop ale, brewed using a combination of wild Sussex hops and Cascade hops, not bad!  

Open gates, and a short film on the BBC South East Today facebook page!  

Where I drank my beer, and a selection of other photographs below...

Remember, the Pier has a new website. Also, confirmation that dogs on leads will be allowed onto the pier out of season, ie from October until the end of April (so you have a few days left!), though not in buildings, at events, or on the Upper Deck of the Visitors Centre. Of course, this is excepting assistance dogs, that are allowed on the pier all year; this is the same as the rules on the beach next to the Pier.

The Visitors Centre, not open just yet, but will be very soon. 

 End of the Pier

Looking back to land, way over there! 

Looking over to the east. 

If you're feeling lazy! 

The building in the centre, which used recovered and refurbished boards from the original pier platform, it looks much better up close! 

View from on top of Visitors Centre 

Remembering, there will be a cafe, and bar, I believe, up on top too! 

Walking down from the roof 

That's all for now, folks, enjoy! 

Hastings Pier: Films and Ale!

I received a newsletter/email from the Hastings Pier Charity (website) which gives details of how local produce will be served within the food and refreshments at the pier, when it opens, including an ale brewed by Harveys Brewery, exclusive to Hastings Pier, cheers!   

Also, cinema begins on the 12th of May, tickets need to be booked in advance (website).

Thursday 12th May
Re: A Pier: The story of the renovation of Hastings Pier told by local film-maker, Archie Lauchlan

Friday 13th May
Jaws (1975): Man takes on nature in Steven Spielberg's iconic seaside thriller

Saturday 14th May
Star Wars – The Force Awakens (2015): A battle of good vs evil ensues in the seventh installment of the epic series

Friday 27th May
Pride (2014): A London-based LGBT community lend their support to the striking Welsh coal miners in this uplifting British comedy

Saturday 28th May
Dirty Dancing (1987): Watch as the best-moving couple, Baby and Johnny, have the time of their lives

Have fun and good cheer! 

Hastings Old Town Carnival Week

Hastings Old Town Carnival Week starts today! 

OK, I haven't taken any photographs today yet, but shall for later! This is the bar at the Stade Open Space being erected yesterday... Doesn't look too impressive at this stage, but will do by the time you reach the Stade today. 

The Week opens with numerous exhibitions (eg at the History House in Courthouse Street or Fishermens' Museum at Rock-a-Nore), many guided walks, and other events, eg the Tug-O-War begins very shortly, outside the RNLI Lifeboat Station at 10.30. See website for more full details of today's events.  

The bar started taking shape! So why is there a bar this year, and why isn't the free Concert ON the Beach, but "NEARLY on the Beach Concert" at the Stade Open Space? Many have huffed and puffed about sitting on pebbles, drinking beer out of cans, and moaned that listening to the free music was fun, and it won't be the same, but the concert had to be moved because the beach area where it is usually held has been used as a functioning builders' yard whilst the Winch Road has been worked on, and it's not quite finished (and planning had to be made for the concert in the meantime). Though who knows what may happen next year, if this year's turns out to be a success? 

Anyway, it is still a free concert, and any money collected goes to local charities and the RNLI, the musicians are playing voluntarily, and free still, and it's free to get into the fenced area on the Stade! However, bringing your own drinks in isn't being encouraged as a bar is being provided, with the bar staff all working voluntarily for nothing, and all profits going to the charities associated with the event, as ever, so please do feel free to place coins and notes in collection boxes!  

Steve the Beermeister has enquired already, and found out what ales are on at the Stade, these include locally brewed FILO ales, Gold, Crofters Best Bitter, Mike's Mild, Old Town Tom and Churches Pale Ale; a new local peripatetic brewer, also from Hastings, FT's Bespoke Brewery's Jack Russell's Extra Ale; Harveys Sussex Best; Dark Star Hophead, and Longman's Copper Hop... All East Sussex brewers! 

I know what I'm about to do, have a shave, nip along and take some photographs, and have fun, please also enjoy yourselves today!  

Waterloo, Wellington, and Hastings!

By Steve the Beermeister

Coming from an Anglo-Irish family, Major General Sir Arthur Wellesley, perhaps better known later as the Duke of Wellington, was born in Dublin in 1769. His family bought him a commission in the British Army in 1787 as he was not that interested in furthering his education after school.

He was Knighted for serving a very successful term in India from 1796 to 1805. When he returned to England he was posted to Hastings on 25 February 1806 in order to take command of a brigade of infantry. His troop was based locally and he stayed at 54 High Street, which was used as his headquarters.

The Swan Inn (which was situated opposite 54 High Street, but now a memorial garden following its destruction from bombing in WW2) was used for a public dinner and dance in his honour, soon after his marriage to Kitty Packenham in Dublin on 10 April 1806. She returned with him to Hastings, where they lived at Hastings House, a Palladian Mansion at the North end of Tackleway. The plot where Hastings House and gardens once stood is now occupied by Old Humphry Avenue.

Wellesley was MP for Rye from 1806 to 1809; he had before sat a couple of terms as MP (for Trim) in the Irish House of Commons in the 18th century, and later became the British Prime Minister in 1828.

This Thursday, 18^th June, is the 200^th anniversary of his famous victory over Napoleon at Waterloo, and Harveys Brewery have brewed a special beer in honour of that achievement, Waterloo Rye IPA (6.1%). British malt, and rye malt from Belgium (where the battle took place) was used in the mash, whilst French bittering hops were used in the copper, and the casks are dry-hopped with British and German hops; France, Britain and Germany being the main protagonists in the battle. I'd like to think rye malt was used with a link to his having been MP for Rye, but I can find no evidence it was, sadly.

Waterloo Rye IPA should be a very interesting drop of ale, which I am looking forward to drinking at the Dolphin Inn, Rock-a-Nore, Hastings, this Thursday, cheers!

Harveys Dray visit 2015 - Photographs

I was out in the wilderness on Saturday, walking with my brother, so I've borrowed these from photographs posted to facebook of the visit of Monty and Winston, and the dray... 

   

... and in Normans Road too... With many thanks to Pam Greenstreet, Jayne Marsh, and the Dolphin for their photographs, cheers!

Harveys Dray to visit Hastings

The Harveys Dray is to visit Hastings this Saturday lunchtime and early afternoon (7th February), travelling from St Leonards to the Old Town, mostly along the front. I'm not sure of all the hostelries it will be stopping at, but one of the first, if not the first, is the Horse & Groom at St Leonards, also visiting the White Rock Hotel, London Trader and the Dolphin at Rock-a-Nore, among others, I'd imagine.   

Monty and Winston

These photographs are from the visit made at the beginning of May last year, and more can be found out by searching the Harveys' website. 

The Dolphin

By Steve the Beermeister

This is an updated and topical version of my first article published in the Hastings Independent many months ago (expect many more), and I chose the family-run Dolphin pub at Rock-a-Nore, because it had been named the South East Sussex Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Pub of the Year for 2 years in a row. The local CAMRA people do not consider pubs after they have won twice in a row, so we may have to wait for a bit longer before it becomes pub of the year again. Shame they don't just chose the best pub, rather than handicap their choice in such a way, but, hey! CAMRA has some very strange ideas, and members, and I should know, being one... 

So, a 'seasonal' photograph from the Dolphin's balcony, OK, we're very unlikely to see snow in Hastings for a while, if at all, this winter, but I do like this photograph, which I took a couple of winters ago.  

Apart from considering the quality of the ales, how else does CAMRA chose their 'best' pubs? Importantly, they take into account how their 'champion' integrates with the local community. In this respect, the Dolphin raises thousands of pounds every year for local charities, is closely connected to Hastings Fishermens' Museum and has been instrumental in the refurbishment of the Stacey Marie, their retired fishing boat sited opposite the pub (more of very soon), members of the RNLI regularly visit for social events, the pub gets involved in old town festivals such as Fat Tuesday and the Pram Race, and is at the start of the Jack in The Green May Day procession, opening earlier than usual on that day, to provide refreshment for participants and observers, and local musicians regularly play here, do I need to go on? 

Indeed, there is a variety of live music performed here 3 nights a week, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and a quiz for charity on Thursday evenings. Food is served every afternoon, and on Mondays the kitchen reopens at 6pm for a 'Fish Supper' deal, where the price of the fish (from Hastings fishing boats whenever possible), hand-cut chips and mushy peas, includes either a pint of beer, glass of wine, or a soft drink. 

Of course, the Dolphin also sells liquid refreshments, soft drinks, wines, 'mulled' wine for December through to the end of January (Mark the landlord's own recipe), spirits, numerous keg beers, including 3 of the newer 'trendy' craft ales, and, of course, what I'm keen on writing about... It sells 6 cask-conditioned ales, and what better way to write about finding such beer in Hastings than visiting the recent champion public house? The Dolphin sells 3 regular ales, 2 from East Sussex brewers, Harveys Sussex Best and Dark Star Hophead, and Youngs Special.  

There are also 3 regularly changing guest ales, very recently these have included Sussex brewer King's Wonderland, a "Winter Pale Ale", a 4.1% very pale bitter with a fruity aroma, good body and a dry finish, not bad at all! Also, from further afield, ie Devon, Hanlons Snowstorm Festive Ale, a 5% "strong winter ale", with a deep amber colour, similar taste to a typical 'old ale', slightly sweet maltiness, plenty of flavour, and a dry finish. Or, if you're very lucky, they may just have a few pints left of either the West Yorkshire brewers, Saltaire's Winter Ale or award winning (though not so seasonal) Cascade Pale Ale.

There are a number of brewers who continue to produce ales of quality regularly, and a few of them in Yorkshire, including Saltaire Brewery. The Winter Ale is a 4.9% darkish amber ale, they say with "toffee accents", but I have no idea what that means! Though I could detect a slight caramel flavour from the malt, and a hint of spice from the Challenger and Brambling Cross hops, all in all, a very good beer of its type. I tried their Cascade Pale Ale yesterday too, which uses Centennial hops as well as Cascade hops, and is described as an "American style pale ale"; good old Saltaire do provide much information on their pump clips! Whatever, it is a 4.8% pale golden bitter, with a fruity aroma and flavour, but more peach rather than the grapefruit I expected, pretty damn drinkable too...    

All of this is why the Dolphin is regarded as a fine example of a community pub, and why it won the CAMRA award twice in a row, and why I have commenced my search for beers of and in Hastings and East Sussex here. Before I go on, I'll add that Harveys Sussex Old Ale is currently on sale at the Dolphin too, and shall be for the next couple of months. Anyway, I trust I do still have your interest, because I shall be looking at local pubs and the local brewing industry over the coming months and years.

Oh yes, and I shall be developing further my research into the older public houses licensed in and around Hastings, as I have mentioned in recent blogs, so much to do, cheers!