Beer

Notes on beers on offer at the 2004 Shelford Festival & Feast
Notes on the 2006 collection here

Orkney Brewery Northern Light 4%
“A superb light and refreshing beer, full of flavour and shining in the glass - as clear as Orkney skies and waters. A surprisingly full mouth feel with a superior balance of malt and hop, and a rewarding fruit finish. Thirst quenching swallow on its own or with a light meal, a snack or a sandwich. Particularly tasty with fruit puddings!” So says the Orkney Brewery website, but a sentiment supported by all who sampled the brew at this year’s Feast.

Woodforde’s Wherry Bitter 3.8%
Named after the unique shallow-draught sailing craft built for trading on the waterways of Norfolk in the early part of the 19th century. Winner of numerous prestigious awards including: "Champion Bitter of Britain" 1996/97 and "Supreme Champion Beer of Britain" 1996/97. Amber in colour with a golden syrupy flavour that binds a well-balanced, classic, creamy bitter. A fine blend of hops, bitterness and fruit gives a light but complex feel. A long, consistent finish, with little flavour loss.

Adnams Bitter 3.7%
The classic Southwold bitter and the favourite amongst the Adnams’ stable of beers - brimming with the fragrance of hops and malt, dry yet refreshing and with a lingering bitter flavour. A true session beer.

Adnams Broadside 4.7%
With a name that commemorates the fierce Battle of Sole Bay fought against the Dutch Republic in 1672 off the coast of Southwold, Broadside is rich, with aromas of almonds, zest and conserved fruit, and a perfect balance of malt and hop flavours - an award-winning pint to savour. Adnams Broadside was Gold Medal Winner in the Strong Bitter Category at the CAMRA Champion Beer Of Britain 2003. One of the most popular beers at this year’s Shelford Festival & Feast.

Nethergate Umbel 3.9%
Brewed traditioanally with Challenger and Fuggles wholeleaf hops, Maris Otter and Crystal Malts and a trace of coriander which gives it a unique and lasting flavour. It is very smooth and refreshing on the palate and goes well with any strong tasting foods. The name 'Umbel' comes from the taxonomic family name under which coriander is classified.

Nethergate Old Growler 5.0%
Supreme CAMRA Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2003 The beer also won in 1997, a testament to its consistency of production. The 5% ABV porter is described in the 2003 edition of the Camra Good Beer Guide as a ‘complex and satisfying porter, smooth and distinctive. Sweetness, roast malt and fruit feature in the palate, with bitter chocolate lingering. The finish is powerfully hoppy’. A true and deserving champion beer.

Crouch Vale Brewers Gold 4.0%
Champion Best Bitter at the Great British Beer Festival 2003, this is a pale, refreshing and hoppy beer with gorgeous aromas of tropical fruits. It was one of our most popular beers – pitty we couldn’t source a bigger supply!

Milton Brewery Jupiter 3.5%
A golden session beer with a delicate hoppy flavour leading to a satisfying bitter finish. This beer was re-badged especially for The Shelford Feast as “Feast Ale”.

Milton Brewery Pegasus 4.1%
Always a favourite, this beer has collected numerous awards including: Best Seller at the 27th Camra Cambridge Beer Festival, Camra Cambridgeshire Supreme Champion 2002 and Camra Champion Beer of East Anglia 2002. It is a complex, copper-coloured beer. The initial hoppiness is balanced with a long fruity, malty finish. Milton describe it as “Very moreish” – they’re right!.

CAP’N GRUMPY’S BEST BITTER 3.9%
Wissey Valley Brewery opened in July 2003 as craft brewers of ales, milds, porters and stouts and was the natural evolution of boutique brewer Tony Hook’s enterprise. Tony initially set up the Cap’n Grumpy Beer Co in 1999 at his pub, The Ship, at Brandon Creek and was given a crash course in brewing by Brendan Moore (Iceni) and then John Palmer (ex Greene King).
The Cap’n Grumpy Best Bitter won the Best Beer award in 2001 at the Bedford Beer Festival and the winning way continues under the new branding as Wissey Valley which won the “best beer award” at the recent Cambridge Midwinter Beer Festival with its Khaki Sergeant Strong Stout (6.7% abv).
As the business of brewing grew, so too did the need for new premises and the move to the Blue Bell Pub, Stoke Ferry, Norfolk in 2003 marked the start of the Wissey Valley branding.