We enter a new period of offering guest ales from the middle of November. Our new permanent ales of Old Father Thames (3.4) and Butcombe bitter (4.0) will have been introduced and their popularity will, no doubt, mean that more good ale will be consumed in the Club. The effects on the ‘guest’ pump will be interesting to note but a change in the regular ales gives us a chance to vary the guest ales we offer you. From middle November, the guest pump will offer ales between 3.5ABV and 5.0ABV thereby giving the membership a chance to drink some stronger ales than has been the case in the recent past. Could be enjoyable and challenging as we welcome in the Winter weather!

Brains of Cardiff : Top Notch (4.4)

Because of the delay in getting this note out to you this month, this ale will have all gone by the time you read this information. A rich ruby ale brewed with coloured malts and Fuggles and Goldings hops. A spicy and aromatic taste complemented by a gentle sweet and oak flavour. This ale is well balanced and offers good depth. It went quickly, so the membership obviously approved of this one!

Oxfordshire Ales, Pride of Oxford (4.2)

A golden ale, fruity and quite bitter. Easy to drink and a good contrast to the more malty offerings on the permanent pumps. One firkin from November 9^th.

Oxfordshire Ales Triple B (3.5)

An easy drinking session beer with a lovely Autumn leaf-brown colour. Well hopped and a BBI silver medal winner. One firkin available from November 15^th.

Coach House of Warrington: Coachman’s Best Bitter (3.7)

A smooth cask conditioned bitter, full bodied with a rich malty flavour and a touch of fruit. The beer is balanced by the aroma and flavour of Styrian Goldings hops. One firkin available from November 16^th.

Highgate of Walsall: Davenports The Fall (4.4)

A rich palate of fruit and malt are the beginning of a long bitter finish. The beer offers an exquisite floral nose with citrus fruits and these are the prelude to a superb old English bitter. Enjoy one firkin from November 16^th.

Shepherd Neame: Bishops Finger (5.0)

A popular and strong ale from this well known brewery. The dominant character of this premium ale is its generous fruity flavour, reminiscent of bananas and pears with citrus overtones. A full-bodied nut-brown, nourishing ale with a lingering hoppy finish. One firkin from November 20^th.

Batemans Jester IPA (3.5)

An amber coloured full bodied bitter which has always been popular in the Club. The brew uses the finest English pale and crystal malts which are balanced by Goldings and Challenger hops. Should go well. One firkin from November 20^th.

Wolf Brewery of Norfolk: Remus (4.1)

Very popular at the Reading beer festival, this is a hoppy, easy drinking bitter with a flowery nose and slightly citrus tones. Very nice indeed. One firkin from November 27^th.

Elgood’s of Wisbech: Winter Ale (3.8)

The start of the Xmas season is heralded by this crisp and well-balanced malty and bitter sweet ale. One firkin from the beginning of December.

We have an excellent selection of guest ales available for you in October with many old favourites included and some interesting new ones as well. The selection provides you with the opportunity to sample some contrasting but very drinkable ales this month. Enjoy!

West Berkshire Old Father Thames (3.4)

Starting off the month we have, yet again, this superb and very popular low gravity session ale from the WBB at Yattendon. This beer retains a full bodied flavour for its strength and is brewed with locally-grown malted barley and hops. Available from Monday October 5^th and two firkins ordered.

Adnams Best bitter (3.7)

Another chance to try this beautiful copper-coloured beer. Late and dry hopped with Fuggles hops for a distinctive and lingering hoppiness. One of your favourite brews, enjoy two firkins from Saturday October 10th.

Harvieston Bitter and Twisted (3.8)

A golden session ale from Scotland which was a CAMRA winner at the Great British Beer Festival a few years ago. This is a refreshing hoppy beer with fruit throughout. The ale demonstrates a bitter sweet taste with a long bitter finish. A superb ale appreciated by those who enjoy a bitter, fruity, session beer. One firkin available from Saturday October 10^th.

Thwaites Original (3.6)

An old favourite at GSC, this is a clean, dry tasting bitter of glowing amber appearance and a malty, nutty flavour. The beer yields a distinctive hoppy aroma and a lingering bitter finish. Great drinkability! One firkin available delivered on the 16^th October.

Hop Back Odyssey (4.0)

This is a really well made beer from the Hop Back brewery of Salisbury. Using a blend of four malts, this excellent ale was very popular in the Club the last time it made an appearance. A light brown bitter with a malty palate, this ale displays roasted flavours with a medium bitterness and a very satisfying clean sweet hoppiness. One firkin available from the 16^th October.

Everards Beacon (3.8)

This very popular beer has always sold well in the Club. A hoppy beer with a dry finish you will wish for more! Sadly we only have one firkin from 23^rd October.

Mordue Workie Ticket (4.5)

A CAMRA award-winning ale in 1997 from the North East of England. This is a tasty complex beer with malt and hops throughout and a long satisfying bitter finish with a hint of chocolate. Strong, but very tasty, and new to the Club. One firkin available from October 23^rd.

Newmans Wolvers Ale (4.1)

Another new ale to the Club, this award-winning ale from Caerphilly in South Wales is a well-rounded best bitter with good body for its strength. The initial sweetness with a fine malt flavour is balanced by a hoppy finish with a rich aftertaste. This sounds good and it will be interesting to compare with the brewery’s lower gravity Red Stag bitter which we had in the Club earlier in the year. One firkin from October 30^th.

West Berkshire Mr Chubbs (3.7)

Completing this very good October selection is this high quality and popular session ale from WBB. This is a traditional English bitter, which, with the addition of single varietal hops, gives a robust bitterness and a strong hop finish. What a great way to finish the month and welcome in November! Two firkins available from 30^th October.

Keith Grant

Bar Chairman

Guest Ales for September

This month we are going for some top branded and nationally very popular ales to complement beers from our local region.

Shepherd Neame Spitfire (4.2)

First up, available, no doubt, to commemorate the start of World War 2 and the Battle of Britain, is this great best bitter from Shepherd Neame. We have two firkins for delivery on Friday September 4^th so make sure you don’t miss them!

Crafted from traditional varieties of English malt, this dark golden ale combines an underlying depth of maltiness that is tinged with a subtle hint of toffee and the bold citrus and fruity spice of Kentish hops. This winning combination produces a well balanced, thirst quenching popular drink. Enjoy!

Daleside Autumn Leaves (3.4)

Available from this award winning Yorkshire brewery is this seasonal ale from Harrogate. Autumn Leaves is a mid-brown session ale characterised by soft nutty malt which gives way to mature fruit and blackcurrant with a hint of floral hops in the finish. One firkin from September 11^th.

O’Hanlon’s Firefly (3.7)

This Devon ale has proved popular in the club over the past couple of years. It is extremely drinkable with a very clean, creamy finish and a match for many comparable beers over 4.0% ABV. One firkin from September 11^th.

Everards Tiger (4.2)

A true award winning best bitter with universal appeal, Tiger is a classic example of getting the perfect balance between sweetness and bitterness. Crystal malt gives the beer its rounded toffee character. One firkin from September 11^th.

Fullers London Pride (4.1)

After an absence of several years, London Pride makes a welcome return to Goring Social Club. This award wining classic is a rich, smooth and wonderfully balanced beer. It is complemented by a well developed hop character made up of Target, Challenger and Northdown hop varieties that are added to the brew. You know how good it is so get down and try some. It will be a little more expensive than our usual prices for guest ales as it doesn’t come cheap! However, after a couple of jars you’ll think, no doubt, that it was worth the extra cost! Enjoy from September 18^th when two firkins will be available.

Hidden Pint (3.8)

A fairly regular ale in the club and usually goes well. This ale is a clean-tasting bitter with good hop content with a citrus and malt balance. It provides a dry finish and a light hop aroma. One firkin available from September 25^th

Hidden Old Sarum (4.1)

An excellent traditional ale. This is a well balanced bitter of dark ruby colour. It utilises a complex malt and hop combination and provides a floral and spicy aroma. A popular ale in the Club, one firkin is available from September 25^th.

As you have all been quaffing the guest ales with great enthusiasm over the past month there have been occasions when we have been in danger of running out! To avoid this undesirable situation you may have noticed that we have been supplementing our supplies with Old Father Thames (3.4) from the West Berkshire brewery. This is proving to be very popular with our members and your commitment to the guest pump has helped us to sell over 100 gallons of guest ale in August! So good stuff and many thanks!

Keep drinking!

Keith Grant

Secretary and Bar Chairman

DRY WHITE          Pinot Grigio/ Garganega 2008

This new wine is drier than the existing dry white wine and will be offered initially as a ‘guest’ wine to test demand.             Price £1.80 a glass.

DRY/MEDIUM     Chenin Blanc/Chardonnay

Diamond Bay 2008

Not as sweet as the existing medium white.          Price £1.80 a glass

ROSÉ. Silkwood Pinio Grigio

Similar, some might say better, than the existing Rosé – it should be just as popular! Price £1.90 a glass

RED.  Silkwood Merlot

A smooth, easy drinking Aussie Merlot.                Price £1.90 a glass

Many of our younger Club members who try the cask ales find they are different and tasty, and are a lot cheaper than the traditional lagers on offer.

We are hoping to exceed last year’s record of 78 real ales sold in the calendar year and we hope to sell in excess of 1000 gallons of cask guest ale this year. If you haven’t tried many of these ales so far help us to achieve these goals by getting down to the Club and enjoying the new guest ales available.

If you are not a member of Goring Social Club, this could be a good time to join!

For a complete list of what has been offered so far this year check the Appendix accompanying this note. See how many ales you have tried, mark off the ones you really enjoyed and let me know for future ordering!

Keith Grant

Bar Chairman

Triple FFF Alton Pride (3.8) This ale is available in the first week of August and has been popular in the past. The Champion beer of Britain for 2008, we have delivery of one firkin. This clean tasting golden brown beer is full bodied for its strength with an aroma of floral hops. An initial malty flavour fades as citrus notes and hoppiness take over, leading to a hoppy bitter finish. This is a lovely ale so enjoy.

Isle of Purbeck Best Bitter (3.6) (sorry, no image available). From Studland in Dorset, this classic deep amber best bitter of moderate strength, has an inviting hop fragrance and a clean bitterness to finish. It was very popular when we had it in the Club in March. One firkin available from Saturday August 8th.

Wadworth IPA (3.6) An old favourite in the club, this gentle, malty and slightly hoppy beer has a well balanced maltiness which gradually dominates the palate. Refreshing, crisp and sessionable with a long lasting finish that becomes biscuity. Available from August 8th. Be quick as there is only one firkin ordered!

Roosters Hedgehog Bitter (3.7) We have had a number of Rooster’s ales in before and they have all been very drinkable so hopes are high for this seasonal ale from this Yorkshire brewery. A freshly hopped bitter, there are some toffee notes with soft bitterness and delicate citrus floral aromas. Sounds like a very quaffable ale if the sun ever comes out! One firkin available from August 16th.

Loddon Hullaballoo (4.2) Once again we have the opportunity to try this excellent ale from one of our local regional producers. Always a popular beer, this copper-coloured best bitter has rich, nutty malt balanced by the dry herby flavour of English Fuggle hops. Guaranteed to cause a stir! One firkin available from Saturday August 15th.

Elgoods Cambridge Bitter (3.8) We are pleased to welcome back this Champion Beer of Britain for 2006. It is always popular in the Club and we have three firkins available from August 22nd. I’m sure you know the characteristics of this ale all too well, but if you have yet to try it read the details on the pump clip as shown and enjoy!

Black Sheep Best Bitter (3.8) A pretty good way to finish off the month – we have two firkins of this very popular ale for you to enjoy. An award winning ale from North Yorkshire, this well hopped light golden session beer is both dry and refreshing. It is brewed in cast iron and copper vessels and has a well earned national reputation as an excellent real ale. Available from August 30th. Keith Grant

Goffs Jouster (4.0) is a tawny coloured ale from Cheltenham and shows a light hoppiness in the aroma. A well balanced beer underscored by fruitness, with a clean hoppy aftertaste. Hope you enjoyed it.

Springhead of Nottingham. Surrender 1646 (3.6).

Many of the beers from this brewery are named after events of the English Civil war. The Surrender 1646 is a copper-coloured beer with a stunning combination of malt and hops. The taste is initially fruity, and is then followed by a long dry finish. This ale went very well, so you must have enjoyed it.

Wooden Hand of Cornwall. Gribben Ale (4.1)

A distinctive well hopped beer with citric and fruit notes creating a well balanced aftertaste. This ale is available on the W/E of June 26/28th June. Only one firkin however.

West Berkshire Brewery. Old Father Thames (3.4)

An old favourite in the Club this popular ale will be available during the last week of June. We have two firkins available.

Early July

We have some excellent ales to kick start July with two offerings from the highly rated Dark Star brewery in Sussex.

Dark Star Hophead (3.8)

We had this in last year and it was superb. An extremely clean drinking pale gold coloured ale with a strong floral aroma and elderflower notes. This beer is full-bodied despite its very quaffable strength and dryness. Only one firkin so enjoy when it comes on at the beginning of July.

Dark Star Best Bitter (4.0)

Brewed as a traditional Sussex style bitter using Maris Otter, Crystal and Chocolate malts with East Kent Golding hops. Typical of Dark Star ales, the Best bitter relies on the late addition of aromatic full flower hops. This sounds good, and it will be available early July. But only one firkin, so be quick to sample this interesting craft ale.

Keith Grant
Bar Secretary

Fullers Chiswick Bitter (3.7)

At the time of writing Fullers Chiswick Bitter (3.7) will be the guest ale. This popular old favourite will be on towards the end of the month as we have 3 firkins for your enjoyment.

Wolf Ale (3.9)

Beers from the Wolf brewery proved to be very popular at the recent Reading beer festival. This is a copper coloured ale with lots of bite! Goldings and Challenger hops combined with locally grown malt make this a glorious full bodied brew. We have two firkins so I hope you enjoy it when it comes on at the end of May.

Crouch Vale Essex Boys Bitter (3.5)

Another quality ale from the excellent Crouch Vale brewery in Essex. This is their popular session ale and it drinks really well. This is a pale brown beer with plenty of pleasing malt and hop flavour despite its low gravity. Unputdownable!! Enjoy in early June, but be quick as we only have one firkin available.

Oxfordshire Ales Triple B (3.7)

Good to make contact with an Oxfordshire brewery which is new to us. A session bitter which is well hopped with Styrian and English Golding hops. It’s nice in the bottle so, hopefully it should be a good supping ale! Available in early June, we have two firkins available. If it goes well, we will be able to access this as a regular guest beer.

This month’s ales include a Scottish theme with ales from the Cairngorm and Orkney breweries, and we offer some classic quaffing bitters from Adnams, Greene King and Everards. To complement these ales we will be selling 1×9 of Roosters Farmhouse ale from Knaresborough in Yorkshire and offer two patriotic Firkins from Davenports (England’s Glory) to celebrate St Georges day. We start off with York brewery’s Constantine bitter followed by Vale brewery’s Wychert ale.

York Brewery Constantine (3.9)

A copper coloured beer from York brewery. Has a rich malty flavour and pleasant hop aroma, with a light a crisp finish. One firkin available at the beginning of the month.

Vale Brewery Wychert ale. (3.9)

Becoming quite a favourite in the Club, this traditional Thames Valley beer displays excellent woody flavours. This strikingly malty beer has a finish of port and berries on the nose. One firkin available from around April 10th.

Orkney Red MacGregor (4.0)

This is good stuff from our friends up north! It is a hoppy, pleasantly bitter red-coloured session beer with a smoothness that belies its aggressive ancestors. One firkin available from mid April. Don’t miss it – it disappeared very quickly the last time it was in the Club.

Adnams Bitter (3.7)

Little comment needed for this classic bitter from Suffolk. A beautiful copper-coloured beer late and dry hopped with Fuggles hops for a distinctive, lingering hoppiness. One firkin available from mid April. Enjoy!

Green King IPA (3.6)

Despite resistance from some CAMRA members towards this beer, this award-winning ale can be excellent if served correctly – so you know that with its preparation under the cellar skills of Steward Dave Dean, this ale will be good stuff! The beer is characterised by its hoppy taste and aroma that come from the use of Challenger and First Gold hops. These are combined with Pale and Crystal malts to produce a fine and lingering finish.

Davenports England’s Glory (4.3)

From the Highgate brewery in Walsall, this ale has a distinctive aroma with citrus and malt dominating. Roast malt, citrus fruit and hops are all discernable on the palate, and the long finish is a satisfying blend of hops and malt. This ale should be available to celebrate St. George’s Day on April 23rd. Two firkins available.

Roosters of Knaresborough, Farmhouse Ale (4.3)

Available from April 17th, Roosters have produced a modern recreation of a beer classic. Chestnut brown coloured with pronounced toffee and orange aromas, this ale has a long length with strong flavours.

Cairngorm Nessies Monster Mash (4.4)

Last month we had Trade Winds from this brewery and it literally blew away into members stomachs – it was so good! So this month we have this brewery’s sister ale. Malt predominates, giving a satisfying fullness of flavour. The brewery declares that ‘a glass or two of Nessies is a must before seeking an audience with the monster!’ No comment!

Everards Beacon (3.8)

Available from April 24th this very popular beer has always sold well in the Club. A hoppy beer with a dry finish, we have two firkins available for your enjoyment.

Remember folks, that these ales are very quaffable, so drink sensibly and don’t drink and drive!

Enjoy these ales.

Keith Grant
Bar Chairman