SLATER'S NEW BEERS

Two winter beers have been brewed at Slater's Eccleshall Brewery.

Over and Out, which was launched in mid November is a rich, full bodied 6% abv ale. It is darker than Slater's regular beers and stronger than the Burton Bridge beer that coincidentally has the same name.

Mad Jaffa is a spiced beer that was brewed in early September but not sold until mid December. The skilful addition of orange and nutmeg to the brew and three months of conditioning have resulted in a superbly balanced warming beer. With just 216 gallons of Mad Jaffa brewed, many will have missed this magnificent 7% abv beer.

Less than five years after being established at the George, Slaters

Eccleshall Brewery already has three large delivery vans and a second pub, the Monkey, West Street, Crewe. They have also entered the field of sports sponsorship, with the Labour in Vain Football Club renamed as Slaters Ales FC.

THE BANK HOUSE

The Bank House Cafe' Bar is Stafford's newest pub.

As the name suggests, it is thought that the premises were originally a bank. After being renovated and tastefully decorated it opened in November.

Situated opposite the Vine in Salter Street, the Bank House sells two cask beers, Marstons Pedigree and Theakstons XB.

MARSTONS BITTER

Marstons Bitter has been lost from several local pubs following Banks's rationalisation of Marstons brands.

Some long standing Marstons pubs, such as the Boat at Gnosall, had always stocked Marstons Bitter, which benefitted from handpumps replacing top pressure dispense about twenty years ago.

Other pubs, such as the Plough at Amerton, are free houses that have been supplied with Marstons beers for several years.

David Thompson, the Banks's managing director, considers that consolidation is inevitable if regional brewers are to regain favour in the City.

Marstons Pedigree looks safe, but the Mansfield beers occasionally available locally will probably have gone within a couple of years.

FIRKIN CHANGES

Following the closure of Stafford's Firkin Brewery in September, the Forester & Firkin has, since mid October, been selling Burton Ale, Tetleys Bitter and two guest beers. It is common knowledge that the Firkin breweries were closed so that Punch Taverns could avoid the implications of the Beer Orders. However, a poster in the Eastgate Street pub unconvincingly claimed that "we are changing our bitter range in response to customer demand". Burton and Tetleys were described as "two exciting new products"

CHETWYND ARMS

CAMRA member Keith Horton from the Old House at Home in Pelsall is the new manager of the Chetwynd Arms in Brocton.

Since being taken on by Keith and Karen the 'Chet' has undergone a sensitive refurbishment. The thriving public bar and comfortable lounge now have handpumps for the Banks's Original and Bitter, Marstons Pedigree and monthly 'Guest List' ale.

Being on the main A34 between Stafford and Cannock, the Chetwynd Arms is easily found.

CROWN, STONE

Stone's Crown Hotel was sold by Bass in late September for a sum widely rumoured to be between half and two-thirds of a million pounds.

After years of neglect, new owners Stone Hotels Ltd soon carried out much needed refurbishment work at the grade II listed High Street building.