Drop Kick Brewing are increasing their commitment to cask beers and are going to hold a Cask Beer Day at their taproom on the 7th of December, where there will be four cask beers available to choose from plus an exclusive discount for CAMRA members.

The cask beer range will include:

Roses - A brand new English Best Bitter at 4.4%. Light, toasty and caramel complex with a hint of earthy and floral hop flavours.

Wallaby - An Australian IPA coming in at just 3.3%. Light and sessionable with a hint of stone fruit flavours. Easy drinking all day beer.

Eagles - An American Pale Ale sitting at 4.7%. A modern APA with a slight haze and punchy mango flavours.

Goldenlands - A British Pale at 4%. Light and crisp with a touch of citrus.

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The Titsey Brewing Co Taproom have announced their first ever beer festival, due to be held on the 4th, 5th and 6th October 2024. Organised as a celebration of green hops, they will be producing a couple of their own Green Hop Beers plus another four from other breweries. They should have 18 beers in total at the event.

There’s a special offer for CAMRA members - the normal entry fee is £6 per person which includes a glass and a token for one beer. If a CAMRA membership card is shown upon arrival, members will get a second beer token for free - that’s £6 for a glass and two beers.

More details and tickets available at:

https://titseybrewingco.com/event/beer-festival-2024

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Pilgrim Brewery have had their planning application for the redevelopment of the brewery at its current site approved.

They will need to raise substantial funds to turn the current brewery site into an efficient, state-of-the-art brewing facility, with a larger indoor space and a dedicated community/event space. They aim to launch a rewards based Crowdfunder campaign shortly to help funding.

If you have any ideas, please contact them directly at ku.oc.mirglip@foorperutuf.

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We'd like to offer our biggest congratulations to The Three Horseshoes in Cranleigh for winning our branch Pub of the Year Award for 2024.

The branch committee and a number of members met at the pub on the evening of 17th June 2024 for our monthly business meeting and to present the award. As part of their celebrations, the pub had run a beer festival over the preceding weekend and we were lucky that there was still a range of ales remaining on the bar for us to sample.

We found the locally produced Dorking Brewery DB One, Session IPA from Langham, Black Beauty Porter from Vale and JHB from Oakham to name but a few.

The presentation was accompanied with an ode to real ale, entitled “The Love of Beer”, specially written by landlord Peter for the event:

I love my beer – I really do – I’ve loved it all my life. I’ve loved it more than any girl and more than either wife! I’ve loved it with a vigour which I thought would never end. But nowadays I love it as a good and faithful friend.

It’s funny how our passion burns so hot when love is young. How evenings last forever, filled with love’s romantic song. But sadly, what was daily, turns to weekly far too soon. Then weakly spelled another way, then once in a blue moon.

But as I come to 50 years of drinking undeterred (My golden anniversary and never a cross word). It’s still a daily thing for me – my passion burns as bright. And my heart still skips a beat before my first pint of the night.

Now, if you are a lager man who drinks cold, fizzy beer. Your marriage in monogamous – that fact is mighty clear. You’re faithful, loyal good and true – in fact you’re quite alright. And, proving that, you come home to the same beer every night.

Now once there was a lager man, quite faithful to his Carling. Who went off with a Fosters unbeknown to his old darling. But he rushed home, he held her close, he hugged her and he kissed her. ‘Cuz lagers taste so similar, he thought he’d bedded the wife’s twin sister.

But look at me, a real ale man who likes beer warm and flat. I am the Sheik of Arabie – there is no doubt of that. When I come home each evening and the bonds of work are freed. A harem of real ale awaits to meet my every need.

I might just want a tall blond beer or one that’s short and brown. A weak one or a strong one – they never let me down. A beer’s not unattractive just because that beer is stout. Or even if it’s old, and there’s a lot of that about.

The boys at Marstons know these things where they still brew their Owd Roger. A drink to warm the cockles of this beer inspired old codger. And if you’re feeling fruity and I want a certain thrill. Then Theakston’s Old Peculier quite neatly fits the bill.

So come on Mr lager man and take me by the hand. I’ll lead you into paradise and through the Promised Land. I’ll show you things you’ve never seen, we’ll visit pastures new. And whilst we’re there we might as well just try a beer or two.

Please have no fear about your wife, whose name we know is Stella. A smashing girl who’ll love you still no matter what you tell her. So, if you hate the option which is bitter stout and old. She’ll have you back, although you might feel she’s a little cold.

But think about these things and get it right for goodness sake. The bed you get to lie in is the one you’ll have to make. The ones who get it right end up on holidays with SAGA. But those of us who marry in haste, they say, repent at lager.

Pictured below is branch chair, Rob Wells, handing over the certificate to Peter alongside his team.

Monday the 13th May 2024 saw the branch meet at Kingswood Village Club for our monthly meeting and to present the venue with their certificate for winning our 2024 Club of the Year competition.

On the bar we found Pilgrim Brewery Progress and Dark Star Hophead.

The Club has won the award on 12 occasions since 2011, and there's always a warm welcome for us when we visit. Card-carrying CAMRA members are always happily admitted for free.

Pictured is our branch chairman, Rob Wells, handing over the certificate.

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Launching on Thursday 25th April 2024, and in collaboration with The Godstone Brewers, is a display on Pubs and Brewing in East Surrey at The East Surrey Museum.

The museum is located at 1 Stafford Road in Caterham (adjacent to the rail station), and is open on Wednesday and Thursday from 1000 to 1700, and on Saturday from 1030 until 1600. Admission is free.

For more details, check out the museum’s website at http://www.eastsurreymuseum.org.uk/

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This year's Pilgrim Ale Trail is taking place across 10 outlets in Reigate and Redhill between 1st - 31st March.

Pick up your passport from any of the participating outlets:

• Old Chestnut
• Blue Anchor
• Market Stores
• Skimmington Castle
• Plough Inn
• Garibaldi
• Hop Stop Bar
• Black Horse
• Hatch
• Pilgrim Brewery Tap Room

Buy a pint of Pilgrim ale and receive a stamp on your passport and then, when you've collected all 10 stamps, you can pick up your limited edition Ale Trail finisher's t-shirt.

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Drop Kick Brewing opened in December 2023, taking over the site and kit of Trailhead Brewing.

The owner, Fin, is a keen rugby fan and is a former brewer at Pilgrim. Beers are mainly keg but the occasional cask is produced.

The Drop Kick Brewing Tap Room is currently open Wednesday and Thursday 1600-1830, Friday and Saturday 1200-2230, and Sunday 1200-1700.

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After a long period of closure, the good news to report is that The Whyte Harte Hotel on the High Street in Bletchingley has now re-opened.

There appears to be up to three real ales available, including one from Pilgrim Brewery.

The venue is well served by bus with Metrobus services 400 and 410 stopping almost outside the door.

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Congratulations to The Surrey Oaks in Newdigate who not only won our branch 2023 Pub of the Year award, but also then went forward and won the overall CAMRA Surrey County Pub of the Year 2023 Award as well.

Well done to all involved.

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Dorking Brewery have today announced that they have taken over The Old House At Home in West Street, Dorking.

Their plans include local food, local beers (not just their own) and live music. There is also a substantial refurbishment planned for January 2024.

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The Titsey Brewing Co. taproom will be opening on Thursday 29th June.

It will be open four days a week, serving a selection of Titsey beers, as well as a food menu featuring brunch bagels, smashed patty burgers and rotisserie chicken.

Opening hours (to start with) will be:

Thursday: 12pm - 10pm

Friday: 10am - 11pm

Saturday: 9am - 11pm

Sunday: 9am - 7pm

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Pilgrim Brewery’s Progress and Saracen have both been awarded Bronze at this year’s SIBA South East beer awards.

Congratulations to Head Brewer John and all the team at Pilgrim.