News
THREE HARES WINS
DARTMOOR BREWERY SCOOPS ANOTHER GOLD MEDAL FOR ITS BEER!
Dartmoor brewery - the highest brewery in Britain has won yet another Gold Medal at the South West Brewing awards held at the Tuckers Maltings in Newton Abbott on 19th April 2012. The SIBA (Society of independent brewers) Beer festival for brewers from Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire, Dorset, Somerset , Devon and Cornwall was attended by 75 breweries who entered 262 real ales in 8 different beer categories.
After a full day of judging by an expert panel of over 100 people - Dartmoor's Three Hares was chosen as the Gold Medal winner in the speciality Beer category.
Three Hares is a 4.4% ale that is made with Heather Honey sourced only from the Moor. This produces delicious golden brown ale with a rich spicy taste of Dartmoor heather honey and a hint of Apricots.
This is the second Gold ward in 3 years - Jail Ale winning in 2010
These are awards that we are justifiably proud off -underlining the quality we strive for in everything we do.
Chagstock Festival has teamed up with Dartmoor Brewery for this years' festival. Dartmoor Ale for a Dartmoor Festival!
Originally this was a private event for around one hundred people. A few friends started in 2003 by inviting a load of people down to Devon and holding a micro-festival in the garden.
This was all very home grown and cobbled together with string, gaffer tape and rusty scaffold poles but we managed to create something rather special and overall it was good to see so many people chilling in the big outside, sharing music, dance and space.
We did this three years running and got bigger and better at it. We then took a year out in 2006 in order to start planning the next step...going public!
A site was found, and after many weeks of meetings, form filling and phone calls, Chagstock '07 took place. The chosen site is at Whiddon Down and covers about 40 acres of farmland with glorious views over the northern edge of Dartmoor (see photos). We hoped to transfer some of the feel of the original event to the new site and judging by feedback from those of you who attended we believe this was achieved. The idea has always been to provide space for good energy and entertainment without getting too commercial, and we aim to stay true to this philosophy as the event matures and establishes its self over the coming years. Any excess cash made will be donated to worthy causes such as the Devon Air Ambulance, WaterAid.
OCTOBER 2010
HORROR PICTURE TAKES OVER BREWERY
The Cast and Crew of Vertigo Films who are currently making a Horror Picture on Dartmoor took the Brewery over on Saturday in pursuit of their love forJail Ale.
SEPTEMBER 2010
TAVISTOCK CELEBRATES CYCLE RACE
IN STYLE WITH OUR NEW TANK
Andrew Kent of Kenbridge Bars shows off the first of our 5 x 90 gallon tanks before the Tavistock Extravaganza marking the eve of the Round Britain Cycle Race crossing of Dartmoor when Seth Lakeman headed an evening of music from local bands watched on by a crowd of 4000 some of who went and drank our tank dry.
JULY 2010
CHAGSTOCK INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL 2010
Mark Shackleton serving at the VIP & Performers Bar where the Hoosiers, Seth Lakeman & Ade Edmundson amongst the many others enjoyed a pint of Legend.
JUNE 2010
JAIL ALE WINS AGAIN .....!!!!!
Andrew and Carol from the award winning Royal Oak at South Brent were pleased to announce to Dartmoor Brewery that Jail Ale was the overall winner of their Beer Festival that took place over the weeknd of 4th-6th June.
MAY 2010
LEGEND AND TEN TORS 50TH ANNIVERSARY 1960-2010
The challenging and character building event that is The Dartmoor Ten Tors was 50 this year and we, at Dartmoor Brewery, were excited at being invited to support the event.
Tina, our Regional Sales Manager has been involved with the event for over five years and after speaking with Alan Stephens, Chairman of Gloucester CAMRA and archivist of the event, he concluded:
"some kind of ale may be appropriate and would go down well!"
Tina then met with Lt Col Tony Clark. We had just launched our new real ale "LEGEND" and he felt that, as this event was legendary on Dartmoor, itself home to more than its own fair share of legends, the name of this beer would fit the occasion perfectly.
Tony also thought that as HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was attending the event this year; and as it was the event’s 50th Anniversary; a keepsake of the event would be a good Idea. We could not resist this opportunity and produced a limited edition run of 45 numbered bottles of the Legend Ale.
These 45 bottles will be the only run of Legend that will be bottle conditioned, have the Ten Tors banner on the label and have gold bottle tops. They immediately became a collector's item, with bottles reaching £10.00 each at auction and proceeds going to HELP THE HEROES.
We understand that HRH had the first bottle in a legend glass with his lunch on Sunday.
Some were then given to VIP's and 24 were auctioned in the Junior Ranks Club on Saturday night; raising an additional £200 for this worthy cause. The beer went down exceedingly well and more casks had to be rushed from the Brewery on Saturday morning to keep up with the demand anticipated on Saturday night!
Dartmoor Brewery were very pleased to be involved with the event and hope that this relationship will continue for many years to come.
Tina Ryder Presents Lt Col Tony Clark with the first bottle of Ten Tors 50th Legend
APRIL 2010
DARTMOOR BREWERY HOSTS THEIR FIRST GOLF DAY. HEATHER FELL PRESENTS PRIZES
On Tuesday 27th April we had our first ever Golf Day at Yelverton Golf Club. The day was a great success with 32 players and we were blessed with glorious weather.
Keith Parriss (Bars Manager of Yelverton Golf Club) was the winner with a score of 37.
Keith Parriss being presented with the Dartmoor Brewery Golf Shield by Heather Fell
SIBA SOUTH WEST REGION BEER COMPETITION 2010
TUCKERS MALTINGS, NEWTON ABBOT
JAIL ALE WINS GOLD AGAIN!
Kevin Mitchell (Murphy & Sons) presents Simon Loveless with Gold Award for Jail Ale in Premium Beer Catagory
Jail Ale was voted, yet again, to be the best and given the Gold medal in the prestigious Premium Bitters (4.6%-5.0%) class. It then went on to be awarded the Bronze position for Overall Champion of the Competition. This is the fourth time Jail Ale has won its “Gold” at Tuckers and the Team at Dartmoor were elated to see Simon, our MD and Head Brewer take centre stage to receive the trophy.
The three day event at Tuckers Maltings in Newton Abbot is always the highlight of many a real ale drinkers calendar with over 334 Westcountry beers to try and is a always well attended, with over 4000 people passing through the doors this year. The weather was sunny and this enable everyone to take advantage of the wonderful grassy area outside the maltings. For those of you who haven’t sampled the delights of this wonderful weekend, put it in your diary for next year!! See you there.
MARCH 2010
LEGEND HAS ARRIVED
We wanted to create a unique beer different to all the main stream cask ales in response to demand for a beer of this strength. After visits to the English hop farms and several trial brews, we finally arrived with a beer worthy of carrying our name and "The" Legend was born.
Tasting Notes:
The combination of cool pure Dartmoor Water, the finest Devon Grown Malted Barley and the best of English Hops has created a classic cask conditioned beer, smooth, full flavoured and balanced, with a delicious crispy malt fruit finish
Golden Brown in Colour and an Aroma of Fresh Baked Bread with a Hint of Spice
A young new exciting beer based on the very best traditions of Brewing for the cask ale drinkers of today
LEGEND LAUNCHED AT GOG AND MAGOG , PLYMOUTH MARCH 23RD
Kelly Critten & Mark Shackleton at the Launch night of Legend at the Gog & Magog, Plymouth (Toasting Plymouth Camra Chairman Rob Hick)
DARTMOOR BREWERY AND LEGEND ALE SUPPORTS FOLK FESTIVAL
Harberton Folk concert at the Ariel Centre in Totnes
"Harberton Folk's own news first: Special thanks to Dartmoor Brewery for their generous liquid sponsorship of our sell-out Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham concert at the Ariel Centre in Totnes last Saturday, which allowed us to stage a 'world premiere' for their brand new real ale called 'Legend' (4.4% ABV) which easily matched up to the quality and good taste of the rest of the evening. Thanks too for helping to set this up to Rob at the Bay Horse Inn in Totnes, where incidentally you can buy tickets for Harberton Folk's next available concert:"
QUOTE FROM JOHN CULF
LEGEND RELEASED FOR LAUNCH MARCH 22ND
Heather Fell Olympic Silver Medalist in the Modern Pentathleon pulls the first pint of Legend in the Brewery Bar VERY CLOSELY watched by the Brewing Team! Heathers family live nearby at Merrivale and she is no stranger to pulling pints of Dartmoor Brewery Beer. Heather has worked part time as a barmaid at the famous Dartmoor Inn Plume of Feathers in Princetown. See also January 2010 for more connections with Heather.
JANUARY 2010
DARTMOOR BREWERY INCREASES BREWING CAPACITY
Two new 14000 litre fermenting vessels installed to bring brewing capacity up to 15,000 barrels per year (60,000 x 9 gallon casks)
These vessels were delivered by our supplier and installed by local man Nick Fell of The Fell Partnership.
Using our forklift truck plus his Merlo P 30.13 (Telescopic Handler) plus his Merlo P 38.16S (Telescopic Handler) he skillfully off loaded and maneuvered these into place. See also www.thefellpartnership.co.uk
SEPTEMBER 2009
Mark Shackleton joined the Dartmoor Brewery Team in September 2009. He started his Brewery career with Hall & Woodhouse in 1974 before joining St Austell Brewery Sales Dept in 1981. The opportunity to join Dartmoor Brewery this year proved an irrisiable challenge to Mark - who had seen the success of their brands developing over the last 15 years.
"Delighted to be working for a local family brewery again where everyone is hands on and the most important thing is the beer they brew !"
Mark Shackleton, Sales Team, Dartmoor Brewery
JUNE 2009
Mike Lunney joined the Dartmoor Brewery as Assistant Head Brewer. Mike started his brewing career in 1972, four years later he joined Gales Brewery in Hampshire until they closed twenty eight years later. A brief period at The Isle of Arran Brewery followed until joining us this month.
OCTOBER 2008
Tina Ryder joins our "Brewery Family" as Sales and Marketing Manager. Tina has extensive sales and marketing experience and was previously Sales Director for a large Devon Bakery. She now moves her experience of yeast into the not so different world of brewing and brings to the business her enthusiasm for sales and her dedication to providing our customers with a high standard of service.
" ........ already Tina has slotted into the family style of our brewery. Working in conjunction with our trading partner Waverley TBS at Paignton, she has quickly become not just the front of house face of our company but part of Dartmoor Brewery's very essence itself! As such Tina will deliver a much improved and professional service to our customers - old and new and free the brewing staff to to more of what they do best - BREW GOOD, CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE BEER!!"
Simon Loveless, Head Brewer, Dartmoor Brewery
JULY 2008
Due to popular demand we have now released DARTMOOR IPA in bottled form.
JAIL ALE has been let loose in Tesco stores within the South West - look out for the "Get to know your Locals" campaign.
JAIL ALE is also now in selected Waitrose Stores.
JUNE 2008
On 2nd June 2008 Princetown Breweries changed its name to Dartmoor Brewery Ltd - Why you ask yourself? As the only true Dartmoor Brewery and the fact that JAIL ALE and DARTMOOR IPA were going further afield, we felt the need to take advantage of the much stronger "Dartmoor" brand and hence Dartmoor Brewery was the obvious choice. Have no fear however, no other changes - same people, same brewery, same company, same contact details and most importantly of all - SAME QUALITY PRODUCTS!
JAIL ALE WINS
CHAMPION BEER
AT SOUTH DEVON CAMRA BEER FESTIVAL 2007
Dartmoor Brewery has scooped yet another major award for its JAIL ALE. This time it won the SOUTH DEVON CAMRA CHAMPION BEER award 2007.
We were pleased to meet with members of South Devon CAMRA for a presentation held at our very own brewery here in Princetown, with the award being presented to Claire Connolly by Ian Packham of South Devon CAMRA. This was held in November 2007.
Last year JAIL ALE was joint champion with St Austell Brewery in the Plymouth CAMRA Festival.
JAIL ALE has received numerous awards, especially at the prestigious SIBA maltings' beer festival held every year in Newton Abbot. Its first outing here in 1995 saw it pick up winner of Premium Bitter award, which was bettered the following year when it received Reserve Champion of festival award in 1996. In 2002 it was again awarded Reserve Champion at the Maltings', and has consistently been placed in the top 3 during other years.
As we do not promote our beer outside of Devon it rarely enters other beer festivals, although it sometimes does leak out, as is attested by it’s achievement at The COTSWOLD CAMRA beer festival, where it was again CHAMPION BEER OF FESTIVAL, in 2002.
JAIL ALE has never featured in a national contest, so we could perhaps claim “probably the best…..”!!
OTHER OUTLETS
ALSO AVAILABLE ON LINE delivered to your door - just click on JAIL BY MAIL
(Please note this links to a third-party website - if you are having problems please contact Tuckers Maltings directly)
Our bottle conditioned beers are also available at the following outlets around Devon.
| TUCKERS MALTINGS | NEWTON ABBOT | 01626 334734 |
| FOX TOR CAFÉ | PRINCETOWN, DARTMOOR | 01822 890238 |
| CREBERS | TAVISTOCK | 01822 612266 |
| BEST CELLARS | CHAGFORD & ASHBURTON, DARTMOOR | 01364 652546 |
| CHRISTOW STORES | TEIGN VALLEY | 01647 252227 |
| DARTS FARM | TOPSHAM, EXETER | 01392 876658 |
| PIXIELAND | DARTMEET, DARTMOOR | 01364 631412 |
| OCCOMBE FARM SHOP | PAIGNTON, DEVON | 01803 520022 |
| MOOR & MORE BEER | PLYMOUTH | 01752 222220 |
| WHITCHURCH POST OFFICE | WHITCHURCH, DARTMOOR | 01822 612518 |
| HARVEYS OF CHUDLEIGH | CHUDLEIGH, DEVON | 01626 853109 |
| CHARLES STEVENSON WINES | TAVISTOCK | 01822 616272 |