On Monday, 1st March, we will be hosting a brewery launch in Shropshire for the beers of Freedom Brewery. Unusually, this brewery produces Real Lagers, brewed according to the famous German Pure Beer Law, the Reinheitsgebot. The Owner and the Head Brewer will be available to tell you about their brewery and to give you a tutored tasting of their four different lagers, including an Organic lager and a Dark one. These lagers are not intended to be replacements for our existing Dutch and Czech products, rather we will be stocking them as additional options.

The brewery has chosen the Crown Inn to launch its beers in Shropshire, having moved some years ago from London to Staffordshire. One of its beers will be completely new for this evening. There will also be a light buffet after the tastings.

If would like to invite you to join us for the evening and would be grateful if you could email us via this site (head over to the contact page) to reserve your place. The event will start at 8 p.m.

We are already planning more events for 2010 and all ideas would be welcome. Likely visits include Beowulf Brewery, Sadler’s Brewery & the Black Country and Burton upon Trent for Burton Bridge Brewery and the soon to be re-opened National Brewing Museum. We look forward to seeing you soon.

This weekend (Fri 22nd – Mon 25th Jan)  is our Burns’ Weekend from Friday to Monday (although we are just having haggis on Monday) .  Lots of Caledonian beers and our usual extensive range of whiskies.

If the thought of the January Sales is enough to make you reach for the smelling-salts, then a sale with a difference could be just the thing for you.  A Telford pub landlord is benefiting his customers by using marketing tools normally used by furniture retailers.  John Ellis of the Crown Inn in Oakengates is offering a “Double Your Discount” type of promotion.  Not only is he refusing to pass on this month’s increase in V.A.T., he is also pegging his prices of real ales to £2.30 per pint.  John regularly organises a January Sale but this is the first time that a Chancellor of the Exchequer has imposed a V.A.T. increase in January.  He feels that the hard-pressed public does not need extra costs imposed so soon after the expensive festivities of Christmas and the New Year.  “My customers have been very loyal to me and I am happy to be able to do this in return” he explained

BEATING BINGE-DRINKING

John added that, as the Chancellor has increased alcohol duty by some 18% in only 13 months, he has encouraged “binge-drinking” by allowing supermarkets to continue selling alcohol at a loss, while pubs had no option but to pass on the increased prices.  “Supermarkets are able to cross-subsidise the loss on alcohol by charging more than they otherwise would for groceries” said John.  “Pubs are able to offer their customers a safe, secure and supervised environment in which to enjoy a tasty drink.  They are part of the solution to the ‘binge-drinking’ problem, while un-supervised mass-consumption of below-cost alcohol is a major cause of the problem.  “Encouraging people back to the pub by holding off these price rises is a positive way to beat binge drinking and I will be keeping these offers going throughout January to help people with their New Year’s Resolutions” added John Ellis.

BREWERIES

Customers will have the choice of ales from such breweries as Hobson’s of Cleobury Mortimer, Wye Valley, Burton Bridge, Hook Norton and Adnam’s breweries still to enjoy.  Noted beer guru Roger Protz, described the Crown Inn as “A Very Important Pub” and “The Lynchpin of Oakengates’ pubs” and, as editor of CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide, he should know!

A huge thanks to everyone who attended the Crown Inn on Saturday 31st October for our Hallowe’en Party. Below are a section of pictures from the night.

Photographs used with kind permission of Amore Photography

Special thanks to John & Tanja for allowing us to take over the back bar for the night and for the wonderful decorations and provding food for guests, thanks to Sandra for preparing a fine selection of food as always, to Suzie, Helen & Janet for provding spooky cakes etc, thanks to everyone who helped with decorations and making a great effort with their costumes.

Next up, New Years Eve!

DOWNLOAD: 27th Beer Festival ‘Scratchers’ Sheet - (you will require Adobe PDF viewer to see this, most computers have it but if you do not please click here and download)

It’s Beer Festival time again – and this could be the last one before the General Election, so it’s important to think about who may stop you enjoying your hobby of testing different real ales, ciders or perries! Politicians will be on the prowl for your votes, so why not ask them what they are going to do about “the Alcohol Problem” and see whether they can give you any sensible answers. The prospects are not encouraging, with Messrs. Brown & Cameron both seeming to want to come down hard on pubs, without either seeming to understand that the problem comes from supermarkets peddling cheap booze with minimum checks on who will be consuming it.

This week, Gordon Brown announced he wants to end “24-hour drinking“. Come off it Gordon! With supermarkets selling crates of swilling-muck for next-to-nothing, it doesn’t matter how much you limit the consumption in safe, secure and supervised public-houses, when you can drink for 24 hours at home or on a park bench with a tenner’s worth of Stella!

Our politicians have been in the dock over their own behaviour since our last beer festival and trying to shift the attention to pubs won’t get them back in our good books unless they tackle the real problem – and that’s not the pubs!

Meanwhile, new brewers of real ales are still springing up for responsible drinkers and we hope to launch the first brew of the new Gertie Sweet Brewing Company at the festival on Monday. Now that’s something worth voting for!

John Ellis, Crown Inn, Oakengates

BITTERS UPTO 3.9%
Blue Monkey Original 3.6
Bridgnorth KF4 3.8
Cottage The Thieving Whippet 3.9
Hobson’s Twisted Spire 3.6
Hobson’s Best Bitter 3.8
Hook Norton Jewel in the Crown 3.6
Leyden Samurai 3.7
Lytham Blonde 3.8
Magpie Festival Special 3.9
Magpie Hedgehopper 3.9
Mill Green White Horse Bitter 3.6
Tower Whetmore Ale 3.8
York Guzzler 3.6

BITTERS UPTO 4.1%
Blue Bear Bedazzle 4.0
Falstaff Delphinus 4.0
Falstaff Pegasus 4.1
Hook Norton Hooky Gold 4.1
Lichfield (Tower) Bishopric 4.0
Milk Street Iron Brew 4.1
Northumberland L.o.t.Tyne (Series 3) No. 9 4.0
Tryst Blàthan (11 gallons) 4.0
Wolf Remus 4.1

BITTERS UPTO 4.3%
Anglo-Dutch Patrick Brontё 4.2
Anglo-Dutch Wild Flower 4.2
Blindman’s Yogi Beer 4.2
Brough’s Bitter 4.3
Derventio Celebritas ad Corona 4.2
Falstaff Libra 4.2
Lichfield (Tower) Doctored 4.2
Lichfield (Tower) Johnny Beer Good 4.3
Nottingham Broadway Reel Ale 4.3
Nutbrook Bitlyke 4.2
Okell’s Autumn Dawn Ale 4.2

BITTERS UPTO 4.6%
Brunswick Costmary 4.4
Blue Monkey Organ Grinder Premium Ale 4.6
Burton Bridge Have a Heart 4.5
Ironbridge Hickok Gold 4.5
Lytham Royal 4.4
Magpie Magic Lantern 4.4
Northumberland L.o.t.Wear (Series 3) No. 4 4.4
Nutbrook Responsibly 4.4
Springhead Spooky Juice 4.4
Wem Dünkel Brew (Amber Lager) 4.6

BITTERS 4.7% & OVER
Backyard East India I.P.A. 6.2
Cliff Quay Fitzroy 4.8
Cottage Triumph Stag 4.7
Earl Soham Tumble Home 4.7
Maypole Maibaum Alt 4.8
Nelson Vengeance 4.8
Northumberland Premium 5.0
Tryst Raj India Pale Ale 5.5
Wolf Whistle 4.7

MILDS, STOUTS, PORTERS and Dark Beers
Burton Bridge Mystery Mild M3.8
Burton Bridge Top Dog Stout S5.0
Jarrow McConnell’s Irish Stout S4.6
Mill Green Hedgerows Porter S5.4
Northern/Blakemere Chilli Chocolate Stout S4.6
Saltaire Hazelnut Coffee Porter S4.6
Tryst Brewer’s Swansong M6.9

CIDERS & PERRY
Broad Oak Moonshine Medium Cider 7.5
Broad Oak Premium Perry 7.5
Wilkins Farmhouse Medium Cider 6.0
Weston’s Country Perry (B.I.B.) 4.5
Weston’s First Quality Cider (B.I.B.) 5.0

FOREIGN BEERS
A large range of bottled Belgian, Dutch, Czech & German beers is now available from the front bar, as are the kegged Belgian (Blanche de Bruxelles & Leffe Blonde), Dutch (Amstel)
& Czech ones (Budvar Original (White)).

WINES AND SPIRITS
We sell wine by the full (6 glasses) bottle but did you know we also sell it by the 1.5 and 2 glass-sized bottle?
Also available from the front bar is a full range of spirits, including around 30 single-malts!

FOOD
Snacks are available at all times
Crisps – Seabrook’s, Tyrrell’s Potato and Parsnip Crisps, Quavers
Nuts – Salted, Dry Roasted, Honey Roasted, Cashews
Cheesy Biscuits, Scratchings, Pork Crunch and Peperami
A range of Freshly made Rolls
Sausage Rolls, Pies & Cornish Pasties (Hot or Cold)

BITTERS UPTO 3.9%
Allgates    Bitter Ye Not    3.9
Blythe    Boaties Bitter    3.8
Boggart Hole Clough    Ruby Tuesday    3.8
Dowbridge    Morgan’s Delight    3.8
Hobson’s    Best Bitter    3.8
Ironbridge    Arkwright’s Till    3.4
Ironbridge    Big Birthday Bash    3.6
Leyden    Lancashire Fusilier    3.6
Lichfield/Tower    Double Dutch    3.9
Magpie    Treble 20    3.8
Northern/Blakemere    What is it?    3.7
Northumberland    Snooker Legend No.3 Hurricane Higgins    3.9
BITTERS UPTO 4.1%
Back Yard    George    4.0
Back Yard    Heanua    4.1
Brewdog    Trashy Blonde    4.1
Cottage    Crackaway Jack    4.0
Derventio    Celebritas ad Corona    4.2
Dowbridge    Morgan’s Special    4.0
Falstaff    Lyra    4.0
Lichfield/Tower    Land of Oakenglory    4.0
Lymestone    Stone Faced    4.0
Milk Street    Mells Bells    4.0
Morton    Merry Maiden    4.1
Northern/Blakemere    Nitelife    4.0
Northumberland    Emotion Ale    4.0
Northumberland    Legend of the Tyne (3) 3 Kenny Wharton    4.0
Northumberland    Legend of the Wear (2) 10 George Herd    4.0
Slater’s    High Duck    4.1
Tirril    Old Faithful    4.0
BITTERS UPTO 4.3%
Beowulf    Wiglaf    4.3
Corvedale    Not the Norm    4.3
Full Mash    Bluesdog    4.2
Jarrow    Caulker    4.2
Lichfield/Tower    Bucking the Market    4.3
Magpie    Wiggy    4.3
Northern/Blakemere    Atlantic    4.3
Northern/Blakemere    Footstomper    4.2
Northumberland    Legend of theTyne (3) 4 Alan Suddick    4.3
Vale    Brunhelle    4.2
Weatheroak    Victoria Works!    4.3
Wem    Best Cellar    4.2
Wyre Piddle    Piddle Artist    4.2
BITTERS UPTO 4.6%
Branscombe Vale    Anniversary Ale    4.6
Brunswick    Valour    4.6
Cottage    Western Arches    4.6
Goff’s    Cheltenham Gold    4.5
Scattor Rock    There Twoz    4.6
Spire    Little Brown Jug    4.4
Wood    Tom Jones’ Delight    4.5
Wood    Celebration Beer    4.4
BITTERS 4.7% and OVER
Brewdog    77 Lager    4.9
Brewdog    Punk I.P.A.    6.0
Cambrinus    Saint Anthony’s Ale    5.2
Cottage    Red Hunter    5.0
Dowbridge    Golden Gordon    4.9
Kinver    Maybug    4.8
Northern/Blakemere    Heyday    4.9
MILDS, STOUTS, PORTERS and Dark Beers
Amber    Chocolate Orange Stout    4.0
BoggartHoleClough    Dark Mild    4.0
Cambrinus    Smokestack (Smoked Mild)    4.0
Falstaff    Taurus (Mild)    4.4
Falstaff    Ursa Major (Mild)    5.9
Falstaff    Ursa Minor (Mild)    3.8
Northern/Blakemere    Fruit Mild    4.1
Rugby    Egg Chaser Chocolate Stout    4.8
Spire    Coffee Stout    4.5
Spire    Jester (Stout)    4.2
Tollgate    Mild    4.2
Wem    Mild at Heart    4.4
CIDERS & PERRY
Broad Oak    Moonshine Medium Cider    7.5
Broad Oak    Premium Perry    7.5

DOWNLOAD: 26th Beer Festival ‘Scrathers’ Sheet - (you will require Adobe PDF viewer to see this, most computers have it but if you do not please click here and download)

A Message from your landlord;

Well, here we are again!  Despite the best efforts of Alistair Darling, we are all enjoying some of the newest and best that the British brewing industry has to offer.  Having accelerated the collapse of the housing market and presided over the catastrophe that used to be a banking industry, Darling seems determined to close as many pubs and breweries as possible, by sticking the knife in for the third time in twelve months.

By raising the Government’s tax on beer by over 20% in a year, the Chancellor is truly “the Champion of Binge Drinkers.”  He continues to let supermarkets sell alcohol at below cost price, subsidised by taxpayers and by the other    shoppers.  If I kept on putting up prices and getting less revenue as a result, I would soon be out of business.

Only a fool keeps following the same unsuccessful policy, yet expects a different result.  We can, therefore, deduce that Darling is either consciously trying to close pubs and breweries – or he is a fool!  You decide!!

At the Crown Inn, we are taking a different path.  Our policy is to provide you with la wide choice of good beers at sensible prices. We don’t want to give away our beers at a price so low that we attract drunks and troublemakers but we know that, by selling them
at a price that people can afford to pay, we don’t take the enjoyment out of a social occasion.  We don’t want idiots drinking in hereand neither do you!

This festival list is my biggest ever!  Getting the newest beers to you, means that I have never had so many beers come in so late. This has made it a major task to get it all ready in time.  However, I am very pleased with the result and I hope you are too.

Enjoy!!

John Ellis

Join us at the Crown Inn for week long festivities to celebrate National Cask Ale Week.

We’ll be celebrating National Cask Ale week with a selection of unmissable events culminating in an attempt to to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the largest toast in the world to our National Drink – Cask Ale.

Monday 6th April -  It’s National Beer Day – Real Ale is our National Drink.  Drink a pint today and call on the Government to recognise this fact and celebrate our National Drink with a National Holiday!

Tuesday 7th April – FemALE Day – Only 16% of ladies have tried Real Ale, apparently!  We believe it’s many, many more!!
So, come on ladies, come and try some for yourselves – don’t forget, we can give you a free sample of Real Ale, to try before you buy!

Thursday 9th April – “Introduce a Friend Day”, so bring someone along to try our award-winning Real Ales and enjoy the fantastic music of Martin Everson One-Man Blues Band – You’ll wonder where all the music is coming from as Martin manages to play so many instruments.

Saturday 11th April -  As it’s Easter Weekend, it’s time for a Baking Competition.  We’re looking for the best Hot Crossed Buns in Oakengates.  Don’t forget to bake for 4 p.m. Saturday – let’s see who’s a Master Baker!!  The awards will be given out on Saturday just before…….

The world’s biggest toast!
At 7pm on Saturday 11 April 2009 over 6,000 venues across the UK will try to smash the World Record for the Largest Toast.
The current record stands at 485,000 people.The simultaneous toast will celebrate Britain’s national drink – cask ale – and wrap up a week-long festival that is National Cask Ale Week.

More info at www.caskaleweek.co.uk