Center Parcs, the beers.

Just back from a long weekend at Whinfell Forest Center Parcs, Cumbria, the draught beer selection there was limited but I have to admit, they had a good selection of bottled beers in the shop. As part of the good selection they had many local Cumbria beers on offer from two breweries. Although none were new to me, I have not reviewed all them here, before now.

The Beers from the Tirril Brewery are reviewed here,  the brewery is based in Long Marton, near Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria.

The beers from the Hesket Newmarket Brewery are listed bellow, together with extracts from the brewery website, the brewery is in the village of Hesket Newmarket in the north of the Lake District National Park.

By coincidence the six beer on sale in the Center Parcs shop were the same six of the ten made by Hesket Newmarket that I have already sampled.

Hesket Newmarket Brewery, Haystacks from England

3.7% pale gold colour with a thin head, citrus aroma and as the bottle says it has a zesty taste.

Haystacks is situated at the south-eastern end of the Buttermere Valley and is where the ashes of Alfred Wainwright were scattered near Innominate Tarn. Wainwright stated that “for beauty, variety and interesting detail, for sheer fascination and unique individuality, the summit area of Haystacks is supreme. This is in fact the best fell-top of all”.

Hesket Newmarket Brewery, Doris' 90th Birthday Ale from England

4.3% light amber colour with a thin head, malt aroma and taste, average but good.

Jim Fearnley, the founder of Hesket Newmarket Brewery, prepared an experimental full malt beer for his mother-in-law's 90th birthday party at the Old Crown on 12th September 1989. The intention was to call it Doris' 90th Birthday Ale for one night only and then rename it, as is the custom for the brewery, after a northern Lake District Fell. However, the name stuck and Doris has become famous amongst real ale drinkers. When Prince Charles visited the village, brewery and pub he drank Doris' 90th.

Hesket Newmarket Brewery, Scafell Blonde from England

4.3% gold colour with no head, slight hop aroma, slightly bitter a bit watery and a bit like French hot weather beer but strangely satisfying.  Is that Denise van Outen on the label?

Scafell is the second highest mountain in England. Although not quite as high as its neighbour, Scafell Pike, it is the more difficult fell to climb. The scenery is rocky and impressive. Alfred Wainwright noted that “Many folk today, even with the added knowledge that the main Pike is not only higher but actually the highest land in the country, share the old opinion that Scafell is the superior mountain of the group”.

Hesket Newmarket Brewery, High Pike from England

4.3% dark amber with a thin head, slight hop aroma, malt and hop bitter taste.

High Pike, the most northerly of the Lakeland fells over 2,000ft, is one of our very local fells. Like many of the fells in this area it has been extensively mined and Elizabeth I said “Caldbeck Fells are worth all England else”. The summit has an interesting feature – a slate bench. It is also used as a beacon and a fire is lit to celebrate important occasions. There is a fine view of the Solway Firth and the Scottish Border hills.

Hesket Newmarket Brewery, Catbells from England

5.0% gold colour with a poor head, malt aroma and a bitter sweet malt taste, not sure about it but I think I like it.

Catbells is situated on the western shore of Derwent Water and is within easy reach of Keswick. It is one of the most popular fells in the area. Alfred Wainwright described Catbells as “One of the great favourites, a family fell where grandmothers and infants can climb the heights together, a place beloved”. The fell’s name is thought to be derived from “Cat Bields” meaning shelter of the wild cat.

Hesket Newmarket Brewery, Old Carrock from England

6.0% dark beep red colour with a thin head, fruity malt aroma, taste is slightly tart fruity and bitter, nice.

Carrock Fell is one of our very local fells. The fell’s name means “Rocky Fell” and is a combination of the Old Welsh “carrec” and the Old Norse “fjall”. Alfred Wainwright rated Carrock Fell as the second most exciting and interesting fell in the northern area of the Lake District, Blencathra and Skiddaw coming first and third respectively. Carrock Fell is unique in the Lake District because it is predominantly composed of Gabbro. The fell is rich in mineral ores and was mined extensively for many centuries. It is the site of an Iron Age hill fort.