Keighley and Craven CAMRA Brewery awards
STRATHAVEN BREWERY TOUR, MAY 2008
Winners of "Beer of the Festival" awards - Keighley 2007 and Skipton 2008
On May 17th several of Keighley & Craven branch presented our ‘Keighley & Craven CAMRA Beer of the Festival, 2007’ award to Strathaven Brewery which sits alongside the River Avon in the idyllic Lanarkshire countryside.
The beer that won last year’s prize at Keighley was Old Mortality. The Craigmill brewery building dates from the 17th century and is a converted watermill with a ten barrel brew length. The brewery produces traditional ales using the best of ingredients which are sourced locally where possible. The history of Strathaven is closely associated with the Covenanter movement and the names of the beers reflect this. At present those brewed are Avondale, Clydesdale IPA, Claverhouse, Old Mortality, Trumpeter and Duchess Anne (which won the Skipton beer festival, 2008, beer of the festival award). The beers are distributed throughout Scotland and the North of England. Visit www.strathavenales.co.uk for more details.
For some members it was a crack of dawn start on the first train to Carlisle, changing there for Glasgow. Others were staying in Glasgow already over Friday night and had a more relaxed, and shorter, journey to get to Strathaven (pronounced “Straven”, by the way). Also visiting at the same time were about 30 members of Ayrshire CAMRA, with whom we had a most convivial time drinking the brewery’s products in the mill. Many thanks to all at Strathaven Brewery for the excellent reception and hospitality.
Fred Baker
Photos: Andy Grant (top) presenting the award, then the brewery itself followed by an axe throwing contest - beer and axe throwing?? - hmmmmmmm!!.
