Award-Winning Cotswold Pub Now Brewing Their Own Beer
Claire & Jim Alexander, owners of award-winning Cotswold
pub, The Ebrington Arms, near Chipping Campden, and The Killingworth Castle in
Wootton, near Woodstock, have fulfilled a lifelong ambition with the brewing of
their own beer; Yubby Bitter.
Named after Ebrington’s old village name, “Yubberton”, and
the long-standing nickname for The Ebrington Arms, “the Yubby”, Yubby Bitter is
available (alongside five other independent ales) at The Ebrington Arms and The
Killingworth Castle in Wootton by Woodstock, Oxfordshire.
Having been awarded CAMRA North Cotswold Pub of the Year
three times in a row and twice runner up over the last seven years, the team at
The Ebrington Arms have developed a rather discerning palate. Keen to try their
hand at developing their own real ale, Jim & Claire enlisted the services
of a local expert; ‘Food Scientist’ Dr. Julian South, who lectures on brewing
technology at Campden BRI and, like Jim & Claire, a keen CAMRA member
(Campaign for Real Ale). Yubby Bitter is already receiving rave reviews from
locals, tourists and ale enthusiasts alike.
Jim had a clear idea of how the beer should taste –
somewhere between his favourite pint, London Pride and Flowers (that used to be
popular in the area but hadn’t been brewed for a long time). With a desire to
use British ingredients in the recipe, as the pub kitchen does with its food
menu, the pair decided on all British malts and hops as the ideal formula and
the result is a copper ale with floral nose and bitter finish (3.8% abv). Jim commented; “We’re going back to how it
used to be when pubs brewed their own beer. Lots are doing it already but I
knew exactly what taste I was after so we’ve come up with a very traditional
English bitter. It’s a bit of a dream come true to be honest.”
The ambition has come in part due to lifelong ambition, as
well as a nod to the current trend of microbreweries selling out to big
supermarkets keen to jump on the ‘local’ bandwagon. Having bagged a space in
the brew schedule at the North Cotswold Brewery in Shipston, the project was
off to a good start.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing; as with every child at
Christmas, excitement after the first brew was running high and the team
cracked into the first barrel a bit early. Having now perfected the recipe,
locals & visitors are flocking back for more and future plans could see the
pair create their own brewery; which they have space for at their newest pub,
The Killingworth Castle.
The couple, who have spent years improving both pubs and
putting Ebrington & Wootton on the map, hope that the local ale will add to
the pubs’ charm; cementing their reputation for serving homemade produce. The
pubs’ food is all made on site; from ice cream & bread to sausages &
herbs grown in the garden.
Claire added; “We can now offer our customers something
really unique, as Yubby Bitter is only available in our pubs. Pubs can’t
compete with cheap supermarket alcohol these days so we have to offer more; a
special experience with a good atmosphere”.
Twitter: @theebrington & @thekillingworth
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