Real Ale

Do you love beer? We do. In fact we love Real Ale and Nottinghamshire is a great place for lovers of the tradional English pint.

We've got an exceptional range of micro breweries around the county and together with two of the oldest pubs in England, Ye Olde Salutation Inn and Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Notts is the perfect place for Real Ale lovers.

If you want to take a look at how top beers are made, then why not take a tour around one of our local breweries and find out how it's all made.

Top Local Breweries

Castle Rock Brewery has been quirkily known as Nottingham's 'major micro' and this year brewed it's famous Kiss Me Kate beer to celebrate the marraige of Prince William and Kate Middleton. It also works with the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust for a range of seasonal beers to promote the conservation of Notts Wildlife. Head to the Vat and Fiddle near Nottingham Train Station for a tour of the Brewery and a cheeky couple of jars.

Located just outside of Nottingham's city centre by the Basford Tram stop, Alcazar Brewery at the Fox and Crown must be one of the quaintest breweries in the county. Try tasting some Nottingham Nog or Vixen's Vice from the cask range or some excellently named local bottled beers - Bowman's Bounty, Devout Stout, Gaoler's Ale or Scarlet Fervour!

The Funfair Brewing Company is based primarily at The Chequers Inn in the picturesque village of Elston (near Newark). The variety of ales includes Cake Walk and Wall of Death both coming in at an eye watering 6% proof.

In the very north of the county you'll find Springhead Fine Ales near Retford. This brewery produces the acclaimed Roaring Meg that you may have found in your local supermarket. You may prefer Robin Hood Bitter brewed to celebrate the release of the recent film or a Drop O' The Black Stuff? Take a tour around the brewery and sample a couple of pints at Meg's Bar, there are around 20 different ales to try. 

The Welbeck Estate produce it's own tradional ales which can be purchased at Welbeck Farm Shop, including the light ale Henrietta, named after one of the former Duchesses and made from spring water sourced on the estate.

Real Ale Pubs

The Lord Nelson in Sneinton is set in a tradional building dating back 500 years with wooden beamed ceilings. As well as serving beers by Castle Rock you'll also find beers from the local Magpie Brewery behind the bar. Live music is also performed in the Beer Garden during the Sneinton Festival.

The Cock & Hoop is attached to the Lace Market Hotel, yet the feel of the place is very quaint and traditional. The setting in the historic Lace Market only adds to this excellent pub.

Ye Olde Salutation Inn is one of the oldest pubs in England. The cellars underneath the pub link in to one of the historic caves that run right the way through the city. The cellars are said to be haunted too and are a regular stop for Nottingham's Original Ghost Tours.

Don't forget to download the Nottingham Real Ale Trail with details of local tradional pubs selling fine British pints.

Robin Hood Beer Festival

Look out for the Robin Hood Beer Festival organised by Nottingham CAMRA which takes place every October at Nottingham Castle and is rapidly becoming the best Beer Festival in the UK. In 2012, Real Ale lovers can catch the festival from 11-13 October and tickets will be on sale through the Nottingham tourism centre on 08444 77 5678.