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Weekend At Wainfleet - Batemans Brewery Early one fine sunny Saturday morning, a minibus full of ale devotees left Chesterfield, bound for deepest Lincolnshire, where we had an important appointment at 11a.m. Our destination was Batemans brewery, still one of a now-dwindling number of family-owned breweries and home to award-winning beers, particularly the Dark Mild, which has got to be one of the very best milds in the country, and the classic XXXB. On arrival, we were met by Charlie, who shepherded us into the sample room, the ground floor of an ex-windmill (sails missing) and kindly enquired as to whether we required a drink before the tour. Sixteen halves later (no, that’s one each), he led us into the brewery itself. A traditional brewery in an old coach house, it is possible to stand in the middle and see mash tun, copper and hop back. Batemans is unusual in that there is no keg production; all the output goes to cask ales or bottling. Traditional ingredients are employed, Maris Otter and Pipkin barley, Challenger and Goldings hops. The emphasis is very much on quality here, which is reflected in the tastiness and distinctiveness of their beers. Much of the plant is nearing the end of its useful life, but Batemans is thriving so well that they are planning a new brewhouse, a visitor centre and an expansion in output. Batemans was founded in 1874 by George Bateman’s grandfather. You may remember how, in the 1980s, the future of this family firm was in jeopardy as Mr George’s sister and brother wished to sell their shares. There was a long period when things looked grim, as the search for the necessary capital went on. Happily, this was successful; the brewery remains in the family; Mr George’s son and daughter work in the business, and things are looking much better. Bateman’s beers are widely available, they have expanded their range to include seasonal and special beers and their sales have gone up. They are also expanding their tied estate – this includes a pub in our area, the King’s Head in Bonsall, where we recently held a branch meeting. After the tour (which includes a small museum with some fascinating old equipment), we were treated to more sampling, as we sat and admired the old brewery portraits on the walls, interspersed with numerous CAMRA awards. All too soon, we were shooed off the premises and sent for lunch in the Red Lion (pie, chips, peas and more Batemans) then, having got the taste for the stuff, we strolled along to the other end of the main street to test the XB in the Royal Oak (best yet) and to sit outside in the sunshine. By this time, well mellowed by the excellent beer, we decided to catch the train into Skegness (see what Batemans does to you). Here we were hoping to visit another Batemans pub, the Vine; but, alas, it was shut for the afternoon. Rescue came in the shape of the Wetherspoons, which had some very acceptable Taylors Golden Best at a very reasonable price, as well as several other interesting beers.. (well you didn’t expect us to head for the beach did you?) On returning to Wainfleet, it was time for an excellent fish-and-chip tea, then we were ready to try the other pubs in the village. The Woolpack had the best selection (DM, XB & XXB) but the Jolly Sailor definitely had the best mild; so a longer stay was called for here. The Red Lion was where all the action was; karaoke until the wee small hours – like it or loathe it, you couldn’t ignore it! Sunday dawned gloriously warm & sunny. Life is busy in Wainfleet – they send the street cleaners round at 7a.m.! After breakfast and a short stroll, it was time to get back on the bus. Negotiations with the driver had been successful for a stop off at Lincoln on the way back; where some of us went round the castle, and some of us just went round the Victoria and made a dent in their supplies of the very drinkable Ash Vine Mild. Fuelled by our success, we even managed to negotiate a further stop off at the Mallard in Worksop for a further refresher (Glentworth and Kitchen grapefruit). After that alas, it was time to return home and reflect on the excellent time we had had. With the current sad fate of so many similar-sized breweries (gone but not forgotten), it is heartening to see that Batemans, after their difficult period in the 80s, are doing so well and continuing to produce such Good Honest Ales. The Handley Hack This webpage was last updated on Sunday, 07 October 2007 |
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