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Pub Guide

Opening Times

Issue 134 Winter 2007

Download a copy of Opening Times 134 as a PDF file - 1.4 MB

HUNTINGDONSHIRE BREWS AGAIN

Opening Times can finally report the opening of a new Huntingdonshire brewery.

The Son of Sid brewery, operated by Bob Mitchell at the Chequers in Little Gransden is the first commercial brewery within the area covered by Huntingdonshire CAMRA since the closure of Paines in St Neots just over 20 years ago, after its takeover by Tolly Cobbold in 1987.

Another brewery, Payn, produced real ale in Ramsey, just outside the branch area, for around 2 years from June 1999, and was an amalgamation of the Nene Valley, Leyland and Nix Wincott breweries.

At Little Gransden the Chequers has been in the Mitchell family for 57 years and was run by Bob’s father, Sid, before him.

Several house-brewed beers have been sampled at the Chequers , including Drivers’ Delight (3% abv), Roofer’s Revenge, Builder’s Brew, a highly hopped IPA of around 3.6-3.7% and The Wonder of Woo, a sweetish, grainy and full-bodied 4.6% brew with a dry, hoppy finish.

Son of Sid beer was also expected to be on sale at CAMRA’s Cambridge Winter Ales festival in January.

West Norfolk brewery Iceni have been providing ingredients and Iceni’s Brendan Moore has been providing advice for the new brewery.

Opening Times congratulates Bob on this exciting venture that has been eagerly awaited since it saw the light of day as a future project in his plans for the Chequers.