Ramsbury Report
On a chilly evening (that was to get decidedly colder) ten hardy souls of North West Wilts CAMRA were transported by Leyland Leopard to the Ramsbury Brewery. After the scare of the coach not starting in the cold, we set off in the hope of getting warm during the journey. No such luck, we later found that Simon had forgotten to switch on the heating after changing the radiator. After dragging ten more from the British Lion in Devizes to help warm the bus, we wound our way through the back of beyond until we eventually came across a light on the Marlborough Downs - Ramsbury Brewery had been found.
Warmth at last – but no it was almost as cold, but at least we had free beer to look forward to; Bitter, Gold & Deer Hunter. All in good condition and very tasty.
A talk about the history of the brewery, and how they use their own malt: they sell their barley to Warminster Maltings for processing, and then buy it back at 5 times the price. Followed by a tour of the brewery facility, built on the site of one of the old farm workshops - it should be in the workshop, but when the roof was taken off the walls fell down.
During the tour we managed to warm-up enough to get back on the coach before setting off to find the Crown and Anchor in Ramsbury and warm up properly with bangers and mash and a pint of Kennet Valley, before the cold journey home via Hungerford!
And no, it wasn't us that went to Ramsbury Manor to steel the paintings and antiques, although I'm not sure what some of the Devizes lads were loading into the bus from a Range Rover just before we came home.
Our thanks go to the staff of Ramsbury Brewery for keeping entertained and lubricated, and Simon for providing the transport and Dave for driving. There may be similar trips – when the weather warms up somewhat. Shaun Wilkins