News
Planning a Street Party ? Why not download our Beer Fund form here
- Do you have an office noticeboard or somewhere to display the Beermatt Christmas offering poster ? if so we appreciate your help and it`s available to download here
- Beermatt Christmas press release - A real ale treat this Christmas
- Beermatt`s guide to real ale in PDF format available to download here
- Polypins of real ale delivered anywhere in the UK call 01444 241093 to discuss options and prices
- Festival flyer for this years beer festival at the Martlets hall available to download here
- Ridgeway Beers bottled in Horsham now available to order online at Beermatt, I can recommend the Bad Elf beer, see youtube clip here for review of Bad Elf 6%
- 5L Minikegs from Dark Star now available to order, Hophead, Best, Original, Festival plus many more
- Bottles and minikegs of Thornbridge ales now available
Beer Festivals in Sussex 2012
26th May Burgess Hill Town FC 3rd Annual Beer festival 3pm-11pm - Beer festival pdf available to download here - Over 10 real ales from Kissingate, WJ King, South Downs, Dark Star, hot food from Loaf catering Burgess Hill, tickets now on sale at www.beermatt.co.uk
15th-16th June = 16th South Downs Beer & Cider Festival at Lewes Town Hall
21st-22nd Sept 4th Annual Festival of Sussex Tipples "Burgess Hill Beer Festival" further details Beer festival poster available to download here
A real ale treat this Christmas
It’s the picture of a perfect Christmas morning - twinkling fairy lights, an open fire, Bing Crosby on the airwaves, and a glass of fine real ale in the hand. And yet often it is the last part of this picture that lets the whole experience down as we struggle to enjoy a flat, tasteless offering poured from a can of mass produced beer.
Well those days are over, my friend. Your local real ale experts, Beermatt, are about to ride to the rescue. Specialising in the ales produced from local breweries, Beermatt offer home deliveries of polypins or 12 bottle cases of fine, high quality beers. Dark Star, Harveys, WJ King, Hepworth`s, Arundel, are just a few of the breweries covered by Beermatt, and so Christmas can be enjoyed again in the company of your favourite tipple.
And if you’re stuck for choice, why not choose the ever popular ‘12 beers of Christmas’, a carefully selected case of 12 different Sussex ales from a collection of local breweries.
So give your taste buds a treat this Christmas and spare them from the usual tasteless brew. There is now an alternative, and that alternative is Beermatt.
If you are interested in finding out more about how Beermatt can rescue your Christmas, please visit www.beermatt.co.uk or call Matt on 01444 241093. All deliveries are made straight to your door at a time to suit you. And don’t forget your friends and family - a gift of fine Sussex ales may just make you their favourite person ever.
2011 Festival 30th Sept - 1st Oct
The 2011 event will had 34 different Sussex ales, plus many local ciders, wines and a couple of local lagers. Nearly 800 people attended the 2011 event with many positive comments. See you next year !!!
What is the Festival of Sussex Tipples !
The Burgess Hill beer festival is not trying to be the stereotypical beer festival with just lots of old men talking about beer, we want it to be a fun vibrant atmosphere for all kinds of people to enjoy. That`s why we have lagers, wine, ciders as well as the ales, although the ales is a main part of the event there is more to the festival than just ale. Also the ales are kept in great condition, with local Camra members in charge of looking after the beer you know it`s going to be served at the right temperature. Many Women and younger people have attended previous years and feedback from these has been great, please see below some feedback comments from the 2010 event.
To view the beer list for the 2011 event please click here
2010 Festival of Sussex Tipples "Burgess Hill Beer Festival"
It was a wet and windy weekend in Burgess Hill but that didn`t stop over 750 people attending the 2010 Burgess Hill Beer festival at the Martlets Hall, drinking over 2,300 pints of real ale, lager and cider from more than 15 Sussex producers. Friday night almost sold out and at one point on the Saturday night we reached capacity and were holding people at the door” Renowned Sussex Jazz Funk band TICKLIN THE PICKLE played to a packed house. The event has also raised over £200 for charity which will be split between the local Rotary and St Peter and St James hospice. Kissingate Ruby Mild was voted the Beer of the Festival.
Selection of Feedback
"Brilliant, can`t wait for the next one"
"Enjoyable tasty day out"
"Well organised, excellent beers selection"
"Good fun, friendly knowledgeable staff, good value"
"All the Beer was in superb condition"
"A Very pleasant atmosphere and ambiance"
"Great beer, good food, great location".
Beer Festivals 2011
Sept 30th - 2nd Oct - Pub du vin Brighton Oktoberfest
Sept 30th-Oct 1st Burgess Hill Beer Festival - 3 Sessions as per last year with live music on Saturday night Click here to order tickets, please click here for festival poster to download
Oct 14th-15th Worthing Beer Festival
If you would like to add a beer festival to the above list please email info@beermatt.co.uk
Real choices for ale drinkers this Summer
There has never been a better time to be a real ale drinker, so here’s a quick guide to enjoying the best of what’s available locally.
Bottles:
Advantages – Small quantities (normally 500ml), long shelf life, flexible serving temperature (if you want to put them in the fridge to chill slightly then it is easy to do so).
Disadvantages – Some can be too fizzy, most national brands have too much carbonation, which reduces the flavour. Heavy bottles to carry.
Bottle-conditioned
Bottle-conditioned beers have a small amount of sediment at the bottom of the bottle, (this will vary between breweries). The bottles need to be stored upright and poured carefully in one go, leaving a small amount of beer in the bottle. There are some really excellent bottle-conditioned beers out there. This type of beer is more likely to improve/change with age than bright or brewery conditioned ones.
Bright or Brewery conditioned beers (No sediment)
These are easier to look after, you can pour the whole contents in and not have to worry about leaving the sediment behind. There are some really good bottles of ale that are not bottled- conditioned. These also tend to have more consistent flavours and carbonation.
Polypins (Bag in a box)
Similar to the bag of wine in a box from the supermarkets, most breweries offer Polypins & Minipins, different breweries call these different things but effectively it is a bag of beer in a box, (cider also available this way). For this you normally have two options of size, either a 10L (minipin) or 20L (polypin), approx 17 and 35 pints respectively, some breweries offer 5L containers but these are quite rare. The great thing about minipins and polypins is that when compared with firkins, the beer stays in good condition for longer and does not ‘go off’, because air cannot get in and spoil the contents.
Sedimented or bright?
Most breweries will offer the option of both sedimented and bright polypins. Which of these you choose depends on your situation. If you are looking for the beer to be as close as possible to real ale in a pub and have somewhere to leave the beer to settle for 24 hours, then sedimented is the best option. The ideal storage temperature is between 10-15°C to get the best conditioning and flavours.
Sedimented Advantages
· As close as possible to the real thing, great flavours and good conditioning.
· Can last as long as 3-4 weeks if kept cool and with no air getting in (it shouldn’t if you progressively tilt the box as it gets drunk).
Bright Advantages
· It can be moved as much as you like and poured straight away (ideal for taking to a party or camping trip where you are going to drink it all over a few days).
· If you like the ale cooler than the current temperature where you were planning to drink it, then the polypin can be placed overnight in a colder place, (like a cellar or chiller), and then bring it out when you are ready to drink it.
· Every last drop can be drunk with no risk of a cloudy beer.
Bright Disadvantages
· Will only last for 3-4 days, sometimes longer but this depends on the conditions you keep it in; also the higher the alcohol by volume, (abv), the longer it should last. In addition, the more hops that are used in the brew the better, as they help to preserve the beer.
Sussex is fortunate in having more than 20 breweries, all producing excellent real ale from, predominately, locally sourced ingredients. Much of this is available for drinking at home, both bottled and in 'boxes'. For further information see Beermat.co.uk, or phone 01444 241093
Beer and Cheese matching
Say Cheese
Beer & Cheese Matching at High Weald Dairy - Article written by Mellissa Love from Village Living magazine www.villageliving.biz
When Beer Matt takes me out in search of Sussex tipples, somehow we always end up drinking before lunchtime and this trip is no exception. We’re at High Weald Dairy, with cheesemakers, Mark and Sarah Hardy, to test our theories about the pairing of Sussex cheeses and Sussex beers, so at least this time we’ll have something to wash down with our ale.
High Weald Dairy is one of the most highly regarded cheese producers in Sussex and has won numerous awards for its sheep’s and cows’ cheeses, ranging from traditional cheddar to more exotic cheeses like halloumi. The dairy was even paid a visit recently by Gordon Ramsey, who was there to film an episode for his F-Word local restaurant series.
There will be no swearing today – just cheese-eating and lots of it. Beer Matt wants to test the theory that the stronger beers will be a good match for the stronger cheeses, so we start off with the gentle combination of Hepworth’s lager-style Blonde beer and High Weald’s newest sheep’s cheese, Sister Sarah. It’s soft and creamy with a gentle tang and brings out the sweetness of the lighter beer. In the interests of thoroughness, we also taste the Hepworth Blonde with the Port Salut-style St Giles, the punchy Duddleswell Organic sheep’s cheese and the Tremains cheddar-style cheese.
The stronger cheeses overpower the subtle flavour of the lager – so far our theory is holding up. Next up is a Sussex pale ale, Hepworth Prospect, too much for the softer Sister Sarah and St Giles, but a perfect match for the Duddleswell. It’s a classic ploughman’s combination.
By the time we open a bottle of Adur Brewery’s Black William Stout, a Guinness-style brew, I’ve got a bit of cheese-sweat going. Amazingly, the strong Tremains is a perfect match for the stout, with its smoky notes of roast barley and chocolate hops. Beer Matt is triumphant.
To finish off our feast, Mark brings out…another cheese. It’s a Duddleswell, but with Prospect beer in it. Brilliant – an actual beer cheese! We manage a final morsel and I’ve got to admit that it works. The beer gives the cheese an extra tang and cuts through its creaminess. Maybe it’s the four different beers and the five different cheeses we’ve tasted but this one seems to work better on its own. We’ve definitely hit a beer and cheese wall now, but the theory has been proven and Beer Matt is already talking about beer and Sussex sausages…beer and Sussex game. I’m going for a lie down.
High Weald Dairy cheeses are available from many delis and farm shops, including The Sussex Produce Company in Steyning, Crumbs of Sussex and selected branches of Waitrose or buy online at www.highwealddairy.co.uk.
Call us today on 01444 241093 for more information on our products and services
Archive News
- Special Offer All Relish in Spice Sauces £2.00 each excluding Cranberry (£3.00)
- As you may know we are not just about ale here at Beermatt, supplying Hepworths Lager in bottles and also on draught at all of our outside bars we recommend you take a look at this website http://www.lobi.org.uk/
- Burgess Hill Beer Festival Flyer now available to view and download here. 1st & 2nd Oct at the Martlets Hall Burgess Hill, if you can print out and put up at your place of work that would be great
- 1648 Polypins now available to order online at Beermatt, all three beers priced at £60 for 20L
- Ale not just for winter !! Why not try our Summer selection case, slightly chilled there is nothing better on a hot day
- Hepworth`s Summer Ale now available in polypins, a very popular pint at both the South of England show and at Shoreham recently
- 1648 Bottled Beers now available
Jun 10 - 5L and 10L Polypins of Rectory ales Plumpton available to order online
May 10 - Provisional beer and drinks list for Burgess Hill FC Beer festival, more to be added shortly
May 10 - Haywards Heath Beer festival - Another great year. By 6pm they had sold out of tickets.
Mar 10 - Burgess Hill Town FC Beer Festival 22nd May at Leylands park Buy ticket here
Feb 10 - Book a Bookers Vineyard tour through Beermatt Click here for more details
Feb 10 - This years Festival of Sussex Tipples will be on 1st and 2nd Oct at the Martlets Hall Burgess Hill
Jan 10 - Hepworth`s Brewery winners of the 2009/10 Sussex Drinks producer of the year
Jan 10 - All Three finalist`s in the Sussex food and Drink awards supplied by Beermatt, Dark Star and Hepworths Breweries, Gran Stead`s Ginger are all nominated.
Jan 10 - Date for the Next Haywards Heath Beer Festival announced. Sunday 2nd May at the Claire Hall - Buy Tickets Here
Jan 10 - Tickets on sale for the 20th Sussex Beer Festival in Hove. 11th - 13th March. For more information http://sussexbeerfestival.co.uk
Dec 09 -Beachy Head Brewery Beers available
Nov 09 - New promotions page launched
Sept 09 - Relish in Spice products available at Beermatt including NEW cooking sauce range
Sept 09 - First edition of Matt and Mel`s little adventure, This month we visited Hepworths Brewery. click here for the article
Sept 09 - New delivery postcodes available which cover the most of Sussex
Aug 09 - Beermatt moblie Bar Services announced
Jul 09 - Dates for Beer Festival announced 25th, 26th and 27th Sept 2009 at the Martlets in Burgess Hill. Tickets are available via this link, or after the 15th August at the Martlets or the Stand up Inn (Lindfield), Tickets are priced at £5 each for the evening sessions and £4 each for the afternoon sessions, this will include a free souvenir pint glass and programme. Live band for Friday night The Firetones www.firetones.co.uk, Sat night band Mojo Cookie. beerlist click here here Click here Festival Flyer pdf
May 09 - Gospel Green Vintage Cyder, Ridgeview, Breaky Bottom and Carr Taylor wines now available at Beermatt
Apr 09 - Beermatt in the Evening argus click here for link
Apr 09 - Harveys Brewery and Bookers Wines now available online !!
Beer Festivals
Brewfest 09` 9th May 4pm - 11pm at the Brewers Arms in Burgess Hill
Great night with a lots of real local ale drunk, as well as a good amount of Blonde Lager and Cider