28 Jun 2013
Claire & Jim Alexander, owners of award-winning Cotswold pub, The Ebrington Arms, near Chipping Campden, and The Killingworth Castle in Wootton, near Woodstock, have fulfilled a lifelong ambition with the brewing of their own beer; Yubby Bitter.
Named after Ebrington’s old village name, “Yubberton”, and the long-standing nickname for The Ebrington Arms, “the Yubby”, Yubby Bitter is available (alongside five other independent ales) at The Ebrington Arms and The Killingworth Castle in Wootton by Woodstock, Oxfordshire.
Having been awarded CAMRA North Cotswold Pub of the Year three times in a row and twice runner up over the last seven years, the team at The Ebrington Arms have developed a rather discerning palate. Keen to try their hand at developing their own real ale, Jim & Claire enlisted the services of a local expert; ‘Food Scientist’ Dr. Julian South, who lectures on brewing technology at Campden BRI and, like Jim & Claire, a keen CAMRA member (Campaign for Real Ale). Yubby Bitter is already receiving rave reviews from locals, tourists and ale enthusiasts alike.
Jim had a clear idea of how the beer should taste – somewhere between his favourite pint, London Pride and Flowers (that used to be popular in the area but hadn’t been brewed for a long time). With a desire to use British ingredients in the recipe, as the pub kitchen does with its food menu, the pair decided on all British malts and hops as the ideal formula and the result is a copper ale with floral nose and bitter finish (3.8% abv). Jim commented; “We’re going back to how it used to be when pubs brewed their own beer. Lots are doing it already but I knew exactly what taste I was after so we’ve come up with a very traditional English bitter. It’s a bit of a dream come true to be honest.”
The ambition has come in part due to lifelong ambition, as well as a nod to the current trend of microbreweries selling out to big supermarkets keen to jump on the ‘local’ bandwagon. Having bagged a space in the brew schedule at the North Cotswold Brewery in Shipston, the project was off to a good start.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing; as with every child at Christmas, excitement after the first brew was running high and the team cracked into the first barrel a bit early. Having now perfected the recipe, locals & visitors are flocking back for more and future plans could see the pair create their own brewery; which they have space for at their newest pub, The Killingworth Castle.
The couple, who have spent years improving both pubs and putting Ebrington & Wootton on the map, hope that the local ale will add to the pubs’ charm; cementing their reputation for serving homemade produce. The pubs’ food is all made on site; from ice cream & bread to sausages & herbs grown in the garden.
Claire added; “We can now offer our customers something really unique, as Yubby Bitter is only available in our pubs. Pubs can’t compete with cheap supermarket alcohol these days so we have to offer more; a special experience with a good atmosphere”.
For more info & to arrange a photo, contact Anna Sharp on
M: 07801 283 045
Website: http://www.theebringtonarms.co.uk/ www.thekillingworthcastle.com
Twitter: @theebrington & @thekillingworth
Notes to editors:
· Landlords Jim and Claire Alexander left successful careers in the music business in 2007 to fulfil a lifetime dream of running a country pub.
· The Ebrington Arms has been CAMRA North Cotswolds Pub of the Year in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and ‘Runner Up’ for the past two years.
· The Ebrington Arms has been awarded 2 AA Rosettes for food, one of only 3 inns in the county (34 in the UK) to have achieved such an accolade
· In December 2012, Claire & Jim opened their second pub, The Killingworth Castle in Wootton by Woodstock, Oxfordshire.
· The couple are working hard to put another village pub back on the map for its community and beyond. Further plans for 2013 at The Killingworth Castle include en-suite B&B rooms in the old stable block and potential for it’s own onsite brewery.
· The pubs both run regular events, including free quiz nights, acoustic music sessions, folk evenings and a monthly foodie night.
· Dr. Julian South learnt brewing at Ind Coope Brewery (Burton on Trent) in the 90s. He currently works at Campden BRI as Head of Dept. for Chemistry & Biochemistry and is an avid home brewer.
