Award-winning pub boosts local food and drink

Apr 11 2009 The Journal

REGULARS at an award-winning pub were served a brewing masterclass promoting some of the North East’s most historic beers.

The Steamboat in South Shields hosted a Meet The Brewer evening with the head of the Double Maxim Beer Company.

The alehouse was voted 2008’s best pub in the South Tyneside and Sunderland region by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)

Steamboat manager Kath Brain organised the event as part of the Campaign for Real Ale’s National Cask Ale Week.

She said: “Tonight has been a great success and it proves that people are passionate about local businesses and produce.

“We’re doing all we can to endorse businesses in the region. We held a wine and cheese night recently where I bought in cheeses from all over Northumberland.

“I’m planning more, with local sausages and pies next on the agenda. It’s important that we celebrate the fantastic food and drink we have on our doorstep.”

The Double Maxim Beer company brewery rose from the ashes of Sunderland’s Vaux Breweries in 1999.

The business was set up by three former Vaux employees to make sure drinkers could still find their favourite beers in a recognisable form.

They continued to bottle Sunderland’s rival to Newcastle Brown Ale, Double Maxim, Ward’s Bitter and Samson Best Ale.

Mark Anderson was the finance director at Vaux and now runs the Maxim brewery. He gave an account of the rise and fall of the once great brewery – and had some very surprising anecdotes.

He said: “One ironic thing is that our equipment was bought from Scottish and Newcastle breweries in Edinburgh. They brewed Newcastle Brown Ale there meaning the same kit has made both Tyneside and Wearside’s iconic beers.”

Samples of the company’s beers were served throughout the evening including a new ginger flavoured beer, Jinja, named after a dog the company adopted.

Pub manager Kath added: “Since winning the award we’ve been trying to do as much as possible to celebrate ale and this week was a great opportunity to do that.

“One of our regulars is a member of CAMRA and acts as a liaison between pubs and breweries. He suggested we hold this talk and the response from customers was great.”

It’s important that we celebrate the fantastic food and drink we have on our doorstep