06/09/13 Thame’in of the Brew

A real ale fan from Shabbington, near Thame, has been named the lucky winner of a competition organised by The Vale Brewery Company to name its beer of the month for September, a brew that will also be on tap at this year’s Thame Food Festival as well as watering-holes across the county. 

Jim Crews came up with the winning name of ‘Thame’in of the Brew’ when he decided to enter the competition set up by the Brill-based brewery and the Thame food festival organisers, to get more people drinking and enjoying cask ales. 

As well as seeing the name he chose on pump clips throughout the region, as part of his prize, Jim will also get to pour the very first pint of the beer at Vale Brewery’s annual open day festival on Saturday (September 7), which will be attended by the Mayor or Thame. The Mayor, Peter Lambert, runs The Cross Keys pub in Thame, and is himself a brewer. 

“I don’t think you can beat a proper pint of beer served in a proper pub, which for me is my local, The Old Fisherman here in Shabbington,” said Jim. “So, when I found out about this challenge, I was naturally keen to enter. My idea for the name came from the fact that it needed a link to Thame, have a traditional feel to it and yet be nice and simple. So I decided a connection with Shakespeare would work – Thame’in of the Brew reminded me of Taming of the Shrew – and would be memorable. 

“When I entered the competition, I wasn’t trying to win, though when I got the news that I had, I was obviously really chuffed,” he added. Now I’m looking forward to pulling the inaugural pint at the brewery and of course to trying the beer I’ve named.”

Vale Brewery’s Ian Mackey and his team have just finished brewing the beer, a 4.1% mid-strength seasonal bitter that’s burnished gold with English hops and English malted barley giving it a truly traditional harvest festival feel, and getting it ready for the brewery’s open day this coming Saturday.

“We loved Jim’s name for the beer and thought it was a great choice for the special festival ale that is also our beer of the month for September,” said Ian. “It’s a unique beer that’s sure to go down well at the bar as well as the Thame Food Festival at the end of the month, and I for one will be raising a glass to its success at our forthcoming open day.” 

The Vale Brewery Open Day Festival on Saturday is FREE to enter, and will include free brewery tours, live music, a tasty hog roast and of course beers to try.

More information on the open day can be found at www.valebrewery.co.uk The Thame Food Festival takes place from 9am to 6pm on Saturday, September 28, in the heart of Thame town centre, where the beer Jim named can also be sampled. www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk