A concerned sheddie emailed this query.. but I don’t have an answer any sheddies care to comment

photo credit: markhillary

Could you clarify the ruling on the drinking within a pub shed, every first Wednesday in the month I have approx 20 friends around and we have a royal time!

Every one contributes £10, this covers the beer and we also lay on a curry. I have been warned by a friend that this is maybe breaking the law as it could be said that I am selling the beer and food.

He advised me to put up a sign saying “all drinks are free, donations are greatly received” and this covers me legally?

This is a very informal drinks night, no profit is made but my concern is that the local pubs may take the hump and report to who ever, have you had any dealings or similar questions from other pubshed owners

Any help?

Filed under: Ale by Wilco - 32771 Comment →http://www.shedblog.co.uk/2010/02/04/can-you-have-beer-and-curry-in-your-pub-shed-take-a-donation/Can+you+have+beer+and+curry+in+your+Pub+shed+%26+take+a+donation%3F2010-02-04+16%3A37%3A09Wilco

Further to the shock horror that readersheds and myself were nominated for Champion of England the other month.

The short list has been announced and I am not in it… probably for the best as I am Welsh.. but of course lots of the sheddies are English, so you would have been voting for them

not to worry, there are some good ones still in race.

I am either going to vote for Frank Basey or Robin Hutchinson (if I am allowed to vote)

Also you can still Win some lovely beer courtesy of the organisers Wells

Filed under: Ale, Shed News by Wilco - 26021 Comment →http://www.shedblog.co.uk/2009/04/06/i-am-not-champion-of-england-but-vote-for-worthy-ones/I+am+not+Champion+of+England+but+vote+for+worthy+ones2009-04-06+14%3A51%3A50Wilco

Well according to bombardier.co.uk beer I am!, an example nominee for champion of England that is..

To celebrate St George’s Day and Bombardier’s association with English Heritage, we’re undertaking a nationwide search to find the Champion of England – a wonderfully English person that makes this country what it is. The winner will be presented the title at a gala lunch on St George’s Day by another Champion of England – Sir Geoff Hurst

Do you know someone that has campaigned to save their town’s traditional red telephone box, or perhaps led a campaign against developers from building on England’s green and pleasant land. What about the person that has organised your village fete for years, or who has fought to save a local cricket team?

But they do mean readersheds and not me really! but Iam very grateful (and do venture to England a few times a year!) so hopefully I can get a few of there great beers, but you can count me out for the overall title! Dioch…

But if you are English then get over there and submit your local champion.

Filed under: Ale, Shed News by Wilco - 2467No Comments →http://www.shedblog.co.uk/2009/03/02/is-uncle-wilco-a-champion-of-england/Is+uncle+wilco+a+champion+of+England%3F2009-03-02+10%3A04%3A26Wilco

Hopefully I will be posting more again about my 2nd favorite pastime – drinking real ale….

Weatherpersons (love them or hate them) have got a good range of Welsh beers on at the moment ready for our Patrons saints day on Sunday.

out of my patriotic nature, I have sampled a few..

As usual the Bullmastiff boys (Bob & Paul) pull out the stops and have produced a great drinking session beer

but Conwy brewery have a great one with their Honeyed brew…. shame I had to get back to work.

Golden ale with honey aromas rounded off by a dry bitter finish. ABV 4.5%. Welsh honey sourced from Newquay Honey Farm, www.thehoneyfarm.co.uk

Lovely beer bit a bit strong for lunchtime, from tudor Brewery

If you like beer and would like to add your photos, then join my Beer of the Week group.

Filed under: Ale by Wilco - 24511 Comment →http://www.shedblog.co.uk/2009/02/24/beer-of-the-week-get-ready-for-st-davids-day/Beer+of+the+Week+-+Get+ready+for+St+David%27s+day2009-02-24+20%3A58%3A48Wilco

A great little story from the Journal in N’castle

Image from dtbg.co.uk

The equation couldn’t be simpler. While men and sheds have always been an irresistible combination, inserting brewing enthusiasm into the formula results in Paradise.

John Winterburn, John Anderson, Pete Fenwick, Ian Jackson, Trevor Danes, John Penman and another half-dozen ale stalwarts scattered from Hartlepool to Gainford in County Durham meet up every three weeks – in a shed – to sample one another’s latest efforts and talk about mashing, boiling, fermenting and conditioning.

With doors closed, pints poured and spiders on guard, it’s boys’ talk that oft-times wanders along the lines of tongue-and-groove, felt roofs and dovetail joints, but invariably returns to beer.

Darlington Traditional Brewing Group was formed in 2002 after long-time home-brewer John Winterburn was invited by the Workers Education Association to run a course on full-mash brewing in his local community centre. The original scheme has run its course but the 12 remaining members continue to brew in back yards, kitchens and garages – and every one of them has his own shed-based pub to reflect in and mull over what grown men reflect in and mull over.

“We all have our own recipes,” says lollipop man John Winterburn. “We take it in turns to host meetings where there’s a bit of a spread and always a new beer to try. People ask all the time if they can join, but we’ve got no more room at the moment because only so many people can fit into a shed.

“We can brew 10 gallons of beer for £5 or £6 by buying ingredients in bulk. It’s not just about cost, it’s about quality. We can make beer just like you’d buy in a pub. The only thing we can’t do is lager – Darlington water doesn’t have enough carbonates in it – but one member tried it by buying five gallons of spring water from Morrison’s and made a brilliant pilsner.”

Filed under: Ale by Wilco - 23952 Comments →http://www.shedblog.co.uk/2009/01/30/shed-sheddies-x-beer-shed-homebrew-heaven/Shed+%2B+sheddies+x+beer+%3D+Shed+Homebrew+Heaven2009-01-30+12%3A14%3A54Wilco