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Farewell Hook Norton, but not goodbye
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November 23rd, 2009CommentFarewell Hook Norton, but not goodbyeThis weekend we replaced the header image on the blog, and with some sadness said goodbye to the Hook Nortonbottles that have been the face of Real Ale Reviews since it’s inception.A few people have asked us over the last few months if we were sponsored by Hook Norton or were we promoting them.The answer is no, but I’ll be the first to admit that Real Ale Reviews will happily sing the praises of our localOxfordshire brewery.Alan and I started this site whilst sipping Old Hooky, we’ve shared evenings playing pool and drinking Hooky Bitter in thebreweries own pubs and have many years ago toured the old Victorian steam brewery as part of a school trip.Hooky is part of our heritage, despite the fact we now reside in the West Riding of Yorkshire.We selected the Hook Norton imagery because we had ben collecting one of each of their bottles (including seasonal brews)and had just completed the line up with a couple of Cotswold Lion’s, so it made perfect sense to adorn our new blog with thebeers that had planted the seed of our real ale passion.But from early on we knew they couldn’t stay, we knew we needed something more impartial that represented our independence.So after collecting bottle tops for a few weeks our first attempt at a new set of header images is live. It’s still nevergoing to be impartial, it’s a bit weighted by the drinks I’ve had recently, but we hope you like it and hope it betterrepresents the breadth of our current beer drinking habits as compared to earlier this year.Some people have asked us why Hook Norton when we live in Leeds? To cut a long and boring story short Alan and I wereschooled in Banbury, a few miles from the brewery, but after university moved up to my spiritual homeland (I was born aShayman)of West Yorkshire so I could get an advertising job. Sam, a Leeds boy born and bred is my friend from university(Lincoln) and fellow season ticket holder at Elland Road.
Our little beer reviews blog with it's original Hook Norton bottle header image
This weekend we replaced the header image on the blog, and with some sadness said goodbye to the Hook Norton bottles that have been the face of Real Ale Reviews since it’s inception.
A few people have asked us over the last few months if we were sponsored by Hook Norton or were we promoting them.
The answer is no, but I’ll be the first to admit that Real Ale Reviews will happily sing the praises of our local Oxfordshire brewery.
Alan and I started this site whilst sipping Old Hooky, we’ve shared evenings playing pool and drinking Hooky Bitter in the brewery’s own pubs, and have many years ago toured the old Victorian steam brewery as part of a school trip.
Hooky is part of our heritage, despite the fact we now reside in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
We selected the Hook Norton imagery because we had ben collecting one of each of their bottles (including seasonal brews) and had just completed the line up with a couple of Cotswold Lion’s, so it made perfect sense to adorn our new blog with the beers that had planted the seed of our real ale passion.
But from early on we knew they couldn’t stay, we knew we needed something more impartial that represented our independence.
So after collecting bottle tops for a few weeks our first attempt at a new set of header images is live. It’s still never going to be impartial, it’s a bit weighted by the drinks I’ve had recently, but we hope you like it and hope it better represents the breadth of our current beer drinking habits as compared to earlier this year.
Tags: bottle tops, Hook Norton, Hooky, independenceSome people have asked us why we love Hook Norton so much when we live in Leeds? To cut a long and boring story short Alan and I were schooled in Banbury, a few miles from the brewery, but after university moved up to my spiritual homeland (I was born a Shayman) of West Yorkshire so I could get an advertising job. Sam, a Leeds boy born and bred is my friend from university (Lincoln) and now fellow season ticket holder at Elland Road.
8 responses to “Farewell Hook Norton, but not goodbye” 
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I was wondering too, but was too polite to ask
I quite like the bottle top pic. Could do with a new header myself![Reply]
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FletchtheMonkey November 23rd, 2009 at 21:13
Baron, I’m sorry but the twitter account has to change too, brand synergy and all that(!) But we will try and make it srand out for you still, I’ll go through the bottle tops for the best ones!
Barry, if you need a hand with the header just shout…
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I grew up in Northants and my brother went to Bloxham so I have been to the Sun at Hook Norton a few times. Very nice pub, and very nice beer. I do like the bottle top header better tho!
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I shall bear that in mind, Mr. Monkey, many thanks. I regretted my blog name choice once I started trying to graphically associate bullets with beer
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I have only just clicked you are from oxford (or near to)…do you know anything about Cotswold larger (yes yes I know you write about real ales)…they have started popping up in pubs around my way (glos/stroud) and I think its a nice to see a different larger on the market for those strange beings that do not want to drink ale!
What do you think of them?
Steve
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FletchtheMonkey November 26th, 2009 at 20:47
Hey Steve, Alan is an Oxfordshire boy and I’m half Banbury half Halifax!
Recently picked up a Cotswold Wheat Beer, I think it’s by the same people. Haven’t had one of the lagers yet but will definitely try it.
To be honest it says real ale at the top but we’ll drink almost any beer, ‘real ale’ is a bit of a pun on the northern use of real and ale which I’ve learnt from my grandad – it includes real ale but can also be translated as ‘Good-Beer-Reviews-dot-com’ (we hope!)
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Alan Walsh November 27th, 2009 at 23:41
Hi Steve – As I am more Banbury than Fletch I get back a bit more often and have had both the Cotswold Premium Lager and the 3.8 as well as the Wheat Beer. I was very impressed with all three.
Unfortunately I only picked up a couple of bottles of each so haven’t been able to formally review them on here (normally takes me about four to pull together a review!!)but I have an order being delivered to Leeds this Sunday by my Dad so watch this space.
I was really taken with the Wheat Beer which I think is standout. The two lagers are crisp drinkable offerings and either would get my vote above Peroni or Bud – I would love to see a day when English lagers like 3.8 are the standard offerings in our pubs.
The Premium is stronger and fuller in flavour, the 3.8 will keep you steady on your feet for longer and is lighter although strangely comes in 330ml bottle. Perhaps a sign that it’s hunting season on the ‘Budweiser’ end of the market for at least one UK Brewer.
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The author
Name: Mark
Web Site: http://twitter.com/fletchthemonkey
Bio: Mark is better known as @fletchthemonkey and started writing about beer in 2009. Mark is editor of Real Ale Reviews and blogs at beeralewhatever.co.uk. When not content with spending all day on the internet working for a digital marketing agency, Mark waxes lyrical at digitalmediamonkey.co.uk and types up match reports for Leeds Guide magazine.
Baron Orm November 23rd, 2009 at 20:14