BEER LOVERS’ PUB SCOOPS BEER QUALITY AWARD

CaskForce, the beer quality initiative driven by Marston’s in conjunction with the Morning Advertiser has announced its second monthly winners.

Real ale drinkers at the Nags Head in Ripley always knew standards were high at their favourite pub - and now they know why. Because staff were trained in beer quality by Marston’s UK team of CaskForce trainers. And all the hard work really paid off. This terraced freehouse community local, close to Ripley town centre, was the second pub this year to be picked for the Beautiful Beer Gold Award, and awarded £500 to put towards pub development.

In fact, The Nags Head scored one of the highest marks ever for the Beautiful Beer Gold Award – a fantastic 100% for both the Cellar and Bar component of the test. This is a real achievement for a pub that entered CaskForce for the first time this year.

Licensee Steve Marshall said: “Understanding how to achieve top quality beer is paramount, particularly with real ales. That’s why we entered the CaskForce challenge and made sure all our staff were trained in the nationally-recognised BIIAB Award in Beer and Cellar Quality (ABCQ).

“As a wet-led pub, our customers are a discerning lot and if we didn’t make sure we served top quality cask ale – they’d soon let us know.”

The pub serves Marston’s Pedigree as its regular cask ale and adds two other guest brands every week.

Ideally located near the beautiful Derbyshire peak district, licensee Steve Marshall receives plenty of bikers who stop by his pub for a drink, as well as his loyal group of locals.

Having just decorated his pub for St Patrick’s day Steve said: “It is a double celebration for us this year, we’re really pleased all our efforts with CaskForce have been recognised, and we are expecting a great turn out on the 17th March for St Patrick’s day.”

Steve hopes to put the cash award towards new flooring for the pub.

The Nags Head now goes forward with six other pubs to the CaskForce grand draw in September to see which licensee will be picked to get their rent paid for a whole year.

Look out for the announcement of next month’s CaskForce winners and remember, it isn’t too late to register for CaskForce yourselves if you are a pub manager!

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