Over forty BASC members and their guests enjoyed a great evening combining the great taste of game and traditional ale. The event organised by BASC South East was hosted by kind invitation of Hook Norton Brewery, Oxfordshire on 20th February, 2014.
Guests were greeted on arrival with a glass of “Hooky” beer before being taken on a guided tour of the brewery site on which the Hook Norton beers have been brewed since 1849. Guests were shown how the brewing process works, and learnt about how much of the original brewing equipment at Hook Norton is still involved in producing their current award winning ales.
Before dinner, James Clarke, Managing Director at Hook Norton gave an overview of the evening’s menu of game dishes and of the variety of Hook Norton beers to be served that had been specially selected to compliment the dishes.
For dinner, guests were served a starter of smooth duck & orange parfait with a dressed herb salad, toasted brioche and Cumberland dressing. Main course was venison and “Old Hooky” ale pie with French puff pastry served with garlic and rosemary potatoes with honey roasted chantenay carrots, piccolo parsnips and buttered kale. Desert was treacle sponge pudding with crème Anglais.
Following dinner, guest speaker, Steve Bloomfield, BASC’s Director England updated everyone on BASC’s current work, the restructuring within England’s regional teams and the future vision of the association. The evening concluded with a raffle, the proceeds of which have gone towards BASC’s political fighting fund.
For details of future events, please visit the south east diary page of BASC website, or telephone the regional office on 01306 631378.