Beer and pork pie lovers, The Grainstore Brewery has a treat in store for you this July.
The first ever World Amateur Pork Pie Championships will take place at the brewery in Oakham on Saturday 30th July. It forms part of the legendary three day Ale House Rocks music and beer festival, bringing you the finest live music, ale and food.
The pork pie contest is hosted by the Rutland Pork Pie Appreciation Society, a local organisation that meets regularly over hand-raised pies and beers at The Grainstore. Self-professed pork pie experts are invited to measure their skills in two different categories.
Class One: Traditional Pork Pie participants can enter creations that must be hand-raised, with only fresh pork meat (not cured) and seasoning used in the filling. Furthermore, all pies in this category must also be wholly enclosed in a Hot Water Crust Pastry.
In Class Two: Custom Pie, chefs can let their creativity run wild with pies allowed to be either hand-raised or formed in a hoop or tin. Any meat (cured or uncured) and seasoning may be added to the filling, but must contain at least 50% pork. All fillings must be set in a Hot Water Crust Pastry, but can be topped and sealed with something other than pastry.
The winners of the two categories will each take home a celebratory tankard, with the overall competition winner claiming the title of ‘World Amateur Pork Pie Champion’ and the trophy sponsored by Moores Estate Agents.
Entry to the pork pie championship costs £5, with all proceeds going to the East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme [EMICS], a regional network of volunteer doctors with specialist training in pre-hospital emergency medicine, who assist East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) at the scene of life-threatening emergencies.
The Ale House Rocks Festival itself is free entry and will be showcasing The Grainstore’s renowned ales and cider, as well as some of the region’s best bands and musicians. So whether you fancy making a pie or simply appreciating the pies, good food and great beer along to live music, come along to Ale House Rocks.
The Grainstore Brewery is very easy to reach from Leicester via train, located just a few steps from the platform at Oakham.
Deadlines for the World Amateur Pork Pie Championships are as follows:
Deadline for Entries: Sunday 24th July, 11.59pm
Delivery of Pies: Saturday 30th July, 8am to 10am
Judging Begins: Saturday 30th July, 11am
Judging Closes: Saturday 30th July, 2pm
Winners Announcements: Saturday 30th July, 4.45pm
The Grainstore Brewery is recognised as one of the best brew pubs in Britain. It is a converted Victorian grain store that now houses a 15-barrel brewhouse, with capacity to brew 60 barrels per week. It has a varied selection of regular and seasonal beers and ciders on offer, which can be sampled over a hearty Ploughman’s lunch or dinner, and taken home in single bottles or in gift packs. Located next to the Oakham Railway Station, the foodie destination hosts mouthwatering events throughout the year.
Find out more at www.grainstorebrewery.com