Many years ago I used to drink on an occasional basis in The Cooperage Pub on Newcastle Quayside. Sadly, this wonderful place closed in 2009 but it has memories for me because it used to sell Marstons Owd Rodger on handpull. Since its demise my only means of access to this great beer has been in bottled form from a B&M's supermarket.
If you have not tried this 7.4 % old ale then I would definitely recommend it. It has a dark ruby red colour with a fruity, warming flavour. Ideal as a winter warmer although I have the occasional drink throughout the year.
I got to thinking about why it had not been seen , certainly here in the North East, as a cask ale. A couple of weeks ago I emailed Marstons and asked them. Imagine my surprise when they replied saying its going to be available in December as a guest beer. Now when Marstons say "guest" they mean one of there own beers as a guest in one of their own pubs.
This reply prompted the idea for the Campaign for the Reintroduction of Owd Rodger ( CAMROR).
A digression now but there is a point to it.
I visited the Bishop Auckland Food and Drink Festival last weekend, primarily to seek out the advertised "Tipple Tent" and try some local beers. Also on my list was to visit Pollards, a pub just outside the town centre and which features frequently on the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
In the Tipple Tent were bars selling beers from Black Paw, Yard of Ale and Hill Island breweries, all from County Durham. Sunderland brewer Darwin were selling bottles only, including their Flag Porter for £1 !! . I had a couple from Yard of Ale and Hill Island, bought a Flag Porter, then headed off to catch the bus to Pollards.
I discovered it was a Marstons pub and soon got chatting to the landlord. I mentioned the email from Marstons about the Owd Rodger and he said he was going to order some in !. Fantastic, if all else fails another trip to Bishop Auckland was on the cards. He kindly gave me a copy of a new Marstons magazine ( pictured left) which I think is principally aimed at publicans. Inside was the proof that Owd Rodger in cask is on its way. 
So the objective of CAMROR is simple, next time you visit a Marstons pub, mention the Owd Rodger. If enough customers and pubs ask for it, maybe, just maybe, the brewery will make the cask variant a permanent feature.
I finished a bottle off prior to writing this and have come to the conclusion Owd Rodger is my beer of the month for April.
