Dunkield Posted May 30, 2009 Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 As we seem to have a few beer drinkers on here, I wondered if anyone else had noticed an increase in the number of pubs doing their own beer festivals, is it a country wide thing? These aren't the traditional big fesivals frequented by the beardy, pipe smoking CAMRA boys, but local pubs getting a few different beers in for one weekend in the summer. We have a couple of local ones lined up over the next month so I will be looking forward to sampling some of the more obscure beers they tend to get in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashman Posted May 30, 2009 Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 I've noticed a few, tent-in-the-beer garden style efforts over the past couple of years. I wonder if it's reaction to the expansion of free houses, who can buy in a few locally produced casks? Fire up the organic BBQ and away they go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeinVA Posted May 30, 2009 Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 Now marry that up with some good old BBQ and you have got a relationship just waiting to happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Three pubs within 2 miles of me do a beer festival, all with a bit of live music, first one does Pie & Ale, second Sausage and Ale, third plain ale. They all have lots of fantastic ale from around the country from small brewerys the pie and ale festival had more than 80 different ales to try. I tried my best but sadly did not manage them all over the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 we have a few around here over the summer - the best one being Peterborough Beer Festival. Some proper dark dirty ale to be drank there, and you are guaranteed to wake up with a pounding headache the morning after! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 I think we have one in manningtree at the end of June. Little marque beside the River Stour. Keep missing it but keen to check it out next month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Yes there are several springing up. The local vineyard has one over the easter weekend but I find they all tend to sell the golden or very dark ale rather than the traditional type. THere is one coming up this week in colchester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 I think Pubs are having to be a bit more imaginative to bring the customers in. There are quite a few closing in the rural parts of Kent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted May 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Very true, there is also a real increase in the awareness of ales though, look at the beer counters in any major supermarket and where there used to be just cases of Bud etc, now there are rows of bottles of the real thing. As for the festivals, you just need loads of different beers and a hog roast (plus decent weather of course) and you are all set :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 MC and Markio - Have a look out for the one at Chappel http://www.earm.co.uk/events/beerfest.php Very worth the journey....Oh yes!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 FCS, The one at Chappel is highly overated and far too busy. I went last year on the train for a session and ended up queueing all night and had 3 pints. I am going to try the colchester one this week though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 For those in the North East, the Boathouse Inn at Wylam, just yards from the train station, has a festival, however as it sells around 10-12 real ales anyway makes it well worth the effort. Corbridge beer festival next week :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted June 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 I went last year on the train for a session and ended up queueing all night and had 3 pints. This seems to be the problem with the bigger events, I have never been but a colleague of mine queued for 3 hours to get into the Reading one - waste of time. The pub run ones seem to be the way to go, but they do run out of the more popular beers so getting there on the first day is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 The biggest problem with the chappel one is the CAMRA beardies all standing at the bar sampling the 1/3 pint and discussing the virtues of growing hops on a bed of virginal rose manure that has only come from pure bred aberdeen angus herds. Why they can't just buy a pint and move away like most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted June 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 The first pub one I went to, in the Wyndham Arms in Salisbury, we did the have a half to try them out thing. But my patience soon ran out so once we knew what we liked, we just got pints of that in. Less time stood at the bar, and more time drinking the stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatcatsplat Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 The biggest problem with the chappel one is the CAMRA beardies all standing at the bar sampling the 1/3 pint and discussing the virtues of growing hops on a bed of virginal rose manure that has only come from pure bred aberdeen angus herds. Why they can't just buy a pint and move away like most. I tend to buy or hire a beard specially for the day (last year's one came complete with 2 blackbirds nesting). I also have a pewter tankard fixed on a lanyard to my belt, just next to my inexplicably large bunch of keys and sport a Nazareth 1974 tour t shirt on in XL, even though I'm now XXXL, which highlights my muffin top peeking over the top of my jeans. The secret with the Chappel jobby (as well as any beerfest) is to take a half day and get there for the afternoon session, or get hold of a mate involved in brewing and go on trade day at the big festivals. Anybody up for a PW visit to the GBBF this year? http://gbbf.camra.org.uk/home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted June 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 ..and don't forget your leather waistcoat plus socks/sandals :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sapper063 Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 i go to a beer festival every year, in callela on the costa brava in october brilliant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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