PIG’S EAR BEER FESTIVAL
Here is the plot so far, as told by Alex Wall. It is the year 2064. Us humans are about to win the war with the machines. In desperation, Skynet sends a remorseless cyborg called the Abstinator back in time to break our fighting spirit by eliminating the one thing that makes life truly worthwhile: beer! But the humans are one step ahead; they send a hero, a man called Ted Eller, back to 1982 to establish a beer festival in east London. In 2024, you can join the resistance at the 40th Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider Festival from 3 to 7 December at the Round Chapel in Hackney. With over 100 cask ales, ciders and keg beers, and your help, we can finally defeat the evil machines and keep humanity on its feet (if sometimes unsteadily). See the advert below.
TWICKENHAM BEER FESTIVAL AWARD
The winner of the vote for the Beer of the Festival at last November’s Twickenham Beer Festival (organised by CAMRA’s Richmond & Hounslow branch) was Tiny Vessel’s Dark Matter, best described as a robust and malty chocolate porter (4.5% ABV). This was the second year running that it has won. Pictured are the owner of the brewery, Ivailo (Ivo) Penev (right), and Andy Pirson (of Idle Moments fame) who is CAMRA’s liaison officer for the brewery.
Ivo is also the licensee of the Northumberland Arms, Brentford (TW8 8JB) and the presentation was held there because the brewery is very small and, being located on Platts Eyot in the Thames at Hampton, is not easily accessible.
John Austin
(with thanks to Richard Northmore for the photo)
GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL – WINTER
The triennial rotation of venues now takes the event to Rotherham in South Yorkshire. It will be held from 12 to 15 February 2025 at the Magna Science Adventure Centre (S60 1DX), a spacious former steelworks. As usual, a variety of beers, ciders, perries and gin will be available, along with a range of entertainment and food throughout the week. There will be light and hoppy beers available, as well as dark ales and winter brews. Tickets for the event are now available at https://tckty.camra.org.uk/e/288/great-british-beer-festival-winter-2025. Some readers may have heard rumours that the festival was to be held in Bradford. Unfortunately, the refurbishment of the venue will not be completed in time.
CHAMPION BEER OF BRITAIN
In the absence this year of the Great British Beer Festival, the final judging for CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain competition will be held at the Kelham Hall Beer Festival. This event is held in association with CAMRA. The venue is the Renaissance, Main Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire (NG23 5QX) and the dates are Wednesday 23 to Saturday 26 October. The CBoB judging will take place on the Wednesday. The winning beers from all categories are expected to be on sale after the announcement. There is a discount on tickets for CAMRA members. Tickets are available here.
GOING DUTCH
In case you are wondering about the advert on page 21, it was placed by Frank Kok, a CAMRA member and one of our readers in the Netherlands. One of Frank’s friends is a member of a marching band that will be performing in this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show on Saturday 9 November. The band, Sint Sebastianus Gendt, was founded in 1499 and has its origins as a marksmen’s guild, one of many set up to defend villages from itinerant armies in the aftermath of the Hundred Years’ War. Gendt is in the province of Gelderland and stands on the rivers Waal and Linge. The band previously took part in the Lord Mayor’s Show in 2019 after they had appeared at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall where they made contact with the band of HM Royal Marines. They are here this year to help the Marines celebrate their 360th anniversary, having been formed in 1664 as the Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment of Foot. The parade, which celebrates the inauguration of the 695th Lord Mayor, Alderman Michael Mainelli of Broad Street Ward, starts from Mansion House at 11am. It goes from Mansion House to the Royal Courts via St Pauls and, in the early afternoon, returns by way of the Embankment and Victoria Street. Many pubs that normally close on a Saturday are open for the Lord Mayor’s Show.
For more details see the official website.