Bexley Beer Festival
Once again, the weather was kind to the festival, our 18th and the 11th at Dartfordians Community Sports Club. We had 110 beers on (including six milds, seven porters and 18 stouts) including Bexley Fifty, a celebration brew for the branch’s 50th birthday. We also had 22 ciders and two perries. Attendance held up, with a total of 1,716 visitors, and with more non-members than members.
The beer of the festival, by customer vote, was a tie between Hammerton’s Crunch (5.4% ABV) and Bexley Brewery’s Mocha Stout (5.5% ABV). The winning cider/perry was Turner’s Apple Pie cider. Many thanks to all our volunteers from far and wide, Bexley and Kent breweries and the Broken Drum micropub for their support and the glasses and Dartfordians for allowing us the use of the venue. A total of £826.10 was raised for our charity, Young Lives v Cancer.
The Dartfordians is our branch Club of the Year this year and so we took the opportunity to present the award to Megan Lewis, the club steward.
Peter Trout
Dulwich Beer Festival
After a successful first year at Dulwich Hamlet FC in 2024, when we had 50 beers for our 50th anniversary, the team were delighted to return to Dulwich again for this year’s event, held over the late May Bank Holiday weekend. Thankfully the weather was fine all weekend. This year we had 54 casks, plus bottled foreign and canned beers as well as ciders and perries.
As befitting a festival at a football ground, we all had the fun of operating the turnstiles to let folk into the venue. This was a change from last year’s entry point intended to help improve accessibility. No stairs were involved in getting to the beer, unless you wanted to sit in the stands once you had been served! With over 1,200 visitors and no beer or cider left and nine new members recruited, we think that was a successful festival. We had a great choice of beers available, thanks to our expert beer selection team (Alex Lines, Andy Cunnell, Gavin Fernandes, Brian Fretwell and Steve Silcock). We also had an excellent cider and perry range, selected by Ian White.
During set-up, I learned about beer cooling; thanks to Brian for showing me what goes on behind the scenes. There’s a lot of work needed to get the beer ready and cooled to perfection!
Our Beer of the Festival (voted for by the customers), was SS9 from Leigh-on-Sea Brewery (a 9% ABV stout). We look forward to visiting them in the autumn to present them with their certificate. Our Cider of the Festival was Dorset Nectar.
Missing from the team this year was Ian Quinn but, hopefully, he will be back next year, welcoming visitors with their festival glasses and getting things done behind the scenes to give our volunteers a warm welcome. In his stead not only did we have son Patrick on glasses but we were treated to a visit from their beloved dog Archie, who featured in our festival logo this year. Sadly, Archie passed away in July, having reached the grand age of 15.
If you would like to help at next year’s beer festival (hopefully at Dulwich Hamlet FC again) why not get in touch with the Branch? Our Chair Andy Large and Festival Organiser Eric Camfield would love to hear from you. Drop us a line at festivals@sel.camra.org.uk. See you at the bar (or if not, I’ll be recruiting members). Cheers!
Maria Freeman
Pig’s Ear charity collection
The Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider Festival always supports the Speaker of Hackney’s chosen charities. The 2024 festival raised £1,150.28 for the Rising Tide Trust and the Hackney Migrant Centre.
Pictured at this year’s presentation with the Speaker of Hackney, Councillor Sheila Suso-Runge (centre), from left are members of the organising committee, Dave Gilchrist, Steph Evans, James Skinner, Steve Hall, Pete Giles, and Nick Collins. Pig’s Ear will return to the Round Chapel from Tuesday 2 to Saturday 6 December this year. With thanks to Dave Gilchrist for the photo.
Steve Hall
Another ale train in October? Sounds frightfully good!
Epping Ongar Railway are pleased to announce an additional Ale Train, which will take to the rails on Saturday 25 October. With the railway embracing the ghouls of Halloween, perhaps there will be some guests in attendance: poltergeists drinking porter, mediums quaffing mild and spirits supping stout! For more information and to book tickets see www.eorailway.co.uk. A vintage bus connection will operate to and from Epping Central Line station for this event.
Alan Perryman
Great British Beer Festival
Don’t forget: CAMRA’s flagship event starts on Tuesday 5 August and, this year, is being held at the NEC in Birmingham. For full details and tickets, go to greatbritishbeerfestival.co.uk.
CAMRA Events
A list of CAMRA events taking place throughout the country
is available at https://events.camra.org.uk/events?event_view=list