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4^th North Cotswold Moreton Beer Festival Report. September 23^rd to 24^th2011

North Cotswold Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

Sun shines again on North Cotswold Moreton Beer Festival but rains new members. The North Cotswold branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) staged the fourth beer festival at Moreton in Marsh Cricket Club on the weekend of 24^th September. As the previous three years we were blessed with sunshine, throughout the weekend limiting the need for the heaters in the new larger marquee. The festival again attracted people from all over the country, around 300 of whom camped on site in a variety of tents, caravans and motor homes. The large range of 50 beers, to ensure supplies did not run out, was sourced from various parts of the country as far away as Scotland, Kent, Cornwall and Yorkshire with only four local beers this year. The beer styles included pale ale, bitters, porters, stouts and speciality beers such as wheat, rye, and a beer brewed with Japanese hops.	New tent and beer awaits
Bar for local beer Stanway and North Cotswold	The ciders and perry came from the Herefordshire orchards of Gwatkin Cider. (Behind the bar in the photo left)
The Friday evening commenced earlier at 5 pm to allow the judging of five beers for the South West Regional Bitter in the Champion Beer of Bitter of Britain competition. A panel of judges selected Castle Gold from Tintagel as the SW winner.	Judging of CBOB-concentration!
Crows on stage Friday Night	The crowd were able to taste the five CBOB beers and were treated to the other great beer selection in superb condition and were entertained by Irish Band The Roving Crows.
Late afternoon some of the more popular beers started to run out and one of the first to go was the eventual beer of the festival (voted for by the customers). The winner was Jasmine’s Chocolate Orange Stout (4.5%) from Isle of Avalon who also won last year with Sunrise. Runner up was American Pale Ale (4.7%) from Dark Star. Click here for a full beer list	Happy bar staff in 2011 polo shirts
Happy Campers	Shakespeare again
Crows perform on Sat	Best Dressed Female
# Best Dressed Male	Cavemen attacked by small girl from mousetrap
Sarah's first public performance	Late afternoon we were entertained by a new talented singer Sarah from Cheltenham before the main act in the evening, local band Zool who entertained a large crowd through to closing time with the largest numbers seen to date with the weather remaining warm.
Zool and Moreton followers	Zool on stage
Caveman survive evening with clubs intact.(Groom with Horns)

On Sunday morning we which gave campers a chance to buy some takeaways from the beer remaining. We had sufficient containers this year which were used to carry out the last of the beers. Some of the volunteers had a quiet drink as they recovered from a hectic week and dismantled the festival for another year.

Thanks to all our helpers, to Moreton Cricket Club for the venue and a welcome to the 34 new CAMRA members who signed up through the weekend. This was twice the number of members signed up last year and our best effort so far. Many of these were caravan and motor home owners from SE Bristol who returned from last year and decided it was time to join to save the entry fee.

Report by: Roger Price, Branch Chairman.