Home Page

Diary

Pub News

Walking

Contacts

Map

Links

8^th Moreton Beer Festival Report

North Cotswold Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

Sun shines again at Moreton Beer and Cider Festival 2015

The North Cotswold branch of CAMRA staged the 8^th festival at Moreton Cricket Club on the weekend of 11/12^th September. As previously we were blessed with sunshine for most of the weekend with just a few spots on Saturday afternoon after heavy rain on Friday night. The festival attracted over 1000 people, many camping on site in tents, caravans and motor homes.

The range of 46 stunning beers, were sourced from various parts of the country as far away as Scotland, Kent, Cornwall and Jersey with 11 local beers including the new Goldie IPA from the Ebrington Arms Yubby Range also Moreton Mild and the award winning Hung Drawn and Portered from North Cotswold Brewery. The beer styles included pale ale, bitters, porters and stouts.
	<< The beers set up and ready to go. In total, together with the ciders and perrys, there were 66 drink choices, our largest yet!
Staff early on Friday waiting for customers >> The Friday session opened at 11am and the crowds built up, enjoying the warm afternoon sunshine tasting the range of quality ale and cider in pristine condition. CAMRA members from near and far turned out in force, many who had attended all previous seven festivals..
	<< Our GBG pub Landlords and guests were invited to taste possible guest ales for their establishments. On Friday we were pleased to welcome Barbara Price and son Sam from the Craven Arms who lost Bob Price to Diabetes in July after a long illness.
Mansfield Smith get the show underway >>
	<< Bar Manager arrives in his shirt from Cheltenham 1^st Ale Festival
John Barrett arrives to man the CAMRA stand, posing next to Martyn Herbert, who selected many of the beers. >>
	<< Red Shift continue the Friday entertainment
Local singer Ellen Larson puts in a strong performance on Friday >>
	<< Kinky Farnham attract many locals to the festival and round off the busy Friday evening session.
The first beer to run out on Friday Evening at 10-30 pm was Seven Bro7hers Indian American Style IPA, a 5% Beer which became Beer of the Festival so a certificate is destined for Salford Manchester. Steve and Mike (Catweazle) celebrate the event. >>
	<< Steve watering the beer
Staff review the day after midnight >>
	<< On Saturday at 11:30 am Celtic Marshes Thundering Molly wins “Best Cider” again. This is a well rounded Hereford medium cider. The certificate will be presented to the Craven Arms who recommended and supplied it.
More campers and caravans arrived for the Saturday 11 am opening with the weather clearing to bright sunshine and clear blue skies, rather unusual in 2015. Rain showers threatened but came to nothing allowing Good Intent to play a long set appreciated by our largest Saturday afternoon crowd >>
	<< A very busy afternoon enjoying the weather Throughout the weekend Butcher R & D Walker provided extensive catering from a large airy tent including lamb and pig roasts, burgers, pizzas, faggots and sausages. This proved very popular including breakfasts on Friday and Saturday mornings.
Butcombe Brewery donated a barrel of Legless Bob free of charge so that the proceeds of this, the raffle and returned token cards could be donated to Bob’s favourite charity Diabetes UK. We raised £970 which was a great effort so thank you all and to Phillip Ellis our Pubs Officer who organised it and to our local pubs and breweries who donated prizes. Diabetes UK. Barbara and Sam thank you all for your tremendous support. John confirms that the Legless Bob has all gone >>
	<< 200^th Member graduates from GWR and Moreton training.
Saturday Bar Staff pose in front of depleted stock, one in a dress >>
	<< A much broader range of 20 ciders and perry came from Hereford, Gloucestershire and Somerset chosen by our new Cider coordinator James Fry, pictured here with helper Carol. .
No Tools Required took centre stage for the evening session, and rounded off the festival, finishing at 11 pm >>
	<< Depleted beer stocks late on Saturday Night.

Thanks to all our helpers, sponsors and to Moreton Cricket Club for the venue and a welcome to the 17 new CAMRA members who signed up through the weekend. Special mention and thanks to Mike (Catweazle) a dedicated helper from Birmingham who came down on the Tuesday staying throughout in his well used camper van and demonstrated his ample fancy dress and dancing skills.

Also thanks for a superb clear up effort at midnight on Friday and Saturday by helpers and campers

Many thanks to all for a great festival. Come back next year for the 9^th Festival on 9/10^th September 2016.

. Click here for the Festival Brochure Quiz Answers

Report and photos by Roger Price, North Cotswold CAMRA branch Chairman..