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10th Moreton
Beer Festival Report |
North Cotswold Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale |
Crowds again at Moreton Beer and Cider Festival 2017, despite the wet weather
The North Cotswold branch of CAMRA staged the 10th festival at Moreton Cricket Club on the weekend of 8th/9th September. We were not blessed with our normal good weather but the festival attracted around 1000 people, many camping on site in tents, caravans and motor homes
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The total range of 51 beers consisted of 31 sourced from various parts of the country, competing with 20 local beers. The beer styles included pale ale, bitters, porters, stouts and mild. A much broader range of 22 ciders and Perry came from Hereford, Gloucestershire and Somerset chosen by our Cider coordinator James Fry. In total 73 choices, our largest yet. |
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<< Cider Bar Ready . |
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Bar Ready >> |
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Our GBG pub Landlords were invited to a dinner on Thursday night to celebrate our Festival 10th Anniversary with music by Mansfield-Smith hosted by R Walker in the food marquee with beer donated by North Cotswold Brewery and Hook Norton << GBG
Presentation to the Craven Arms |
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GBG Presentation to The Bell >> |
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<< Peter’s Shirt Collection (Celebrating 10 years of the Festival) |
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Happy Helpers Ready To Go >> Friday opened at 11am and the crowds built up, 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 nine festivals. Afternoon entertainment was provided by bands Mansfield Smith followed by The Dropouts on Friday evening attracting many locals and rounded off a very busy evening. |
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<< Mansfield-Smith Start Proceedings |
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Mike (Catweazel) makes new friends! >> Throughout the weekend local 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. |
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<< James has the last pint of Ellusive with his new Young Member. |
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Cider Staff warming
up >> |
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The first beer to
run out on Friday at 8pm was Sphere of Destiny, a Mosaic hopped pale ale 4.4% winning Beer of the Festival brewed by the Elusive micro-brewery
at Finchampstead Berkshire. An hour later followed
by Jaipur from Thornbridge.
Normally all beers last to the second day reflecting these superb beers. |
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^^ The
Dropouts in Full Flow ^^ |
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More campers and caravans arrived for the Saturday 11am opening with rain showers and sunshine which did not stop the Hook Norton Dray and Horses giving a tremendous show. Good Intent played a long afternoon set appreciated by a large Saturday afternoon crowd , followed by Greg Brice and Blues Street for the evening session through to 11pm << Saturday Horses arrive and taste Donnington SBA |
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Staff in new Shirts
and Caps >> |
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<< Dray Ready to go |
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Staff meet the Horses
>> |
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<< Entrance
Team ready on Saturday |
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Visitors all the way from Boston >> |
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On Saturday at 3-30pm the first cider to run out, and therefore Cider Winner, was Old Stag’s Whisky Cider at 8% beating Black Dragon 7.2%, Orchard Pigs Ginger and Chille and Pearsons Medium, all too close to call. These ciders just get better and better. << First Cider
to run out celebrated with the empty box paraded |
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Staff in full flow on
Saturday Afternoon >> |
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<< Good Intent packed
them in on Saturday Afternoon A large crowd on Saturday evening, many dancing to Blues Street severely dented the remaining stock with 90% sales achieved leaving the remainder for early risers to take away on Sunday. |
Thanks to all our helpers, sponsors and to Moreton Cricket Club for the venue and a welcome to the 13 new CAMRA members who signed up through the weekend.
Many thanks to all for a great festival; please come back next year for
the 11th
Festival on 7th/8th
September 2018
Report by: Martin Jones, Moreton Festival Director,
photos by Roger Price