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14^th Moreton Beer Festival Report September 10^th to 11^th2021

North Cotswold Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

The North Cotswold branch of CAMRA staged the 14^th festival at Moreton Cricket Club on the weekend of 10^th/11^th September. We were blessed with one dry sunny day on Saturday following an unsettled week. Friday was showery but mostly dry. A record attendance of 1660 people exceeded expectations which was surprising given the pandemic situation. The range of 41 beers, were sourced from various parts of the country including 12 local beers. Thanks to Martyn Herbert our Festival Beer Coordinator and the Good Beer Company. The beer styles included pale ale, bitters, porters, stouts and mild.	^ Beer set up and helpers ready to go ^
^ Ciders & Perry being set up ^	A broad range of 21 ciders and Perry came from Hereford, Gloucestershire and Somerset chosen by our Cider coordinator James Fry. In total, including the beer, 62 choices.
For the first time this year, we had a separate entrance tent, which accepted both card and cash payments. This was efficiently managed by Dawn, Dick & Roger H, seen here. Deputised when they took a break by Martyn & Sarah. The new controls on entry, driven by the Covid risk assessments, worked very well and the banning of internal seating in the marquees.	^ The Entrance Tent ^
^ The Food Tent ^	Throughout the weekend, local Butcher R & D Walker provided extensive catering from a large airy tent including pig roast, burgers, pizzas, faggots and sausages. This proved very popular including breakfasts on Friday and Saturday mornings.
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 twelve festivals.	^ Crowds by the music stage ^
^ Eden Bay ^	Friday afternoon entertainment was provided by Eden Bay, our own James Long with his Brother in Law playing on stage for the second time were a tremendous duo.
Eden Bay were followed by the band Wired from 8pm to 11pm, rounding off a very busy evening.	^ Wired ^
^ The Membership Stand and Cider Bar ^	Our branch cider co-ordinator James Fry on the left, with the membership stand, manned by our membership secretary Garry, in the foreground.
The first beer to run out early on Saturday afternoon was RBA’s Divine Intervention (4.4%) a Bitter from Derby, so therefore winning the Beer of the Festival, closely followed by the other beer from RBA, In Search of the Holy Pale ( 3.6%)	^ The last pint of the winning beer being pulled ^
The RBA Brewer and his team were camping on site, so we were able to quickly give them the good news.	^ The RBA Team ^
^ Good Intent ^	More campers and caravans arrived for the Saturday 11am opening. Regular band Good Intent played a long afternoon set appreciated by a record Saturday crowd
The first cider to run out was Ragged Stone’s Fat Bottom Girls ( 6% ) a Perry, followed by Elderflower Cider ( 6.8% ) from Priors Tipple, a multiple winner.	^ The last half of the winning Perry being pulled ^
The happy recipients of the last two halves of the winning Perry. >
	< Meanwhile our Branch Chairman, Roger, found time to pose with a group of festival attendees outside.
Good Intent were followed by Damn Good Reason for the evening session. Locals turned out in numbers as usual swelling the audience > By 8 pm on Saturday, all the beer had completely run out followed by the cider 15 mins later. The cricket club bar and prosecco bar were subsequently emptied, supplemented by camper’s own supplies and the local COOP. Clearly we will return to having more barrels next year which we all hope will be the post covid era.
	Thanks to all our helpers, sponsors and to Moreton Cricket Club for the venue and a welcome to the 7 new CAMRA members who signed up through the weekend. Particular thanks to our usual stalwarts who worked tirelessly on Sunday morning packing up the empty barrels and racking for collection and clearing the site.

Many thanks to all for a great festival, come back next year for the 15^th Festival on 9/10^th September 2022.

Report by: Martin Jones, Moreton Festival Director. Photos by: Roger Price & Peter Rowe