chester autumn beer festival 2008
September 12th and 13th

some casks awaiting their fate

Is it really all over already? After months of preparation and hours of hard graft it's hard to believe the 2nd Chester Autumn Beer Festival is now but a memory. What a cracking festival we had though - 45 real ales in tip-top condition, 8 perries and ciders, delicious food cooked on the premises, excellent live bands and hugely competitive pub games. Feedback from punters suggest you all had a great time. We hope you enjoyed the beers and all the facilities on offer.

The event is organised and run solely by the local CAMRA branch, so a huge thank you to members from all areas of the branch who have helped to make it such a success. You are too numerous to mention but your efforts are greatly appreciated. Special thanks and a name check for the organising committee who have put in so much and time and effort for the greater good - Craig Papworth, Brian Vardy, Sue Hurst, Chris Pilsbury, John Thomas and Steve Carr. Hats off also to the Guildhall folk for letting us use their fantastic building and well done to Richard who did a fantastic job of keeping the venue in good order.

serving the stuff

skittle fun

At the risk of this becoming an Oscar speech, more hearty thanks to the four pubs who kindly provided outlets for ticket sales. The Mill Hotel, Old Harkers Arms, Telfords Warehouse and the Carlton Tavern all serve excellent ales and deserve you support. 

two stereotype beer bores

two more beer bores

better than James Blunt

If you'd like to provide us with any feedback on the festival then feel free to use the branch forum to tell us your thoughts.

The festival will be back to our preferred October slot next year so we hope to see you all again over the Hallow'een weekend in 2009.

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Beer of the Festival

When an ale is the first to sell out at a beer festival it's pretty darn obvious that it's going to be a contender for winner of the beer of that festival. And sure enough, that was the case with Caught Short from the Mickle Trafford based WC Brewery. A 3.8% number it was clearly a hit with the punters for being "a refreshing pale ale with full-on passion fruit flavours".

Analysis of the voting made for some interesting observations. Overall there were 146 votes cast for BotF (none spoilt!) with the 42 different nominations hopefully reflecting that all the ales were in good condition. Beer extremes such as milds, porters, gingers and even ciders had their plaudits but Caught Short ended up victor closely followed by Station House Dragon Dance (with it's hint of blackberry), then Thornbridge Jaipur and Acorn Old Moor Porter.

People had travelled some miles to attend too though we doubt those folk from Tasmania and Ontario had flown in especially. Residents of Edinburgh, Cumnock, Brighton, Coventry, Market Deeping, and Anglesey were all there as well as a healthy dose of Wrexhamians which bodes well for a proposed festival there in February next year. 

Final mentions to the "The Suited Scooper" from HMP Maidstone - congrats on your breakout - and to Mr. D. Lees from Farnworth who voted for Hambleton Nightmare Stout of which he wrote "Far from being a nightmare, this hearty stout has the same effect as me seeing Myleen Klass in the buff and then realising ...". The fantasy continues. Words of praise indeed! 

A draw from all the entries took place and the winner of the Good Beer Guide 2009 was Sean Burke from Chester.