The 2010 Steel City Beer & Cider Festival, organised and staffed by volunteers from the Campaign for Real Ale, takes place in Cemetery Park from Thursday 30th September to Saturday 2nd October.

In the marquees it features around 100 different real ales and a large selection of traditional ciders and perrys plus bottled European beers and fruit wines.

Also in the marquee will be a stall selling t-shirts and brewery related merchandise.

Outside there will be a choice of food stalls - Yuleys Bratwurst, Handmade Cornish Pasty Co and The Green Machine.

There will be live music each evening and a charity quiz Saturday afternoon to raise money for the childrens hospital.

Saturday is also hat day, so come wearing something either funny, original or stylish on your head!

Opening hours
Thursday 5pm-11pm (admission £4 including glass)
Friday 12pm-11pm (admission £4 before 5pm, £5 after 5pm, including glass)
Saturday 12pm-11pm (admission £5 including glass)
Those not wishing to keep the glass as a souvenier can return it at the end in exchange for a £2 refund.

Discounts available for CAMRA members. Discounts also available for groups that book in advance.

Get-to-the-bar-quicker £10 entry package also available which includes beer tokens.

Beer and cider reasonably priced at normal pub prices.

More info: http://www.sheffieldcamra.org.uk/beerfestival.htm

The music:

Thursday:Nimming Ned
Friday: The Blue Shift
Saturday: Yorkshire Tea Bags Skiffle band

For those that don't know where Cemetery Park is, the main entrance is on Montague Street just off Cemetery Road near the Vine Inn. You can walk up to it from Ecclesall Road via Pear Street (the one down the side of the Pomona pub).

http://www.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Montague+Street,+Sheffield+S11,+UK&sll=53.371398,-1.483154&sspn=0.012008,0.027423&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Montague+St,+Sheffield+S11+8,+United+Kingdom&t=h&ll=53.371859,-1.48206&spn=0.011624,0.03298&z=16&iwloc=A

Looks like it should be an improvement on last year's one. I will in all liklihood be attending Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

Facebook event page http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=102164686501667

Here is a taster of the beer list - these are some of the new and rare beers. Rest of the beer list will be published on Thursday before the festival opens.

Coastal Sea King 5.5%
Coastal LAndlord's Blah Blah 3.9%
Penzance Tater Du 4.2%
All Saints Endellion 4.0%
Coastal Erosion 8.0%
Poldark Mine tbc
Steel City Marduk 5.0%
Steel City прикарпат�кий �ильный кофе 5.0% *
Steel City Master of the Spooniverse 4.2%
Mallinsons Hops Crossing 5.0%
Mallinsons Pacifica 3.9%
Arbor Sybilla 4.0%
Art Ocain's Whit 4.7%
Botley Mill Ale 3.8%
Braydons Yer Tiz 4.4%
Devon Earth Lost in the Woods 4.7%
Flack Manor Double Drop 3.7%
Flowerpots American IPA 6.0%
Forgotten Corner Trust Ale 4.0%
Gidleys Valley 4.0%
Green Room IPA 4.0%
Green Room Rogue 7.6%
Hogswood Broken Piston 4.2%
Isle of Avalon Willow's Strawberry Delight 5.0%
Plain Ales Sheep Dip 3.8%
Town Mill Lyme Gold 4.2%
Tudor Skirrid 4.2%
Upham Ale 4.0%
Upham Stakes 4.6%
Upham Nectar 4.3%
Bridgewater Rising Sun IPA 4.6
Bridgewater Brothers Bock 4.2
Burnside Crazy Dog IPA
Oban Rocky Pass 4.0
Oban Quaff McCaig 3.?
Oban Little Bay 4.2

*Prikarpatskij Silnji Kofe (the original Cyrillic might get scrambled on some
machines...) - translates as Carpathian Strong Coffee, this is Marduk with
some... oh you get the idea

The cider and perry.....

Black Rat Premium 7.5%
Broadoak Bristol Port 6.0%
Broadoak Kingston Black 7.5%
Broadoak Moonshine 7.5%
Broadoak Premium Perry 7.5%
Glastonbury GlastonBERRY 4.2%
Glastonbury Scruffy's Bit Apple n Pear 6.5%
Gwatkin Farmhouse 7.0%
Gwatkin Foxwhelp 7.5%
Gwatkin Stoke Red 7.5%
Gwatkin Yarlington Mill 7.5%
Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon 7.2%
Gwynt y Ddraig Dog Dancer 6.5%
Gwynt y Ddraig Farmhouse 6.5%
Gwynt y Ddraig Fiery Fox 6.5%
Gwynt y Ddraig Happy Daze 4.5%
Gwynt y Ddraig Haymaker 6.5%
Gwynt y Ddraig Pyder 6.0%
Gwynt y Ddraig Two Trees 4.5%
Lyne Down Yarlington Mill 7.2%
Millwhites Apple and Pear 5.0%
Millwhites Rum Cask 7.5%
Millwhites Whiskey Cask 7.5%
Newton Court Medium 6.5%
Newton Court Medium/Sweet 6.5%
Sarah's Medium Cider 6.5%
Somerset Dry Scrumpy 6.5%
Somerset Sweet Scrumpy 6.5%
Two Trees Perry 4.5%
Westcroft Janet’s Jungle Juice 6.0%
Westcroft Sweet Cider 6.5%

Really, really looking forward to this, even more so now I've read those lists!

The cider and perry.....

Black Rat Premium 7.5%
Broadoak Bristol Port 6.0%
Broadoak Kingston Black 7.5%
Broadoak Moonshine 7.5%
Broadoak Premium Perry 7.5%
Glastonbury GlastonBERRY 4.2%
Glastonbury Scruffy's Bit Apple n Pear 6.5%
Gwatkin Farmhouse 7.0%
Gwatkin Foxwhelp 7.5%
Gwatkin Stoke Red 7.5%
Gwatkin Yarlington Mill 7.5%
Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon 7.2%
Gwynt y Ddraig Dog Dancer 6.5%
Gwynt y Ddraig Farmhouse 6.5%
Gwynt y Ddraig Fiery Fox 6.5%
Gwynt y Ddraig Happy Daze 4.5%
Gwynt y Ddraig Haymaker 6.5%
Gwynt y Ddraig Pyder 6.0%
Gwynt y Ddraig Two Trees 4.5%
Lyne Down Yarlington Mill 7.2%
Millwhites Apple and Pear 5.0%
Millwhites Rum Cask 7.5%
Millwhites Whiskey Cask 7.5%
Newton Court Medium 6.5%
Newton Court Medium/Sweet 6.5%
Sarah's Medium Cider 6.5%
Somerset Dry Scrumpy 6.5%
Somerset Sweet Scrumpy 6.5%
Two Trees Perry 4.5%
Westcroft Janet’s Jungle Juice 6.0%
Westcroft Sweet Cider 6.5%

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

Beer list here.

http://www.sheffieldcamra.org.uk/beerfestival_realale.htm

Beer list here.

http://www.sheffieldcamra.org.uk/beerfestival_realale.htm

I was just having a nosey at that this morning, there look to be a good selection of ales to pick from.

This will be my first ever Sheffield beer festival, but I won't be going until about 6pm on Saturday.

Come Saturday Evening are there still normally plenty of beers to be going at or do the best ones run out?

Being a lover of strong ales I've got my eye on:

Last Rites - I've never tried this.
Jaipur
Halcyon
Marble Dobber - Which I've heard is an excellent beer
Hardcore IPA
Paradox
Punk IPA
Gorlovka

I then intend collapsing into some eating establishment on Ecclesall Road. :hihi:

Regards

Doom

Its usually a reduced range whats left Saturday night as its the final session of the festival, anything left has to be chucked away Sunday morning!

That said there should still be a bigger choice than most pubs and we have ordered significantly more beer this year than in the last few years.

Me and Mrs Sothoth will be serving on the cider bar tonight, and there as punters tomorrow!

Me and Mrs Sothoth will be serving on the cider bar tonight, and there as punters tomorrow!

See you in an hour :banana:

Come Saturday Evening are there still normally plenty of beers to be going at or do the best ones run out?

I've worked a few Sheffield Beer Fests, amongst others, (just attending this year though), and my experience is that the most popular beers DO sell out by Saturday. Last year, there was a relatively large student contingent on the Friday night in particular, who helped drink the strong beers and massacred the ciders. The popular styles tend to go first, i.e. blondes and light bitters, as well as the stronger beers. If I were to call it, I'd say you stand little chance of getting any Jaipur or Last Rites, unless they have multiple barrels on or put them on late.

We went last night & had a good time!

Just a couple of comments!
There are no tasting notes in the program & although there is a colour coding system on the barrel labels this isnot explained anywhere either! I thought this was rather poor.

Also floodlighting is needed over the toilets it's pitch black out there!! They have a white roof for a reason! If your going in the evening take a torch!!

Thanks Andy C and HJL.....It sounds like I'll be unlikely to get many of the beers I fancy trying (if any at all).

I suppose on the plus side the weather looks like being much better on Saturday.

I see Marble Dobber has won the champion beer......No Jaipur in the top 3....Shame on you. :P

Regards

Doom

I've worked a few Sheffield Beer Fests, amongst others, (just attending this year though), and my experience is that the most popular beers DO sell out by Saturday. Last year, there was a relatively large student contingent on the Friday night in particular, who helped drink the strong beers and massacred the ciders. The popular styles tend to go first, i.e. blondes and light bitters, as well as the stronger beers. If I were to call it, I'd say you stand little chance of getting any Jaipur or Last Rites, unless they have multiple barrels on or put them on late.

That's kinda what happens at most CAMRA beer festivals (and I've been to quite a few in my time, may even be rejoining CAMRA this weekend!)

I see Marble Dobber has won the champion beer

Had a taster of this last night. It was running low already. I didn't rate it. For me, the first thing to come through on the palette was the overwhelming taste of the strength of the beer, which is something I hate. Jaipur is the same strength I think, but disguises its strength much better. The chocolate stout from Marble, on the other hand, was beautiful.

See you in an hour :banana:

Well, did you? You should have shouted "I'M NEEEEEEEEEEEK!" :D

Well, did you? You should have shouted "I'M NEEEEEEEEEEEK!" :D

OOoo, I was so excited by the cider selection I forgot! Yep, I was there, feel shocking today and don't remember leaving, that usually only happens when I drink Vodka!

Not sure if it was your good self I was talking at. :)

Anyone else find all the mud at the beer festival a bit much?

Anyone else find all the mud at the beer festival a bit much?

I'm pretty used to it, as Peterborough Beer Fest seems to attract rain and it gets muddy outside of the tents nearly every year. However, three things exacerbated the mud here at Sheffield: a) smaller tents, b) a sloping field, and c) no straw to put down. They always have bales of straw at Peterborough to soak up the mud and it works really well. They did put some woodchip down, I noticed, but it did very little. By the end of the night, it had got pretty bad. Luckily, I had anticipated and wore my goretex walking shoes. There were a couple of girls in Ugg boots that looked in a sorry state :)

Anyone been today yet? If it's muddy and not much beer left I'm not going to bother.

Anyone been today yet? If it's muddy and not much beer left I'm not going to bother.

Unfortunately, this is the situation. I'm having a pint in the Vine instead.

Can anyone give me a cider update?

What are the stocks like?

:)

Anyone else find all the mud at the beer festival a bit much?

I went last night and all I can say is GLASTONBURY

I went last night and all I can say is GLASTONBURY

yep it was pretty grim. Does not really entice me to go ever again to be honest.

Its usually a reduced range whats left Saturday night as its the final session of the festival, anything left has to be chucked away Sunday morning!

That said there should still be a bigger choice than most pubs and we have ordered significantly more beer this year than in the last few years.

You weren't wrong about tonight (Saturday)'s beer range. I got there just after eight and only had a dozen or so beers to choose from and absolutely no cider or perry whatsoever. Saying that, I went on Thursday night too and sampled some excellent brews from a much fuller selection. Masters of the Spooniverse from Steel City Brewing was a highlight, as was Marble's W90 (which I noticed doesn't appear in the programme).

I noticed casks were still being vented (?) and tapped as I was leaving at about 9:30pm and I was just in time to grab a half of grey Ghost on my way out - I'm guessing those latter casks had already been conditioned and were just sitting 'hard-spiled' waiting for tapping?

I was just in time to grab a half of grey Ghost on my way out

Probably served by me!

Despite twice as many ciders and perries this year, they still drank the bar dry. It was all the Sheffield Utd supporters before the match who did that!

Mud was terrible but we can't expect such torrential rain as we've had, and there was precious little we could do about it. And anyway, it didn't seem to put most people off. We still sold all but about 30 gallons of ale, which was drunk by the staff..

OOoo, I was so excited by the cider selection I forgot! Yep, I was there, feel shocking today and don't remember leaving, that usually only happens when I drink Vodka!

Not sure if it was your good self I was talking at. :)

Not sure either. If it was, glad you enjoyed the ciders. :D

You've got to feel for the organisers, because a lot of planning and effort must have gone into the event but the horrendous weather spoiled it.

We popped in at about 6pm, had our £5 worth of beer and then left.

Many of the better beers were running out and the mud made it a very uncomfortable place to be. I did manage halves of Punk, Hardcore, Red Barron and a Horace Isaacs.

I wanted to try the Last Rites, I've never managed to find it before, unfortunately it ran out just as I was about to oreder it.....My wait continues.

We ended up heading back into town and the Red Deer for a pint of Harvest Pale, very nice it was and I didn't get muddy drinking it. :)

Regards

Doom

OOoo, I was so excited by the cider selection I forgot! Yep, I was there, feel shocking today and don't remember leaving, that usually only happens when I drink Vodka!

Not sure if it was your good self I was talking at. :)Were you? I visited on Thursday and was unimpressed by the cider selection.
Was going to go again last night with a friend but ended staying at mine for some imported cider.

Sounds like it was once again a shambles. Glad I saved my fiver and drank lots of ale in various pubs instead.

Why hold it outside in October?

I wanted to try the Last Rites, I've never managed to find it before, unfortunately it ran out just as I was about to oreder it.....My wait continues.

An awsome beer. I think you can often find it up at the Rising Sun.

Were you? I visited on Thursday and was unimpressed by the cider selection.


Well, we had ciders and perries from 13 to 2 on the sweetness scale; 13 being as dry as it gets, and we had them ranging from 4.5% a.b.v. to 7.5%. I'd say there was a cider to suit every taste, out of the 31 we had on (there are 152 listed as commercially available I believe, so that's 20% of the country's real ciders and perries we had on!)

As for it being a shambles, I don't agree. The weather was far worse than anyone could have expected - there simply wan't anything that could be done about it. And yes, we ran out of ciders and most of the beers on Saturday but that's par for the course. It doesn't matter how much you have, it will all go usually, and that applies to other beer festivals I go to (Leeds and Bradford ones for example).

Simple reason it's not indoors is because there's not a suitable venue available within an easy walk of the city centre. The last indoor venue, at Darnall, was a poor one.

I do think people should be warned when they arrive if the cider has run out, or if the beers are running out. Maybe a reduced entry when it gets to a certain threshold.

The thing is, all the beer has to be sold. Any that's left goes down the drain and is wasted. So it isn't as simple as just making sure there's plenty in reserve.

The weather was far worse than anyone could have expected

It's OCTOBER?


And yes, we ran out of ciders and most of the beers on Saturday


So be better organised then, maybe save some for Saturday. Did you stop charging people to get in?


Simple reason it's not indoors is because there's not a suitable venue available within an easy walk of the city centre.


Don't be so ridiculous.


Any that's left goes down the drain and is wasted.

So the last dregs aren't drank by the 'members' anymore?

Sounds like it was once again a shambles. Glad I saved my fiver and drank lots of ale in various pubs instead.


Your signature says "Fair is worth fighting for" and yet you're slagging off an event you didn't even attend, which tbh says more about you than the event.

Despite the cider and beer running out (as Yog has pointed out, this happens at most festivals by the last day as the produce is fresh and has to all be used up) and despite the weather, throughout most of the festival it was packed with smiling, happy faces. The organisers, who are volunteers, don't forget, did a superb job, and I was proud to be a small part of it serving on the Thursday and Saturday evenings.

I'd agree that contingency plans for the rain, for example straw on the ground, would have been an improvement. For those who really care about the festival and care that the cider bar ran dry by the Saturday, then please email CAMRA (http://www.sheffieldcamra.org.uk/contacts.htm) and ask that they put even more on next year, as real cider is becoming more and more popular by the month, never mind by the year. And if you enjoyed it then email and tell them so because feedback is always appreciated.

you're slagging off an event you didn't even attend

Why would I have wasted my time and money attending?

I was a CAMRA member for several years which I let lapse due to head office being incompetent and the 'campaign' becoming quite frankly boring and pointless.

Don't forget that the 'volunteers' are only in it for the free drink.

Places such as Rotherham and Derby put Sheffield to shame.

I spent a very happy Saturday afternoon drinking some great ales in some fantastic pubs. Why would I want to do it covered in mud in a tent?

Well I enjoyed it. (It wouldn't be Sheffield Forum without a few miserable whiny wingers though would it?).

Well, we had ciders and perries from 13 to 2 on the sweetness scale; 13 being as dry as it gets, and we had them ranging from 4.5% a.b.v. to 7.5%. I'd say there was a cider to suit every taste, out of the 31 we had on (there are 152 listed as commercially available I believe, so that's 20% of the country's real ciders and perries we had on!)I didn't mention perries so I'll remove them from the tally, 13 ciders according to you were as dry as it gets so I'll remove those as well. There were a mere handful that were kind of ok but all were flat.

The lady who served me gave me another Janet's Jungle Juice saying it was different because it hadn't be opened at the same time as the pint I had previously; sorry luv, it was the same cider.

None were light or fruity, some weren't on the brochure either so all tastes weren't catered for. That's ok, I just won't come again. I was going to visit a second time but after consideration I had better real imported cider at home and cheaper. I've had nicer cider at pubs in Sheffield, none of which were in the tent.I'd agree that contingency plans for the rain, for example straw on the ground, would have been an improvement. For those who really care about the festival and care that the cider bar ran dry by the Saturday, then please email CAMRA and ask that they put even more on next year, as real cider is becoming more and more popular by the month, never mind by the year. And if you enjoyed it then email and tell them so because feedback is always appreciated. I intend to but I fear that because of what the CAMRA is, I will probably have the same dissatisfaction next year. It's just not an event for me, I tried.

In reply to MEAKS:

It's OCTOBER?

Yes, it's OCTOBER. It can rain any time of year. When were those floods again? Normal rain would not be a problem. The rain on Thursday and particularly Saturday was unusually heavy.

So be better organised then, maybe save some for Saturday. Did you stop charging people to get in?

I have no idea what happened as regards charging. Nothing to do with me. The way a festival like this HAS to work, is that the beers etc must be drunk, or it's money literally down the drain, something a voluntary, charitable organisation can't aford to do. When the beer is gone, it's gone. Some casks were saved for Saturday but there is no way Sheffield CAMRA could do that with each and every one. You evidently have little idea of the realities.

Don't be so ridiculous.

Don't you be so ridiculous. There are no suitable venues within walking distance of the city centre. Don't speak of that which you know nothing about. Any suitable venue is either unavailable for the festival or too expensive.

So the last dregs aren't drank by the 'members' anymore?

Yes they are drunk by the hard-working volunteer staff like me, if they wish to have any (some are so tired they just go home), and "dregs" is the word.

Enough on the matter. If it's not your cup of tea, you can get on your high horse and trot off.

I didn't mention perries so I'll remove them from the tally, 13 ciders according to you were as dry as it gets so I'll remove those as well. There were a mere handful that were kind of ok but all were flat.

The lady who served me gave me another Janet's Jungle Juice saying it was different because it hadn't be opened at the same time as the pint I had previously; sorry luv, it was the same cider.

None were light or fruity, some weren't on the brochure either so all tastes weren't catered for. That's ok, I just won't come again. I was going to visit a second time but after consideration I had better real imported cider at home and cheaper. I've had nicer cider at pubs in Sheffield, none of which were in the tent.I intend to but I fear that because of what the CAMRA is, I will probably have the same dissatisfaction next year. It's just not an event for me, I tried.

No you misunderstand me. I meant of our 31 ciders and perries, they ranged from 13 on the sweetness scale, to 2. That's from very dry to very sweet. with most being somewhere in between.

As for the flatness - well, real cider is flat! Carbonation is added in some commercial bottled or keg ciders, but not in traditional cider.

There were two casks of Janet's Jungle Juice. One was an older cask, from a different batch, and the cider was slightly different, having oxidised a bit, giving it a drier mouth feel and increased sharpness. We were selling that significantly cheaper than the 'new' version. However, they were both the same cider.

I suggest you go to the Rutland Arms and try their range of ciders. They sell several real ciders, as do the Harlequin on Nursery Street.

Sorry you didn't find one to your liking. Maybe next year eh, if you turn up?

Well I enjoyed it. (It wouldn't be Sheffield Forum without a few miserable whiny wingers though would it?).

I expected it, which is why I came on here to reply and dispel a few half-truths and downright wrongs.

Anyway, we had thousands of (mostly) happy customers and sold most of the produce, despite nature trying to spike our guns. I think that says all that needs to be said.

First time visitor to the Sheffield Beer Festival after attending many Rotherham ones.

Came Friday night and not such a bad night apart the mud! Didn't manage to find any Continental beers!? Can't believe I missed them as I wasn't that big.

Not a patch on the Rotherham one but fun all the same. Dissapointed there were no tasting notes in the programme.

Your signature says "Fair is worth fighting for" and yet you're slagging off an event you didn't even attend, which tbh says more about you than the event.

Despite the cider and beer running out (as Yog has pointed out, this happens at most festivals by the last day as the produce is fresh and has to all be used up) and despite the weather, throughout most of the festival it was packed with smiling, happy faces. The organisers, who are volunteers, don't forget, did a superb job, and I was proud to be a small part of it serving on the Thursday and Saturday evenings.

I'd agree that contingency plans for the rain, for example straw on the ground, would have been an improvement.

A friend of mine was told the reason they did not do this is because they don't want to clean up the straw at the end. So sounds like its a non-starter as far as they are concerned?

Maybe try an indoor venue in future? Have to admit next year I would just be tempted to go to dev cat/rising sun/kelham island instead which anyway have a good selection of beers and are not in a muddy field....

I hope that an indoor venue can be found. Surely there must be one available within budget, at some point in the year.

In reply to MEAKS:

Yes, it's OCTOBER.

Indeed, rather a ridiculous month to stage an outdoor event and expect good weather.

The way a festival like this HAS to work, is that the beers etc must be drunk, or it's money literally down the drain, something a voluntary, charitable organisation can't aford to do.

'Charitable organisation'? Don't make me laugh.

There are no suitable venues within walking distance of the city centre.

Yep, still ridiculous.


Yes they are drunk by the hard-working volunteer staff like me

Which is, let's face it, the only reason why you volunteer.

:)

Which is, let's face it, the only reason why you volunteer.

:)

Shock horror! People who volunteer for CAMRA like beer!

People who volunteer for CAMRA like beer!

Thanks, but I would have thought that was obvious.

Yes, it's OCTOBER. It can rain any time of year. When were those floods again?

The Sheffield Flood was 25th June 2007. Torrential rain can happen at any time.

The way a festival like this HAS to work, is that the beers etc must be drunk, or it's money literally down the drain, something a voluntary, charitable organisation can't aford to do. When the beer is gone, it's gone. Some casks were saved for Saturday but there is no way Sheffield CAMRA could do that with each and every one.

Well said.



So the last dregs aren't drank by the 'members' anymore?

Yes they are drunk by the hard-working volunteer staff like me, if they wish to have any (some are so tired they just go home), and "dregs" is the word.

Enough on the matter. If it's not your cup of tea, you can get on your high horse and trot off.

True, I only stayed up for a pint after I'd finished the Saturday shift as I was so knackered. I volunteered because I believe in what CAMRA are doing. Why would I work 6 hours on a busy bar to get a couple of free drinks? :loopy: Barmy! All the volunteers are passionate about what they're doing, believe it's for a good cause ie supporting independent breweries rather than multi-national corporations, and also do it because it's a good craic meeting so many happy people appreciative of what you're doing.

This thread does not in any way reflect what happened at the beer festival, it's just full of the usual dull trolls and boring armchair critics who love the sight of their own writing and have got nowt better to do than whinge.

and another thing, I was there as a punter on Friday, PAYING for my drinks!

Yep, White Rose about sums it up. I volunteered for the same reasons, AND I spent Friday there as a punter and paid for my drinks.

The moaners can stay at home and kick the dog. More ale for the rest of us! Woohoo!

Duplicate account fail

:hihi:

Not duplicate. Just using the same pc as WR and forgot to log in.

Hey Meaks, each to their own eh? You do your thing, whatever that may be. Be good. Some people hate the idea of Glastonbury Festival and its inevitable mud (in June). I love it. C'est la vie.

All the volunteers are passionate about what they're doing, believe it's for a good cause ie supporting independent breweries rather than multi-national corporations

I'm not sure how relevant beer festivals are these days - 20 yrs ago it was hard to get independently brewed beer & so beer festivals served a useful function - but now (no doubt thanks to CAMRA and changes in drinking habits) its quite easy, especially in Sheffield, to get different independent beers in a nice pub with seats, floors (!) and nice surroundings.

I went along on saturday to my first beer festival for years as some friends were going - I'm sure everyone worked hard to put it on, and lots of folk seemed to be enjoying themselves - but I dont think i'll be rushing back.

Wow, Meaks. Seems you're on some kind of one-man-mission to **** people off. Very uncool. I'd always had you down as one of the more mature and considerate posters, too!

I'd always had you down as one of the more mature and considerate posters, too!

You were correct! ;)

Except for when I'm being a ****...

Some of you seem to have a real personal issue with CAMRA.....Have they kicked you out of their masonic lodge? :hihi: I take the view that these folks are giving up their own time free of charge to provide us with events like the beer festival and for that I thank them.

Now regards the beer festival itself, I've been drinking real ale now for 10 years but this is the first year I've been to a beer festival (University, Sunfest and now Sheffield Beer Festival).

All 3 festivals used beer tokens rather than money and I think that works really well. I wasn't sure what I was doing the first time but once I got into the system it's very easy and much better than fumbling around for change.

My gripe with the Sheffield Beer Festival would have to be the location. I think the organisers were very unlucky with the weather, it was exceptionally bad for the time of year, but that's the risk of an open event in a field.

We only stayed for £5 worth of beer and then left to go back into the city, because it wasn't very comfortable stood there in the mud.

Just a suggestion, but would there be any mileage in the organisers of this festival arranging a meeting with the powers that be in the City Council? I've no doubt the Council rides on the back of the 'Real Ale Capital of Britain' title when it suits them, so why not do something in conjunction with the Council?

I'm sure the Council could provide a suitable venue either free of charge or at a discounted rate and would help to publicise the event. It's to both parties benefit to shout from the rooftops what a great City this is for real ales....Let's attract tourists from outside the City to this event and make it the biggest ever.

Just a thought. :)

Regards

Doom

Some of you seem to have a real personal issue with CAMRA.....Have they kicked you out of their masonic lodge? :hihi: I take the view that these folks are giving up their own time free of charge to provide us with events like the beer festival and for that I thank them.

Now regards the beer festival itself, I've been drinking real ale now for 10 years but this is the first year I've been to a beer festival (University, Sunfest and now Sheffield Beer Festival).

My gripe with the Sheffield Beer Festival would have to be the location. I think the organisers were very unlucky with the weather, it was exceptionally bad for the time of year, but that's the risk of an open event in a field.

We only stayed for £5 worth of beer and then left to go back into the city, because it wasn't very comfortable stood there in the mud.

Just a suggestion, but would there be any mileage in the organisers of this festival arranging a meeting with the powers that be in the City Council? I've no doubt the Council rides on the back of the 'Real Ale Capital of Britain' title when it suits them, so why not do something in conjunction with the Council?

I'm sure the Council could provide a suitable venue either free of charge or at a discounted rate and would help to publicise the event. It's to both parties benefit to shout from the rooftops what a great City this is for real ales....Let's attract tourists from outside the City to this event and make it the biggest ever.

Just a thought. :)

Regards

Doom

Just to say that I agree totally. There have been changes made to improve the festival from last year but unfortunately everything got overshadowed by the mud problem, which is a real shame.

Just to say that I agree totally. There have been changes made to improve the festival from last year but unfortunately everything got overshadowed by the mud problem, which is a real shame.

+1.

I have no problem with Camra or the principles for which it stands (I'm a member), nor the people who volunteered their time to staff the fest.

I do hope that TPTB try to find an indoor venue next year tho :)

I quite like outdoor venues. Sheffield used to use St. Phillip's Social Club and then a horrific place in Darnall (worked at both of these) and they were alright but lacked atmosphere and would be unsuitable now as they would be too small I would think. Then you've got the other problem with indoor venues, as exemplified perfectly by Manchester Winter Beer Fest, heat! They've changed venue since, but when I went the beer was very warm and the temperature so unbearable that people were dehydrating really fast and consequently getting absolutely off their faces. A really unpleasant drinking environment. I'd probably think about using the bottom of Ponderosa Park though, where Peace in the Park is held. It's bigger, so you could make an L shape with the tents and avoid having that passageway inbetween, as that was part of the reason the mud in the tents was there.

I quite like outdoor venues. Sheffield used to use St. Phillip's Social Club and then a horrific place in Darnall (worked at both of these) and they were alright but lacked atmosphere and would be unsuitable now as they would be too small I would think.

That and both have been burnt down and/or demolished

That and both have been burnt down and/or demolished

Really? Didn't know Darnall had gone.

I quite like outdoor venues. Sheffield used to use St. Phillip's Social Club and then a horrific place in Darnall (worked at both of these) and they were alright but lacked atmosphere and would be unsuitable now as they would be too small I would think. Then you've got the other problem with indoor venues, as exemplified perfectly by Manchester Winter Beer Fest, heat! They've changed venue since, but when I went the beer was very warm and the temperature so unbearable that people were dehydrating really fast and consequently getting absolutely off their faces. A really unpleasant drinking environment. I'd probably think about using the bottom of Ponderosa Park though, where Peace in the Park is held. It's bigger, so you could make an L shape with the tents and avoid having that passageway inbetween, as that was part of the reason the mud in the tents was there.

Derby beer fest is the best venue in summer, the main hall is air conditioned and nice and cool.

You can go for a wander round Derby's excellent pubs afterwards, too :D

Yeah, they've both been mysteriously burnt down :)

Derby beer fest is the best venue in summer, the main hall is air conditioned and nice and cool.

You can go for a wander round Derby's excellent pubs afterwards, too :D

This is exactly what I did this summer, though I ate at The Dolphin before going in. The only thing I don't like about Derby is that, given their smaller bar and rotation system with the ales, you don't know which ones are going to be on. Unfortunately for me, when I went, there were hardly any dark beers on hand pump. A good beer fest nonetheless.

I quite like outdoor venues. Sheffield used to use St. Phillip's Social Club and then a horrific place in Darnall (worked at both of these) and they were alright but lacked atmosphere and would be unsuitable now as they would be too small I would think.

They would be unsuitable now, because they have both been burned. :(