29th September 2011

WEYMOUTH: Beer festival set to be the �best ever�

THE October Beer Festival will be the best ever in Weymouth, “bigger and better” say local Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) members.

Around 62 casks of real ale and 10 of real cider have been ordered as the traditional Octoberfest moves location to the Ocean Room at Weymouth Pavilion, on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th October.

The festival has been hosted by Brewers Quay for the past eight years, but closure of that venue earlier this year has forced a move.

“I believe Weymouth Pavilion is going to be an even better venue,” comments CAMRA West Dorset chairman Dave Harris.

“The Ocean Room is quite a lot bigger, more spacious, with much more seating. One of the difficulties at Brewers Quay was the lack of room and the need for most drinkers to stand-up.

“Moving to the Ocean Room will enable us to increase the numbers attending by 25 per cent. The views across the bay will be an added bonus to those visiting from all over the country!”

“We were well looked after at Brewers Quay,” says CAMRA spokesman Michel Hooper-Immins, “but the Pavilion is easier to reach and the new Park & Ride bus stops just outside.

“We are confident Octoberfest at the Pavilion will be bigger and better, putting money into the complex at the same time - helping to keep it open for the town.”

As has been the custom at previous Octoberfests, a live band will play every evening, but lunchtimes will be quiet and music-free!

There are 250 tickets on sale for each lunchtime session and 400 for each evening session on October 7th and 8th. The Pavilion will be selling a full range of snacks at all sessions.

Among the 62 real ales ordered specially for the Octoberfest are eight from Cornwall, nine from Dorset, 11 from Wiltshire, 15 from Somerset and 19 from Devon.

A number of beer styles are represented, including a rare barley wine from the cask - Devon 10DER - brewed in Bideford and normally only sold in bottles. At 10 per cent ABV, it is two and a half times the strength of best bitter!

The famed Spingo Middle is brewed at the Blue Anchor in Helston, a venerable Cornish brew-pub dating back to the 15th century.

Among the nine real ales from Dorset brewers is the strong Tally Ho from Palmers in Bridport, Legwarmer Ginger from the Dorset Piddle Brewery at Piddlehinton and Badger First Gold from Hall & Woodhouse at Blandford St Mary - which recently won the regional CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain silver award.

Being brewed specially for the festival is Blackberry Mild, being made by CAMRA member Paul Smith at his Gillingham microbrewery. This will be the first time that a mild has been brewed in Dorset for many years and having won the Beer of the Festival Award at Weymouth last October and Dorchester this February with his Elder Sarum beer, brewer Paul Smith will be looking to achieve the hat trick!

Other Dorset beers include Portland Bill Porter from the Dorset Brewing Co at Crossways, Harvest Pale Ale from the Isle of Purbeck brewery at Studland and 6d IPA from the new Sixpenny Handley brewery.

Divided into two sessions on both the Friday and Saturday from 11am to 3pm and from 6pm to 11pm, admission costs only £3 for a lunchtime session and £4 in the evening, including a free festival glass to take home.

In the last two years, all four sessions have been sold out, so it is essential to buy tickets in advance from West Dorset CAMRA online at www.camra wdorset.org.uk, from The Boot pub in Weymouth, The Blue Raddle in Dorchester, from the Weymouth Pavilion box office or by telephoning Dave Harris at 01305 772286.

WEYMOUTH: Beer festival set to be the �best ever�

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