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We have a trivia question in order to register to prevent bots. If you have any issues with answering, contact us at cass@bartowel.com for help.
Introducing Light Mode! If you would like a Bar Towel social experience that isn't the traditional blue, you can now select Light Mode. Go to the User Control Panel and then Board Preferences, and select "Day Drinking" (Light Mode) from the My Board Style drop-down menu. You can always switch back to "Night Drinking" (Dark Mode). Enjoy!
CAMRA White Cliffs Winter Ales Festival
I was reading an article in the April issue of "What's Brewing" about the CAMRA beer festival in Dover. They mentions that there was a attendance of more than 1,500 drinkers, many from France, Belguim, Holland and a contingent from Ottawa,Canada. Perry I assume CAMRA is referring to you, how many were in your contingent?
There were only two of us, but as we were the only foreign "brewers" in the room we got noticed.
The festival was a typical CAMRA event, well organised and well represented. Food was available too! I chatted awhile with Tony Prins, owner/brewer at HopDaemon Brewery and with John Davidson, Owner brewer at Swale Brewery, both in Kent. I also met with an American fellow who works for B. United, an importer who brings cask British ales into the U.S. These conversations were the highlight of the evening for me.
The drawback to the festival (many will be confused by my objection) is that the minimum alcohol level for participation was 5%. I have tasted quite a few "old Ales" which are very tasty and clock in around 4.5%. Also, beers were served by the pint or half-pint, which is fine for a regular festival, but for one like this, it should have used a smaller measure.
There were many fine ales there, notably 2 "Maison Dieu" specials brewed for the occasion by the two brewers I mentionned above. Both were very pale beers, using American hops for bittering. This is a very big trend right now in the U.K. Many brewers are introducing very pale Bitter, hopped with Cascade. This is ostensibly to lure the younger drinkers away from Bud to Real Ale. Many of these beers are quite tasty, but they begin to taste the same when consumed side-by-side.It is a trend that I do not like, but I don't live there so I won't begin to tell them what to do.
All in all, this recent trip to the U.K. was a little disaponting. I had a very good time and tasted some very good beer (notably Kaleidascope from Oakham) but the "old England" is slipping away. The lure of "the Continent" and the omnipresent American influence has made huge inroads into the culture. I still love to visit there, and will do again, but the England I first saw in 1983 (my first "beer trip"there) is no more.
The festival was a typical CAMRA event, well organised and well represented. Food was available too! I chatted awhile with Tony Prins, owner/brewer at HopDaemon Brewery and with John Davidson, Owner brewer at Swale Brewery, both in Kent. I also met with an American fellow who works for B. United, an importer who brings cask British ales into the U.S. These conversations were the highlight of the evening for me.
The drawback to the festival (many will be confused by my objection) is that the minimum alcohol level for participation was 5%. I have tasted quite a few "old Ales" which are very tasty and clock in around 4.5%. Also, beers were served by the pint or half-pint, which is fine for a regular festival, but for one like this, it should have used a smaller measure.
There were many fine ales there, notably 2 "Maison Dieu" specials brewed for the occasion by the two brewers I mentionned above. Both were very pale beers, using American hops for bittering. This is a very big trend right now in the U.K. Many brewers are introducing very pale Bitter, hopped with Cascade. This is ostensibly to lure the younger drinkers away from Bud to Real Ale. Many of these beers are quite tasty, but they begin to taste the same when consumed side-by-side.It is a trend that I do not like, but I don't live there so I won't begin to tell them what to do.
All in all, this recent trip to the U.K. was a little disaponting. I had a very good time and tasted some very good beer (notably Kaleidascope from Oakham) but the "old England" is slipping away. The lure of "the Continent" and the omnipresent American influence has made huge inroads into the culture. I still love to visit there, and will do again, but the England I first saw in 1983 (my first "beer trip"there) is no more.
Perry, if you want to experince "Old England" on your next trip I suggest you head to the village of Great Tew in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, where you'll find the Falkland Arms. This pub dates from the 16th century and is thatched as are all the other buildings in the village. Check out the website at http://www.falklandarms.org.uk
I agree with you that England is being more influenced by American and Continental things. When I was in England almost every pub had Stella on tap and if you ever watch a Manchester United game you'll see advertising for Budweiser. This is only beer, if the NFL ever becomes more popular than the English Premier League then the English way of life will be totally lost.
I agree with you that England is being more influenced by American and Continental things. When I was in England almost every pub had Stella on tap and if you ever watch a Manchester United game you'll see advertising for Budweiser. This is only beer, if the NFL ever becomes more popular than the English Premier League then the English way of life will be totally lost.
My post was a generalisation, I know. There are still enclaves of Old Blighty to be found here and there. We went to a pub, "The Red Lion" in Snargate, that fits the bill. It has been run by the same family for over 100 years, the interior has not changed much in 50! The landlady is 75 years old at least and still runs the bar alone in the afternoon. The walls are papered with WW II posters, originals, not repros. The ales are served by gravity from behind the marble bar top. There are hand pumps, but they haven't been used in 90 years!
Perhaps all is not lost,but it is fading.
Perhaps all is not lost,but it is fading.