CAMRAswl Battersea Beer Festival 2009
A record 5,014 attended the 19th Battersea Beer Festival at Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) from Wednesday 11 - Friday 13 February 2009. Such unprecedented popularity caused the beer to run out on the final day.
Chris Cobbold, Festival Organiser, said: “We ran out of beer on the Friday at 9.30pm, even though we got more in from local Battersea brewers Sambrooks. When all the cider went we gave out bottled beers from our tombola stand and then the Belgian beer ran out. We started letting people in for free and we actually closed the festival about 10.30pm.”
Over 160 Real Ales from across Britain were available over the course of the festival, along with many foreign beers from Belgium and Dutch breweries: Ciders and perries were once again in the Lower Hall.
There weren’t the space restrictions we had in 2008 due to the theatrical sets that were then in place so we had use of the Grand Hall corridors once again which allowed for more seating. Many who were disappointed by its absence last year were glad to see the Tombola was back once again and it was as popular as ever.
Beer of the Festival
The winner of the Beer of the Festival vote was Bowman’s Swift One which is a 3.8% ABV pale, golden quaffing ale with excellent flavours for its strength. Bowman Ales are based on a farm near Droxford, Hampshire [website: www.bowman-ales.com]. The CAMRA SW London branch had a trip to Bowman’s brewery in July 2009 to present the certificate to the winning brewer.
The joint second placed beers were Wensleydale Coverdale Poacher IPA and Yates’ (IOW) Holy Joe.
The top three foreign beers were: 1. Verhaeghe Echte Kriek 2. La Chouffe 3. Schenkerla Rauchbier Urbock.
There was no award for the top cider / perry as none received sufficient votes.
The VIPs at the Pub of the Year announcement
The Pub of the Year 2008 was announced at the festival on Thursday 12. The winning pub was the Bricklayer’s Arms in Putney. [website: www.bricklayers-arms.co.uk]. The official presentation took place at the pub on the evening of Wednesday 29 April - see the Branch Diary.
To see some more photos of the Festival you can go to www.flickr.com/groups/batterseabeerfestival where you can upload your own photos to the group if you have any that are suitable.
The fourth of our local pub guides, THE CLAPHAM OMNIBUS - a guide to the pubs in and around Clapham and South Lambeth was launched at the festival, priced at £2.00. Our previous 3 local guides are also still available on-line from the CAMRA Shop. [http://shop.camra.org.uk].
If you have any general queries about the Battersea Beer Festival please email info@batterseabeerfestival.org.uk.
