Derby is usually referred to as the Real Ale capital of England and in terms of it’s reputation for beer quality, seemsto be the city to visit or live if you want an ‘all-year-round’ beer festival.
This point is emphasised in the month of July when locals and visitors alike arrive on the Midlands Beer Capital for the annual Derby Beer Festival.
The festival is held at the Derby Assembly Rooms with beer-lovers ready and willing to devour the excellent range of real ales, cider, Perry, bottled conditioned and overseas beers on offer. With over 100 traditional beers from all over the United Kingdom available across its 5-day length, there really is something for everyone. Each session has its own musical entertainment in the form of folk, rock and tribute acts.
The of the Assemble Rooms is where the majority of the beers are housed but the Darwin suite is also open and hosts an ever-changing variety of beer from local and semi-local breweries. Actually, the Darwin suite is very popular due to it’s somewhat more intimate feel .
Food is available throughout the festival but over recent times , this has proved expensive and of average quality. Either take your own or fill-up before you go in (or have that customary annual kebab on your journey home).
The festival is operated by volunteers from the Derby branch of The Campaign for Real Ale, or CAMRA as it is often referred to . Founded in 1971 as a non-profit consumer association , CAMRA has fought and won many battles to preserve traditional Ale and the traditional pub. It was set up to champion consumers’ rights with recent victories being to highlight pubs serving short measures and to break-up the monopolies of large beer conglomerates.
The recent recession and the increase in alcohol duty has seen a large scale reduction in profitable pubs across the UK with a substantial amount shutting or diversifying their business. This has been a testing time for CAMRA who continue to stick up for the rights of Ale lovers and pub landlords alike.
The 33rd Derby Beer Festival will be held at the Derby Assembly Rooms between Wednesday 7th and Sunday 11th July 2010 and this is the first year when the festival will be open all day on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday (11.30 – 23.00).
For full details on this fantastic festival, visit http://www.derbybeerfestival.co.uk
It is expected that the opening ceremony will take place on Wednesday evening at 1815 in the Market Place by the Mayor of Derby, the Beer King plus a Private Derby-Mercian Regimental Mascot.
The summer Derby Beer Festival is complemented by a smaller but just as enjoyable Winter Beer Festival. This event also takes place at the Derby Assembly Rooms in the cosy Darwin Suite every February.
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This post was written by wine on May 23, 2010
