Manning winter pumps in Manchester
Added: Monday, January 21st 2013
National CAMRA Winter Ales Festival 23 – 26 January, Sheridan Suite, Manchester M40 8EA
Highlights include:
· Announcement of Champion Winter Beer of Britain
· Opportunity to try beers brewed by some of the country’s leading female brewers
· Launch of three new beers
CAMRA’s National Winter Ales Festival will open its doors to the public at 5pm on Wednesday, 23rd January 2013. A trade session for licensees, breweries and the media is also held on Wednesday 23rd January from 2.30pm to 5pm. If press would like to attend then please email tony.jerome@camra.org.uk.
This national event, which is hosted in the Sheridan Suite, Oldham Road, Manchester, will showcase from its nine bars more than 300 real ales, ciders, perries and foreign beers. A wide range of beer styles will be available including those winter favourites – Porters, Stouts, Old Ales and Barley Wines.
Champion Winter Beer of Britain – Wednesday 23rd January 2013. Britain’s best Winter Ales will fight it out to be crowned CAMRA’s National Winter Beer of Britain on Wednesday 23rd January 2013. The finest Porters, Stouts, Old Ales and Barley Wines will be blind-tasted by a judging panel and the winners from each category will not only make it into the final judging of this competition but also win a place in the Champion Beer of Britain competition, which takes place at the Great British Beer Festival, Olympia in August 2013.
Nik Antona, CAMRA National Director, said: “A renaissance has occurred in recent years, and particularly in the field of outstanding dark, malty, rich and roasted beers for these colder months of the year. British beer drinkers are faced with more variety and choice than ever. You only need to take one look around this week’s festival for proof. With the future looking bright for traditional winter beer styles, you’ll find champions both past and present at the festival this week, each with their own unique flavour profiles. Try a few and you’ll realise exactly why being a beer taster and judge is such a difficult and thankless task.”
The overall Champion Winter Beer of Britain will be announced from the festival floor at approximately 2.30pm.
Project Venus
The National Winter Ales Festival this year is giving brewsters (female brewers) an opportunity to show what they are doing. All 14 breweries from Project Venus will be represented, including Metalman from Waterford in Ireland. Look out for beers from Project Venus and their member brewsters, which will be identified by a Venus post-it on their casks. Established in March 2011, Project Venus is a group of female brewers or brewsters who get together to pool their skills and ideas. It was inspired by the Pink Boots Society in America which aims to promote and further educate women in brewing and beer. There are three Project Venus collaboration beers which will have involved at least half a dozen brewsters and then lots from the individual brewsters' breweries. Go to www.projectvenus.co.uk for more information.
New Beers at the Festival
Three breweries are launching new beers at the festival Liverpool Organic, Offbeat and Peerless. Liverpool Organic’s Liverpool Stout is a 4.3 per cent ABV dark beer and Peerless Pale is a 3.8 per cent very pale, bitter style beer which uses American hops. Offbeat’s Venus Ella is a 4.3 per cent best bitter and was created as the result of collaboration between 10 female brewers. The beer uses Ella and Nelson Sauvin hops. There will be an opportunity to photograph and meet representatives from the breweries at Bar 2 between 3.15 and 3.30 on Wednesday 23rd January. Brewery contacts: Liverpool Organic, Mark Hensby 0151 933 9660; Peerless, Steve Briscoe 0151 647 7688 and Offbeat, Michelle Kelsall 07502 096438.
Beer List for cask ale beer available please visit .nwaf.org.uk/cask-beer-list. Real Ale in a bottle http://nwaf.org.uk/real-ale-in-a-bottle/raib-list/ Foreign Beer List: http://nwaf.org.uk/foreign-beers/foreign-beer-list/ Cider & Perry List: http://nwaf.org.uk/cider-perry/cider-and-perry-order/
Trade Session The Trade Session for licensees, breweries and the media is held on Wednesday 23rd January from 2.30pm to 5pm. If press would like to attend then please emailtony.jerome@camra.org.uk
Opening Times and Prices Wednesday 23 January: 2.30pm to 5pm - Trade & Press Session (Invitation Only – press should email tony.jerome@camra.org.uk). 5pm to 10.30pm - £2 (£1 Concession) CAMRA members free on Wednesday. Thursday 24 January: 12 noon to 10.30pm - £2 (£1 Concession). CAMRA Members free on Thursday. Friday 25 January: 12 noon to 4.30pm - £3 (Price includes attendance past 4.30pm). 4.30pm to 10.30pm - £5. Saturday 26dJanuary: 12 noon to 10.30pm - £5. On Saturday there is a fancy dress option with the theme Beer Angels. Concessions apply to students, pensioners and members of the armed forces (suitable ID will be requested). CAMRA members £1 off Full Prices (except Thursday which is free for CAMRA members).
Other highlights - Robinsons celebrate their 175 Anniversary in 2013 and featured on its Brewery bar will be Frederic’s 175. Thwaites is sending Lancaster Bomber to support the 70th anniversary of the Dam Buster's air raid during WWII.
Getting to the Festival: First Bus Services are offering a special concessionary fare of £2 to the festival on First Bus Services – ask the driver.
Festival charity: The festival charity is After Adoption. http://www.afteradoption.org.uk/
For more information CAMRA Press Office – 01727 798443 and tony.jerome@camra.org.uk. Tim Hampson (Press Officer at the National Winter Ales Festival on Wednesday 23rd January) 07768 614283
More CAMRA info – www.camra.org.uk
