Images of Derby CAMRA beer fest
Added: Friday, February 21st 2014
The Campaign for Real Ale’s National Winter Ales Festival was held between 19 and 22 February in a new venue – the restored, historic Roundhouse at Pride Park, Derby. The Victorian building dates from 1839 and housed locomotives run by such legends of the steam age as George Stephenson of Rocket fame.
The Roundhouse, empty for years, is Grade-II listed and has been restored at a cost of £46 million. It’s now run as a conference venue by Derbyshire Education Authority. The vaulted cast-iron roof was seen in all its glory as the main hall for the CAMRA festival, which included judging the national Champion Winter Ale of Britain competition and the East Midlands Winter Ales competition. Dunham Massey Dunham Porter was the national winner – the second year running a porter has won the award.
The main hall offered plenty of seating for visitors.
The merits of the several hundred beers on offer were cause for serious discussion and debate.
Young visitors proved that cask ale is popular with drinkers of all ages.
Les Baynton, the Derby Beer King, was greeted by John Edger (left), brewer at Castle Rock in Nottingham whose Midnight Owl won the Old Ale and Strong Mild category of the East Midlands beer competition. Roger Protz is seen on the right. Photo: Graham Percy
On Thursday evening, 20 February, Roger Protz joined in celebrations at the Derby Tup pub in Chesterfield, which has featured in 30 continuous editions of the Good Beer Guide. He is seen with pub tenant Brendan McConville. The pub is owned by Castle Rock. Photo: Graham Percy
