Tuesday 1st June 2010 - Saturday 5th June 2010
Welcome to the 25th Colchester Real Ale & Cider Festival
Please bear a thought for our staff. This festival is organised and run on an entirely voluntary basis by branch members.
No-one is being paid, and every member of staff is giving up their time to help out.
Why not join CAMRA at the products & membership stand, and play a part in future festivals, branch meetings, brewery visits and socials?
CAMRA promotes responsible drinking
Soft drinks are free to drivers
PLEASE DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE
Poster
Download a Poster here
Beers
Correct as of 29th May 2010 but subject to change
| Brewer | Location | Beer | abv | Description |
| Anglo Dutch | Dewsbury, W. Yorks | Tabatha the Knackered | 6.00% | Very pale, Belgian style beer with a hint of corrinader |
| Sweet Jane | 4.00% | No notes available | ||
| B & T | Shefford, Beds | Shefford Old Dark | 5.00% | A rich, fruity flavoured dark beer with caramel flavours |
| Edwin Taylor's Extra stout | 4.50% | A pleasant bitter beer with a strong roast malt flavour | ||
| Bartrams | Rougham, Suffolk | Cheery Stout | 4.80% | Sensuous hints of chocolate leads to a subtle hint of cherries in this award winning stout |
| The Bees Knees | 4.20% | An amber beer with a floral aroma, honey softness on the palate | ||
| Headway | 4.00% | Full bodied dark bitter. Brewed to help support Headway (one of supported charities) | ||
| ???? | ? | Festival Special | ||
| Beartown | Congleton, Cheshire | Ursa Minor | 3.60% | No notes available |
| Bruins Ruin | 5.00% | No notes available | ||
| Bowland | Sawley, Clitheore Lancs | Bowland Gold | 3.80% | Hoppy bitter with grapfruit flavours and generous malt flavours |
| Bowland Dragon | 4.20% | Full-bodied golden bitter with rounded fruity hop flavours | ||
| Brentwood | Brentwood, Essex | Summer Virgin | 4.50% | A light golden beer wit citrus notes and Avomatic hops |
| Chockwork Orange | 6.50% | Deep chocolate malty beer brewed with oranges to give it the extra pazazz | ||
| Forbidden Fruit | 4.20% | Light golden beer brewed with summer fruits and Galena hops | ||
| ???? | ? | Festival Special | ||
| Clarks | Wakefield, W. Yorks | Classic Blonde | 3.90% | An award winning, best selling ale. A pale hoppy beer with a hint of citrus fruit |
| Rams Revenge | 4.60% | A rich ruby, dark copper coloured ale. Has a deep fruity taste with a smooth dry finish | ||
| Crouch Vale | South Woodham Ferrers, Essex | Brewers Gold | 4.00% | Muti award winning golden ale with fresh grapefruit notes |
| Amarillo | 5.00% | Ever-popular gold bitter, spicy and full-flavoured | ||
| Dark Star | Haywards Heath, Sussex | Sussex Extra Stout | 4.50% | The black and roasted barley malts are fermented to dryness to provide perfectly balanced full malt flavours. |
| Over the Moon | 3.80% | Traditional dark mild ale, fully hopped and very quaffable. | ||
| Elgoods | Wisbech, Cambs | Cambridge Bitter | 3.80% | A mid brown bitter with a good balance of malt and hop character |
| Farmers | Maldon, Essex | Puck's Folly | 4.20% | Slightly spicy golden ale with a light pinapple aroma |
| Hotel Porter | 4.10% | Award winning porter | ||
| Captain Ann | 4.50% | Traditional premium bitter with malt notes from Maris Otter, Crystal and Chocolate malt | ||
| Dark Horse | 6.60% | |||
| George wright | Rainford, Merseyside | Whingers Bitter | 4.00% | No notes available |
| Roman Black ale | 4.80% | No notes available | ||
| Green Jack | Lowestoft, Suffolk | Trawlerboys | 4.60% | Full-bodied, dark coloured premium bitter with chocolate, fruit, malt and hop flavours. |
| The Good Ship Excelisor | 4.00% | New Good goldern beer | ||
| Baltic Trader | 11% | Strong Porter | ||
| Albion Mild | New Mild - No notes available | |||
| Goose Eye | Keighley, W. Yorks | Chinook Blonde | 4.20% | Very pale and hoppy with a citrus aftertaste. |
| Over & stout | 5.20% | A dark moreish stout smooth on the palate with a slight hint of chocolate. | ||
| Hambleton | Melmerby, N. Yorks | Hambleton Bitter | 3.80% | A golden bitter with a good balance of malty and refreshing citrus notes leading to a mellow tangy finish |
| Stud | 4.30% | Straw coloured, the Arome hops give a delicacy and subtlety to the robust full-bodied flavour | ||
| Harwich Town | Harwich, Essex | Parkstone Porter | 4.50% | Heavily hopped robust porter in the new-world style |
| Essex | No notes available | |||
| Misleading Lights | 4.00% | Good seassion bitter | ||
| Phoneix APA | 5.10% | Lingering malt sweetness is balanced with smooth bitterness throughout. | ||
| ???? | ? | Festival Special | ||
| Hexhamshire | Hexham, Northumberland | Devil's Elbow | 3.60% | smooth ale with a rounded malty taste — highly drinkable |
| Whapweasle | 4.80% | A smooth strong golden bitter — dangerously drinkable | ||
| Humpty Dumpty | Reedham, Norfolk | Little Sharpie | 3.80% | Good session bitter. A delicate hoppy aroma leading to a light clean tasting pleasant finish |
| Lemon & Ginger | 4.00% | Pale amber crisp ale, finished with a refreshing ginger and lemon tang | ||
| Norfolk Nectar | 4.60% | Amber coloured ale infused with local honey | ||
| Porter | 5.40% | Traditional London style porter which uses choclolate and black malts | ||
| Ilkley | Ilkley, West Yorks | Ilkley Black | 3.70% | A dark and velvety mild made with chocolate and roasted malts to give a rich flavour |
| Ilikey Gold | 3.90% | A refreshing light golden ale with a floral citrus aroma and a delicate bitter finish | ||
| Jarrow | Tyne & Wear | Rivet Catcher | 4.00% | A light, smooth, satisfying gold bitter. Subtle fruity hops give the taste profile on the tongue and nose |
| McConnell's Irish Stout | 4.60% | A rich, creamy stout with a long lingering liquorice and pale chocolate finish | ||
| Leydon | Bury, Lancs | Black Pudding | 3.80% | A dark brown, creamy mild with a malty flavour, followed by a faint, balanced finish. |
| Crowning Glory | 6.80% | A surprisingly smooth tasting beer for it's strength, this dark bitter is ideal for those cold winter nights. | ||
| Mauldon's | Sudbury, Suffolk | Mole Trap | 3.80% | Well balanced session beer with a crisp hoppy bitterness |
| Micawbers Mild | 3.50% | A tradtional beer with a full round flavour with a slight but distinctive bitter finish | ||
| Silver Adder | 4.20% | A light coloured bitter with fine hop and malt combinations | ||
| Black Adder | 5.30% | A dark bitter stout. Roast and nu aromas with a fruity balance of hops and dark malt | ||
| Mersea Island | Mersea, Essex | Yo Boy | 3.80% | A session bitter with great tastes of Maris Otter and Crystal Malt |
| Lion | 3.90% | Pale amber bitter with a great nut and caramel flavours and a combination of 6 malts | ||
| Skippers | 4.80% | Fabulous premium bitter | ||
| Oyster | 5.00% | Smooth dark stout with real Mersea oysters | ||
| Mighty Oak | Maldon, Essex | Maldon Gold | 3.80% | Light, fresh and floral, a great quaffing bitter |
| Kite Runner | 4.10% | No notes available | ||
| Osacr Wild | 3.70% | A mellow, nutty, morish dark mild. Brewed using Maris Otter Pale, Crystal and Black malts | ||
| Milton | Cambridge | Pegasus | 4.10% | Complex copper-coloured beer. The initial hoppiness is balanced with a fruity, malty finish |
| Nero's Stout | 5.00% | Full flavoured, with a good balance of malt, roast and fruit. | ||
| Mill Grren | Edwardstone, Suffolk | Mawkin Mild | 2.90% | SIBA Gold Award Winning Mild. Low in alcohol hign in flavour |
| The Good Ship Arbella | 5.40% | A pale hoppy American style beer | ||
| Tess of the Compasses | 3.30% | A dark ruby red beer. Flavour is hoppy and dry with elderflower and vanilla | ||
| Nethergate | Pentlow, Essex | Mary's Mild | 4.50% | Old fashioned dark mild with fresh bitterness |
| Umbel Ale | 3.80% | Brewed with coriander to give a fruity tan | ||
| Essex Border | 4.80% | Golden beer with fruity and spicy overtones | ||
| Essex Beast | 6.20% | A strong, dark, roust beer brewed with chocolate malt to give a rich toffee flavour | ||
| Umbel Magna | 5.00% | Multi award winning porter, brewed with coriander to add spiciness | ||
| Old Mill | Goole, East Yorks | Old Mill Mild | 3.40% | A smooth, malty and nutty flavoured mild with hints of dark chocolate finish |
| Potton | Potton, Sandy, Beds | Shannon IPA | 3.60% | A classic IPA style beer, hoppy and eminently drinkable. |
| Potton Gold | 4.10% | Golden colour with a floral hop character. | ||
| Village Bike | 4.30% | A complex hop character imparted from a blend of four hop varieties produces a beer of exceptional character. | ||
| Railway Tavern | Brightlingsea, Essex | Crab and Winkle | 4% | Dark mild with bags of flavour. Vegan friendly |
| ???? | 4.2%ish | ???? | ||
| Red Fox | Coggeshall, Essex | Coggeshall Gold | 4.00% | Intensley hoped golden beer |
| Black Fox Porter | 4.80% | A rich flavoured, black beer with smooth chocolate notes | ||
| Wily Ol' Fox | 5.20% | Deep golden fruity and floral ale with Boadicea hops | ||
| Silver Fox | 4.20% | 25th Festival Special | ||
| Rudgate | Tockwith, York | Rudegate Ruby Mild | 4.40% | Supreme Champion Beer of Brition 2009 |
| Shalford | Shalford, Essex | Levelly Gold | 4.00% | Golden summery ale. A refreshing bitter with a pleasant finish. An agreeable alternative to lager |
| Rotton End Bitter | 6.50% | Traditional coloured and strong, accompanied by a slightly sweet and nutty undertone with a bitter edge to finish | ||
| ??? | 5.00% | Cask conditioned lager | ||
| Sticklegs | Elmstead Market, Essex | Malt Shovel Mild | 3.40% | Old fashioned dark mild, bags of flavour |
| Nemesis | 5% | Award winner from Colchester Winter Festival | ||
| Old Forge Bitter | 3.80% | Traditional style beer | ||
| Hi Ho Silver | ? | Festival Special | ||
| Thwaites | Blackburn, Lancs | Nutty Black | 3.30% | An easy drinking, dark ruby coloured beer with a deliciously sweet initial taste and a rounded, roasted aftertaste. |
| Finest Amber Birra | 4.20% | No notes available | ||
| Wibblers | Mayland, Essex | Spirit of '66 | 4.20% | A world cup special |
| Crafty Stoat | 5.30% | A dark and complex stout with six types of malt | ||
| Apprentice | 3.90% | Golden in colour, hoppy nose and definitely a session beer | ||
| Wolf | Wolf in Sheep's clothing | 3.70% | This traditional Norfolk mild has a malty aroma with fruity undertones. | |
| Granny Wouldn't Like It! | 4.80% | Dark red, rich and fruity. This mighty beer has many awards to its name | ||
| Woild Moild | 4.80% | A rich and fruity traditional Norfolk mild.Good balance of malt with liquorice bitterness and lots of chocolate malt |
Download pdf version to print
Ciders & Perry
Cider & Perry list to appear here (Enquiries regarding the Cider & Perry list should be directed to the Beer Festival Organiser NOT the webmaster)
Real Cider and Perry varies from year to year according to temperature, length of growing season, etc.
For this reason, we can't say whether they are dry, medium, etc until our Cider Manager has tasted the lot.
He'll be the one lying on the floor behind the cider bar - wake him up and ask his opinion.
Opening Times & Entry Fees
Open 6pm - 11pm Tuesday 1st June 2010
Open 12noon - 11pm Daily Wednesday 2nd - Saturday 5th June 2010
Admission £1.50 until 6.30pm, £2.50 from 6.30pm - 11pm
Accompanied children welcome until 7pm.
Camra members free at all times on production on a valid membership card.
Why not join Camra at the festival, entry fees will be refunded & you might get some free beer!
Finding Us
The Beer Festival will be held at the Colchester Arts Centre, just off Colchester High Street. The best way to find us is to look for 'Jumbo' the water tower!
For those who don't know, the Arts Centre is a beautiful deconsecrated church situated just off Head Street in the heart of the town centre. Apart from its historic connections (it played a major part in the Siege of Colchester, 1648, allegedly the source of the "Humpty Dumpty" nursery rhyme).
Description route from Colchester North Station by Google Maps Route
Alternative foot route from Colchester Town Station by Google Maps
Food
Hog Roast
Curries - tbc
Music
Tuesday Evening - Vixation
Saturday Evening - The Onion Band
Charities
Joint charities this year :-
Funds will be divided equally between the two charities, and we thank you for your kindness on their behalf.
An Appeal to all Members
Festivals do not run themselves. Months of planning and admin are needed, and we rely on volunteers to staff the festival. If you can help, even for a couple of hours, and especially during the quieter weekday afternoon/early evening sessions, please complete this Staffing Form rtf - pdf and return it to Alan Wareham, our Staffing Officer for the festival.
All staff are required to be aware of the Festival Safety Policy (PDF - Word Doc) and the CAMRA Volunteers Handbook (PDF 1.7mb)