Heart of Staffordshire Branch held it's first Real Ale Festival to be held at the Gatehouse Theatre. A 'low carbon footprint' was achieved by sourcing beers from within a 30 mile radius. We offer our sincere thanks to Andrew and the entire Slater Family for sourcing, storing, and delivering the beers. Every Staffordshire Brewery was represented, and all other Beers came from the adjoining Counties. Thanks to Chris & Sue Rogers we also had five Real Ciders and Two Perry's. Live music was available on Friday Night and both Saturday Sessions - The Remnants, On Glass Canvas, Spittal Brook Folk Group, Shuffle Kings, and Muff Cakes entertained our Patrons.
Beer List: BACKYARD BREWHOUSE ('GB' and 'Nipin'), BEARTOWN ('Bearly Literate', 'Kodiak Gold' and 'Polar Eclipse'), BEOWULF ('Dragon Smoke Stout', 'Finns Hall Porter' and 'Mercian Shine'), BLACK COUNTRY ('English Summer' and 'Pig on the Wall'), BLACK HOLE ('Bitter'), BLYTHE ('Bitter', 'Johnson's Ale', 'Palmers Poison' and 'Staffie'), BRIDGNORTH ('Apley Ale', 'Bishop Percy' and 'Trevethick'), BURTON BRIDGE ('Festival Ale', 'Golden Delicious', 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Top Dog Stout'), CHURCH END ('Gravediggers Mild' and 'What the Fox's Hat'), COVERDALE ('Dark & Delicious' and 'Normans Pride'), ENVILLE ('Ginger Beer' and 'Porter'), HANBY ('Cherry Bomb' and 'Scorpio Porter'), HIGHGATE ('Dark Mild' and 'Davenports IPA'), HOBSONS ('Best Bitter', 'Mild' and 'Town Crier'), HOLDENS ('Black Country Bitter', 'Black Country Mild' and 'Special Bitter'), SARAH HUGHES ('Dark Ruby Mild'), KINVER ('Edge', 'Khyber' and 'Pail Ale'), LEATHERBRITCHES ('Ashbourne Ale' and 'Hairy Helmet'), LEEK ('Double Sunset' and 'Staffordshire Gold'), LIONS TAIL ('Chesbrewnette' and 'Lionbru'), MARSTON'S ('Old Empire') (KINDLY DONATED BY THE PRINCESS ROYAL PUB), MORTON ('Jelly Roll' and 'Scottish Maiden'), OLD COTTAGE ('Halcyon Daze' and 'Oak Ale'), OLD SWAN/MA PARDOES ('Dark Swan' and 'Entire'), PEAKSTONE ROCK ('Nemesis' and 'Oblivion'), QUARTZ ('Crystal' and 'Extra Blonde'), SALOPIAN ('Golden Thread', 'Lemon Dream' and 'Shropshire Gold'), SHUGBOROUGH ('Lordships Own' and 'Miladys Fancy'), SLATERS ('Common Road Bitter', 'Owzat', 'Premium', 'Queen Bee' and 'Top Totty'), THORNBRIDGE ('Jaipur IPA', 'Kipling' and 'Lord Maples'), TITANIC ('Captain Smiths', 'Iceberg', 'Longitude', 'Mild' and 'Stout'), TOLL END ('Coal Ole', 'Power Station Larger' and 'Tipton Pride'), TOWER ('Gone for a Burton' and 'Sundowner'), TOWNHOUSE ('Audley Bitter', 'Audley Gold' and 'Flowerdew'), WHIM ('Arbor Light', 'Hartington Bitter' and 'Hartington IPA'), WORFIELD ('Dabley Ale' and 'Dabley Gold'). In all we had 90 Real Ales from 36 Breweries 'something for everyone'; and all from within a 30 mile radius! This was truly a LocAle Festival!
Cider & Perry – Five Ciders obtained from the following Producers: Gwynt y Ddraig, Parson's, Rich's, Three Cats, and Westcroft. In addition there will be two Perry's from Hartland's and Hecks. Regrettably, Staffordshire is not noted for its Cider Production; we have, therefore sourced from Derbyshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, and; of course, Somerset!
Venue – Stafford Gatehouse Theatre
Opening Times – Thursday 3rd July 6 -11pm – Friday 4th July 12 - 4.30pm & 6 -11pm - Saturday 5th July 12 - 4.30pm & 6 -11pm
WE THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR 2008 FESTIVAL – DATES FOR 2009 WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY!!
APPROVED CHARITY – We are pleased to announce that Hospital Radio Stafford, our approved Charity this Year received donated 'unsold' beer tokens worth £180. Further details about HRS can be found at http://www.hrstafford.org.uk