After over a year of local tasting panels and regional heats leading up to the finals, Moor Beer Co’s Old Freddy Walker was announced as Champion Winter Beer of Britain at the National Winter Ales Festival, in Norwich, on Tuesday 21st February.
The Bristol-brewed 7.3% Old Ale was crowned Champion at the festival, organised this year by the Norwich & Norfolk Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
Festival Organiser Rob Whitmore commented: "Old Freddy Walker is a very worthy winner of one of CAMRA's highest accolades. Our judges in Norwich were impressed with the quality in each category.
"We can all raise a glass to the great team of volunteers, brewers and judges here in Norwich, as well as the Fringe Festival host publicans, for launching the 2017 National Beer Festival in style."
The old ale was crowned the Winter Champion over a host of other finalists in four different beer categories (barley wine & strong old ales, old ales & strong milds, porters and stouts), including beers from both small microbrewers and large regional brewers.
This year's runner up went to Sulwath's The Black Galloway, while Dark Arts by Magic Rock took home the Bronze award.
Nick Boley, CAMRA's National Director responsible for the competition, commented on the winning ale, Old Freddy Walker: "We were very impressed with the balance of the beer with fruity and chocolate flavours – the perfect dessert beer".
Ian Stamp, Chairman of Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA, added: "We are delighted local brewers received awards in their own categories, with Green Jack’s Ripper Tripel winning a silver and Adnams Old Ale winning a joint bronze".
Local brewers Adnams and Green Jack received awards with Green Jack receiving a silver award in the Barley Wines & Strong Old Ales category for their Ripper Tripel and Adnams secured a joint bronze award in the Strong Milds and Old Ales category with their Old Ale.
The CAMRA National Winter Ales Festival (NWAF) ran from 21st-25th February 2017 at the St Andrew's and Blackfriars' medieval friary halls in Norwich – the home of the popular Norwich CAMRA Beer Festival. The winter festival will run in Norwich for three consecutive years.
The CAMRA National Winter Beer of Britain 2017 winners were:
Overall winners -
Champion Winter Beer of Britain – Moor, Old Freddy Walker
Silver and runner up – Sulwath, Black Galloway
Bronze – Magic Rock, Dark Arts
Barley Wines & Strong Old Ales -
Gold – Moor, Old Freddy Walker
Silver – Green Jack, Ripper Tripel
Bronze – Orkney, Skullsplitter
Strong Milds & Old Ales -
Gold – Grainstore, Rutland Beast
Silver – Sarah Hughes, Dark Ruby Mild
Joint Bronze – Old Dairy, Snow Top together with Adnams, Old Ale
Porters -
Gold – Sulwath, Black Galloway
Silver – Elland, 1872 Porter
Bronze – Tavy Ales, Tavy Porter
Stouts -
Gold – Magic Rock, Dark Arts
Silver – London Brewing Co, 100 Oyster Stout
Bronze – Loch Lomond, Silkie Stout
More information about the National Winter Ales Festival at www.nwaf.org.uk
Monday, 27 February 2017
Wednesday, 28 December 2016
It’s the most wonderful time… for a beer! - National Winter Ales Festival in Norwich
The Norwich & Norfolk branch has been awarded the National Winter Ale Festival (NWAF) by CAMRA, and will run from 21-25 February 2017 at the St Andrew's and Blackfriars' medieval friary halls – the home of the popular Norwich CAMRA Beer Festival.
The national festival will run for three consecutive years in Norwich. There are no tickets for NWAF and admission is by payment on the door. Tuesday 21 February is for CAMRA members only and will run from 5.30pm to 10.30pm (with a preview for Press and Trade in the afternoon). All other days are open to members and non-members alike and opening times will be 12.00noon to 10.30pm 22-25 February.
Alongside the February festival, the CAMRA branch will be organising The Fridge from Saturday to Saturday 18-25 February with special festival beers and events hosted across Norwich’s many pubs and brew houses. Details will be available in participating pubs and on the NWAF Website. For more information on NWAF visit www.nwaf.org.uk.
Rob Whitmore, the festival organiser, said: ‘We are proud to be hosting CAMRA’s National Winter Ale Festival here in Norwich and hope that both CAMRA members and non-members will enjoy the array of ales on offer. There will be the darker ales, more traditionally associated with a Winter festival, plus a large variety of ruby and lighter hoppy ales, as well as perries and ciders’
As always at the national festival, the Champion Winter Beers of Britain will compete to find a winner is each category – Strong Milds/Old Ales, Porters, Stouts and Barley Wines/Strong Old Ales. The overall winner will also be selected and announced at the festival. Local entrants include Adnams, Cambridge Brew House, Green Jack and Milton.
Jenny Bach, Press Officer for Norwich CAMRA added: ‘With reduced or free entry to many local festivals, including NWAF, Norwich, Peterborough and Cambridge, to name a few, might this be a good time to consider CAMRA membership? Current benefits include Wetherspoons vouchers and discounts with National Express, Merlin Group, Red Letter Days and many others, this might just be the perfect present to yourself!’
For more information on the festival, admission prices and The Fringe please visit the website nwaf.org.uk.
Thursday, 8 December 2016
Competition is launched early for the logo for Norwich Beer Festival 40th year
The annual competition has just been launched by members of the Norwich & Norfolk branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) to find the new logo for the 40th Norwich Beer Festival, taking place from Monday 23th October until Saturday 28th October 2017.
The deadline for competition entrants is Monday 27th March 2017 and Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA are looking for designs to celebrate the 40th year of the festival, as well as depicting the familiar dragon.
Launching the logo competition is one of the first tasks for the beer festival and the winning design will be one of the prime marketing tools for the festival and will be featured on the collectible festival glasses.
The members and volunteers can feel proud of another successful Beer Festival in 2016. Now the preparations for the popular annual event, which receives around 19,000 festival goers, can commence for 2017.
The festival’s team of organisers have already started to plan the 2017 October Beer Festival when 300 volunteers will come together again to launch the 40th Norwich Beer Festival.
Rob Derbridge, the festival organiser for 2016, said: ‘We are hopeful that we will receive an extra large number entries for our 40th beer festival. We always receive entries on various themes, although they must include a dragon in some form, but the entrants can choose a setting or background of their choice.
‘This year we are looking for entries which will also celebrate the 40th year. We always look forward to having a tough decision in selecting the successful winner’.
As always, the most important element is that a dragon must be included within the design, although abstract is acceptable, also a maximum five colours (four is preferable), including any black or white parts of the design.
The 2017 logo should also celebrate the 40th year of the Norwich Beer Festival.
Entrants are asked to specify "Adult" or "Under-18" and include their name, contact details and age (if under-18) on the back of the paper design or within the email.
The main winner will be judged by the organising committee at the planning and will receive £100 along with a selection of merchandising at the festival featuring their logo. There will be two runner-up prizes of complementary festival tickets and also the best under-18 entrant will win a book voucher.
Emailed entries should be in a computer readable format (JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PDF, Postscript, GIMP, Inkscape, Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw); no MS Word document files please.
Entries (one per sheet or email and with a maximum size A4) can be sent to ‘2017 40th Norwich Beer Festival Logo Competition’, 4 Rectory Close, Newton Flotman, Norwich, Norfolk, NR15 1PZ or email to beerfestival@norwichcamra.org.uk by Monday 27th March 2017 at the latest please.
All entries will become the property of the Norwich & Norfolk branch of the Campaign for Real Ale and may be used for display and publicity purposes.
The deadline for competition entrants is Monday 27th March 2017 and Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA are looking for designs to celebrate the 40th year of the festival, as well as depicting the familiar dragon.
• The logo competition has commenced early this year as the branch will be hosting the National Winter Ales Festival, running from Tuesday 21st February until Saturday 25th February 2017 and be held at the St Andrew's and Blackfriars' medieval friary halls.
The Norwich & Norfolk Branch has been awarded the National Winter Ale Festival by CAMRA and will run it for three consecutive years in Norwich.
Tickets for NWAF are only available on the door and opening times will be 5.30 pm to 10.30 pm on the 21st February and 12.00 noon until 10.30 pm 22nd - 25th February.
Alongside the February festival, the CAMRA branch will be organising a fringe festival from Saturday 18th until Saturday 25th February with special festival events to be hosted across Norwich’s many pubs and brew houses.
For more information on NWAF visit www.nwaf.org.uk.
Launching the logo competition is one of the first tasks for the beer festival and the winning design will be one of the prime marketing tools for the festival and will be featured on the collectible festival glasses.
The members and volunteers can feel proud of another successful Beer Festival in 2016. Now the preparations for the popular annual event, which receives around 19,000 festival goers, can commence for 2017.
The festival’s team of organisers have already started to plan the 2017 October Beer Festival when 300 volunteers will come together again to launch the 40th Norwich Beer Festival.
Rob Derbridge, the festival organiser for 2016, said: ‘We are hopeful that we will receive an extra large number entries for our 40th beer festival. We always receive entries on various themes, although they must include a dragon in some form, but the entrants can choose a setting or background of their choice.
‘This year we are looking for entries which will also celebrate the 40th year. We always look forward to having a tough decision in selecting the successful winner’.
As always, the most important element is that a dragon must be included within the design, although abstract is acceptable, also a maximum five colours (four is preferable), including any black or white parts of the design.
The 2017 logo should also celebrate the 40th year of the Norwich Beer Festival.
Entrants are asked to specify "Adult" or "Under-18" and include their name, contact details and age (if under-18) on the back of the paper design or within the email.
The main winner will be judged by the organising committee at the planning and will receive £100 along with a selection of merchandising at the festival featuring their logo. There will be two runner-up prizes of complementary festival tickets and also the best under-18 entrant will win a book voucher.
Emailed entries should be in a computer readable format (JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PDF, Postscript, GIMP, Inkscape, Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw); no MS Word document files please.
Entries (one per sheet or email and with a maximum size A4) can be sent to ‘2017 40th Norwich Beer Festival Logo Competition’, 4 Rectory Close, Newton Flotman, Norwich, Norfolk, NR15 1PZ or email to beerfestival@norwichcamra.org.uk by Monday 27th March 2017 at the latest please.
All entries will become the property of the Norwich & Norfolk branch of the Campaign for Real Ale and may be used for display and publicity purposes.
Thursday, 22 September 2016
Time is Running Out for Advance Tickets for the 39th Norwich Beer Festival
Advance tickets are selling fast for the six-day 2016 Norwich Beer Festival commencing 24th October and taking place at The Halls, Norwich.
Advance tickets are available until Friday 30th September via the festival ticket page.
The Norwich & Norfolk branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), who organise the annual festival, have announced that, though tickets are selling fast, there are still tickets for the popular Saturday evening session on 29th October.
The Saturday night promises to be a very entertaining evening with music from Invidia Voices and the Rock & Soul Choir playing in the early evening and the well-known local group, The Vagaband, playing into the night.
Advance tickets guarantee entrance for that session and give priority in the queue. Those without a ticket are encouraged to come along and pay on the door as only a proportion of spaces for each session, including the Saturday evening, are sold in advance.
Craig Harmer, Deputy Beer Festival Organiser, commented: ‘Even without a ticket you will be able to gain entry to the festival, including Saturday night. Having a ticket means you avoid the English weather by having priority in the queue.
‘Many people assume Saturday is ticket-only, in fact you can join the queue just like any other session and pay cash on the door. As always, CAMRA members have free entry by showing a valid membership card.’
Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA are also pleased to announce that their Featured Brewer at this year's Norwich Beer Festival, Tiny Rebel, has just won the UK Brewer of the Year at the International Beer Challenge.
Over 200 cask-conditioned Real Ales from Britain's independent brewers will be on sale, along with festival specials, draught and bottled beers, local wines and over 40 real ciders and perries. Gluten Free beers will be available in cask and bottles (subject to availability).
There is an excellent line-up of musicians playing in St Andrew’s Hall throughout the lunchtime and evening sessions. Music-free sessions are on Tuesday evening and late Thursday evening. The Blackfriars' Hall will be music free and seating is available in the Cloisters.
The festival also provides an exceptional range of refreshments and some fun games in the Blackfriars Hall where ales from local breweries are featured. Door admission prices start from £1 for non-members for the Tuesday to Thursday lunchtimes.
For further information about the 2016 Norwich Beer Festival, please see our web pages, where you can find admission prices and can also print off a poster for your pin board.
Advance tickets are available until Friday 30th September via the festival ticket page.
The Norwich & Norfolk branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), who organise the annual festival, have announced that, though tickets are selling fast, there are still tickets for the popular Saturday evening session on 29th October.
The Saturday night promises to be a very entertaining evening with music from Invidia Voices and the Rock & Soul Choir playing in the early evening and the well-known local group, The Vagaband, playing into the night.
Advance tickets guarantee entrance for that session and give priority in the queue. Those without a ticket are encouraged to come along and pay on the door as only a proportion of spaces for each session, including the Saturday evening, are sold in advance.
Craig Harmer, Deputy Beer Festival Organiser, commented: ‘Even without a ticket you will be able to gain entry to the festival, including Saturday night. Having a ticket means you avoid the English weather by having priority in the queue.
‘Many people assume Saturday is ticket-only, in fact you can join the queue just like any other session and pay cash on the door. As always, CAMRA members have free entry by showing a valid membership card.’
Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA are also pleased to announce that their Featured Brewer at this year's Norwich Beer Festival, Tiny Rebel, has just won the UK Brewer of the Year at the International Beer Challenge.
Over 200 cask-conditioned Real Ales from Britain's independent brewers will be on sale, along with festival specials, draught and bottled beers, local wines and over 40 real ciders and perries. Gluten Free beers will be available in cask and bottles (subject to availability).
There is an excellent line-up of musicians playing in St Andrew’s Hall throughout the lunchtime and evening sessions. Music-free sessions are on Tuesday evening and late Thursday evening. The Blackfriars' Hall will be music free and seating is available in the Cloisters.
The festival also provides an exceptional range of refreshments and some fun games in the Blackfriars Hall where ales from local breweries are featured. Door admission prices start from £1 for non-members for the Tuesday to Thursday lunchtimes.
For further information about the 2016 Norwich Beer Festival, please see our web pages, where you can find admission prices and can also print off a poster for your pin board.
Tuesday, 20 September 2016
Norwich Beer Festival preparations going well - advance tickets still available
Preparations are well under way now for the 39th Norwich Beer Festival to open on the 24th October and which will aim to provide an exceptional range of refreshments as ever.
The festival runs from Monday 24th to Saturday 29th October at The Halls (St Andrew's & Blackfriars' Halls) in central Norwich.
Over 200 cask-conditioned Real Ales from Britain's independent brewers will be on sale, with a few festival specials as always, along with draught and bottled beers from Continental Europe and over 40 real ciders and perries, along with local wines. Also Gluten Free beers will be available in cask and bottles (subject to availability).
Advance tickets for groups (a minimum of 2 for lunchtimes and 5 tickets for the evening sessions) are still available for the Monday, Tuesday and Saturday evening sessions plus the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtime sessions of the festival and are available online from the Norwich and Norfolk CAMRA website (via PayPal or a form to be posted) although cash admissions will be available on the door at every session.
For more details of buying tickets before Monday 26th September please visit the festival tickets page.
As always, CAMRA members have free entry with the presentation of a valid membership card.
The festival runs from Monday 24th to Saturday 29th October at The Halls (St Andrew's & Blackfriars' Halls) in central Norwich.
Over 200 cask-conditioned Real Ales from Britain's independent brewers will be on sale, with a few festival specials as always, along with draught and bottled beers from Continental Europe and over 40 real ciders and perries, along with local wines. Also Gluten Free beers will be available in cask and bottles (subject to availability).
Advance tickets for groups (a minimum of 2 for lunchtimes and 5 tickets for the evening sessions) are still available for the Monday, Tuesday and Saturday evening sessions plus the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtime sessions of the festival and are available online from the Norwich and Norfolk CAMRA website (via PayPal or a form to be posted) although cash admissions will be available on the door at every session.
For more details of buying tickets before Monday 26th September please visit the festival tickets page.
As always, CAMRA members have free entry with the presentation of a valid membership card.
Exciting music line-up to entertain at the 39th Norwich Beer Festival
A varied music line-up has been announced for the 2016 Norwich Beer Festival in October taking place at The Halls.
The Norwich & Norfolk branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), who organise the annual festival, have booked some exciting new acts to take to the St Andrew's Hall stage during the six-day festival which opens to the public on Monday 24th October at 5.30pm.
The changes to the music schedule are partly due to new technology used at the Halls with amplified music in the evenings.
Rob Derbridge, the 2016 Norwich Beer Festival Organiser, said: “a wide variety of entertainment is always appreciated by the thousands of visitors to the Norwich Beer Festival, however we are trying some new and varied acts this year, as well as allowing for some music-free sessions into the programme. Also Blackfriars' Hall will be music free as in previous years”.
New bands for 2016 include Dove and Boweevil (Monday evening), Hushwing (Tuesday lunch) guitarist Tim Lane (Wednesday lunch), rock band Stone Cold Sober (Friday early evening) and popular Norwich band The Vagaband will the perform late Saturday evening slot and who are sure to keep the lively atmosphere going in St Andrew's Hall on the final evening session.
The legendary musician Dave Thomas returns again with his blues band to entertain during the busy, long Friday lunch session and father and son duo The Harvs will appear during the extended Saturday lunchtime session.
Norfolk band Sophie G and the Good Times who also appeared last year for the first time are returning to the Beer Festival for the early evening Thursday night.
The local Invidia Voices Rock & Soul Choir, who were the first choir to perform at the beer festival in 2015, will make their second appearance during the Saturday early evening session.
The full entertainment schedule is:
Monday 24th October
Mid evening -- Dove & Boweevil (Blues Soul Roots)
Tuesday 25th October
Lunch -- Hushwing (Folk); Evening -- Music Free
Wednesday 26th October
Lunch -- Tim Lane (Guitarist); Early evening -- Hayley Moyses Britgrass Three; Late evening -- Vibe City Street Brass
Thursday 27th October
Lunch -- Dixie Mix Jazz; Early evening -- Sophie G & the Good Times; Late evening -- Music Free
Friday 28th October
Lunch -- Dave Thomas Band (Blues); Early evening -- Stone Cold Sober (Rock); Late evening -- Wherry Brass Band
Saturday 29th October
Lunch -- The Harvs (vocal); Early evening -- Invidia Voices, The Rock & Soul Choir; Late evening -- The Vagaband (Indie Roots Rock)
More information about the festival is available on the branch website.
The Norwich & Norfolk branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), who organise the annual festival, have booked some exciting new acts to take to the St Andrew's Hall stage during the six-day festival which opens to the public on Monday 24th October at 5.30pm.
The changes to the music schedule are partly due to new technology used at the Halls with amplified music in the evenings.
Rob Derbridge, the 2016 Norwich Beer Festival Organiser, said: “a wide variety of entertainment is always appreciated by the thousands of visitors to the Norwich Beer Festival, however we are trying some new and varied acts this year, as well as allowing for some music-free sessions into the programme. Also Blackfriars' Hall will be music free as in previous years”.
New bands for 2016 include Dove and Boweevil (Monday evening), Hushwing (Tuesday lunch) guitarist Tim Lane (Wednesday lunch), rock band Stone Cold Sober (Friday early evening) and popular Norwich band The Vagaband will the perform late Saturday evening slot and who are sure to keep the lively atmosphere going in St Andrew's Hall on the final evening session.
The legendary musician Dave Thomas returns again with his blues band to entertain during the busy, long Friday lunch session and father and son duo The Harvs will appear during the extended Saturday lunchtime session.
Norfolk band Sophie G and the Good Times who also appeared last year for the first time are returning to the Beer Festival for the early evening Thursday night.
The local Invidia Voices Rock & Soul Choir, who were the first choir to perform at the beer festival in 2015, will make their second appearance during the Saturday early evening session.
The full entertainment schedule is:
Monday 24th October
Mid evening -- Dove & Boweevil (Blues Soul Roots)
Tuesday 25th October
Lunch -- Hushwing (Folk); Evening -- Music Free
Wednesday 26th October
Lunch -- Tim Lane (Guitarist); Early evening -- Hayley Moyses Britgrass Three; Late evening -- Vibe City Street Brass
Thursday 27th October
Lunch -- Dixie Mix Jazz; Early evening -- Sophie G & the Good Times; Late evening -- Music Free
Friday 28th October
Lunch -- Dave Thomas Band (Blues); Early evening -- Stone Cold Sober (Rock); Late evening -- Wherry Brass Band
Saturday 29th October
Lunch -- The Harvs (vocal); Early evening -- Invidia Voices, The Rock & Soul Choir; Late evening -- The Vagaband (Indie Roots Rock)
More information about the festival is available on the branch website.
Friday, 17 June 2016
Fat Cat Brewery Tap is the CAMRA Norfolk Pub of the Year
The Fat Cat Brewery Tap, on Lawson Road, in Norwich, has been judged as the best pub in Norfolk for 2016 by members of the Norfolk branches of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale).
Following on from their success in winning the N&N CAMRA Pub of the Year, the Fat Cat Brewery Tap took the award for Norfolk Pub of the Year, winning by a whisker from the West Norfolk CAMRA entry, The Kings Arms, in Shouldham.
Laura Hedley-White, landlady of the Fat Cat Brewery Tap had this to say, “Both Mark and myself are blown away by the support and votes from CAMRA Members. We work hard in order to create a unique venue and by receiving another accolade from such a prestigious organisation such as CAMRA really does mean a lot to us and our team. To have people from another district of CAMRA come, try us out and vote for us really is an honour.
“Now we have, City, Norwich and Norfolk and Overall Norfolk Championship status we relish the next round and it has made us even more determined to deliver the best and most fun venue we can, whilst concentrating on serving even more delicious treats of a beery kind!”
The Norfolk Pub of the Year is judged on various qualities such as Beer quality and CAMRA aims by branch volunteers. Norfolk Area organiser Martin Ward revealed, “It was an extremely close competition, both pubs are to be congratulated on the standards of beer quality, service and welcome they provided, along with the excellent impression they gave to the judges.”
The Fat Cat Brewery Tap will now go on to the next stage of the competition, in which they will go up against the following in the East Anglian Pub of the Year competition later in the year.
Bedfordshire - Black Lion, Leighton Buzzard
Cambridgeshire - Falcon, Huntingdon
Essex - Compasses, Great Totham
Hertfordshire - Half Moon, Hitchin
Suffolk - Stanford Arms, Lowestoft
Following on from their success in winning the N&N CAMRA Pub of the Year, the Fat Cat Brewery Tap took the award for Norfolk Pub of the Year, winning by a whisker from the West Norfolk CAMRA entry, The Kings Arms, in Shouldham.
Laura Hedley-White, landlady of the Fat Cat Brewery Tap had this to say, “Both Mark and myself are blown away by the support and votes from CAMRA Members. We work hard in order to create a unique venue and by receiving another accolade from such a prestigious organisation such as CAMRA really does mean a lot to us and our team. To have people from another district of CAMRA come, try us out and vote for us really is an honour.
“Now we have, City, Norwich and Norfolk and Overall Norfolk Championship status we relish the next round and it has made us even more determined to deliver the best and most fun venue we can, whilst concentrating on serving even more delicious treats of a beery kind!”
The Norfolk Pub of the Year is judged on various qualities such as Beer quality and CAMRA aims by branch volunteers. Norfolk Area organiser Martin Ward revealed, “It was an extremely close competition, both pubs are to be congratulated on the standards of beer quality, service and welcome they provided, along with the excellent impression they gave to the judges.”
The Fat Cat Brewery Tap will now go on to the next stage of the competition, in which they will go up against the following in the East Anglian Pub of the Year competition later in the year.
Bedfordshire - Black Lion, Leighton Buzzard
Cambridgeshire - Falcon, Huntingdon
Essex - Compasses, Great Totham
Hertfordshire - Half Moon, Hitchin
Suffolk - Stanford Arms, Lowestoft
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