18,000 visitors to 40th Norwich Beer Festival

Over 18,000 visitors made their way to The Halls in Norwich to celebrate the 40th year of the Norwich Beer Festival!

The February festival hopes to repeat the success of the 40th Norwich Beer Festival, where over 72,000 pints were enjoyed - from the cask ale, cider, perry, world beer and keg bars. Even wine and mead made an appearance.

From the generosity of the October festival public, the chosen local charity, Leeway, raised £7,070 towards its care for victims of domestic abuse.

Each year, drinkers at the October festival vote for their favourite beers, ciders and perries. If you’re looking for some inspiration for your Christmas party, or just want to know what to look out for over the festive season, take a look at the winners selected during the Norwich Beer Festival!

The overall winner and Beer of the Festival was Milk Worm by Three Blind Mice, as voted by the festival visitors. Second place was Norfolk Brewhouse with their Gold IPA and Thornbridge’s Lucaria was awarded third place.

Winner of the Mild category was Tombstone’s Stagecoach, People’s Ravingham Bitter won the Bitter round and Wildcraft Wild Bill won the Best Bitter round. Triple FFF was awarded the best Strong Bitter/IPA with their Hunky Dory, and Elmtree’s Terra Firma won Speciality Beer.

The Golden Category winner was Norfolk Brewhouse, Gold IPA. Adnams won the Barley Wines with their Tally Ho, Whin Hill won the Cider battle with their Sweet Cider and Apple Cottage won the perry contest with Fred’s Perry.

In the World/Foreign/British Keg competition, All Day won with their Cascadian Dark Lager.

The World Beer Bar was extremely well attended. Cheryl Cade, Bar Manager, secured three draught beers which are unique to any UK festival - Rodenbach Vintage, Chouffe Red and a speciality aged beer from the Alvinne Brewery.

The bar boasted one beer from every Trappist brewery in the world!  Cheryl has started to introduce aging of beers and Norwich were the first CAMRA beer festival (without brewery bars) that had a gluten-free beer on draught at all times.

It was a tight competition for the home brews, featured for the first time at Norwich Beer Festival. Announcing the winner of the Great Anglian Brew Off, as decided by public scores at the festival, the accolade went to Noman Stout, brewed by Elmtree Brewery in collaboration with Charles Abbott. Congratulations to Allan Cooper, brewer of Elmtree, and to Charles.

The averages of the scores for the three home brew beers, all created by members of the Anglian Craft Brewers Association, were all within half a point of each other, so congratulations to all finalists – including Mark Cade with Wildcraft Brewery for Wild Moonshadow and John Watson with Golden Triangle Brewery for Mosaical Cheers. In addition, Mark Cade’s Wild Moonshadow, was awarded second place in the Mild category.

The organising committee of Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA are now turning their attention to the Great British Beer Festival Winter which will kick start on 1st February with a Fringe Festival around Norwich ale and cider pubs.

The Beer Festival itself will start from the 20th February in The Halls.

The festival, which offers beers of every season, shade and style, will then stay in Norwich for 2019 before moving to a different location.

It will have music nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.There is free entrance for CAMRA members to the festival, which will run from 20th to 24th February 2018.

For more information visit winter.gbbf.org.uk

Featured beers to ‘whet the appetite’ at the 40th Norwich Beer Festival!

Beverages from all over the world will be presented during the annual six-day CAMRA Beer Festival, commencing 23th October and taking place at The Halls in Norwich.

With some festival specials to mark the 40th year, there will also be select ales served from wooden casks.

Festival organisers have tracked down beers originally brewed for the first beer festival, though sadly not at 1977 prices!  These include Banks’s (Marstons) bitter and mild.

The bitter has a distinct Northdown dry hop character, with a subtle clove-like taste derived from the Tetley yeast, whilst the mild has a sweet finish with a touch of dark fruit.

Also at the 1977 festival and set to reappear in 2017 is Davenports’ Highgate Old, with its warming aroma and hints of chocolate, fruit, liquorice and malt, plus Davenports’ original best bitter, with fruity bitterness.

Also making reappearances are Fullers ESB (bursting with cherry and orange, with malty toffee and caramel), Holdens Black Country Bitter (with an assertive hop character), Hook Norton’s Coper Ale (a premium dark red beer) and Hooky Bitter, plus Marstons Bass and Courage Directors.

And included in the revisiting beers are McMullen’s AK and Country Bitter, together with Sherherd Neame’s Master Brew, Theakston’s Old Peculiar and Wells Eagle IPA.

CAMRA will be offering award-winning ales and this year’s Featured Brewer are Triple FFF from Hampshire who are celebrate their 20th year.  Graham Trott established the brewery in 1997 and in 2012 handed the reins over to Sara Carter.

Their Altons Pride, a Golden brown session bitter, full bodied with a hoppy aroma, was previously voted Supreme Champion Beer of Britain in CAMRA’s annual London beer festival.

Graham and Sara both started out as home brewers, and there will be a special treat for home brewers as visitors will be able to sample winners of the Great Anglian Brew Off.

Home brewers from across the region have been given the opportunity to launch their own beer for the 40th Norwich Beer Festival as part of a competition held prior to the festival with Anglian Craft Brewers in association with CAMRA. The winners were matched with local commercial brewers.

Noman, a dark stout with a velvet mouthfeel and roasted aftertaste is a recipe by home brewer Charlie Abbot and brewed with Elmtree Brewery.  Golden Triangle Brewery have brewed a recipe by John Watson called Mosaical Cheers, a mosaic pale ale.  Wildcraft Brewery are presenting Wild Moonshadow, a dark and lightly spiced mild with hints of chocolate, smoke & stone fruits, developed by homebrewer and beer sommelier Mark Cade.

Other beers to watch out for are Boudicca’s Red Queen, a red ale brewed in Norfolk for the Autumn with fruit, berries and hops, with a tangy fresh hop and crystal rye.

Also watch out for Moonshine’s Blackberry Saison, a fruity beer, and Norwich Fat Cat Brewery IPA with a full-bodied and fruity flavour and winner of the Champion Beer of Norfolk 2017. And you can try Hoxne’s Heritage Old Ale, a Suffolk brew with a rich winter-warm style.

Also to look out for are the speciality beers – Adnams Cucumber Sour, Cromarty Red Rocker, Dorking’s Smokestack Lightnin’, Elgood’s Fruit Lambic and Lambic, Hop Studio’s Hellebock, Hoxne’s Defender, Kent Brewery’s Cobnut, Mauldons Octoberfest, Triple FFF Comfortably Numb, XT’s Animal Dark Saison (a Black Saison with Wakatu and Pacific Gem Hops, dry and fruity flavours with a rich dark roast malt), All Day Brewing Green Hop and Black Purl (a traditional wormwood bittered beer, popular up until Dickensian times!), Elmtree’s Terra Firma, Grain’s Rye Pale, S&P’s Green Hop (made with Fuggles, Goldings and Prima Donna Hops grown at the brewery) and Norwich-based Fat Cat Brewery’s Honey (with crystal malts and Norfolk honey) and Farmhouse Pale (unfined Saison style, brewed with a hint of black pepper and dried limes).

Vegan beers, (those which do not use fish derivatives in the fining process), include Beeston’s Old Stoatwobbler and gluten-free beers are also available in cask.

Norwich Beer Festival has real ales from the South Coast of England to the highlands of Scotland. 2016 saw the introduction of KeyKeg beers and this year there will be some aged cask beer and the introduction of mead.

The 2017 festival will also offer 80 different varieties of cider and perries, mostly from East Anglia.

The World Beer Bar, managed by Cheryl Cade, has grown and now hosts almost every Trappist brewery in the world, including some new and aged Orval.

For more details, including the latest music line-up at the 2017 CAMRA Norwich Beer Festival, visit www.norwichcamra.org.uk/festival/fest2017.htm 

40th Norwich Beer Festival – Music Line-up

Here's the line-up of musical entertainment at this year's 40th Norwich Beer Festival:

Monday 23 October 2017
Monday evening: Hellesdon & Sprowston Brass Band
Back again for the 2017 Festival is the Hellesdon and Sprowston brass band!  Formed in 2005 with the merger of the former Sprowston Brass Band and the Enterprise Band, resulting in the creation of a Band that is proud of their multiple years of experience and libraries. The former Sprowston Band was created from the old Lads Club Band in Norwich from the 1950s!

Tuesday 24 October 2017
Tuesday lunchtime: Dixie Mix Jazz Band
Headed by cornetist Simon Nelson, Dixie Mix bring together many of the region’s best jazz players. Their talent, knowledge & enthusiasm for traditional jazz has led them to become East Anglia’s hottest Dixieland jazz band. Dixieland is a style of jazz developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century. (Just try not to destroy the double bass this year?)
Tuesday evening: music-free session

Wednesday 25 October 2017
Wednesday lunchtime:  Klezmerised  
New for 2017 are a four-piece band, from Norwich and the band title says it all! Klezmerised will be playing a wide selection of Klezmer and Balkan music from eastern Europe.
Wednesday early evening:  John Ward Band
The John Ward band will be delighting visitors to the 40th Festival on the Wednesday early evening. John Ward turned to folk and acoustic music in the mid 80s and, by 1988 had become a full-time songwriter and musician on the folk and roots music scene. Since then, he has performed in countless venues in the UK and overseas and has guested on numerous radio shows and on British television. He has released 7 albums and has published a book entitled the Iron Bridge. The John Ward Band creates a rich sound, full of harmonies. The music might be described as 'folk rock' though is hard to label due to the musicians’ versatility and John's eclectic repertoire.
Wednesday late evening: Hayley Moyses Britgrass Three
The Hayley Moyses Britgrass Three is an innovative three-piece of Norfolk musicians playing a wide range of material from old pop classics to songs plucked from contemporary charts mixed with classic bluegrass breakdowns. They seem to straddle several musical styles with three part harmonies, guitar, fiddle, banjos & mandolin.

Thursday 27 October 2017
Thursday lunch: Hushwing
Hushwing was formed in 2014 to celebrate, Norfolk folk singer, Walter Pardon's 100th birthday. They have since played at numerous local celebrations, pubs and festivals and for the Mid Norfolk Railway Folk Dance Train each year and have produced a couple of CDs and are currently working on 'Foundlings' - a collection of hitherto largely unknown Norfolk tunes. Hushwing play only tunes from Norfolk, from people like Walter Bulwer, Harry Cox, Billy Bennington, Billy Cooper and Herbert Smith. Hushwing is a Norfolk dialect word for a Barn Owl.
Thursday early evening: The Harvs
The Harvs are a father and son duo. They generally like much the same things and approach harmonies in a spookily similar way whilst one plays mandolin and the other plays guitar.  They love to sing and to have a good laugh and they like hecklers, so get your sing-along and heckling voices at the ready!
Thursday late evening: Cawston Brass Band
Formed way back in 1886, originally named Cawston & District Silver Prize Band, they first rehearsed above the Bell Inn in Cawston, Norfolk. To maintain a high standard, the band enjoys competing as well as concerts. Brass band contesting is not new thing. The band have won 176 prizes in 11 years and once secured 14 prizes in 4 days. They have made several appearances at Crystal Palace and they have risen to the 1st Section nationally. They are a favourite with visitors to Norwich Beer Festival, particularly for their Queen tributes.

Friday 27 October 2017
Friday lunchtime: Dave Thomas Band
Dave Thomas is entering the 50th year of his professional career and is the guitarist and bandleader of choice for many of the big blues names visiting from the U.S. He also has a number of critically acclaimed albums in his own right that are as varied as they are classy. If you have an interest in blues music that has a clear lineage from its 1950s and 60s roots then you owe it to yourself to check the Dave Thomas Band out.
Friday early evening: Punch House Band / Tim Lane
Probably best known as the composer & guitar player for the top local theatre company Crude Apache.  Tim Lane is a Norwich-based song-writer and composer, guitarist, singer and music technology addict who's been making music since he was a youngster. Pop along to the Festival on Friday night to enjoy The Punch House Band playing a mix of country, bluegrass, blues, folk and Americana.
Friday late evening:  The Good Times
Formed in 2013 as Sophie G and the Good Times, The Good Times are a professional UK party band, offering a dynamic selection of music for celebrations and events. They perform all around the country with a wide range of popular music from the 1950s to current chart hits. From Taylor Swift to T-Rex and from Adele’s Rolling In the Deep to Valerie by Amy Winehouse. In other words, if you are 18 to 80 they will have something in your era, well played and a lot of fun!

Saturday 28 October 2017
Saturday lunchtime: Blakeney Old Wild Rovers  
New for 2017, the Old Wild Rovers from Blakeney will be transporting you back in time during Saturday lunchtime. A Shanty and Folk band from the North Norfolk coast, the Old Wild Rovers started life some years ago over a few pints in a local pub. Since then they have organised and performed at many fundraising events, raising over £200,000 for charity, with their chorus of maritime songs, traditionally sung by sailors as they raised the mainsheet and set sail on their long journeys at sea, to humorous songs from the local area.
Saturday early evening: Invidia Voices
Invidia Voices are a big, strong and powerful sounding rock and soul choir in Norwich that allows all members to have fun whilst enjoying singing great hits from that past 5 decades, anything from Aretha to Queen, to Abba to Katy Perry and anything in between.  Invidia voices was born in 2012, when Matt Emerson decided to set up a choir for his students. He felt that many of the existing choirs lacked an emphasis on fun and wanted to bring back the social, enjoyable side to performing as part of a vocal group. The first sessions started off as the Carolling & Christmas Choir, which turned into a roaring success. As a result of the enthusiastic response from all involved, Matt and Alex Emmerson decided to turn the choir into a full-time group. By March of 2012, well over a hundred new members had signed up to join the newly named Invidia Voices Rock & Soul Choir.

On Saturday the festival will be open all day from 12noon with last entry at 9pm – no ticket is required and admission is only £3 on the door for non-members.

Bands will also soon be announced for the Great British Beer Festival Winter, which is hosted by Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA in Norwich at the Halls from 20th to 24th February 2018.  The festival, which offers beers of every season, shade and style,  and will have music nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. This festival will stay in Norwich for 2019 before moving to a different CAMRA region. There will be free entry for CAMRA members. For more information see the Great British Beer Festival Winter website.

Home brewers present the 'Great Anglian Brew Off' winners at Norwich Beer Festival

Regional home brewers have battled to win the chance to launch their beer for the 40th Norwich Beer Festival.

The experienced home brewers were picked in a competition for members of the Anglian Craft Brewers in association with CAMRA.

The tasting panel chose the best beers in three strength categories.  The winners were then matched with local commercial breweries to produce the beers on a commercial scale.

At the festival visitors can judge the collaborative brews for themselves.  The brews will also be eligible for the Beer of the Festival award, along with all other festival beers.

The collaborative brews are:
Mosaical Cheers, a Mosaic pale ale, brewed by John Watson of Essex in association with Golden Triangle Brewery
Noman, Charles Abbott’s oatmeal stout, brewed in conjunction with Elmtree Beers
Wild Moonshadow, a specialist mild, brewed by Mark Cade with Wildcraft Brewery

John Watson recommends for any home brewer to get involved with their local homebrewing club. He added: ‘The thing I really love about home brewing is that I can create a beer recipe to suit my own taste, though occasionally I’ve ended up with something different to what was anticipated!’.

Charles Abbot described how he and his neighbour watched their local pub turn into a supermarket and decided to build their own, then they needed some beer, so they started their own home brewery.

Charles’ oatmeal stout is brewed with Maris Otter crystal and chocolate malts with roasted barley and flaked oats giving a velvet mouthfeel with a lush chocolate and roasted finish – suitable for vegans (no isinglass).

Mark Cade has been a CAMRA member since the late 80s but didn't get into home brewing until around 1999 when he was given home brewing apparatus for Christmas.

Mark commented: ‘It’s fair to say that home brewing has further developed my passion for beer, leading to my qualification as a beer sommelier and formation of our company the 'Thirst Consultants’.’

Norwich Beer Festival celebrates its 40th year!

Norwich and Norfolk CAMRA is getting ready to celebrate the 40th year of the Norwich Beer Festival.

Real ales from Britain's independent brewers will be on sale, along with ciders, perries, wines plus bottled and draught foreign beers. Special ales will be launched to mark the occasion and home brewers have been invited to take part.

Preparations are well under way now for the festival to open on the Monday 23rd October and will run until Saturday 28th October, with a few festival specials to celebrate the 40th year.

The Norwich Beer Festival in October takes place in the medieval halls known as St Andrew's and Blackfriars' Halls. The Halls are a friary complex dating back to the 13th century, rebuilt in 1470 and Grade 1 listed. The friary survived the reformation as it was bought by the City Corporation for public use - an inspired and far-sighted decision!

The 40th Norwich Beer Festival offers a nostalgic appeal, with a range of beers served from wooden casks and some of the beers originally ordered for the first beer festival in 1977.

Festival organisers have tracked down beers originally brewed for the first beer festival, though festival organising committee member Martin Ward added ‘unfortunately not at 1977 prices!’.

When asked why the festival has been going from strength to strength, Martin commented: ‘We hit the mark and offer something for everyone, a social event with good quality ales, of a variety of styles, excellent entertainment, in a unique venue. It is attended every year by thousands of people and each year people return and bring their colleagues, partners, family and friends.’

Rob Derbridge, Norwich Beer Festival Organiser, explained that 2017 is the 40th Norwich Beer Festival, with the first festival in 1977, the festival then skipped a year in 1978 with the second festival held in 1979.

Rob commented that the organisers of that first festival probably had little idea of the success of the festival, currently with over 18,000 door admissions each year.

For those who have never experienced the festival, you can expect a vibrant evening with entertainment, games, food and beers. There is such a wide variety of beers, ciders, world beers and even wine, you can’t fail to find something you like! There are even gluten-free beers.

Quieter sessions tend to be at lunchtime and in the early half of the week as the festival builds to the popular Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Monday and Thursday evenings will feature a brass brand. Brass bands have become a popular feature at Norwich Beer Festival and the 40th celebration simply wouldn’t be the same without!

The performance will be fitting tribute to the start of the 40th Norwich Beer Festival. Bands will also play most lunchtimes and evenings, for the full line-up please visit the Norwich CAMRA website.

Music-free sessions in St Andrew’s Hall are on Tuesday evening and Wednesday lunchtime. On the busy weekend nights, visitors can still enjoy a quiet conversation in the marquee, cloisters and Blackfriars' Hall. There is also seating in the cloisters and marquee.

Opening times and prices, a map of where to find the Halls and a layout plan can all be found on the Norwich CAMRA website. The website also has a guide and will have beer and cider lists nearer to the opening date, so you can plan your visit beforehand.

On entrance to the halls visitors may purchase a festival glass and beer cards, as cash is not accepted at the bars, and remaining beer card tokens may be cashed-in at the end of the visit, or donated to charity.

The 2017 charity of the Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA Branch is Leeway. Established in 1974, Leeway is an independent charity providing support to adults, young people and children who are experiencing domestic abuse in Norfolk and Waveney. Every year the charity provides specialist support to over 8,000 adults, children and young people.

Craig Harmer, Deputy Beer Festival Organiser, explains: ‘We have adapted to demands with the addition of KeyKeg beers in 2016 and the introduction of mead this year’

The festival also benefits from a new fast track entry system which was introduced last year and speeds up entry, reducing queuing and waiting times.

Ian Stamp, Branch Chairman, expressed his thanks to the branch volunteer members and added: ‘the festival simply would not run without the dedication of all the volunteers. There is a lot of hard work which goes on behind the scenes, both during and on the run up to the festival, though not without plenty of fun and, of course, beer!’

Ian mentioned that the World Beer Bar has grown and will have a beer from almost every Trappist brewery in the world, with some new and aged Orval. He added that there will also be some aged cask beers at the festival.

This year, the festival will be open longer on Saturday 28th October, as there will be no break between the sessions and Saturday admission will be from 12noon until 9pm, with closing time at 9.30pm, with cash entry on the door (or with a limited number of advance tickets) or free admission with a valid CAMRA membership card. Entrance on Saturday is only £3 all day for non-members.

There will be a special treat for home brewers as they will be able to sample winners of the Great Anglian Brew Off. Home brewers from across the region have been given the opportunity to launch their own beer for the 40th Norwich Beer Festival as part of a competition held prior to the festival with Anglian Craft Brewers in association with CAMRA.

Norwich pubs will also be ready to host those visiting the festival from afar, with a real ales and ciders, including CAMRA’s 2017 award winners - the Kings Head in Magdalen Street, Fat Cat Brewery Tap in Lawson Road and the White Lion in Oak Street.

The selection of real ciders and perries has grown year on year, as the appeal for ciders has grown in recent years, with drinkers preferring a wide selection of flavours and styles.  This year the festival will offer 80 different varieties, mostly from East Anglia.

Over the four decades the festival has evolved from around 20 odd beers served on small tables in Blackfrairs' Hall in 1977, where the organisers visited breweries one by one requesting to buy beer for an unknown local festival. Now there are over 220 cask-conditioned real ales on sale and the organisers have reached capacity!

Festival goers may also vote on their favourite beer in the festival competition. You can vote for your festival beer using the voting form in the programme and the results should be announced at the end of the week before the festival finishes on Saturday.

Cash admissions will be available on the door at every session. As always, CAMRA members have free entry all week with the presentation of a valid membership card.

Free entrance to CAMRA members will also be extended to the week of the Great British Beer Festival Winter. The festival is hosted by Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA in Norwich at the Halls from 20th to 24th February 2018. The February festival, which offers beers of every season, shade and style, will then stay in Norwich for 2019 before moving to a different CAMRA region. For more information visit winter.gbbf.org.uk.

For full information about Norwich Beer Festival visit the festival website.

Norwich's White Lion is Norfolk Cider Pub of the Year 2017

A crowd gathered at the White Lion pub, in Norwich, in May as Ian Stamp, Chairman of the Norwich & Norfolk branch of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale), presented the Branch Cider Pub of the Year and Norfolk Cider Pub of the Year certificates to the landlord, Alex Waters.
 

Branch Chairman Ian Stamp presents the certificates
to White Lion landlord Alex Waters.

Alex commented: "We sometimes wonder why more publicans don’t offer a wider selection of cider, as it’s proved to be so popular.  We believe in keeping things traditional and The White Lion is a traditional pub where you can try British produce, including ciders, real ales, whiskies and local foods.

"We’re delighted to win these awards again and would like to thank our customers and dedicated staff"

As you step into this time-honoured pub, a warm welcome greets you.  The Oak Street pub has an extensive selection of real cider, as well as real ales and offers speciality beers and home cooked food.

The building itself was originally built in 1558 and has been repaired and extended.  The original White Lion Brewery is recorded from 1830 to early 1840’s.

In 2005, the pub was closed and boarded up, but gladly reopened its doors years later and from 2008 was opened under the ownership of the Cambridge Milton Brewery, under the trading arm ‘Individual Pubs’. 

Voting for the Cider Pub of the Year awards is completed each year by CAMRA members, using a dedicated online scoring system.

The King’s Head in Norwich is Norfolk’s Pub of The Year

Norfolk members of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) have selected The Kings Head, in Magdalen Street, Norwich, as their 2017 Norfolk Pub of the Year.

The Kings Head team with their
Branch Pub of the Year certificate.

 To add to their accolades, the pub has also been awarded the Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA branch's "City Pub of the Year" and overall "Branch Pub of the Year" for 2017. 

Landlords Stephen and Lesley George took over the pub in 2013 and the couple are also owners of the Humpty Dumpty Brewery, based in Reedham.

Stephen said: "We’re delighted the King’s Head has been named Norfolk’s Pub of the Year and Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA branch Pub of the Year for the third time.

"The King’s Head is a special place – a showcase for Norfolk’s many microbreweries, wonderful regulars who are keen to try the wide range of beers in a historic pub setting in the middle of Norwich’s antique and vintage shopping area.

"It’s a place where people engage in the old art of conversation.

"The award reflects the hard work and passion of Alison, Charlie and the whole team, who are all about serving up great real ales in a lovely old pub. We couldn’t be more proud." 

The Manager of the Kings Head, Alison White, also commented that she is delighted to hear of the good news.

The Kings Head is a unique yet traditional City pub offering an ever-changing choice of cask ales and ciders from East Anglian microbreweries.

The historic building has been trading as a licensed public house for over 300 years and, though small from the outside, opens into a welcoming front bar and large friendly back-bar.

The pub attracts ale lovers from all over the region as a home from home place to drink great beer and engage in pleasant banter, without distraction of TV or music. 

Ian Stamp, the Norwich and Norfolk Branch Chairman, said: "Congratulations to the Kings Head on winning this year's Norfolk Pub of the Year, Norwich City Pub and Branch Pub of the Year against very stiff competition!

"The Kings Head is all about beer and conversation.  Stephen and Lesley, Ali and Charlie can be justly proud of the pub and the quality and range of beer they serve, which is obviously much appreciated by CAMRA members and all their regulars."

• The Kings Head now goes forward to the next round of the competition which is the East Anglian regional awards, before potentially entering the Super Regional finals and the National stage of the competition. 

2017 CAMRA Norfolk Beer Awards

The Norfolk Beer Awards, hosted by CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale), recognises and celebrates the achievements of local and national breweries. 

The event started last year with over 100 guests and proved so popular it moved, in 2017, to a larger venue at Epic Studios in Norwich, with The Beer of the Festival Awards from the 39th Norwich Beer Festival plus the unveiling of the prestigious Norfolk Beer of the Year awards. 

Ian Stamp, Chairman of Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA, comments: ‘This event is Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA's version of the Oscars and the Golden Globes all rolled into one and a chance to celebrate the best of local and national ales.’

The awards for the Champion Beer of Norfolk were issued by Alan Edwards, chair of CAMRA Norfolk Tasting Panel, and the winners were:

Overall winners of the Champion Beer of Norfolk 2017:

Best Norfolk Cask Ales: Gold (Joint) – Fat Cat Brewery, IPA
Gold (Joint) – Humpty Dumpty Brewery, Broadland Sunrise; Bronze – Grain Brewery, Slate

Best Norfolk Bottled Ales: Gold – Poppyland Brewery, Tragic Empress; Silver – Poppyland Brewery, East Coast IPA; Bronze – Humpty Dumpty Brewery, Russian Imperial Stout

Category Gold Winners:

Mild – Winters Brewery, Mild
Best Bitter – Humpty Dumpty Brewery, Broadland Sunrise
Strong Bitter – Fat Cat Brewery, IPA
Golden Ale – Lacons Brewery, Affinity
Stout – Elmtree Brewery, Dark Horse Stout
Porter - Grain Brewery, Slate
Bottled Mild, Brown & Old Ale – Woodfordes Brewery, Norfolk Nog 
Bottled Bitter – Elmtree Brewery, Snetterton Scary Tree 
Bottled Strong Bitter – Poppyland Brewery, East Coast IPA 
Bottled Golden Ale – Woodfordes Brewery, Bure Gold
Bottled Speciality – Elmtree Brewery, Winter Solstice
Bottled Stout & Porter – Poppyland Brewery, Tragic Empress
Bottled Unique Category – Humpty Dumpty Brewery, Russian Imperial Stout
Bottled Barley Wine – Woodfordes Brewery, Headcracker 

A full list of Norfolk Beer Of The Year category winners can be seen here.

The winners of the 2016 Norwich Beer Festival 'Beers Of The Festival' voting were also invited to receive their awards.

The awards for the favourite beers, ciders and perries are voted each year by the drinkers at the festival and were announced during the October festival. 

Overall winners of the 39th Norwich Beer Festival 'Beer Of The Festival' awards:

1st Elmtree Beers Nightlight Mild
2nd Brass Castle Bad Kitty
3rd Golden Triangle Mosaic City

The winner of the Cider Category was Spinny Abbey’s Monk & Disorderly, and the Perry winner was Watergull Orchard’s Medium Pear Perry. 

A full list of 'Beer Of The Festival' category winners can be seen here.

Branch Pub of The Year Announcements

Members of the Norwich & Norfolk branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) have selected The Kings Head (Magdalen Street, Norwich) as their 2017 City Pub of the Year and also the Branch’s overall Pub of the Year.

Landlords Stephen and Lesley George took over the pub in 2013 and the couple are also owners of the Humpty Dumpty Brewery, based in Reedham.

Stephen said: "We are delighted the King’s Head has been named Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA branch pub of the year for the third time.

"The King’s Head is a special place – a showcase for Norfolk’s many microbreweries, wonderful regulars who are keen to try the ever-changing range of beers in a historic pub setting in the middle of Norwich’s antique and vintage shopping area.  It’s a place where people engage in the old art of conversation. 

"The award reflects the hard work and passion of Alison, Charlie and the whole team, who are all about serving up great real ales in a lovely old pub. We couldn’t be more proud." 

The Manager of the Kings Head, Alison White also commented that she is delighted to hear of the news. 

The Norfolk & Norfolk CAMRA 2017 Rural Pub of the Year has also been announced and has been won by The Star Inn in Lessingham.

Owners of the pub, Sue Winter and Mick Yaxley, are also former customers of the pub, so they know the pub inside and out! 

Mr. Yaxley said: "Sue and I are absolutely thrilled that we have won this award.  Firstly, we would like to say a huge thank you to the many CAMRA members who voted for us.  Secondly, a massive thank you to our lovely loyal customers who have supported us throughout the years.

"And thirdly, to our staff, thank you for all your hard work - team work really does pay off.  Thank you again everyone, we truly are overwhelmed!"

The Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA Branch have also awarded the 2017 Cider Pub of the Year, won for the sixth time by The White Lion, Oak Street, Norwich.

Alex Waters, landlord of the pub which is run by Individual Pubs, the trading arm of Milton Brewery, said: "We are delighted to win this award again which demonstrates our commitment to providing a range of quality local and traditional ciders for our customers".

The White Lion now goes up against other Norfolk winners to find the overall Norfolk Cider Pub of the Year.

The runner up for the City Pub of the Year and the overall Pub of the Year 2017 has been won by the Fat Cat Brewery Tap, another real ale pub very popular with CAMRA members and is owned by Colin Keatley and managed by Mark and Laura White. 

The Norwich & Norfolk Pub of the Year is chosen from the winners of the Branch’s Rural and City Pubs of the Year.  The Kings Head pub now goes into a head-to-head in the next round with the West Norfolk and Mid Anglia’s winning pubs, if that pub is in South Norfolk, with the victor progressing to the Norfolk round and then on to the Regional – East Anglian - level of the competition – before entering the Super Regional finals and then the National stage of the competition.

The same rounds of the competition also apply to the Cider Pub of the Year, so the White Lion in Norwich will progress to the next stages.

Voting for the Pub of the Year awards was completed using a dedicated online scoring, allowing more members to vote than when voting was completed at branch meetings.  The voting uses the same scoring categories as the subsequent rounds of the competition to make sure our winner has the best chance of chance of progressing further.

Ian Stamp, the Norwich and Norfolk Branch Chairman, said: "Congratulations to the Kings Head on winning this year's Norwich City Pub and Branch Pub of the Year against very stiff competition!

"Stephen and Lesley, Ali and Charlie can be justly proud of the pub and the quality and range of beer they serve, which is obviously much appreciated by CAMRA members and all their regulars.

Ian continued: "The Kings Head is all about beer and conversation, as is the Star at Lessingham, where Mick and Sue took an isolated country pub and made it into the success it is today by concentrating on quality beer and a friendly welcome - congratulations to them on winning the Branch Rural Pub of the Year!

"Also our congratulations to Alex of the White Lion for winning the Cider Pub of the Year once again."

The winners will be presented with their award certificates at the respective pubs in the near future.

National Winter Ales Festival - ‘Like GBBF in London, but cosier’

Norwich enjoyed a week of celebrations as Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA teamed up with Norwich pubs to create a week of special events, including special real ales, food, festival events and music.

This was organised to coincide with celebrations at CAMRA’s National Winter Ales Festival (NWAF) at the St Andrew's and Blackfriars' medieval friary halls in Norwich – the home of the popular Norwich CAMRA Beer Festival.

The festival ran from 21st to 25th February, with the Fringe running a little longer, but for those who missed the partying, the festival promises to return in February 2018!

The national winter festival will run in Norwich for three consecutive years – 2017-2019 - and offers a range of winter ales, as well as golden ales more usually associated with a summer festival, ciders and foreign beers.

Rob Whitmore, beer festival organiser, has announced the dates for next year’s revelry as Tuesday 20th February until Saturday 24th February for the festival which will be returning to The Halls, Norwich.

Rob commented: "as we close NWAF 2017 - to our sponsors and programme designers, our wonderful fringe festival pubs, our suppliers and concession holders and our volunteers - not forgetting our hosts here at The Halls in Norwich and the bands that have performed here this week, a massive thank you!

"We have delivered a festival that will last in people's minds as the first National Winter Ales Festival in the fine city of Norwich.  To our visitors we hope you enjoyed your time here this last week at our pop up pub!

"We look forward to seeing you at other festivals, including the October Norwich Beer Festival and to seeing you and your friends here in February 2018. Thank you all!"

The Norwich festival also hosted the finals of the CAMRA Winter Beer of Britain and crowned Old Freddy Walker the Champion – a  7.3% old ale brewed by Moor Brewery from Bristol.

Justin Hawke from Moor Beer Company, is a Californian who moved to the UK and bought a brewery after falling in love with beer while on military service in Germany. He says: "We are absolutely thrilled to win the Champion Winter Beer of Britain award for the second time. Old Freddy Walker is a unique blend of a classic British beer combined with our own style of modern real ale.

"It's fantastic that this style is consistently recognised by CAMRA and others around the world."

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 an award in the Strong Milds and Old Ales category with their Old Ale, having also been crowned CAMRA’s Champion Beer of East Anglia.

The Norwich Festival also attracted visitors from around the globe, including a party of 12 from Denmark visiting the winter festival from the Danish Beer Enthusiasts.

One of the party members, Christian Scheffel, commented: "I certainly had a good time.  The beer selection was the main thing for me. I came for the porters, old ales and barley wines.

"The staff were fun and friendly and we had some good chats, and ran into a few of them in the pubs after hours. The venue was very nice, with high ceilings and, as always, a good pub-like atmosphere, like GBBF but cosier." (GBBF is the CAMRA Great British Beer Festival, held in London each year, and is the only other national ales festival hosted by CAMRA).

The Festival also raised money for its chosen charity ‘It’s On The Ball’ and Rebecca Bushell from the charity commented: "We'd like to add our heartfelt thanks to CAMRA for inviting us to be their chosen charity for NWAF. We thoroughly enjoyed it and feel very touched by the support we received from the staff, volunteers and those who attended.

"Thanks to all who spoke to us, who bought our merchandise and made a donation. The funds raised will help us to continue the awareness work we are doing and will also help local testicular cancer patients too."

Norfolk Beer Awards – an evening of celebration

CAMRA is hosting an evening of awards and celebration on Saturday 25th March at Epic Studios in Norwich and is inviting brewers and CAMRA members.

The Norfolk Beer Awards is a joint awards event, with the Beer of the Festival Awards from the 39th Norwich Beer Festival plus the unveiling of the prestigious Norfolk Beer of the Year awards.

Ticket holders will be given a pint of award-winning ale, and will be served a quality buffet at their tables.  After the dinner, the bar will be open until late and those wishing to continue the celebrations will be invited to local hostelries along with their CAMRA hosts, to party into the night.

Ian Stamp, Chairman of Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA, comments: "This is Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA's version of the Oscars and the Golden Globes all rolled into one! This event is a fun and festive occasion, without being too formal, and a chance for Norfolk to celebrate the best of local and national ales."

The annual event attracts breweries and CAMRA members from all over the country.  The event started in 2016 with over 100 guests and proved so popular it has moved to a larger venue at Epic Studios.

The event starts at 7.30pm, with the bar opening from 6.30pm, and promises to be a great social evening for local brewers and ale-lovers alike. 

The evening of celebration will host the Norfolk Beer of the Year Awards and winners will be announced at the dinner.  These awards include best bottled and cask beers by Norfolk breweries in 8 style categories.

The winners of the 12 category and overall winners of the Norwich Beer Festival will also be invited to receive their awards.  The awards for the favourite beers, ciders and perries of the festival are voted each year by the drinkers at the festival and were announced during the festival in October.

A number of the award-winning beers will be available on the evening.  Tickets for the awards night are £15 per head, or £140 for a table of ten guests and can be purchased by brewers, CAMRA members and their guests at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/333265.

The presentations will be hosted by James Kearns, CE of BUILD Charity, Norwich Beer Festival’s chosen charity. 

This year the Norwich Beer Festival will be celebrating its 40th anniversary and there will be a number of special features and events planned for this year.  The 40th Norwich beer festival will take place from Monday 23th October until Saturday 28th October 2017 at St Andrew’s and Blackfriars’ Halls, Norwich.

The Norwich & Norfolk branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) is hosting The National Winter Ales Festival, also at the medieval friary halls, each February for three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019.

This year the February festival collected £3,726 for their chosen charity, ‘It’s On The Ball’.  Rebecca Bushell from the charity commented: "We'd like to add our heartfelt thanks to CAMRA for inviting us to be their chosen charity for NWAF. We thoroughly enjoyed it and feel very touched by the support we received from the staff, volunteers and those who attended.

"Thanks to all who spoke to us, who bought our merchandise and made donations. The funds raised will help us to continue the awareness work we are doing and will also help local testicular cancer patients too."

Champion Winter Beer of Britain announced at National Winter Ales Festival

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