2009 Oldham Beer Festival Report
CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) and the Mayor of Oldham Charity Appeal Committee held another successful beer festival in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham at the end of March. The event raised £6000 for the local charities supported by Cllr Shoab Akhtar, the Mayor of Oldham.
Almost 1500 people attended the event over the two days to sample the 80 real ales on offer together with the 15 traditional ciders and perrys, fruit wines and bottled beers from Germany and Belgium. Whilst the majority of the real ales were sold by the end of the Saturday evening, the cider bar had to be restocked on Saturday morning due to the popularity of the traditional cider and perry.
The festival, now in its 23 rd year has been held in the Queen Elizabeth Hall for the last 11 years following the move in 1999 from Werneth Park Music Rooms, fondly remembered for its uniqueness with its conservatory, oriental plants and distinctive architecture.
Local breweries scooped all the three awards in the Beer of the Festival contest:
Ben McGovern from Chadderton, Oldham was the winner of the competition for the gallon of beer sponsored by the Ashton Arms, Clegg Street, Oldham after his form was chosen at random from those that voted Millstone Ye Olde Vic as their favourite beer at the festival. Pictured is winner Ben (left) being presented with his prize at the Ashton Arms by festival organiser Mike Robinson. In the centre of the picture is Jo Potter, licensee at the Ashton Arms serving Ben his first pint of Olde Vic.
A number of local companies and several breweries also helped to make the event a success by sponsoring some of the beers.
Friday night was, as usual, the busiest session with 700 people in attendance, drinking the beers and being entertained by local group Rockabilly Fever while on the Saturday evening another local group Jog the Memory provided the entertainment.
Overall another great festival, here’s to the 2010 event.
Mike Robinson