The premier drinking event in Hertfordshire is back

ST ALBANS
BEER FESTIVAL
2010
Wed 29 September - Sat 2 October

Alban Arena
St Albans Civic Centre, AL1 3LD

www.stalbansbeerfestival.com
email: realales@yahoo.com

C O M P L I M E N TA R Y P R O G R A M M E
Ever
Savoured
Brilliance
If you haven’t tried ESB, then you’ve yet to enjoy one
of the great beer drinking experiences. It truly is our
champion ale, having won an unbeaten 14 awards at the
Great British Beer Festival, last year winning a silver medal.

In fact, ESB has a uniquely rich and deliciously fruity fl avour

that is recognised all over the world. Proof that it really doesn’t
get better than this. Reward yourself with a pint of ESB from
some of the very fi nest pubs,
see www.fullersesb.co.uk for details.

as good as it gets

www.fullersesb.co.uk
www.drinkaware.com
 WELCOM E TO TH E FESTI VA L!

Thank you for visiting Hertfordshire’s largest pub - the 15th St Albans
Beer Festival at the Alban Arena brought to you by the South
Hertfordshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale. This year once
again we have an incredible selection of beers from around Britain
and the Continent for you to sample and enjoy, as well as ciders and
perries.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome back old friends as

well of those of you who are attending the festival for the first time. We
hope you will find the time to pay us more than one visit. We are open
11.00am-11.00pm every day Thursday to Saturday as well as from
midday on Wednesday.

There are six bars again at this year’s festival on three floors featuring UK beers, including those
brewed in Hertfordshire, foreign beers and a wide range of ciders and perries. Our festival staff will be
happy to help you decide which beers to try.

The South Hertfordshire branch of CAMRA is the oldest in the country, founded in 1972. We have
achieved much but there is still a lot more to be done. Local community pubs are under increased
threat as they face unprecedented challenges such as rises in beer duty, unscrupulous pub companies,
cheap supermarket prices and media hysteria about binge drinking and 24 hour opening. Help us to
address these issues, promote responsible drinking and save our local pubs. If you have not thought
about joining CAMRA before why not join today at the membership stand? All those joining at this
festival by direct debit will get a couple of free pints and free admission to all the remaining sessions
of this festival as well as a discount on the newly published Good Beer guide and a range of other
CAMRA products. The first 50 to subscribe will also receive a free Fuller’s polo shirt/ t-shirt. What better
incentive could there be than to join up now?

To keep up to date with what is happening in CAMRA locally look out for our bimonthly newsletter ‘Pints
of View’ which is circulated widely in pubs throughout Hertfordshire. Also you can log onto our websites
www.hertsale.org.uk and www.stalbansbeerfestival.com where details of our meetings and
activities are published such as brewery trips, surveying for the Good Beer Guide and local Pub of the
Year, and social trips to other beer festivals. Look out especially for the online Hertfordshire pub
database which gives details of all pubs in Hertfordshire.

All our festival staff are volunteers who give up their time to make this festival a success. I would like
to thank all of them and especially the festival committee who have worked so hard over the last year
to make this happen. I would also like to thank St Albans & District Council for their logistical support,
all those companies, brewers, pubs and local businesses who have helped us with advertising and
sponsorship and of course all the staff at the Alban Arena.

Chairman - CAMRA South Hertfordshire Branch

Festival Organiser
1
 W h at’ s g o i n g o n a ro u n d Th e A re n a?
A FESTI VA L GU IDE
Our intention is to ensure that you maximize your
enjoyment at the festival so whether or not you’re a
festival newcomer we hope the following information will
help you to find your way around and hopefully help you to
decide to plan another visit this year and next! A plan of
the festival layout can also be found on page 7. Further
information can also be obtained from the CAMRA
information stand in the foyer opposite the glasses stand
or feel free to ask our bar staff and stewards. If they can’t
help they’ll direct you to someone who can.

GLASSES: Sponsored by the 2011 Good Beer Guide pubs of St Albans:

Blacksmith’s Arms, Boot, Farmers Boy, Goat, Mermaid, Six Bells, White Hart
Tap and White Lion. All beer, cider and perry at this Festival is served in lined
oversized pint and half pint glasses to ensure that you the customer receive
a full measure each time. Not the 95% that the past and present British
governments think is OK. You’ll need to hire a glass before you get to the bar
from the stand in the foyer. At the end of the session you can either keep your
commemorative glass as a souvenir, hand it in for a refund or swap it for a
bottle-conditioned beer.

BEERS: See centre pages for a list of all the real ales, bottled conditioned
beers, foreign beers and real ciders and perries that are available across our
six bars.

Main Bar - Sponsored by Fuller’s Brewery

Fuller’s award-winning ales, complemented by some of the best
real ales from throughout the UK. See centre pages of this
programme for a list of all beers. (Location: floor - main hall)

Stage Bar - Sponsored by Tring Brewery

Tring’s full range of beers, plus difficult to find micro brewery beers,
festival specials and one-offs. Look out for Tring Colley’s Dog, the
Herts champion beer of last year’s festival. (Location: stage -
main hall)

Balcony Bar - Sponsored by Oakham Brewery

A full range of Oakham’s Ales will be available at the festival and
the largest range will appear here along with other popular micro
brewery beers. (Location: upstairs balcony)
2
 Bottle-Conditioned Beer Bar - Sponsored by St Albans
Pubwatch
A wide selection of bottled real ales and real ciders to drink
either at the festival, or take home to enjoy later. These beers
undergo a secondary fermentation in the bottle, and are the
closest you can get to a quality pint of real ale in cask form
that can also be drunk at home. (Location: foyer - near
entrance)
Foreign Beer Bar
Travel the six continents on a world wide beer tour! With up to 100 different beers to sample from
Europe, Asia and the Americas and other far-flung destinations there’s bound to be something to your
liking. (Location: downstairs in the basement - take the stairs either side of the foyer)

Cider & Perry Bar - sponsored by Millwhites Cider

Real cider and perry - naturally fermented with no added gas, preservatives, colouring or ice! The
cider bar will have up to 40 different ciders and perries with up to seven varieties from Hertfordshire
alone. (Location: stage - right hand side)

MOR E THA N JUST BEER!

In the foyer, opposite the bottle-conditioned beer bar, are stands where you
can purchase tankards, posters, postcards and other breweriana. Our
Tombola nearby is always popular with customers as there is a very good
chance of winning something worthwhile, from bottles to beer guides.

Membership and Products Stand - Sponsored by Fuller’s Brewery

Here you can join CAMRA effectively for FREE (see promotion on page
20 - terms and conditions apply), purchase the Good Beer Guide 2011 and
other CAMRA products, as well as the limited edition Festival polo shirt.

Book Signing: The Good Beer Guide 2011 is hot off the press for this
Festival and is available here. Roger Protz, the editor, will be signing copies
during the festival on Wednesday to Friday between 7.00pm and 10.00pm and
on Saturday between 2.00pm and 7.00pm.
Table Football: This ever popular game can be found at the foot of the stairs
in the alcove by the foreign beer bar.
Seating: There are seats and tables in the Foreign Beer Bar, and in the upstairs
balcony bar area. Seating is also available in our patio garden area. Entrance is
via the foyer area.
Food: Need something to soak up that beer or cider? The food servery run by the Arena in the main
hall will be open at all times for hot and cold meals, snacks and soft drinks. The popular hog roast will
also run in the outdoor area.
Smoking: There is a designated area for smokers upstairs on the outdoor balcony by the Balcony bar
where you can also take your pint and smoking is also permitted in the downstairs patio area.
3
 W h at’ s On a n d W h e n
Breweriana Auction: Every night around 8pm we have a
Breweriana Auction, led by our resident auctioneer, Steve Bury.
Everything from beer mats to pub signs come under the hammer.

Quiet Days: Wednesday and Friday will be quiet days where you
can just enjoy the vast selection of beers available without any
musical distractions. This also gives our guests a bit of extra room
and allows us to increase the numbers who can gain entrance,
especially on the Friday.

Thursday: Thursday night we welcome back the The

Runaway Boys to the Festival. In 2006, 50 years after the birth
of rock ‘n’ roll, The Runaway Boys were formed in the suburbs
of St Albans by cousins Ray (guitar) and Tom (double-bass)
Waters. With drummer Duncan Clark on board they built a
prominent fanbase in the local area performing a mix of original
numbers and much loved classics, all played with an energetic
50’s sensibility, taking influence from early rockabilly, country,
rhythm & blues, surf, swing and psychobilly.

Saturday: On Saturday lunchtime we welcome folk duo Right as Rain. The Festival Quiz kicks off
at around 2.30pm so look out for our staff selling quiz sheets. Everyone playing up to a maximum of 5
per team will receive, subject to availability, a free bottle of Fuller’s ESB, Tring’s Side Pocket for a Toad
or Oakham JHB. All the questions are beer and festival related so get together with your friends for an
opportunity to win some great prizes. There are some excellent prizes including a polypin of Tring or
Fuller’s Beers delivered to your nominated address for the two top teams. There will also an excellent
selection of runner up prizes. All funds raised go to local charity.

On Saturday night we welcome the

Climax Blues Band who are making
their first appearance at the Festival.
Their 90-minute set will be drawn
from their 18 albums and is bound to
include their world-wide hit ‘Couldn’t
Get It Right’. We expect a busy
evening so arrive early and relax with
a couple of pints before the band take
to the stage at around 9.00pm.

We hope you enjoy the festival! Remember to check out our website afterwards at
www.stalbansbeerfestival.com for a full festival report and some great pictures of this year’s event! We
welcome your feedback on the festival so feel free to drop us a line via our website, or e-mail
realales@yahoo.com (please use SABF 2010 in subject line).

4
 Live on Saturday night!
After 18 albums plus the classic world-wide hit “Couldn’t
Get It Right” and nearly 40 years of virtually continuous
gigging of the UK, Europe and the US the Climax Blues
Band remains one of the most consistent of all blues
outfits that has always focused on its roots; a unique
combination of jazz and blues enriched at times with rock,
soul and funk thus playing the blues in a creative way that
has always been synonymous with their name.

The band was formed in Stafford by 1969 by founder Colin Cooper (died 3 July, 2008) and was one of
the leading lights of the late 60s blues boom, today carrying the same standard of quality as it did then
when the band achieved such great success and recognition through the 1970s.

With intensely played licks from sax, harp,

guitar bass and keyboard the band continues
to impress with the overpowering freshness
and perfect arrangement of their music as well
as their extreme professionalism uniting five
outstanding musicians, each individual having
an exceptional mastery of their instruments
with each allowed to contribute his own
individuality to form a single powerful body of
sound - their musical repertoire stretching from
their foundation to their present day material.

The current line up includes: Roy Adams

(drums) George Glover (keyboards) Lester
Hunt (guitar), Johnny Pugh (lead vocals, sax
and harmonica) and Neil Simpson (Bass). Two
other prominent ex-members of the band are
Jeff Rich and John ‘Rhino’ Edwards, who
eventually went on to feature as drummer and
bass player in Status Quo for many years. The
Climax Blues Band is considered by many to
be one of the most significant blues bands
formed in the UK long guaranteeing their place
in the history of the blues.

Further information on the band can be found at

www.climaxbluesband.com
info@climaxbluesband.co.uk

5
6
 St A l ba n s Beer Fe sti va l Fl o o rpla n
GROUND FLOOR

BALCONY

BASEMENT

7
 Fe sti va l C o m me m o rati ve G las se s
South Herts Pub
1 of the Year 2009
This year’s commemorative
festival glass is once again
sponsored by the 2011
Good Beer Guide pubs
of St Albans. The pubs can
be found within walking
distance of the festival.
The map opposite will
help you plan a route.
Six Bells - Friendly 16th century pub adjacent to
Verulamium Park and a true free house. The only
licensed premises to be within the walls of
2 Roman Verulamium. Five real ales all served in
oversized glasses, it is the only pub in St Albans
to do so. Annual Beer Festival (July). Open all
day 12noon-11pm, 12noon-10.30pm (Sunday).
Tel: 01727 856945.

Blacksmiths Arms - Town centre pub featuring

two regular ales and six changing guests
including beers from local breweries. Regular
beer festivals. Pub opens at 10am for breakfast.
Open all day 10am-11pm, 10am-1am Friday and
Saturday. Tel: 01727 868845
Boot - Bustling market place pub dating back to
4 the 1400s. Seven real ales including four guest
beers (Punch). Open all day 12noon-midnight
Monday-Thursday, 12noon to 1am Friday &
Saturday, 12noon-11.30pm Sunday.
Tel: 01727 857533.
Goat - Picturesque pub built at
5 the end of the 15th century.
Bar Billiards played. Four real
ales (Charles Wells). Discount
on all real ales available for
Farmer’s Boy - Cosy cottage style free house,
CAMRA members on production
home of the Verulam brewery - the only brewery
of membership card. Open
in St Albans. Five real ales including Clipper IPA
12noon-3pm and 5pm-11pm
and Farmer’s Joy, brewed on the premises.
Monday, 12noon-11pm
Open all day 12noon-11pm Sunday-Tuesday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
12noon-12pm Wednesday, Thursday, 12noon-
Sunday,12noon-midnight Friday,
2am Friday, Saturday. Tel: 01727 860535.
Saturday. Tel: 01727 833934.
8
 6 7

Mermaid - Cottage-style community pub stocking White Hart Tap - Welcoming, one bar back
an ever-changing range of up to six guest micro street local. Occasional beer festivals. Five real
beers. Occasional beer festivals. Seven real ales ales (Punch). Open all day 12noon-11pm.
(Burlison Inns). Open all day 12noon-11pm, Tel: 01727 860974.
midnight Friday & Saturday, 12noon-10.30pm
Sunday. Tel: 01727 837758.
White Lion - Traditional 16th Century two bar pub
8 with a large garden. Local CAMRA Pub of the
Year 2006. Occasional beer festivals. Six real ales
(Punch). Open all day 12noon-11pm.
Tel: 01727 850540.

All pubs serve great beer and food (Mermaid no

food) and all can be found in the 2011 Good
Beer Guide, available at the products stand.

A discount is
given on each
guide purchased
by members of
CAMRA. The
guide gives a full
description of the
ALBAN 2
pub, opening
ARENA
hours, availability
1 6
of food and the
real ales for sale.
3 If you fancy a
break from the
festival or a day
7 out in St Albans at
5 4
8 a later date then
we recommend
having a pint or
two in one or
more of the above
pubs.

9
 This year’s half pint glass is sponsored by Harviestoun brewery from Alva in
Scotland which has been brewing award winning ales for many years including
Bitter and Twisted (CAMRA champion beer of Britain 2003) and Schiehallion,
a real cask lager which has won the CAMRA speciality beer gold award three
times and been runner up on five other occasions. Both beers as well as other
Harviestoun brands are of course available at the festival. Further information
on the brewery can be found at www.harviestoun.com

CA M RA Pro du cts & Me m bers h ip Sta n d

(Sponsored by Fuller’s)
Whatever you decide to drink and do at this year’s festival take some time out and visit the CAMRA
stand in the foyer where a variety of books, pamphlets and Festival attire is available.
GREAT CAMRA MEMBERSHIP DEAL
AVAILABLE ONLY AT ST ALBANS BEER FESTIVAL
If you join CAMRA at this festival for the first time you will receive 2 free pints to drink at the festival
(when paying by direct debit), free entry to all remaining sessions of the festival, 2 free pints of ESB to
be drunk at a nominated Fuller’s pub after the festival and £20 worth of Wetherspoons vouchers. The
whole offer makes your first year subscription effectively free. The first 50 to join will also receive
a free Fuller’s polo/rugby/t-shirt. Not only that but you’ll be entitled to discounts on CAMRA and Beer
Festival merchandise so.... grab yourself a LIMITED EDITION ST ALBANS BEER FESTIVAL POLO
SHIRT. The shirt will be available in various sizes and colours on the CAMRA products stand in the
foyer at the bargain price of £13.50 for CAMRA members and £15.50 for non-CAMRA members.

CAMRA GOOD BEER

GUIDE 2011

Photo of Vicky, from The Candlestick, Essendon, by

TERRY RICHARDS PHOTOGRAPHY 07770 382081
www.terryrichardsphotography.com

GOOD BEER GUIDE 2011

The 2011 Good Beer Guide is hot off the press
for this festival and Roger Protz the editor will be
signing copies of the guide on Wednesday 29
September to Friday 1st October (7-10pm) and
Saturday 2nd October (2-7pm) on the products
stand. A wide selection of other guides and
merchandise is also available on the stand -
please feel free to browse.
10
Book signing by ROGER PROTZ
Editor of CAMRA Good Beer Guide
The Little Book of Beer
300 Beers to Try before you Die!
Roger will be signing the Good Beer Guide 2011
at the Products Stand in the Festival lobby
on Weds 29 Sept to Fri 2 Oct 7-10pm
& Sat 2 Oct 2-7pm
 Beer St y le s - W h at’s i n a n a me?
SO WHAT IS REAL ALE?
The name was originally coined by the Campaign
for Real Ale back in the 1970s to describe a beer
made from natural ingredients malted barley,
hops, water and yeast which after primary
fermentation in the brewery is put into casks
where it continues to undergo a slow secondary
fermentation. This secondary fermentation
produces a gentle carbonation which enhances
the taste of the beer. The beer is unfiltered and
unpasteurised. It is a living product and needs
careful handling by the licensee in the cellar of
his or her pub, or in the case of a beer festival by
the volunteers. The antithesis of real ale is “keg
beer” or as the industry call it “brewery
conditioned” which after primary fermentation is
filtered, pasteurised and then sold, usually at a
freezing cold temperature using extraneous gas,
to produce excessive fizz and little taste.
But there is more to real ale
than just that
Ales are top fermented beers and, unlike bottom
fermented lager style beers, have a wonderful
variety of tastes produced by the action of the ale
yeast, the malts used and the hops employed.
There are many different styles of real ale. Here
are just a few:
Mild - ranges in colour from black to dark brown
to pale amber in colour. They are usually malty
and possibly sweet in taste with little hop
bitterness. Alcohol strengths are usually low
about 3.0%-3.5%. Look out for Hobsons Mild
Champion Beer of Britain in 2007 or Rudgate
Ruby Mild Champion in 2009. Their chief
character is that they are less hopped than
bitters.
Bitter - brown, tawny, copper or amber in colour
with medium to strong bitterness. Hop character
should be evident and any diacetyl (butterscotch
11
 flavour) should be minimal. Alcohol strength
should be less than 4% abv. These are the
standard beers that have refreshed pub goers for
the last 100 years or more. Adnams Bitter or
Butcombe Bitter are excellent examples of
this style.
Best Bitter - is more robust than bitters. A strong
hop character with limited fruit tastes although
there may be some citrus notes. Alcoholic
strength 4.0-4.6% abv. Look out for Timothy
Taylor Landlord Bitter - Madonna’s favourite beer
apparently.
IPA or India Pale Ale -
originally produced for British
troops serving in India, these
were strong (5-7% abv) pale
coloured beers with a high hop
character to survive the long
sea journey and high
temperatures. Today some
beers bearing the IPA name are
just pale ales in disguise, but
some brewers have taken up
the challenge thrown down by
their American cousins who
brew beers with hop bitterness
hitting the high 70s or 80 IBUs (International
Bitterness Units) that would certainly have
survived the trip to the sub-continent and
refreshed the troops there. Look out for
Thornbridge Jaipur IPA.
Stout - typically black in colour.
They have a dark roast
character achieved by the use
of roasted barley. Alcoholic
strength 4.0-6.5%. O’Hanlons
Port Stout is a beer to look out
for in this style.
Porter - dark brown or black in colour and with a
complex flavour. The darkness comes from the
use of dark malts. There should be a full
mouthfeel and a pronounced finish due to the use
of bittering hops. Alcoholic strength 4.0-6.5% abv.
Examples of this style include Batemans Salem
Porter and Red Squirrel London Porter.
12
Wheat beer - made using a combination of
malted barley and wheat malt (usually 30-50%).
The beer may be cloudy when served. This is a
German and Belgian speciality but more British
brewers are now developing their own wheat
beers. The beers are sometimes served “mit
hefe” i.e. they are cloudy with the yeast.
Golden Ale - a new beer style
that is becoming very popular.
Pale amber, gold, yellow or
straw coloured with a light to
strong hop bitterness. A strong
hop character creates a
refreshing taste. Just right for a
hot summer’s day or even an
Indian summer. Try Crouch
Vale Brewers Gold, Hop Back
Summer Lightning or the 2010
Champion Beer of Britain -
Castle Rock Brewery Harvest
Pale Ale.
Barley Wine - copper to tawny
to dark brown in colour and
may have a high residual
sweetness. Many barley wines
have estery and fruity
characteristics. They are beers
to be drunk in moderation as
the strength can be anything
from 6.5% upwards, and have
a definite vinous character.
These are probably best left to the end of the
session as some do almost reach the strength of
wines.
 T h e H e ad o n a P i nt
Pour water into a glass - it does not form a head or froth. Even pulled
through a hand pump and a sparkler, a small plastic device with small holes
through which the liquid is forced, it does not form a head.

The ability to produce a head of foam on real ales is due to the specific
proteins present in the beer known as glycoproteins. A glycoprotein is a
large molecule with a protein head that is hydrophobic (water hating) and
a long, hydrophilic (water loving) carbohydrate tail. When a bubble is
formed the hydrophobic heads of these molecules migrate to the bubble’s
surface (in effect trying to get out of solution) while the hydrophilic tails
remain in the beer of the bubble’s wall (trying to pull the molecule back into
solution). The overall result is that the bubble acquires a “skin” which
greatly increases the viscosity hence the stability of the whole structure.

This is not the complete story. First is the mechanism for producing the bubbles and second is the gas
within them. In the South of the country tight sparklers tend not to be used on beers and the bubbles
in the head are irregular, containing just trapped air. With a sparkler, much in evidence in the north of
the country, the beer is forced through the small holes of the sparkler agitating the beer causing more
carbon dioxide to break out of the beer and the small streams of beer trap more air in more uniform
and smaller bubbles giving the Yorkshire style creamy head. At the same time some of the hop oils in
the beer are forced into the head. This gives the beer a hoppy aroma but also makes it less bitter.
Sparklers are usually attached to a swan neck which is a long vertical spout attached to a hand pump
reaching to the bottom of the glass and as the glass fills the beer is dispensed from below the surface
of the beer. As beer flows out through the sparkler the sudden pressure drop in the orifices of the
sparkler breaks out dissolved gasses in the beer, principally carbon dioxide. These small bubbles rise
through the beer giving the tight creamy head and the beer will actually taste flatter because of it.

The swan neck method of dispense can change the character of the beer completely and is not
suitable for Southern style beers such as London Pride but works well on beers such as Caledonian
Deuchars IPA which are brewed to accommodate this method of dispense. It should be noted that with
the swan neck/sparkler measure of dispense an over-sized glass should always be used otherwise the
customer is always likely to receive a short measure.

St A l ba n s Pu bwatc h
Sponsors of the Bottled Conditioned Beer Bar

The aim of St Albans Pubwatch is to share information, reduce disturbance and improve the safety
and personal security of customers and bar staff. It is a partnership activity between Licensed
Premises, Pub operators, Hertfordshire Police, City Centre Management and St Albans District
Council CCTV Control Room. The scheme is included in the current Community Safety Strategy
for St Albans. The St Albans Pubwatch operates a banning scheme under a code of practice. If a
person is convicted of assaulting a staff member or a customer, damaging a pub, anti-social
behaviour or using or dealing in illegal substances, they will be banned from all pubs within the
scheme as well as the St Albans Beer Festival.
Peter Bell, Chairman of Pubwatch and licensee of Batchwood Hall, said “Pubs in Pubwatch like to
work closely with the community to bring a safe and pleasurable experience to the drinkers of
St Albans. We support CAMRA as their aims are similar to ours”.

13


14
 St Albans Beer Festival
Awards 2010
This year there will be two beer judging competitions taking place at St Albans Beer Festival:
HERTFORDSHIRE BEER OF THE YEAR
As part of CAMRA’s LocAle initiative to promote local real ales the five branches of CAMRA have
invited the county’s brewers to nominate two of their best beers for this new competition to find
the best beer in Hertfordshire. The judging will take place on Wednesday evening. The shortlist
is as follows:
BUNTINGFORD: Polar Star, Royston Red
GREEN TYE: Hadham Gold, Union Jack
McMULLEN: Cask Ale, Country Bitter
RED SQUIRREL: London Porter, RSX
SAWBRIDGEWORTH: Dragon’s Blood, RACS
TRING: Colley’s Dog, Side Pocket for a Toad
VERULAM: Clipper IPA, Farmer’s Joy

ST ALBANS BEER FESTIVAL BEER OF THE YEAR

As ever, the Festival Beer of the Year competition will take place on Thursday morning featuring
some of the champion beers of 2010. The judging panel will include experienced beer tasters,
brewers and licensees. All the entries for the beer competitions will be on sale at the Festival, so
make sure you try them while stocks last!

SOUTH HERTS CAMRA BRANCH DIARY DATES

The local branch of CAMRA meet at least once a month and members, young and
old, are always welcome at meetings where we plan campaigns to promote real
ale, fight pub and brewery closures and price increases and support the rights of
the drinker. We also enjoy trips to survey pubs and visit breweries, as well as other
CAMRA beer festivals.

E-mail us for details or look out for the meeting dates in our free newsletter Pints of View,
CAMRA’s newspaper What’s Brewing or on our website www.hertsale.org.uk or e-mail
realales@yahoo.com (put CAMRA in subject line).

Saturday 9th October
Tuesday 12th October
Thursday 21st October
Saturday 23rd October
Friday 29th October
Tuesday 16th November
Friday 19th November
Thursday 25th November
Tuesday 14th December
1st North West country pubs trip by minibus
Branch Meeting: Red Lion, Radlett 8.00pm
CAMRA Herts Liaison: Wenlock Arms, London 7.00pm
2nd North West country pubs trip by minibus
Sawbridgeworth Beer Festival trip by minibus
Branch Meeting: White Horse, Hertford 8.00pm
Watford Beer Festival trip 7.00pm
New members night - Goat, St Albans 8.00pm
Branch Meeting: Six Bells, St Albans 8.00pm

15
 CAMRA South Herts Pub of the Year
The Six Bells in St Michaels, St Albans is the current
South Herts branch Pub of the Year – top of the tree
in the 2009 competition, and that in an area of 350
pubs! The pub has recently become a Free House,
now offering an always-interesting range of five real
ales plus a real cider on handpump Whilst our Good
Beer Guide entries are selected on the consistent
quality of real ale, the Pub of the Year Award also
takes into account other factors which make a pub
Phil Defriez, South Herts Branch Chairman (right) stand out - these include categories for Atmosphere,
with Jo and Patrick and their award Service/Welcome, Mix of Clientele, support of
CAMRA and Good Value. Each year the branch elects a panel of members to undertake the scoring,
announcing its winner in March. The Six Bells is the 14th pub to hold this title, in an annual competition
that dates back to 1986. Other St Albans winners haven been the Farriers Arms (1988); Garibaldi
(1990); Lower Red Lion (1993 and1995); Farmers Boy (1998) and White Lion (2006). Seven-times
winner, the Woodman, Wildhill and three-times winner, the Old Cross Tavern in Hertford lead the pack
for the most times the award has been won.
The annual winner has the chance to move on to even greater things as the branch award feeds into
a county, then regional and, finally, national competition. This year`s county winner is the Half Moon in
Hitchin and regional scoring is now under way. Hertfordshire`s most successful pub has been the Land
of Liberty, Peace and Plenty at Heronsgate which reached the lofty heights of runner-up in the national
competition of 2006.

Dave B u r n s Me m o r ia l Awa rd
This award was set up in 1997 in memory of Dave Burns, a staunch real ale campaigner and
committee member right through the early years of the campaign who sadly passed away suddenly in
1995.
The aim of the award is to honour individuals who have made a significant and
lasting contribution to the local world of real ale. Bob Muir, licensee of the Elephant
& Castle, Amwell, near Wheathampstead, is the latest person to receive the award
for over 40 years service to the licensed trade. It is a tribute to Bob that every pub
under his stewardship has been in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
The award is only granted when the branch deems it is warranted and in its 13 years
existence there have been only eight awards: Graham and Roz Craig, at the
Woodman, Wildhill; Richard Steward, the branch`s longstanding Brewery Liaison
Officer with McMullens until his move away from Hertfordshire; Eric Sim, renowned
local campaigner and former Chairman; Dennis Ruttledge, McMullens Public
Relations Officer up until his retirement; John Tibble, landlord of the Carpenters Bob Muir
Arms, Harpenden; Paul Ruane, local branch Committee Member of many years’ licensee of the
standing until a move took him north; and Steve Bury a stalwart campaigner for Real Elephant & Castle,
Amwell
Ale who today is as enthusiastic about the cause as he was when he joined the
campaign when it was formed.
Both of the above awards aim to mark the very best in the world of real ale - be it the pubs that
purvey top-quality beer or the individuals who have helped shape the vibrant local real ale
scene as we see it today.
16
 CAMRA South Herts Pub of the Year 2009

St Michael’s Street
St Albans, AL1 4SH
TEL: 01727 856945 FIVE REAL ALES: OPEN ALL DAY
Oakham JHB Home Cooked Food
A FREE HOUSE Fuller’s London Pride Lunch & Evening
All real ales served in
Timothy Taylor Landlord Function Room
over-size pint glasses
2 changing guests Great Beer Garden
VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
www.the-six-bells.com
Good Beer Guide 2008 - 2011

available this week at

THE MERMAID
98 Hatfield Road
St Albans, AL1 3RL

A range of Batemans beers

available all week
at £2 on production of
this programme.
One pint per programme
17
18
 H er t fo rds h i re P u bs
Data base
Planning a pub crawl or just an evening out?

Do you know how to find the pubs where you can

get a regular pint of Red Squirrel or Buntingford
beers?

Could you find your way to Green Tye for some

locally brewed beer on the premises?

Do you want an easy way to find a pub phone

number or how to get to and from a pub by public
transport?

All these and many more questions can be

answered by interrogating our online and
continually updated Hertfordshire guide to pubs.
All pubs and other known public outlets for real
ale, cider and perry are listed with a warning if
there is no real ale available.

Just log on to www.pubs.hertsale.org, tick a few

boxes and get all your questions answered.

19
 JOINING CAMRA IS EFFECTIVELY FREE*
AT THE 2010 ST ALBANS BEER FESTIVAL!
If you join CAMRA at this festival
Fuller’s brewery will throw in, subject to
availability, a *free Fuller’s polo or t-
shirt *plus 2 free pints of Fuller’s ESB to
drink at the Garibaldi or Portland Arms
in St Albans or the Hollybush at Potters
Crouch after the festival.
Furthermore, if you join CAMRA by
direct debit, CAMRA will also give you
two free pints of any real ale to be
drunk at this festival (excludes real
cider/perry and all foreign/bottled
beers).
All those joining automatically gain free
entry to all further days of the festival
that you choose to attend. Once joined
you, as a member, will also be entitled
to discounts on CAMRA products such
as the Good Beer Guide and exclusive
St Albans festival polo shirts. The
whole package could make your first
year of CAMRA membership effectively
FREE. Now, that is a bargain!
*Based on a CAMRA single UK and EU direct
debit annual subscription rate of £20, less:
one free Fuller’s shirt with RRP of £13.00, 2
free pints of ESB at £3.00 each and 2 free
pints of real ale at the 2010 festival at £2.50
each. Only one free offer giveaway per
subscription. The subscription is for new
members only and not those renewing or
re-joining. The Fuller’s shirt is only available
to those paying by direct debit.
20
Exclusive members’ newspaper - ‘What’s Brewing’:
A monthly colour newspaper informing you of beer and pub
news and detailing events and beer festivals from around
the country.
Free/Discounted entry to over 150 beer festivals:
Free or discounted admission to the 150+ beer festival that
CAMRA organise, including the Great British Beer Festival.
Branch Social Activities: CAMRA is organised into 200
branches that cover the UK. Each branch runs a variety of
social events for members living in their branch area.
Active Campaigning: Have the chance to campaign to
save pubs and breweries under threat of closure, for the
right to receive a Full Pint and a reduction in beer duty that
will help Britain’s brewing industry survive.
Discounted Membership of the CAMRA Beer Club:
The CAMRA Beer Club has been set up to provide a home
delivery service to enthusiasts. As a member you will
discover and enjoy a whole range of bottled beers that are
widely distributed. All CAMRA members receive a £5
discount on each mixed case of 20 beers. For more
information www.camrabeerclub.co.uk
Book Discounts: CAMRA produce a variety of books
every year and as a member you are entitled to discounts
on all of the books we produce including CAMRA’s best-
selling annual Good Beer Guide.
So why not join today? You will be helping to actively
support the British Brewing and Pub industry as well
as enjoying the benefits of CAMRA membership.
 St A l ba n s Beer Fe sti va l 2010 Beer List
The beers, ciders and perries listed below are those that have been ordered and should be available
subject to delivery. If not they will be replaced by another suitable brand. The beer cider and perry lists
will also be available on the festival website www.stalbansbeerfestival.com where any changes to
the lists will be published before the festival opens.
MAIN BAR - Sponsored by Fuller’s Brewery
Abbeydale Sheffield, South Yorkshire Castle Rock Nottingham, Notts
o Absolution 5.3 o Harvest Pale 3.8
Acorn Barnsley, South Yorkshire Copper Dragon Skipton, North Yorks
o Old Moor Porter 4.4 o Golden Pippin 3.9
B&T Shefford, Bedfordshire Cotleigh Wiveliscombe, Somerset
o Shefford Dark Mild 3.8 o 25 4.0
Ballards Petersfield, Hampshire Cropton Cropton, North Yorkshire
o Wassail 6.0 o King Billy 3.6
Bank Top Bolton, Lancashire Crouch Vale South Woodham Ferrers, Essex
o Dark Mild 4.0 o Brewers Gold 4.0
Batemans Wainfleet, Lincolnshire Dark Star Ansty, West Sussex
o Dark Mild 3.0 o American Pale Ale 4.7
o XXXB 4.8 o Hophead 3.8
Bath Warmley, Bristol Downton Downton, Wiltshire
o Gem Bitter 4.1 o Quadhop 3.9
Battledown Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Durham Bowburn, County Durham
o Cheltenham Standard 3.6 o Magus 3.8
Bays Paignton, Devon Elgoods Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
o Best Bitter 3.7 o Black Dog 3.6
o Breaker 4.7 Elland Elland, West Yorkshire
Beartown Congleton, Cheshire o Beyond the Pale 4.2
o Kodiak Gold 4.0 Exmoor Wiveliscombe, Somerset
Blindman’s Frome, Somerset o Beast 6.6
o Buff 3.6 Fuller’s Chiswick, London
Bowland Clitheroe, Lancashire o 1845 6.3
o Bowland Gold 3.8 o Chiswick 3.5
Brampton Chesterfield, Derbyshire o ESB 5.5
o Best Bitter 4.2 o Gales HSB 4.8
Branscombe Vale Branscombe, Devon o Golden Pride 8.5
o Branoc 3.8 o London Porter 5.4
Burton Bridge Burton, Staffordshire o London Pride 4.1
o Stairway to Heaven 5.0 o Seafarers 3.6
Bushy’s Douglas, Isle of Man Fyne Ales Chiswick, London
o Ruby 1874 Mild 3.5 o Piper’s Gold 3.8
Butcombe Wrington, Bristol Great Oakley Great Oakley, Northants
o Bitter 4.0 o Wagtail 3.9
Cairngorm Aviemore, Highlands Greene King Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
o Nessie’s Monster Mash 4.4 o Gangly Ghoul 4.2
o Trade Winds 4.3 o XX Mild 3.0
Caledonian Edinburgh Harviestoun Alva, Clackmannanshire
o 80/- 4.1 o Bitter & Twisted 3.8
o Autumn Red 4.4 o Hedge Hopper 3.8
o Deuchars IPA 3.8 o Schiehallion 4.8
o Mellow Yellow 4.4
21
 Hawkshead Staveley, Cumbria Pictish Rochdale, Gtr Manchester
o Bitter 3.7 o Brewers Gold 3.8
High House Farm Matfen, Northumberland Purity Great Alne, Warwickshire
o Auld Hemp 3.8 o Pure Gold 3.8
Highland Orkney o Mad Goose 4.2
o Orkney Blast 6.0 RCH West Hewish, Somerset
Hobsons Cleobury Mortimer, Worcs o Old Slug Porter 4.5
o Mild 3.2 o Pitchfork 4.3
Hogs Back Tongham, Surrey Roosters Knaresborough, North Yorks
o A over T 9.0 o Bang Tail 3.7
Hook Norton Hook Norton, Oxon o Leghorn 4.3
o Old Hooky 4.6
o Yankee 4.3
Hop Back Salisbury, Wiltshire Rudgate York, North Yorkshire
o Summer Lightning 5.0
o Ruby Mild 4.4
Hoskins Leicester, Leicestershire
Salamander Bradford, West Yorkshire
o Brigadier 3.6
o Mud Puppy 4.2
Humpty Dumpty Reedham, Norfolk
Salopian Shrewsbury
o Little Sharpie 3.8
Idle Stockwith, South Yorkshire
o Shropshire Gold 3.8
Saltaire Shipley, West Yorkshire
o Dog 4.2
Inveralmond Inveralmond, Perth o Blonde 4.0
Sarah Hughes Dudley, West Midlands
o Independence 3.8
Jarrow Jarrow, Tyne & Wear o Dark Ruby 6.0
o Rivet Catcher 4.0 Sharps Rock, Cornwall
Kelham Island Sheffield, South Yorkshire o Doom Bar 4.0
o Pale Rider 5.2 Shepherd Neame Faversham, Kent
Leeds Leeds, West Yorkshire o Bishops Finger 5.0
o Best 4.3 Skinner’s Truro, Cornwall
Lees Manchester o Heligan Honey 4.0
o Moonraker 7.5 Slaters Stafford, Staffordshire
Marble Manchester o Original 4.0
o Ginger 4.3 o Queen Beer 4.2
Mauldons Sudbury, Suffolk Southport Southport, Merseyside
o Black Adder 5.3 o Golden Sands 4.0
Mighty Oak Maldon Essex Spectrum Norwich, Norfolk
o Maldon Gold 3.8 o Black Buffle 4.5
Moor Pitney, Somerset St Austell St Austell, Cornwall
o Revival 3.8 o Tribute 4.2
Mordue North Shields, Tyne & Wear St George’s Callow End, Worcestershire
o Workie Ticket 4.5 o Friar Tuck 4.0
Nethergate Pentlow, Essex Summerskills Plymouth, Devon
o Umbel Magna 5.0 o Tamar 4.3
Oakleaf Gosport, Hampshire Thornbridge Bakewell, Derbyshire
o Hole Hearted 4.7 o Jaipur IPA 5.9
Old Bear Keighley, West Yorkshire o Lord Marples 4.0
o Bruin 3.8 Tigertops Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Orkney Stromness, Orkney
o Dark Wheat Mild 3.6
o Raven Ale 3.8 Timothy Taylor Keighley, West Yorkshire
o Red McGregor 4.0
o Landlord 4.3
Ossett Ossett, West Yorkshire
Titanic Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire
o Silver King 4.3
Phoenix Heywood, Gtr Manchester
o Iceberg 4.1
Tower Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire
o Arizona 4.1
o Wobbly Bob 6.0 o Malty Towers 4.4
22
 Triple fff Alton, Hampshire Williams Kelliebank, Alloa
o Alton’s Pride 3.8 o Midnight Sun Porter 5.6
Vale Brill, Buckinghamshire Wolf Attleborough, Norfolk
o VPA 4.2 o Coyote Bitter 4.3
Wadworth Devizes, Wiltshire Woodforde’s Norwich, Norfolk
o Bishops Tipple 5.0 o Wherry Best Bitter 3.8
Westerham Edenbridge, Kent o Nelson’s Revenge 4.5
o Audit Ale 6.2 Wylam Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland
White Horse Stanford in the Vale, Oxon o Magic 4.2
o Bitter 3.7 York York, NorthYorkshire
o Centurion’s Ghost 5.4

STAGE BAR - Sponsored by Tring Brewery

5 Towns Wakefield, West Yorkshire Heart of Wales Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys
o Freeborn 4.7 o Aur Cymru 3.8
o Monster Mash Dark Mild 5.0 o Noble Eden Ale 4.6
o Niamh’s Nemesis IPA 5.7 Isle of Purbeck Studland, Dorset
Abbey Grange Llantysilio, Clwyd o Studland Bay Wrecked 4.5
o Llangollen 4.2 Kingstone Tintern, Gwent
o No1 3.8 o Tewdricks Tipple 3.8
Abbeydale Sheffield, South Yorkshire Kirkby Lonsdale Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancs
o Fascination 3.9 o Cherkebee 5.0
Angus Ale Carnoustie, Angus Knopps Edinburgh
o Gowfers Gold 3.8 o California 4.6
o Mashie Niblick 4.2 Liverpool One Liverpool
Backyard Wednesbury, West Midlands o Mersey Mist 4.1
o Prima Donna 4.0 Liverpool Organic Liverpool
Blackfriars Great Yarmouth, Norfolk o Shipwreck IPA 6.5
o Whyte Angel 4.5 Mallinsons Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Brandon Brandon, Suffolk o Barrier Reef 4.0
o Royal Ginger 4.0 Meantime Greenwich, London
Brewdog Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire o London Pale 4.3
o Edge Mild 3.2 Mill Green Mill Green, Suffolk
o Paradox 10.0 o Good Ship Arabella 5.4
Bridestones Hebden Bridge, West Yorks Neath Neath, West Glamorgan
o Groomstone 3.7 o Black 5.5
Cambridge Moonshine Cambridge, Cambs o Firebrick 4.2
o Red Watch Blueberry Ale 4.2 o Gold 5.0
o Sopwell Bitter (Festival Special) 4.4 o Witch Hunter 4.2
Croglin Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria Northern Northwich, Cheshire
o Trickster 4.2 o Choc Chilli Stout 5.0
Cureden Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire o Navajo 3.9
o New Gold 3.7 Old Luxters Henley-on-Thames, Oxon
Devil’s Dyke Reach, Cambridgeshire o Barn Ale Special 4.5
o London Porter 5.2 Preseli Tenby, Dyfed
Elmtree Snetterton, Norfolk o Baggy Wrinkle 4.5
o Nighlight Mild 5.7 o Even Keel 3.8
Empire Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire o Powder Monkey 4.5
o Hoptastic 4.1 Prospect Standish, Gtr Manchester
Greenmill Rochdale, Gtr Manchester o 70 Bob 4.7
o Zenith 4.1
23
 Purple Moose Porthmadog Tatton Knutsford, Cheshire
o Snowdonia Ale 3.6 o Gold 4.8
Raw Staveley, Derbyshire o Indian Summer 4.0
o Dark Peak 4.5 Tempest Kelso, Roxburghshire
o Hop Rush 4.8 o Re-wired 4.4
Reality Beeston, Nottinghamshire Toad Doncaster, South Yorks
o Virtue Ale 3.8 o St Leger 4.1
Redemption London o Tadpole 3.8
o Latin 3.8 Tydd Steam Tydd St. Giles, Cambs
Rotters Talgarth, Powys o Amnesiac 4.0
o Grounds for Divorce 4.7 Vale of Glamorgan Barry, South
o Utter Rotter 3.9 o Glamorgan
o Whipping Tree 4.6 o Chocs Away 4.5
Sandstone Wrexham, Clwyd Waen Penstrowed, Powys
o Edge 3.8 o Fuggle Hop 4.2
o Poachers Ale 4.4 Windsor and Eton Windsor, Berks
o Postmistress 4.4 o Guardsman 4.2
o Sleeping Policeman 4.2 o Knight of the Garter 3.8
Sheffield Sheffield, South Yorkshire Winster Winster, Cumbria
o Porter 4.7 o Old School 3.9
Son of Sid Little Gransden, Cambs Yard of Ale Ferryhill, Co. Durham
o Ivo Ale 3.6 o Black as Owt Stout 4.2
Summer Wine Holmfirth, West Yorks
o Elbow Grease 3.8

BALCONY BAR - Sponsored by Oakham Ales

Oakham Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
o Attila 7.5 o JHB 3.8
o Bishops Farewell 4.6 o Warspite 6.3
o Black Baron 8.8 o White Dwarf 4.3
o Inferno 4.0

HERTFORDSHIRE BAR - Sponsored by Tring Brewery

Buntingford Royston, Herts Sawbridgeworth Sawbridgeworth, Herts
o Polar Star 4.4 o Dragons Blood 4.3
o Royston Red 4.8 o RACS 4.0
o Tettnang 4.0 Tring Tring, Herts
Green Tye Green Tye, Herts o Blonde 4.0
o Hadham Gold 4.2 o Bookman’s 4.1
o Union Jack 3.6 o Brock 3.7
McMullen Hertford, Herts o Colley’s Dog 5.2
o Cask Ale 3.8 o Death & Glory 7.2
o Country Bitter 4.3 o Huck-me-Buck 4.4
Old Cross Hertford, Herts o Hypocaust 4.0
o OXT Ale 3.9 o Jack O’ Legs 4.2
Red Squirrel Hertford, Herts o Mansion Mild 3.7
o Colorado American IPA 5.4 o Mowing Devel 4.2
o Conservation Bitter 4.1 o Ridgeway Bitter 4.0
o London Porter 5.0 o Side Pocket for a Toad 3.6
o RSX 3.9 Verulam St Albans, Herts
o Clipper IPA 4.0
o Farmers Joy 4.5
24
 RESERVE LIST
Acorn Barnsley, West Yorkshire Cambridge Moonshine Cambridge
o Barnsley Gold 4.3 o Shelford Crier 3.8
Adnams Southwold, Suffolk Chiltern Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
o Explorer 4.3 o Ale 3.7
o Old 4.1 o Beechwood Bitter 4.3
Ascot Camberley, Surrey Coach House Warrington, Cheshire
o Anastasia’s Exile Stout 5.0 o Gunpowder Mild 3.8
B&T Shefford, Bedfordshire o Innkeeper’s Special Reserve 4.5
o Edwin Taylor’s Extra Stout 4.5 Cotleigh Wiveliscombe, Somerset
o Fruit Bat 4.5 o Golden Seahawk 4.2
Ballards Petersfield, Hampshire o Harrier 3.5
o Best Bitter 4.2 o Tawny 3.8
o Nyewood Gold 5.0 Cropton Cropton, North Yorkshire
Batemans Wainfleet, Lincolnshire o Two Pints 4.0
o Autumn Fall 4.2 Crouch Vale South Woodham Ferrers, Essex
o GHA 4.2 o Amarillo 5.0
o Salem Porter 4.7 Dark Star Ansty, West Sussex
o XB 3.7 o Best Bitter 4.0
Bath Warmley, Bristol o Espresso 4.2
o Barnstormer 4.5 o Smoked Porter 4.9
Battledown Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Derby Derby
o Four Kings Ale 7.2 o Triple Hop 4.1
Bays Paignton, Devon Derventio Trusley, Derbyshire
o Gold 4.3 o Centurion 4.3
o Topsail 4.0 Downton Downton, Wiltshire
Beartown Congleton, Cheshire o Chimera IPA 6.8
o Pandamonium 4.8 o Hip Hip Hooray 4.0
Birmingham Birmingham, West Midlands o Honey Blonde 4.3
o Mild Ale 3.6 Dunham Massey Dunham Massey, Manchester
Bowland Clitheroe, Lancashire o Choc Cherry Mild 3.8
o BG Sips 3.7 Elgoods Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Brains Cardiff o Cambridge Bitter 3.8
o Dark 3.5 o Golden Newt 4.1
o SA Gold 4.7 Elland Elland, West Yorkshire
Brandon Brandon, Suffolk o 1872 Porter 6.5
o Rusty Bucket 4.4 Elmtree Snetterton, Norfolk
Brew Dog Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire o Burston Cuckoo 3.8
o 5am Saint 5.0 o Exmoor Wiveliscombe, Somerset
o 77 Lager 4.9 o Gold 4.5
o Punk IPA 6.0 Flack Manor Romsey, Hampshire
o Trashy Blond 4.1 o Flack’s Double Drop 3.7
Bristol Beer Factory Ashton, Bristol George Wright Rainford, Merseyside
o Acer 3.8 o Cheeky Pheasant 4.7
o Exhibition 5.2 o Northern Lights 5.1
o Red 3.8 o Pure Blonde 4.6
Buntingford Royston, Hertfordshire Goacher’s Tovil, Kent
o Britannia 4.4 o Real Mild Ale 3.4
o Twitchell 3.8 Goose Eye Keighley, West Yorkshire
Bushy’s Douglas, Isle of Man o No Eye Deer 4.0
o Old Bushy Tail 4.5 o Over & Stout 5.2
Cairngorm Aviemore, Highlands Greene King Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
o Black Gold 4.4 o Fireside 4.5
25
 Hawkshead Staveley, Cumbria O’Hanlon’s Whimple, Devon
o Lakeland Gold 4.4 o Original Port Stout 4.8
High House Farm Matfen, Northumberland Oakham Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
o Nel’s Best 4.2 o Akhenaten 4.9
Highland Orkney o Black Hole Porter 5.5
o Dark Munro 4.0 o Last of the Few 7.0
Hobsons Cleobury Mortimer, Worcs o Oblivion 5.6
o Town Crier 4.5 o Tranquility 6.5
Hook Norton Hook Norton, Oxfordshire Oakleaf Gosport, Hampshire
o Hooky Bitter 3.6 o Bitter 3.8
o Hooky Gold 4.1 o IPA 5.5
Hop Back Salisbury, Wiltshire o Nuptu’Ale 4.2
o Brewers Challenge 4.3 Orkney Stromness, Orkney
o Crop Circle 4.2 o Dark Island 4.6
o Entire Stout 4.5 Ossett Ossett, West Yorkshire
o GFB 3.5
o Pale Gold 3.8
Hornbeam Denton, Manchester Otley Pontypridd
o Lemon Blossom 3.7
o O Garden 4.8
Hoskins Leicester
o O8 8.0
o EXS 5.0 Palmer Bridport, Dorset
Idle Stockwith, South Yorkshire
o Dorset Gold 4.5
o Sod 4.2
o Tally Ho 5.5
Inveralmond Inveralmond, Perth
Phoenix Heywood, Gtr Manchester
o Lia Fail 4.7
o Hop Sack 3.8
Isle of Purbeck Studland, Dorset
o Best Bitter 3.6 o White Monk 4.5
Purity Great Alne, Warwickshire
Kelham Island Sheffield, South Yorks
o Easy Rider 4.3 o Pure Ubu 4.5
RCH West Hewish, Somerset
Lancaster Lancaster
o Blonde 4.1 o Double Header 5.3
Leeds Leeds, West Yorshire o Firebox 6.0
o Midnight Bell 4.8 o PG Steam 3.9
o Pale 3.8 o Steam Harvest 4.8
Loch Leven Blairadam, Fife Red Rat Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
o Once Bitten 3.9 o Golden Ale 4.2
Lytham Lytham, Lancashire o Viking Pride 5.0
o Amber 3.6 Red Squirrel Hertford, Hertfordshire
o Dark 5.0 o Munich 4.1
Marble Manchester o Weiss Beer 4.5
o Stouter Stout 4.7 Roosters Knaresborough, North Yorks
Mauldons Sudbury, Suffolk o Dry Irish Stout 4.7
o Suffolk Pride 4.8 o Wild Mule 3.9
Mighty Oak Maldon Essex Rudgate York, North Yorkshire
o Fork Handles 4.3 o Special 4.5
o Oscar Wilde 3.7 Saltaire Shipley, West Yorkshire
Moorhouses Burnley, Lancashire o Cascade Pale Ale 4.8
o Pendle Witches Brew 5.1 o Raspberry Blonde 4.0
Nethergate Pentlow, Essex Sarah Hughes Dudley, West Midlands
o Old Growler 5.0 o Amber 4.0
Northern Northwich, Cheshire Sharps Rock, Cornwall
o One-der-fuel-wheat 4.7 o Red Ale 4.1
o Soul Rider 4.0 Slaters Stafford, Staffordshire
o Summer Breeze 4.1 o Premium 4.4
Nottingham Nottingham o Top Totty 4.0
o EPA 4.2 o Why Not? 3.6
26
 Son of Sid Little Gransden, Cambs Triple fff Alton, Hampshire
o Muck Cart Mild 3.5 o Stairway to Heaven 4.6
St Austell St Austell, Cornwall Westerham Edenbridge, Kent
o Proper Job IPA 4.5 o Progress 4.0
St George’s Callow End, Worcestershire Yard of Ale Ferryhill, Co. Durham
o Pint 4.3 o Yards Ahead 4.2
Thornbridge Bakewell, Derbys Yates Wigton, Cumbria
o Kipling 5.2 o Golden Ale 3.9
Timothy Taylor Keighley, West Yorkshire York York, North Yorkshire
o Golden Best 3.5 o Crystal 4.0
Titanic Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire o Guzzler 3.6
o White Star 4.8 o Yorkshire Terrier 4.2
BOTTLE CONDITIONED BEER BAR - Sponsored by St Albans Pubwatch
Ascot Ales Camberley, Surrey Hop Back Downton, Wiltshire
o Anastatia’s Exile Stout 5.0 o Entire Stout 4.5
Cheddar Cheddar Somerset o Taiphoon 4.2
o Goat’s Leap 5.7 Naylor Keighley, West Yorkshire
o Gorge Best 4.2 o Pinacle Porter 4.8
Downton Downton, Wiltshire Little Valley (Suma) Hebden Bridge, W Yorks
o Chimera 7.0 o Long Wall Mouse 5.0
Fuller’s Chiswick, London Oakleaf Gosport, Hampshire
o 1845 6.3 o Hole Hearted Golden Bitter 4.7
o Vintage Ale 2009 8.5 Otley Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan
o Gales Prize Old Ale 9.0 o Columb-O 4.0
o Brewer’s Reserve 8.2 o O-Garden Wheat Beer 4.8
o Bengal Lancer 5.3 Rhymney Dowlais, Merthyr Tidfil
Hawkshead Staveley, Cumbria o Export Ale 5.0
o Organic Oatmeal Stout 4.5 St Austell St Austell, Cornwall
Hepworth Horsham, Sussex o Admiral’s Ale 5.0
o Sussex 3.8 o Proper Job 5.5
o Prospect 4.5 Sharp Rock, Cornwall
Hog’s Back Tongham, Surrey o Reserve 4.5
o OTT 6.0 Teme Knightwick, Gloucester
o BSA 4.5 o Wotever Next 5.0
Westerham Edenbridge, Kent
o William Wilberforce Freedom Ale 4.8
CIDER AND PERRY BAR - Sponsored by Millwhites Cider
CIDER o Severn Gloucestershire Sider (medium)
Millwhites Hertfordshire o Sandford Devon Orchard (medium)
o Scrumpy* (medium) 6.5 o Troggi Monmouth (dry)
o Rum cask* (medium) 7.5 o Gwyncyddraig Vale of Glamorgan
o Whisky Cask* (medium dry) 7.5 o Old Monty Montgomeryshire (dry)
o Apples and Pears (medium-sweet) 5.0 o Gwatkin Herefordshire Single Variety (dry)
o Blackberry Blush (medium sweet) 6.5 o Rathays Herefordshire Balls Seedling (dry)
o Wilkins Somerset (sweet) o Ross on Wye Herefordshire (dry)
o Crossman Somerset (sweet) o Ross Parker St Albans, Hertfordshire (dry)
o Richs Somerset Cider (sweet) *Available in bottles on the Bottled Beer Bar
o Parson’s Somerset Choice (medium) PERRY
o Hartland Gloucestershire (medium)
o Hartland Gloucestershire (medium)
o West Croft Janet’s Jungle Juice (medium)
o Days Cottage Gloucestershire (medium)
o Lyne Down Much Marcle (medium)
o Hecks Somerset Single Variety (medium)
o Boll Hayes Devon Clayhidon (medium)
o Orchards (medium)
27
 FOREIGN BEER BAR
Austria Germany
o Edelweiss 5.0 o Augustiner Helles 5.2
Australia o Bolten Ur Alt 4.8
o Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale 7.5 o Früh Kölsch 4.8
o Coopers Original Pale 4.5 o Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfestbier 5.8
o Coopers Sparkling Ale 5.8 o Jever Pils 4.9
o Little Creatures Pale Ale 5.2 o Keesman Herren Pils 4.6
Belgium o Mahr’s Weisse Bock 5.0
o Boelens Waaslander 5.0 o Maisels Hefe Weisse 5.7
o Botteresse sur les Bois Cerise 8.5 o Oettinger Pilsner 4.7
o Brootcoorens Angelus Blonde 7.0 o Reissdorf Kölsch 4.8
o Cantillon Iris 5.0 o Schlenkerla Rauch Märzen 5.1
o Cantillon Kriek 5.0 o Schlenkerla Rauch Weisse 5.2
o Caracole Ambrée 7.5 o Schneider Aventinus 8.2
o Daas Organic Ambree 6.5 Italy
o Daas Organic Blond 6.5 o Almond 22 Frederic 6.0
o Daas Organic White 5.0 o Lambrate Miontestella 4.9
o Drie Fonteinen Vintage Geuze 2005 6.0 Netherlands
o Duysters Roodebol 6.6 o Christoffel Bier 6.0
o Duysters Tuverbol 11.0 o Emelisse Double IPA 9.7
o Dupont Saison 6.5 o Gulpener Korenwolf 5.0
o Girardin Framboise 5.0 o Hemel Nieuw Ligt Grand Cru 12.0
o Hanssens Oudbeitje 6.0 o Ij Natte 6.5
o Hofbrouwerijke Blondelle 7.0 o Ij Wit 7.0
o Jandrain-Jandrenouille IV Saison 6.0 o Klein Duimpje Smokey Porter 5.5
o Kerkom Bink Blond 5.5 o Molen Amerikaans 4.5
o Mort Subite Oude Kriek 6.5 o Molen Man & Macht 3.9
o Orval 6.2 o Oijen Eikelbier 6.0
o Ranke Guldenberg 8.5 o Schelde Schoenlappertje 5.0
o Ranke Noir de Dottignies 9.0 o Servattumus Knalbier 7.5
o Rochefort 8 9.2 o SNAB Ijsbock 9.0
o Rochefort 10 11.3 o SNAB Koning Honing 7.5
o Ryck Arend Tripel 8.0 o Us Heit Buorren Bier 6.0
o Silly Titje 4.7 Norway
o Struise Rosse 6.0 o Nogne O Pale Ale 6.0
Czech Republic Sweden
o Bernard Svĕtlý Ležák 4.7 o Nils Oscar Julöl 2009 7.7
o Bernard Černe Pivo 5.0 USA
o Bernard Sváteční Ležák 3.8 o Captain Lawrence Captains Reserva IPA 9.0
o Bernard Sváteční Ležák 5.0 o Lost Abbey Red Barn Ale 6.0
o Budweiser Budvar Ceske 5.0 o Southern Tier Hop Sun 4.6
Denmark
o Amager Bryggens Blond 5.0
o Midtfyns Gladiator 6.4
France
o Thiriez Etoile du Nord 5.5

28
 Cider & Per r y
Unlike the chilled fizzy products generally found in pubs, this festival offers you
the chance to taste real cider and perry, a still drink which is not over-chilled,
so you can taste the natural flavours which come through from the fruit.

Real cider is made by pressing the apples, generally around September

to November, and then leaving the juice to ferment over the Winter
months. The apples used in the West Country style ciders are
specifically grown for cider production. In the East of the country eaters
and cookers are traditionally used, although some producers have now
started to grow or import cider apples from the West.

Although real cider can sometimes be found in pubs, real perry is a much rarer sight. It is produced in
the same way as real cider, but using pears. The drink which is produced has been described by some
as more like a wine than cider, and as with cider the taste depends on the fruit used and the area it
comes from.

As you can see, the range of ciders and perries available offers a diverse range of tastes so why not
visit the cider bar and try some real cider and perry. With this variety you should be able to find
something to your taste.

The Garibaldi
01727 894745
61 Albert Street St Albans

Do you know what St Albans’ best kept secret is?

- It’s The Garibaldi Pub on Albert Street St Albans!
We’re an ethical pub - we use local produce for our real home cooking from 12 noon to 9pm
Tuesday to Sunday - with a traditional family roast every Sunday.
We’re a community pub - pets and children are welcome and we have a patio area and
outside TV for all the big events.
Join us on our Karaoke nights, open mic sessions and live music at the weekend - and a
superb choice of beers, wine and real ales. So come along to St Albans’ best kept secret -

The Garibaldi, Albert Street St Albans!

REAL ALE REAL FOOD REALISTIC PRICES

29
 Fo rei g n Beer St y le s
Venture down the stairs of the Arena and you will be transported to beers from around the world in a
bottle. As well as some old favourites we have tried to track down some of the lesser known quality
brews from beyond these shores - many brewed by small artisan breweries using the best quality
ingredients and enthusiasm.

Mention foreign beer to many a connoisseur and their mind will

immediately jump to Belgium where beer is not just for drinking but
more a way of life, especially for the trappist monks who between
their heavenly devotions brew some remarkable beers, dark, very
strong and well matured. Only five of these abbey breweries survive
today and we will have some examples for you to try. The culture of
beer extends throughout the land and can even be studied at
university. Beer styles include dubbels (generally dark), triples
(usually amber), spiced and herbal saisons, lambics (fermented with
wild yeasts and noticeably sour), fruit beers - most famously kriek
(cherry), framboise (raspberry), apple, blackcurrant and even honey,
also wheat and blond beers to mention but a few. Be warned that
many of these brews are very strong and are sold in small quantities;
they are for supping slowly and savouring, not to be gulped down in
the English fashion.

The Netherlands by contrast has more of a reputation for brewing in quantity rather than quality, in a
land dominated by the giant Heineken/Amstel near monopoly. However in recent years there has been
a great upsurge of new microbreweries producing characterful beers, often using quite novel
ingredients. Look out for the bottom fermented, unfiltered blond beer from Christoffel 6%, and the very
strong rich sweet and fruity Grand Cru from Hemel at a whopping 12%.

Many British people think of Germany as the land of the lager, often served ice cold and very fizzy.
While this is true in the mass market there are some good quality lagers to be found, slowly fermented
and matured for a long time. An old favourite at this festival is Jever Pilsener from the Friesisches
Brauhaus. Lagers also come in dark and smokey varieties and we hope to have some of these for you
to try. Germany also has many top fermented beers - look out for the Alt beers from Dusseldorf and
Kolsch from Cologne, Oktoberfest from Munich or the distinctively smokey Rauchbier from Bamberg.
Just a few examples of the dozen or so recognised classic brewing styles.

The Czech Republic has a long tradition of brewing Pilsen style beers (named after the town).
Characterised by a deep golden-amber colour and a rich, sugary malt body. Many of the new brewers
claim to emulate the original quality - especially Bernard - which we hope to have available at the
festival. Particularly interesting is their unfiltered version. Fighting for many decades against the giant
American brewer, Anheuser-Busch, over the rights to use the Budweiser name, Budvar is a beautifully
balanced classic beer which is a popular regular at our festival. Try it to taste the difference with the
rice-based beer from the A-B giant.

Many of the former colonies like Australia, New Zealand and America were once as dry as the dust
bowl for real ale but are now producing some world class ales from their micro- or craft breweries
thanks to the renewed world-wide interest in quality individualistic products.
If you want to take some samples home with you, we can arrange this though there is a small deposit
to pay on the bottles.

31
Legendary Beer from
Hertfordshire
e take the finest natural
ingredients from here and
around the world and make
beautiful beers.
Themed around the legends and folk tales of old
Hertfordshire, our range of up to nine ales offers
something for every taste - and with national distribution
either direct or via our nominated wholesalers,
we’re just a phone call away.

Visit www.tringbrewery.co.uk for full details.

CAMRA & SIBA Award-winning Ales

Brewed in Tring, using only the finest
natural ingredients
Nationwide distribution
New BREWERY SHOP open
Weekdays 9-6 and Saturdays 9-12

Place your order by calling Lynne on

01442 890721
Email: info@tringbrewery.co.uk | www.tringbrewery.co.uk
 A Tring Tradition
It is rumoured that when John Brown conceived the idea for a Malting just off Tring High Street, he
planned the whole design, in his head, during an epic twenty four hours of sleep. This nocturnal
blueprint was undoubtedly exact as the family run brewery went on to supply most of the town’s beer
from 1826 to 1898.

Fast forward over a century and no doubt the current

team at Tring Brewery could have wished that the
planning and indeed the building of the new Tring brewery
could have been undertaken with such comparable ease.
As it turns out, the results of much hard effort have
brought forth a wonderful new facility. Having outgrown
the Akeman Street location in Tring of course, Tring
Brewery has replanted itself in June this year half a half
mile away within the rural surroundings of Dunsley Farm.

Andrew Jackson, the director of the brewery, said that a move to larger premises had been on the cards
for a number of years but felt it was important for the brewery’s customers and the local community to
retain the tradition of brewing in Tring. “The availability of suitable sites proved to be limited but we are
fortunate to have finally settled down in our new home”.

The site at Dunsley farm, an old barn, could best be described as no more than a capacious, dusty,
steel clad shell when Tring Brewery took occupation. After an extensive overhaul the new brewery,
adorned with an equally fresh new logo, now offers numerous benefits over the old site, including
(importantly), the ability to produce more beer.
The primary catalyst to up-
scaling was down to demand
outstripping supply. “It’s never
good to run out of beer”,
commented second brewer Ben
Marston, “and with brew runs
being at least double that of our
old site, we aim to ensure no
customer is left with an empty
glass. Additionally the new
facilities will provide opportunities
for improved quality and service”.

The new brewery now boasts a large retail and hospitality space providing a view onto the brewery.
Taking cues from traditional pub interiors, this space will also serve as the sampling area for the
Brewery’s many tours and charity events.
Whilst it is undeniably sad for the staff at the
brewery to be moving from the Akeman
Street site, a site that has served them well
for so many years, all the staff at Tring
Brewery are looking forward to being better
equipped to serve present and future
customers for many years to come.
33
 The Green Man
High Street, Sandridge
Up to three ales available straight
from the cask
Mike and Lesley celebrating
over 20 years of serving
quality ales at
The Green Man
Tel: 01727 854845
34
B ottle C o n di tio n i n g
Beers matured to perfection the Fuller’s way
Bottle conditioning is the process of allowing a small
amount of yeast to ferment gently in the bottle, for pure
quality this is the closest thing to cask ale. Bottle
conditioning is a demanding art; knowledge and skill are
needed at every stage of the process. The tiny residues
of yeast that ferment in the bottle help to develop
character and flavour over time, just as fine vintage
wines do.

Fuller’s now produce five bottle conditioned beers, 1845, Prize

Old Ale, Vintage Ale and the more recent Brewer’s Reserve and
Bengal Lancer. Whilst all require the same care, skill and
attention, each offers a wealth of different flavours and
experiences. The process for bottle conditioning a beer differs
from the normal process of placing a beer in bottle. Once the
beers have been carefully brewed and fermented to their unique
recipe they are allowed to ‘mature’ in the brewery for around six
weeks - however some would require even longer.

The first few weeks of this maturation period is known as ‘warm conditioning’, due to the temperature
at which the beer is kept. During this time there is a specific quantity of Fuller’s yeast (or Gale’s yeast
for Prize Old Ale) available to produce carbon dioxide from the fermentable extract carefully left in the
beer. This time is also important for modifying the flavour of the beer and as a result the beer becomes
less grainy and grassy - flavours associated with young beer.

Once complete, Fuller’s then ‘cold condition’ the beer. At this

stage it is important to remove any compounds that cause the
beer to haze prematurely. After the conditioning period, the beer
is filtered which helps protect against contamination and
enhances the haze stability of the beer. This is essential because
the beers are not pasteurised. A very specific quantity of yeast is
then added into the beer after filtering, a process known as re-
seeding, before being filled into bottles very carefully.

The yeast will then produce carbon dioxide gas in the bottle as a
result of secondary fermentation of the residual sugars left in the
beer. This gas gives the beer its ‘condition’. Once the yeast has used
the sugars, it continues to be active helping to modify the flavour of
the beer over time, even when it has settled to the bottom of the
bottle. The beers are then closely monitored to ensure they develop
the desired flavours before being released to enjoy. Fuller’s bottle
conditioned beers along with those from other breweries are
available at the St Albans Beer Festival on our bottled beer stand in
the foyer. Make a point of trying one, or more, at the festival and if
you are able (and disciplined enough) take some away to store
some for a period of time before enjoying, you will be able to see just
how much the flavours change over the months and years.
35
 Kashu are proud to be supporting Dine in at Kashu
the St Albans Beer Festival For the Cut out this voucher and fill in
your details to get
2nd year running.
Come and enjoy our fantastic
hog roast with all the trimmings.
15% off
the total food bill Sun to Thurs

Name:

Address:

Email Address:

Terms & Conditions apply.

www.kashu.co.uk tel: 01727 854436 9 Hatfield Road, St Albans AL1 3RR

36
 Beer - Th e H e a lthy Optio n
Beer has been brewed for just about as long as humans have
been cultivating crops and is actually made with some very
healthy ingredients. The main ingredients of course being
water, hops, brewer’s yeast and malted barley.

Drinking beer each day may be good for your health because
it has been associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular
disease. Some experts suggest these reasons:

The folate found in beer may help to reduce

homocysteine in the blood and lower homocysteine
levels mean a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

Lab studies have found constituents in beer that lower

triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol

Drinking beer could reduce blood clotting. Some

studies found that cardiovascular patients who drank
beer each day also lived longer.

Other studies have found that women who consume

beer each day have improved mental health. Drinking
beer and other alcoholic beverages in moderation may
also improve bone density.

All of the above of course is based on sensible drinking which

CAMRA heartily supports - binge drinking is unlikely to have
the required effect!

Beer has been called “liquid bread” by Trappist monks who

drank beer to sustain themselves during their Lenten fasts. It’s
easy to see why when compared to other alcoholic drinks, one
12-ounce serving of regular beer has approximately the
following nutrients:

Calories: 153
Protein: 1.64 g
Carbohydrates: 12.64 g
Calcium: 14 mg
Magnesium: 21 mg
Phosphorus: 50 mg
Potassium: 96 mg
Sodium: 14 mg
Zinc: 0.04 mg
Thiamin: 0.018 mg
Riboflavin: 0.089 mg
Niacin: 1.826 mg
Pantothenic Acid: 0.146 mg
Vitamin B6: 0.164 mg

Beer is also actually a good source of folate, niacin, magnesium, potassium and niacin.
CHEERS !
37
 The First Hertfordshire Beer Festival
Well, the first thing is it was not called a ‘Beer Festival’ but a ‘Beer Exhibition’ and it was the very
beginning for the kind of event you are visiting today. It took place in December 1974 and Steve Bury
wrote an article about the exhibition which was published in the South Herts Newsletter No.5
November 1976. With a few minor amendments, the article was as follows:
The Hertfordshire Beer Exhibition, in which I had
a small part, took place in the Market Hall, St
Albans in December 1974. For me, and all those
present I am sure it was a day never to be
forgotten.
A 200 plus crowd downed 2000 pints in an
afternoon and early evening session, which was
second to none. With all the beers at 2 pence per
half and the entrance fee at 50 pence, tickets
were sold out well in advance. Some exceptions
were made - I remember four weary hitch hikers
from Manchester just could not be turned away.
Three committee members and three from the
floor (one being myself) had been elected at a
branch meeting several months earlier as
organisers. There was a difficulty in finding a
suitable venue without licensing problems, but we
had a generous offer of an occasional license
from the guv’nor of the Crown & Sceptre, Bridens
Camp, the amazing little Free House (now
Greene King) near Hemel Hempstead that is still
trading to this day.
The eloquent Rob Griffin composed an excellent
letter which we sent to every brewer in the
southern counties. The response was lukewarm
to start with, but when the first brewers offered us
some free beer, word seemed to get around and
donations literally poured in. As we were spread
out between Barnet, Watford and St Albans, it
gave us a chance to hold Committee meetings at
some of the most interesting of the few real ale
pubs left in the county at the time.
DRINKERS’ DREAM
We didn’t have much difficulty collecting the
beers. Many a keen branch member was willing
to go forth to outlying areas and at the same time
sample the local brew. Some barrels were
collected by Steve Warnes and others were
collected in a hired van. Alan Saunders delayed
38
collections at Rayments having organised his
own private brewery trip with one of the
employees.
Anyway the beer arrived safely by Friday, all
donated free except for two firkins. We thought
we had written to every brewery, (including
Watney’s who had politely declined) but as the
beer was being racked we had a surprise visit
from one of the directors of Charrington’s, who
had heard from someone at Young’s about the
event. He had requisitioned a kil of IPA and driven
from the Mile End Brewery (now sadly closed) to
make sure that Charrington’s were there.
By Friday evening 26 casks, representing 14
brewers were all tapped and spiled. The taps,
brass and wood, had been begged and borrowed
from many a friend and relative; even pub display
items were in use for the first time in years- beer
mats, posters, pub guides etc. gave the hall that
decorative splash of colour the occasion needed.
Reg Thomas and I slipped out for a couple of
pints of Young’s to steady our nerves. St Albans
was then a very dry town, with only the Farriers
Arms (Mac’s) and the Lower Red Lion, a free
house selling Young’s to its credit. We cut through
from Fishpool Street for some Mac’s arriving back
in time for the Grand Opening.
Soon the hall was filled with drinkers and deep
discussion on the merits and quality of the ales.
Fuller’s, Adnams, Brakspear’s and Hook Norton
were gaining the most interest as they were not
then available anywhere in the county.
The ESB ran out first but late arrivals made up for
it with Abbot Ale. The local Morris Dancers gave
us a great display with crowd participation from
John Simpson, better known for his Cheerless
Charlie cartoons than his folk dancing.
The deadline of 9.30 pm for clearing the hall
could not have worked out better. The beers were
running out one by one and the guests were
wending their weary way home through the dark
streets of St Albans. Even after the afternoon’s
exceptional showing a few managed a nightcap
at the two locals.

SUCCESS AND PUBLICITY

The hall suddenly silent, looked devastated- the
souvenir hunters had taken the lot, down to the
notices on the barrels saying 2 pence per half
pint!

For the campaign, it was a great success; we as

the Herts branch had organised and run the first,
but by no means the last beer festival. It had been
a great event on a local scale and we did very
well for publicity from all the local papers, plus
some of the dailies. We had managed to get the
whole branch actively involved where a certain
apathy had crept in and gained many a new
member (the fee was £1 a year at the time) and THE PEOPLE
much public interest. An update on some of those involved in the
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? event: sadly Reg Thomas died in December
Yes, the beer was all sold at two pence per half a 2006, Bob Norrish like myself is still active in the
pint, in the pub in those days was about twelve South Herts branch. Rob Griffin can still be found
pence per pint. The price was decided to cover enjoying a pint or two around Watford and Steve
our costs as we did not intend to make any Warnes shares his time between his home in St
money from the event (halcyon days). There Austell and his other residence in Spain. John
never was another CAMRA Beer Exhibition, the Simpson whose Cheerless Charlie cartoon was
brewers are generous to this level very rarely. used by the Campaign until being replaced by Bill
The event was followed by several others run by Tidy’s Keg Buster is as far as I know alive and
different branches around the country and was well somewhere in North London and I have lost
the catalyst for the first touch with Alan Saunders last heard of in Arkley,
Great British Beer Barnet.
Festival held at Alexandra
Palace in 1977. The next
St Albans Beer Festival
was not until the 10th
Anniversary of the branch
in 1982, which was a joint
event with the St Albans
LVA who were celebrating
their 50th anniversary that
year. The Festival was
held in the Building
College in Hatfield Road
as the culmination to a
week of charity events.
39
 P R I Z E C R O S S W O R D WIN £25
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13

14 15 16

17

18 19 20

21 22 23

24

25 26 27 28

29

30 31 32 33 34

35 36 37 38

39

40 41 42

43 44

The first two correct entries opened after the closing date of 15th October
will receive a cheque for £25. Photocopies are acceptable.
Send entries to: J E Green, 63 Green Lane, St Albans, Herts, AL3 6HE

Name ..................................................................................................................................................

Address .............................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................. Postcode ............................................

40
CLUES: The ‘unclued’ answers have something LocAle in common
Across
1. Unclued (11)
7. Idiot taken in by gift which produces music (7)
11. He has a role to play, revealing part of body (7)
12. This airway alternately may go to one’s head (5)
13. Server forgetting one ingredient of beer (5)
14. Get-together that’s appropriate (4)
15. He’ll take a shot of half bare legs from the back (6)
16. Dozy creatures party to organised crime (7)
18. Test involving elderly is a disaster (7)
19. Paper showing I’m involved in set-back (5)
20. Spin doctor is very eager to begin with (5)
21. Poser causes anger drinking Double Diamond (6)
22. Supplanting spent decimal coinage (12)
25. Persuading not to drink Directors Bitter? (12)
27. This one is two (or eleven) (6)
30. Fifty-fifty after Spanish pardon’s put down (5)
31. Fleet’s in sound - that’s something to gaze at (5)
33. Injure girl - with this? (7)
35. It might produce larger and nicer torso tops (7)
36. Blue Peter is questionable in part (6)
38. Pop star’s sound not working (4)
40. Bit of tree top lost in farm (5)
41. Part of cat - a long claw (5)
42. Beware yob with nothing right inside (4, 3)
43. All rite? Perhaps that’s a misprint (7)
44. Didn’t tell the truth about faulty Minis
manufactured (11)
Down
1. The amber’s served up without head initially -
it’s under a pint (4, 3)
2. She might provide us a minder (9)
3. In Mayfair, one club is found (4)
4. Unclued (5,3)
5. Variety of dancing after working is
available (2,3)
6. Plan to help put back on weight (7)
7. Biscuit in containers sent up after drink (6,4)
8. Unclued (14)
9. Risky place to be in the coin-spinning (2,4,3)
10. Bottle’s recent redesign controlled from
here (5,6)
17. Here, ale froth’ll disperse very quickly (4,3,7)
19. Unclued (5)
21. Unclued (3,8)
23. Aircraft left last group (5)
24. Large shot of whisky and ale unfinished in
final tally (5,5)
26. Take time to consider recovery of stolen
pie (5,2,2)
28. Sweeper has road crash in meeting place (9)
29. Unclued (8)
32. Unclued (7)
34. Satisfied outwardly, we worked hard (7)
37. Downs dark stuff in outskirts of St Albans (5)
39. Starts to play one last over in game (4)
41
 CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is a consumer group that was formed in 1971
to campaign to keep real ale alive. For just £20* a year, that’s less than a pint a month, you can sign
up to CAMRA and join more than 115,000 other members to help us make a difference. It’s even
cheaper if you take up the offer on page 20 of this programme at the membership stand in the foyer.

There are two halves to CAMRA membership.

Firstly, the serious campaigning half which fights for consumer rights on all beer and pub issues and
secondly, the relaxing side that encourages our members to enjoy real ale, pubs and the membership
benefits received when joining the organisation. So, yes we do have many serious campaigns to fight
but we also want members to go out and enjoy great beer, excellent pubs and CAMRA membership
benefit.

Campaigning - CAMRA acts as a powerful voice promoting well-run community pubs, real ale
and consumer rights. We have had many successes over the years. These include:
Playing an important role in the Local Works Campaign, which led to the Sustainable
Communities Act becoming law in 2007. This will help benefit local breweries and community
pubs.
Following a powerful campaign by CAMRA, we were delighted to see the introduction of small
brewers’ relief. This has enabled many small breweries to invest more money into their
operations and become more successful and viable.
Launching the LocAle scheme which promotes pubs which stock locally-brewed real ale. There
are more than 100 of these schemes now across Britain. Visit www.camra.org.uk/campaigns
to find out more.
Enjoying real ale, pubs and CAMRA membership benefits - The other
less serious side to CAMRA membership is enjoying real ale, good pubs and the benefits you receive
as a member of the organisation.

Real Ale - It is almost 40 years since CAMRA was founded and the real ale scene in Britain is far
more exciting than it was in 1971! There are now more than 700 real ale breweries in Britain brewing
over 2,500 different real ales. More than 70 of these breweries opened in the last 12 months.
42
Pubs - Although the real ale market is blooming, unfortunately the same cannot be said for the pubs
industry. Recent research shows that almost 40 pubs close every week and CAMRA is doing its utmost
to campaign and support pubs under threat from closure. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of great
pubs offering a superb range of real ale. CAMRA locally and nationally encourages members to
support and enjoy Britain’s pubs in their hour of need!

CAMRA membership benefits - So what will you receive when you join CAMRA at
St Albans Beer Festival?

3 A quarterly magazine called BEER which is packed with superb features on pubs, beers and
breweries

3 A monthly newspaper, What’s Brewing informing you about beer and pub news and detailing
events and beer festivals around country

3 Free or reduced entry prices to over 150 national, regional and local beer festivals

3 Free Fuller’s T-Shirt/Polo Shirt (first 50 subscriptions - one shirt per subscription)

3 Two pints of Fuller’s ESB to drink at a local Fuller’s pub after the festival

3 10% discount on all holidays booked with cottages4you - www.camra.org.uk/cottages4you

3 £20 worth of JD Wetherspoon real ale vouchers (40 x 50p off a pint vouchers) - please note
that Joint Members receive £20 worth of vouchers to share.

3 6% discount on holidays booked with Thomas Cook - www.camra.org.uk/thomascook

3 5% discount on canal boat holidays www.hireacanalboat.co.uk

3 CAMRA Discount Scheme promotes hundreds of pubs across Britain that offer CAMRA
members discounts off the price of their real ales

3 Discounts on CAMRA books including the Good Beer Guide

3 Discounts on CAMRA’s Beer Club cases - www.camrabeerclub.co.uk

3 The opportunity to campaign to save pubs and breweries under threat of closure
3 The chance to join CAMRA/Brewery Complimentary Clubs that are exclusive to CAMRA
members. These clubs offer members a variety of promotions including free pint vouchers,
brewery trips, competitions and merchandise offers

To read more about CAMRA membership please visit www.camra.org.uk/joinus

HAVE A FREE PINT ON US AS WELL! - If you decide to join by Direct Debit then we will also:
3 Give you a £2 discount on your membership subscription

3 Buy you a couple of pints to drink at the festival to say thank you for reducing our administration
costs, and therefore increase finances for campaigning
3 Give you 15 months membership for the price of 12

Help us make a difference, visit the Information

and Membership Stand in the Foyer and
JOIN CAMRA TODAY!
*For non Direct Debit prices and concessionary rates please ask at the Information and Membership Stand at the
St Albans Beer Festival. These promotions are only available when joining CAMRA at the St Albans Beer Festival.
43
 11stt - 10th October
O t b 2010

St Albans
Food & Drink
Festival is the
“Talk of the Town”

Pick up a brochure at the

Tourist & Information Centre or any
participating venue - Today!

Tel:
Te
el: 01727
01727 864511
8 511
864
www.sstalbansfoodanddrin nk.com
www.stalbansfoodanddrink.com
16
44
Enjoy! St A l ba n s

45
Greene King
are proud to support
the St Albans Beer Festival