Cheers at the ready for 30th ale festival
0 Comments | Northern Echo, Sep 2, 2010 | by Bruce Unwin
THE first pint will be pulled today at the start of a city’s 30th annual real ale celebration.
Durham Beer Festival reaches the three decades landmark in good health after a lull several years ago when the event was reduced in scale.
But now back at its traditional venue, at Dunelm House, the Durham Students’ Union building in New Elvet, Durham City, it features 80plus cask beers, 20 bottled beers and more than 20 ciders and perries.
Among them is an exclusive Ampleforth cider brewed by the monks of the Benedictine community of the North Yorkshire abbey, which is not usually available at beer festivals.
The menu also features many local brews, including “festival special” beers produced by local breweries Hill Island, of Durham, Maxim, of Rainton Bridge, near Durham City, and the Yard of Ale, at Ferryhill.
The festival’s opening hours are 5pm until 11pm today, and 11am to 11pm both tomorrow and Saturday, although drinkers are warned that, depending on popularity, stocks could run low on the final evening.
Hot and cold food is available throughout, with entertainment on Saturday afternoon.
Profits will be split between the festival organisers, the Durham branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, and its nominated charity, this year the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
There is a [pounds]3 entry charge and beer tokens are [pounds]1.25 each, for all half pints under eight per cent strength.
Admission includes a commemorative glass offered on a sale or return basis.
