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 South Devon CAMRA organise our main festival annually at Newton Abbot Racecourse in September & help staff three other festivals locally during the spring and early summer. Our next festival for your diaries. It'll be taking place from Thurs 17th - Sat 19th September 2009 at Newton Abbot Racecourse again with 100 barrels of ale plus a range of ciders and perries. Details of our 2008 Beer Festival award winners appear at the bottom of this page. The other festivals that support by helping out at annually include the now annual Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust spring festival at Occombe Farm featuring beers from Devon and Cornwall. We also help staff the Tucker's Maltings Beer Festival in April in Newton Abbot and the Ales of Devon tent at the Devon County Show in May.
Other beer festivals in and around our area are listed below.
Please step forward and contact us if you're interested in helping out at our festivals. We're always looking for extra helpers.
Do let us know if there are any festivals that we've not listed.
BEER FESTIVALS IN & AROUND OUR AREA
| BEER FESTIVAL |
WHEN |
OTHER NOTES |
| Occombe Beer Festival, Occombe Farm (just off the Torbay ring road at the junction for Preston, Paignton |
Fri 5 - Sat 6 Jun 2009 |
A chance to taste over 50 of the Westcountry's real ales, local ciders and perry at their fourth annual beer festival. Includes a barbecue, hog roast, and live music throughout, plus a Pimm's bar. Open 4.30 - 11pm Friday, 11am - 11pm Saturday. Cost is £4 entry which includes a souvenir glass. A free bus service runs from Torquay and Paignton. More info on their website at www.occombebeerfestival.co.uk or call 01803 606035. |
| 2nd Kingskerswell Summer Moon Festival Parish Centre Kingskerswell (opposite the Parish Church) |
Fri 19 - Sun 21 Jun 2009 |
Their second festival is being held on Friday (evening), Saturday (all day) and Sunday (to 5pm). No website yet. 60 beers plus ciders. Live music Sat and Sun. More info see their website. |
| Exeter & East Devon Branch are summer beer, cider & music festival at Rougemont Castle, Castle Street, Exeter, EX4 3PU |
Fri 26 - Sat 27 Jun 2009 |
The festival will be open 11.00am to 11.00pm each day. We will be having about 80 beers and 20 ciders. Admission at the gate or by buying advance tickets is £4 for each day - discounted to £3 for Friday at the gate before 5.00pm. Tickets can be obtained by mail order by writing to Festival Ticket Sales, 1 Denver Place, Elm Grove Road, Topsham, EX3 0EP. Please enclose a cheque made payable to Exeter Camra and a SAE. Re music, we have 6 local acts on Friday night - Cole Stacey, Adelia, Kerry Bryx, Mel Rout, Alex Cross and The Old Porch band On Saturday afternoon we have Dave Wood, Isambarde (Acoustic) and The Exmouth Shantymen On Saturday evening we have The Old Porch Band and Isambarde Electric. |
| Plymouth CAMRA Beer Festival Plymouth Pavilions, Millbay Road, Plymouth PL1 3LF |
Fri 24 - Sat 25 Jul 2009 |
12 noon - 11pm each day. 140+ ales, 35+ ciders & perries. £4, £7 Saturday after 6pm. Souvenir glass & prog £1.50. Card-carrying CAMRA membs free Fri & until 6pm Sat. Saturday night entertainment: The Wurzels. Advance tickets available on 0845 1461460 or from www.plymouthpavilions.com. 10 min walk from train station. Staff urgently reqd - contact Bill Barnes on 01752 896111/07712 868166, email bill@bbarnes.fsnet.co.uk |
| South Devon Railway Rails and Ales weekend, Buckfastleigh |
Sat 29 - Mon 31 Aug 2009 |
A weekend of "Rails and Ales" is planned for 29th to 31st August, described as the first ever real ale weekend. Extra trains and plenty of real ale and traditional cider to enjoy. |
Abbfest Beer and Food Festival, Isaac's Field, next to Fermoys on the Totnes Road near Abbotskerswell |
Fri 25 - Sun 27 Sep 2009 |
Over 100 real ales and ciders from Devon plus a food festival on the Saturday and Sunday. Opening times Fri 6-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, Sunday 11am-5pm. More info will appear here closer to the time. They've got their own website at www.abbfest.org. |
It is strongly recommended that you telephone or email the organisers
before making a special journey
or if you know of any other beer festivals in the south west especially in South Devon. Please let me know for a listing.
SOUTH DEVON CAMRA BEER FESTIVAL AWARDS
| AWARD |
BREWERY |
LOCATION |
BEER NAME |
ABV |
| CHAMPION BEER OF FESTIVAL |
Harviestoun |
Alva, Clackmannanshire |
Schiehallion |
4.8% |
| RESERVE CHAMPION BEER |
Bath Ales |
Warmley, Bristol |
Gem |
4.1% |
| BITTER WINNER |
RCH |
Weston-S-M, Somerset |
PG Steam |
3.9% |
| BITTER RUNNER-UP |
Bowland |
Clitheroe, Lancashire |
Gold |
3.8% |
| BEST BITTER WINNER |
Bath Ales |
Warmley, Bristol |
Gem |
4.1% |
| BEST BITTER RUNNER-UP |
Branscombe |
Branscombe, Devon |
Draymans Best |
4.2% |
| PREMIUM BITTER WINNER |
St Austell |
St Austell, Cornwall |
HSD |
5.0% |
| PREMIUM BITTER RUNNER-UP |
Branscombe |
Branscombe, Devon |
Summa That |
5.0% |
| GOLDEN ALE WINNER |
Harviestoun |
Alva, Clackmannanshire |
Schiehallion |
4.8% |
| GOLDEN ALE RUNNER UP |
Quantock |
Wellington, Somerset |
Sunraker |
4.2% |
| MILDS & STOUTS WINNER |
Coastal |
Redruth, Cornwall |
Merry Maiden's Mild |
4.0% |
| MILDS & STOUTS RUNNER UP |
Sarah Hughes |
Sedgley, West Midlands |
Dark Ruby Mild |
6.0% |
| SPECIALITY ALE WINNER |
Hadrian & Border |
Newcastle Upon Tyne |
Ginger Beer |
4.0% |
| SPECIALITY ALE RUNNER UP |
Elland |
Elland, West Yorkshire |
True Leveller |
5.7% |
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