29th LUTON BEER and CIDER FESTIVAL

Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th February 2012

The 29th CAMRA Luton Beer & Cider festival is over for yet another year and I really hope that you enjoyed it. What? You didn’t go? Why on earth not? (Honestly we’d love to know why so that you can make sure that you do come next time). I hope that most of the 2000-plus who did come along will tell you that there were plenty of good reasons to make the effort, big or small to get there.

For a start we had 111 real ales on offer during the festival plus 11 ciders, 5 perries and two apple/pear blends,  we had 17 Belgian beers, 5 German, an American and a Czech beer. And as it that weren’t enough choice (yes we actually had somebody ask for more) then there was a selection of English and Scottish fruit and grape wines plus some mead.

The real ales of course are our main attraction, all were racked and tapped two days before opening time to ensure maximum availability of choice but even then not all were clear enough to the exacting specifications of Dave Matthews our now legendary beer manager. Luckily all but four of those we ordered did meet Dave’s standards during the festival.
The first beer to run out was the delicious Chiltern Porter which sat on our very popular LocAle bar with 35 other ales all from local breweries. We got a lot of feedback from visitors to the festival which we are always pleased to see. We particularly like to hear people’s comments and suggestions which we take as seriously as they do. The comments told us that the beer selection and quality was outstanding and that our third hall, just for seating and peaceful conversation is definitely popular. We have collated all of the (printable) comments with a responses from the festival organiser here. The comments forms also allow people to vote for their beer of the festival the results of which were as follows: 1st – Redemption Trinity; 2nd – Verulam Holy Trinity; 3rd – B&T Golden Fox. All are beers from this part of the world (Enfield, St.Albans and Shefford) and the winning Redemption Trinity was described as remarkably flavoursome regardless of its very low 3% ABV. Congratulations to the Redemption Brewery who will receive an award certificate from us (along with a bus-load of festival volunteers to try some of their beer again).

As well as the drinks, for the first time we had the Merry Berry Chocolates stall, selling a huge selection of very interestingly flavoured chocolates and truffles with such ingredients as cracked black pepper and chillies (scorpion death anyone?). They were seriously popular and even offered a match the chocolate to your drink service.

On Thursday evening the festival was formally opened by local CAMRA member (and Member of Parliament) Gavin Shuker who also presented our branch Pub of the Year award to the Albion, Ampthill. Friday evening saw a packed Theatre Hall for local celtic rock band Splitting Rocks and festival regulars Cerberus played their first gig since re-forming with a new line-up on Saturday.

The festival is entirely staffed by volunteers; from the hard working people behind the bars who are the obvious front-line to those behind the scenes making sure that all of the cooling equipment is working to keep the beers in perfect condition. There has to be several people on the door counting visitors in and out to make sure that we don’t exceed the building’s fire limit. Someone has to manage the glasses counter, the tombola, the products and membership stand, the radios and there’s several people minding the staff office. All of the used glasses have to be washed and dried – yes, we have a machine to help, but they all have to be collected and moved around the halls by someone – it’s a constant job during opening times. And how can you miss “Team Tango” as the orange-clad stewards like to be called (amongst lots of other names) who ensure that the event is run safely. Those of you who are regulars to various CAMRA beer festivals will no doubt recognise most of them. They give up many of their weekends to staff these festivals throughout the year – not just in Luton.
It takes an amazing 75 volunteers to help run the festival, I don’t normally do this so it’s about time that I put names to some of the key people who make this festival a success: -
Andy Camroux – he is the one who selects all of the real ales and also manages their cooling throughout the festival; Matt Kelly – organises the logistics for the festival; Kate Camroux – Warehouse Equipment; Dave Oakley – Finances; Barry Webb – Chief Steward; Mike Brady – 1st Aid; Elspeth Brady – Housekeeping; Dave Matthews & Mick Newby – Bar Managers; Geoff Geach – Cider Bar Manager; Steve Pullan – Foreign Beer Bar Manager and beer orderer and last but not least John Coombes – Deputy Festival Organiser (I won’t say how old he is but most just wouldn’t believe it!). I’d like to thank everyone in person but there just isn’t room so I hope those not mentioned by name will understand, thank you.

Cheers and see you next year (21st to 23rd February 2013) for the 30th CAMRA Luton Beer & Cider Festival

Mike Coombes, Festival Organiser