Beer we go again, as York festival is confirmed (From York Press)

Beer we go again, as York festival is confirmed

3:16pm Monday 8th March 2010 in News By Gavin Aitchison, gavin.aitchison@thepress.co.uk

Organiser Melissa Reed with Selby MP John Grogan at last year’s York Beer Festival

ORGANISERS of the York Beer and Cider Festival are promising that this year’s event will be the biggest ever.

The York branch of the Campaign For Real Ale has confirmed that the festival will again be held on Knavesmire this year, from September 16 to 18.

It follows the success of last year’s festival, which was the first to be held outdoors since the event was launched 36 years ago.

There were 199 beers on offer last year, but organisers hope the number will hit 250 this year, and they are planning to add extra marquees to accommodate visitors.

Melissa Reed, the festival organiser, said: “Last year was really, really successful and we got even more people than expected.

“We will increase capacity this year, to try to prevent the queues.

“We got a lot of local people last year but we know some people also travelled further. Some beer lovers that travel around the festivals came.”

The event will include a dedicated bar promoting beers from within 25 miles of York, as part of York Camra’s LocAle campaign, but there will also be beers from elsewhere in Yorkshire and from across the UK.

Last year, the beer of the festival award went to Triple Chocoholic from Saltaire Brewery in Shipley and branch members travelled to the brewery in January to present the award. Further information about the event will be published on the festival website at www.yorkbeerfestival.org.uk and in York Camra’s magazine, Ouse Boozer.

•A five-day beer festival gets under way tomorrow at the Rook And Gaskill in Lawrence Street, York. It promises 24 cask ales, including 20 that have never been in the pub before, as well as six traditional ciders and perries and some food and live music.