Redditch Winter Ale Festival

was held on

3rd & 4th February 2012

The Rocklands Social Club
59 Birchfield Road, Redditch, Worcestershire B97 4LB

No cold chill for Real Ale fans

Snow and ice failed to keep drinkers from attending Redditch’s 6th Winter Ale Festival. Over 500 people came through the door of the Rocklands Social Club; some visitors having travelled from as far as Yorkshire & Devon.

The event, which was organised and run by the Redditch and Bromsgrove Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), offered 33 beers and a selection of cider and perry for pub-goers to try. Over two thousand pints were served during the two-day festival; including Greene King’s Suffolk Springer and Kinver’s Shipwrecked & Overboard. But the Beer of the Festival Award went to Byatt’s Regal Blonde; a strong golden ale which was brewed in Coventry.

Generous drinkers helped to raise over six hundred pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support by donating leftover beer tokens, guessing the weight of a beer barrel, and taking part in the charity tombola. The festival also encouraged sixteen people to join the Campaign for Real Ale.

Branch Chairman Paul Richards said: ‘It was great to see so many people enjoying the great taste of cask-conditioned ale. Thank you to everyone who supported the festival; especially the team of unpaid CAMRA volunteers who made it all happen.’ The branch is now preparing for the 10th Bromsgrove Beer Festival which takes place at Bromsgrove Rugby Club in Finstall on 28 -30 June

What you said about the festival...

“Great. Keep up the good work, appreciated very much.”
“Good choice of beers. Very enjoyable events”
“Very good thanks”
“Great”
“Nice friendly little festival. “
“Great festival”
“Good selection & good venue.”
“Very Good”
“Really enjoyed it Look forward to next year.”
“Very Good!”
“Excellent Festival Thoroughly enjoyed it”
“Excellent venue, nice selection of beer, great stuff – can’t ask for more!”
“Fab Fest Well Done”
“Great Atmosphere”
“Good Evening. Keep up the good work (we will be back again)”
“Excellent as usual. Keep it up”
“Very enjoyable”
“Good Event. Will come next year.”
“Stick or twist. Stick you can’t beat a winner!”
“Venue great!”
“Good range of ale & cider”
“Keep up the good work!”
“Lovely Atmosphere. Have really enjoyed myself.”
“Good venue. On bus route.”
“Excellent – may come again”
“Nice to see the festival busy”
“Marvellous”
“Great venue, good to be here again”
“Very good”
“Good Venue”
“Enjoyed it as usual”
“Very good as always”
“Nice and friendly with a small but quality selection of ale”
“First time visitor (I am ashamed that work has kept me away in the past!) – Thank you everybody – I really enjoyed myself”
“Great Atmosphere, friendly staff and a selection great ales”
“It doesn’t show signs of stopping and I’ve got some great ale for quaffing,
So as long as the great ale will flow, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow”