Real Ale availability at the festival

Now it stands to reason does it not that many Neil Young fans would be fussy about their choice of beer. Any promoter who is 'with the people' would realize this. However, I recall at Fleadh events in London in the past, also run by Vince Power, the beer choice was canned Caffreys at an unprintable price (but don't expect much of your fiver left!) - and this from the "Workers Beer Cooperative" - with a name like that you might expect to get a good pint of draught beer. BTW wine drinkers their white wine in a plastic beaker was er....'orrible!

Has anyone got any inside information as to whether there will be any draught beer on sale at the event? Even better, what ones?! I guess there is some hope as the same site hosts a beer festival, but I guess it is all down to who has got the bar concessions.

If no one has inside information then Vince, my friend, spill the beans coz forums are all about you hearing the voice of the customer and you can bet an awful lot on the fact I am not a lone voice on this subject!

It would be a tragedy to have no Real Ale at the festival seeing as its based at a 'temple' to beer making..I would expect some real ale in a tent..

....but then again the way festivals are going (even glasto) the power of the Carlings of this worlds and the portfolio of crap lagers they usually have..i wouldn't be surprised if deals have been done and we'll or won't! be drinking Carffreys and Carling and in plastic cups at inflated prices ..grrrr!

A Real drink, real ale please Mr Power

take your hooch in a water bottle whos gonna know?

thegreatknobster wrote:take your hooch in a water bottle whos gonna know?

Shepherd Neame Master Brew Bitter is NOT the colour of water!

But does it taste like it?

im just back from the hard rock calling festival and it seems tuborg lager is the main beer on offer at £3.50 a 500 ml bottle,noticed that at other festivals also,,

I sincerely hope this is not the case at the Hop Farm! Approx £4 for a pint of p!ss poor lager....surely we can expect better than that - can't we?

i just drank loads of pear cider the whole weekend same price same bottle 500ml

The Hop Farm normally run all the alcohol outlets; on past visits to major events the selection is fizzy larger and John Smiths!

Lager! 'hic'

shakeymc wrote:The Hop Farm normally run all the alcohol outlets; on past visits to major events the selection is fizzy larger and John Smiths!

I don't like the sound of that at all. I can see some serious smuggling ahead!

I've been to the Hop Farm, mostly for the War and Peace show, on several occasions over the years and Shepherd Neame normally have a beer tent there. So crossed fingers

It is good to have so much support for my original email - thanks. I note no response from the festival itself which is of course disappointing. Given the cancellation of Wild in the Country festival tomorrow due to poor ticket sales (Vince Power is also involved with that festival) it is surely those festivals that listen carefully to their customers who will win in the end.

I'm going this evening to a small music festival in Sussex called Glastonwick. There will be 60 real ales, 5 bands and all for £7! Now that is what I call value for money! OK, there are no big names but in a crowded market place, a big name is not enough anymore to have a successful event

This year, Vince might get away with serving us over priced lager....but as the competition picks up, I advise him to listen to the likes of us.

BTW, the best festival in the world is the End of the Road Festival. If you have not heard about it yet, check it out!

Real Ale bar was a success.

So much so that the Festival Ale (quality stuff and the right ABV, 3.8 for an all dayer) ran out before most people arrived and all the real ale was gone by 2pm.

And they say there is no demand for the stuff!

Note to organisers - Please increase next year's order by 400%!

loper wrote:Real Ale bar was a success.

So much so that the Festival Ale (quality stuff and the right ABV, 3.8 for an all dayer) ran out before most people arrived and all the real ale was gone by 2pm.

And they say there is no demand for the stuff!

Note to organisers - Please increase next year's order by 400%!

How can that be considered a success? They had a trial run at the Mighty Boosh the day before so no excuses. What do you expect I guees. Workers co operative. If a capitalist was behind it no way would they have run out of ale so early

jonorangesky wrote:However, I recall at Fleadh events in London in the past, also run by Vince Power, the beer choice was canned Caffreys at an unprintable price (but don't expect much of your fiver left!) - and this from the "Workers Beer Cooperative" - with a name like that you might expect to get a good pint of draught beer.

I volunteer for the Workers Beer COMPANY (not Cooperative) and there were issues with the amount of real ale on site.
From what I understand, stock is ordered for both days and once that is on site, there is no extra order put in. I think they underestimated how much real ale would get drunk on the Saturday and so once it was all drunk, that was it, which was a shame. I know they've learnt their lesson regarding this.

Also, the WBC don't have a choice over which lager is stocked, this is up to the event organisers and their sponsors, sadly.
The fact people keep going on about Hop Farm as this non-branded festival is bizarre - Vince Power is the main who heads up Meanfiddler who are responsible for the Reading/Leeds festival and all the other major corporately branded festivals, its just branded as non-branded!

Good points well made, Sarah.

As I posted earlier, the bar worked well despite the weather encouraging the inappropriately dressed to use it as a refuge from the rain. The range of (real) beers was good also. Rebranding the Ramsgate Brewery's Gadds' No 7 Bitter as Festival Ale was inspired, so much so that it ran out before most people arrived! A lovely pint and just the right strength for all day drinking, given the chance!!!

Good to hear that the powers that be have taken on board the need to reconsider the size of the beer order for future events.