Peterborough Beer Festival – for a fuller flavour…

Since its launch in 1977, the Peterborough Beer Festival has seen the fortunes of real ale dwindle alarmingly, as during the 1980s and early 1990s everyone went mad for seemingly fancy drinks that weren’t actually all that fancy. After going through a long period as a niche drink consumed mainly by men with beards, the fortunes of real ale began to rise, phoenix-like, as people rediscovered it as one of the finest products of the UK. Now, in 2013, more people than ever are enjoying it, recognising that a good local ale is second to nothing in terms of taste; food miles and environmental impact; support given to local, often rural, economies; and the passion and attention to detail that goes into crafting it.

The Peterborough Beer Festival is joyful and exuberant celebration of all this and more, welcoming old friends and newcomers alike. The mood is one of considered enjoyment, of savouring and appreciating a drink that’s more complex to produce successfully than wine, rather than drinking for drinking’s sake. As famous for its music, ambience, family friendliness and sheer scale (it’s one of the biggest and longest running CAMRA beer festivals in the country) as it is for its beer, the Peterborough Beer Festival is now in its 36th year. Over 350 different draught beers from 140 different breweries will be on sale, and it’s estimated that around 10,500 bottles of world beers will be consumed from a range which is sourced from 10 different countries. Up to 30,000 visitors are expected during the five-day event.

‘It’s brilliantly organised!’ enthuses Duncan Vessey, owner of Castor Ales in Castor, just outside Peterborough, and a long-time supporter of the Festival. ‘Everyone is a volunteer, but it gets planned all year and then comes together so professionally. One of my favourite aspects is the choice: there are so many different kinds of beers to try. It’s also a great opportunity to meet up with old friends who always seem to gravitate back to Peterborough for the event – sometimes they come from as far away as Australia.

‘There is great food, too, and it’s known for the entertainment. Some people who go are not even particularly interested in beer, but they come along because they just want to be involved in Peterborough’s most significant social event!’

Duncan is especially pleased by the renaissance in British beer drinking, what it means for British food culture and the shot in the arm it’s been for small-scale producers. ‘When I first started brewing, there were around 700 breweries in the country. Now, just five years later there is something like 1,200. National food journalists are writing about it, giving it the status it deserves, and it’s attracting a more diverse crowd to the Festival, more women, younger people, more minority ethnic people. Peterborough’s a diverse place and the Festival really reflects that now.’

Young musician Tom Wright can certainly see the attraction of such a large and varied audience. But he’s mainly thrilled to be part of the impressive musical line-up on offer – an intrinsic part of the Festival each year – and playing in front of a Peterborough crowd again after some intense European touring. ‘I’m really looking forward to getting out there in front of local people. I’ve been gigging abroad and across the UK, but the Peterborough Beer Festival hopefully marks the beginning of playing more locally, a return to home turf.’

And will he be sampling any of the many delicious beverages on offer? ‘Definitely!’ he grins, ‘but not just before I go on, of course…’

The Peterborough Beer Festival runs Tuesday, 20 to Saturday 24 August.
www.peterborough-camra.org.uk

Tom Wright will be playing on Saturday, 24 August at 3pm, at the 36th Peterborough Beer Festival.

To find out more about Castor Ales, visit www.castorales.co.uk