JBK Craftbrew Festival 2010

[floydmeddler]

Has a nice ring to it doesn't it?

Could it happen? In a field? At a hotel with a function room?

[mysterio]

Like a homebrew festival/competition, or a CAMRA style real ale fest?

[floydmeddler]

Yep, a homebrew festival with competitions etc. Be great to meet everyone and sample each others' beers. Americans and Australians hold them all the time. Feel like we're missing out!

How hard would it be to get a hotel somewhere in the Midlands or whatever and come up with a load of weekend events? Could be similar to a CAMRA festival, only we homebrewers supply the beers! We hear so much about each others' beers yet few of us have ever tasted them.

Thought this would have sparked up more interest to be honest.

[Aleman]

The regulars from UK Homebrew have held one for 10 years . . . its a great way of meeting other brewers, and tasting some great beer. . . . we do it over a weekend camping with a BBQ on the Friday and Saturday. Used to be in Rugby, but was last held in Essex. . . . Not sure if we are having one this year

[haz66]

Has a nice ring to it doesn't it?

Could it happen? In a field? At a hotel with a function room?

Sounds good to me, i`m sure once more people view the topic then you will get more response.

[mysterio]

I'm definately up for it in theory. Somewhere in the North East of England seems like the natural focal point seeing as Jim is from Washington.

[kay-jay]

brilliant idea! somewhere in the north is also a cracking idea.....poor floyd....his idea and he's in brighton

the camping idea would certainly keep the costs down and i'm sure would make it more accessible for those who would need to pay a small fortune to travel the length of the country.

KJ

[escapizm]

I'm definitely up for it in theory. Somewhere in the North East of England seems like the natural focal point seeing as Jim is from Washington.

I think this is an excellent Idea, Would we just bring a few kegs / cornies or whatever. Is it legal to sell our brew or do we get round it being a "private" event and sell with the normal token procedure you see a festivals.

I really think mysterio is right on with having event in the North East due to Jim’s location, if we are being really appreciative it should not be too far from Darlington.

Seriously though there are some beautiful places that I think could be options, I was married at Pinchinthorpe Hall http://www.pinchinthorpehall.co.uk/which has a microbrewery attached and often has Marquee events in the garden.

[DarloDave]

Yeah Im up for this too, North east is obviously good for me too.

[mysterio]

Something like Eric Steen's Glasgow pub idea is a decent model:

-Homebrewers supply beers
-Entry is free and tokens are given for a limited number of samples...although I'm not sure how you'd cover the cost of the venue...donations and/or charging for commercial beers??
-Breweries are asked to supply a few casks (a bit easier than a full scale beer festival)
-Maybe some kind of competition element

Now who's going to grab this one by the balls and get it organised!

[boingy]

I guess it depends how far you want to take it. A good start might be a bunch of folks on a camp site sharing beer. No need for tokens, competitions or any real organisation. Just set a date and a venue (and if the weather is good) then "they will come".

[garwatts]

I guess it depends how far you want to take it. A good start might be a bunch of folks on a camp site sharing beer. No need for tokens, competitions or any real organisation. Just set a date and a venue (and if the weather is good) then "they will come".

Good thinking and somewhere in Gloucestershire/Wiltshire would almost guarantee good weather (unlike oop nawf!)
Plus the hot weather down here aids the consumption of ale

[kay-jay]

i'm with scooby, i definately favour the informal approach. just bring as much beer as you want to drink thru the event and swap bottles with everyone else. any large campsite would do. lake district is good!

KJ

[befuggled]

As there seem to be only 3 from the civilised end of the UK, I must add my vote to Boingy, Garwatts and Floydmeddler.

1) It will save us having to get passports and visas to proceed further north than Watford Gap.
2) It will save on the cost of hard hats for protection from the woad painted natives.
3) As Garwatts says, it will save on the cost of Foul Weather Gear as it always rains up there.

Aleman has obvoiusly made it down to Essex without suffering terminal respiratory disease, come on down and see what it is like to enjoy summer

However, as the geographical centre for the four of us is about Basingstoke, I may have to consider a slightly more northerly venue....


All the same, have camper-truck will travel, it has been up to Berwick-on Tweed once and carries cornys easily!

[borischarlton]

This has been a subject of much discussion in our household for a while. I am very interested from both a brewing and a selling point of view. My wife, being an events organiser is also interested in being involved in putting something together. The only spanner in the works is we have a baby due at the beggining of September, but we could work round that. Somehow!!