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The
three-day festival aims to bring as many different real ales to
Berkshire, as well as offering up some top-quality traditional jazz.
Some of the more popular beers sell out before the end of the festival,
such as Timothy Taylor's Landlord.
So
this year the quota had been upped to around 15,000 pints, all selling
at £2 a pint (apart from the odd Strong) and not a bad beer among
them. To go with the ales, there was also a predictably popular
hog roast available.
On the Thursday this year, we were treated to the ministrations
of the Denise Lawrence Band and The "Old Thumper" Jazzband. (Interesting
that they share a name with one of the Ringwood beers on offer,
isn't it?). The Denise Lawrence Band specialises in a range of gospel,
hymns and spirituals, and this soulful edge suited the relaxed mood
well. The "Old Thumper" Jazzband were a bit more lively in their
approach, providing the flip side of the coin.
On the ale side of things, plenty of new beers were available, including
some from the Loddon Brewery, which only started brewing between
Reading and Henley in July 2003. They offered up Hoppit Classic
Bitter (ABV 3.5%, "Smooth malty body, quite bitter with the aroma
and taste of east Kent Golding hops"). Also new to the mix was Butler
Brewery from Mapledurham with a lovely ruby red bitter.
It has been a healthy year for the real ale industry since the introduction
of the Progressive Beer Duty. It has been estimated that this measure
has saved half of the 350 smaller breweries from going out of business.
We interrupted Lee from Reading on the way back to the bar to see
what he made of the festival. "Nice. Chilled out. This is the second
one I've been to and it's great if the weather's OK."
Have
a look at our picture gallery from the Thursday.
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