Thursday 9 July 2015

9th SIBA South East Beer Festival



Well it’s the big one this weekend, as the 9th SIBA South East Regional Beer Competition kicks off tomorrow on my home patch. As in previous years, the event is being hosted by Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Club, and is housed in a large marquee behind TJ’s clubhouse.

The festival features 170 cask beers from the region’s finest independent brewers, and this year, for the first time the event will also feature “craft keg” beers produced by SIBA members from across the whole of the SIBA South Region.

The event opens to the public at 5pm Friday 10th July, but prior to that the serious business of tasting and judging the beers takes place. There are umpteen different categories, and from tomorrow evening the results will be available on the SIBA website. The festival then continues right through Saturday and into Sunday.

Entry is free, but you will need to purchase a glass at £2.00. A token system is in operation, with all beers priced at £3.20 a pint; regardless of strength. A range of ciders and perrys will also be available, along with a B-B-Q. On Saturday, the Acoustic Reverb Collection will provide the musical entertainment, introducing a number of up and coming local musicians.

I am planning to attend tomorrow evening (Friday), and also on Saturday, when a family group of us will be having a picnic out on the grass in front of the marquee. A full report on the festival will follow in due course.



Update:

I have been asked by one of the festival organisers, to point out that the “craft keg” beers mentioned are reserved for the SIBA competition, and will not be on sale to the public at the festival itself, so apologies for any confusion.


This is because of all the extra cooling and dispense equipment necessary for this type of beer. However, with 170 cask beers, plus 21 different ciders, there will still be more than enough to satisfy even the most hardened and fastidious of beer connoisseurs (Higgsbosun – are you reading this!!).

As for myself, I can’t wait to get stuck into the mountain of delicious pale ales, IPA’s, porters, stouts and special beers which will be on sale. Cheers, Prost, zum Wohl, a votre santé and all that!


4 comments:

Gary Martin said...

Hi Paul

Gary here from TJs festival organisation ... just to clarify that the "Keg Craft" beers are in the SIBA competition but not for sale at the festival. We may be able to feature 1 or 2 in the clubhouse bar on Saturday but the cellar and cooling required for the craft beers mean we just can't accommodate in the Cask festival.

Still there should be something among the 170 cask ales or 21 ciders that will strike a chord with most. If not ... we sell water ! :-)

RedNev said...

Have fun!

Paul Bailey said...

Many thanks for the correction Garry; I have updated the blog accordingly. Look forward to catching up with you later on this evening. Paul

Brett said...

can't wait - weather is looking great as well - will say 'hello' if I spot you through the crowds! :-)