Paul Donovan invites you to sample all that’s on offer at the second annual Wanstead Beer Festival
The Wanstead Beer Festival will be bigger and better this year, with more beers and the addition of a gin bar. The 40-plus beers and ciders are drawn from across the UK, with Essex-based breweries Brentwood, Elephant and Billlericay all being well represented.
Brentwood’s popular Pride of Prague, brewed to mark West Ham’s European Conference Cup victory last year, will once again be available. Get in quick, as this one sold out last time.
Another Essex-based brewery is Mighty Oak, which brings its champion beer, Captain Bob – always popular and goes quickly.
The popular Sussex brewery, Listers, makes a return, bringing its best bitter. A new one from Listers is their premium bitter, Special Ale.
Harveys of Lewes will again be represented with Best Bitter and a new surprise beer.
Gloucester brewery, Goffs, makes a first-time appearance with the all-American hopped Cheltenham Gold.
Closer to home is West London-based Portobello, who bring Market Porter and Central Line Red – hopefully they’ll be on time!
The Wanstead Beer Festival prides itself on its local ethos. So, East London breweries like Redemption, Beerblefish, Neckstamper, East London Brewery and Pretty Decent are all prominent, particularly amongst the keg beers. Pretty Decent’s “I could get better in T*sco’s for a quid” was popular last year, whilst Beerblefish’s Lee Valley lager is another sell-out beer.
There will also be a variety of ciders available. Devon-based Farmer Jim’s will be providing the popular Rhubarb Bob. There will also be a Farmyard Perrie on offer from Farmer Jim.
Those who like their gin won’t be disappointed. New this year is the English gin bar. There will be gins from Essex, Sussex and East London. Plus wine, prosecco and soft drinks will again be available. Christ Church will be doing the food.
Last year, Wanstead put down a marker as a place that likes its beer. The beer trade is under pressure. Breweries and pubs are going under on a daily basis. The George in Wanstead is the latest to come under threat. Wetherspoons are seeking to sell the pub.
The George, in many ways, exemplifies what a lot of people are looking for in a pub – reasonably priced beer and food and somewhere to come and meet other people. The sight of four people sitting around a table on mobile phones is not unusual, but people do actually talk directly to each other as well. Then, there are those who come in for a drink and maybe to keep warm. This is why supporting our local pub and breweries is so important. People across the generations come in to meet and greet one another.
There is the campaign to save The George, which hopefully will succeed, but if not, we need to come up with alternatives. Beer festivals contribute, as do micro pubs. There are all sorts of possibilities. What is for sure is that our pubs and breweries need support – use them or lose them.
On that note, we look forward to seeing you at the second Wanstead Beer Festival. Again, funds raised will be going to charity.
So, plenty to look forward to. More people, more beers and gin – what’s not to like? Last year, the festival proved so popular that tickets sold out a week early. So, don’t miss out this time. Roll on 12 October. It’s your round.
The Wanstead Beer Festival will take place on 12 October (1pm to 11pm) in the halls of Christ Church. For more information and tickets, visit wnstd.com/beer
