And just like that it was all over, but enough talk of what I did last night and onto last weekend which again saw the Nottingham beer festival dominate the city centre, seeing over 21,000 visitors guzzling 800+ beers 50 ciders and a selection of fruit wines so quickly that once more they didn’t need to open on the Sunday (a day usually reserved for drinking the remnants) the rate at which the beer sells is something that has to be witnessed, Kipling anyone?!

Our advice is if you want the best range and guaranteed entry then make your way down on the Thursday, the aforementioned Thornbridge – Kipling (festival champion) had already sold a full barrel by around 5pm; thankfully another came on, though I doubt it lasted long at all, a magnificent beer and worthy champion.

Friday saw things begin to really heat up, the atmosphere was buzzing and queuing at the gates had formed just before 6pm (those that wish to go in 2011, you’re best leaving work early if you don’t fancy queuing) it was amazing to see the number of beers beginning to sell out, it hits you then at just how much really is being drunk, shedloads, but you only need to look around to realise that theres so much other beer left, and beer on reserve it’s pretty much a moot point.

Rain mid-evening on Friday saw a rush into the tents

Once again a huge selection of food was on offer, I didn’t try it all as I’m not a machine but the range was vast, one of the grumbles from last year was the lack of beer token outlets, there are now 3 : problem solved, as was last years toilet issues, it’s hard to work out how they shoe-horned in more and put them indoors but given the weather it was a move that paid off.

Grumbles this year, well the main one is not being able to try the Kipling on Friday, but then it’s hardly the organisers fault for not having a crystal ball, maybe they ought to get 5 barrels of last years champion in for 2011, now there’s a thought…  – edit : seems that the organisers did have a crystal ball, but due to supply issues from Thornbridge the order couldn’t be substantially increased!

Time it right, and you can walk right in

One thing I had previously touched upon in my day 1 report was the beer pricing seemed a little odd with Nottingham beers being the same price as beers sourced from all over the UK , so I emailed CAMRA some questions on the festival. Steve Westby festival organiser gave me an insight as to why this is the case.

Over half of the beers at the festival come to us from local brewers (as do many guest beers in our local pubs). This is because they nearly all have swap deals with other brewers around the country, by which they swap casks of beer on an abv for abv basis. So we actually pay the “local” price for these beers.

Which pretty much shut me up on that point quite nicely. Steve also went on to point out that they’re always looking for volunteers to help out with the festival, you can find out more by clicking the Nottingham CAMRA link on the right of this site.

In a nutshell if you’re wanting to go to the biggest and best festival in the UK, with the largest selection of real ale on the planet then start planning on coming to Nottingham in 2011.

What was your beer of the festival? leave us a comment below.

What was our beer of the festival? unsurprisingly, also Thornbridge – Kipling, followed by Great Oakleys – Wot’s occuring?