The Norwich Beer Festival 2018 has closed having served 65,000 pints of beer and cider and raised more than £11,000 for the Headway charity.

The beer of the festival, as voted for by visitors, was Thurlton Gold, by People’s Brewery. Second place went to an Anglian Craft Brewers Collaboration from Norfolk Brewhouse and Kevin Pratt, called Moongazer Californian Magnum, and Elmtree’s Nightlight was awarded third place.

Winner of the mild category was Elmtree’s Nightlight, People’s Northdown won the bitter class, and Yetman’s Orange was pick of the best bitters.

Adnams was awarded best strong bitter/IPA with Both Barrels, while Harviestoun’s Ola Dubh won speciality beer. The golden category winner was People’s Thurlton Gold, and Dawkins won the old ales, stouts and porters with its Foresters Stout.

Spinney Abbey won the cider and perry contest with its Monk and Disorderly. Ciders and perries were a particular success this year, with the bar practically drunk dry by the end of the festival. There are plans to
introduce more next year, having offered more than 80 varieties this time around.

In the world/foreign/British keg competition, the winner was Loka Polly’s Chinook India Stout, followed by Brewery de Hughes’ Nocturnum, and the Trappist beer, Rochefort 10.

 

Norwich Mayor beer festival

Norwich Mayor Martin Schmierer enjoys a beer

 

The world beer bar was extremely well attended. Cheryl Cade, bar manager, said customers adored the Prairie Artisan Birthday Bomb, a double imperial stout at 13% ABV.

Cheryl mentioned that people should look out for the Hof Ten Dormaal Raspberry and Chocolate at the Great British Beer Festival Winter, being held in Norwich in February. The world beer bar will be featuring other specialist ales from European countries.

It was a tight competition again for the home brews, featured for the second time at the festival. The winner of the Anglian Craft Brewers Collaboration competition, as decided by public scores and announced by the chairman, Ian Stamp, was Norwich Surprise Major, brewed at Elmtree Brewery in collaboration with brewer John Lee. Elmtree  won the award for the second year running.

In second place was Indian Summer, a collaborative beer produced at Woodforde’s with brewer James Tonkin, and third was California Magnum Blonde, by Norfolk Brewhouse and brewer Kevin Pratt, which was also runner-up beer of the festival.

The organising committee of Norwich and Norfolk CAMRA are now turning their attention to the Great British Beer Festival Winter, to be staged in Norwich again from February 19 to 23.

 

Norwich Beer Festival Friday

The festival in full swing at lunchtime on the Friday. Photograph: Tony Miles

 

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