The 45th Norwich Beer Festival has raised more than £10,000 for charity, organisers Norwich and District CAMRA have announced.
With numbers attending running well over the previous year, the 2023 festival was a huge success.
The festival’s charity, Brave Futures, which supports children who have experienced sexual abuse, managed to raise £11,900, thanks to the huge generosity of attendees.
This achievement was helped by a donation from the World Beer Awards, which donated beer to the World Beer Bar. This raised more than £4,000 in beer sales, all of which was donated to the charity.
In addition, t-shirts were donated and sold to attendees by the volunteers of the merchandise and charity stands. Festival-goers also raised more than £900 for the Royal British Legion poppy appeal.
Starting the week with the judging of the regional rounds of the Champion Beer of Britain competition, the festival featured hundreds of UK and world beers, and UK ciders.
There was also plenty of music and great food, and ‘beer safaris’, hosted by beer sommelier Cheryl Cade.
“None of this can be done without our wonderful volunteering team, who have a wealth of knowledge and expertise,” said festival organiser, Craig Harmer.
“Thank you, also, to the volunteers of the charity, Brave Futures. We’re delighted to hear of the kindness of the attendees, which shows what a wonderful experience the festival really is.
“We would also like to thank our fantastic sponsors, First Bus, Woodforde’s Brewery, Barsham Brewery, Lacons Brewery, World Beer Awards, The Belgian Monk, and Crisp Malt, without whom the festival couldn’t go ahead.”
Attentions now focus on plans for 2024 and beyond. Due to critical repairs, which have been scheduled to take place next year at The Halls, it is looking extremely unlikely that the festival will take place in its current form.
While other venues are being considered, the likelihood is that there will be a pubs festival, featuring local breweries. It would be an opportunity for regular festival-goers and volunteers to come together and enjoy the real ale pubs of Norwich and beyond. Dates and details will be announced in 2024.
