Organisers of Dorchester Beerex have revealed some of the beers which will be making an appearance at the festival, which takes place on January 31st and 1st February.
Danny England, of Cerne Abbas Brewery, at a previous Beerex.
Photograph: Rich Gabe
The popular sell-out event, now in its 36th year, is organised by members of West Dorset CAMRA and Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary Club.
The festival is once again being sponsored by the local Cerne Abbas Brewery, whose representatives will be around over the weekend for a chat. There will bethe opportunity to try a selection of their ales, including festival special 94 IPA.
Money raised this year will go to various good causes. The festival’s primary benefactor will be the Yeovil Freewheelers Blood Bikes, whose volunteers’ courier vital medical supplies to hospitals throughout Dorset and Somerset area. Funds raised through the raffle will go to the Dorchester Youth and Community Centre.
“The committee has been working really hard in preparation for the weekend, and we all can’t wait for the weekend to arrive,” said committee chair Gemma Scott. “The beer selection sounds fantastic, and I personally can’t wait to try some.
“This would not be possible without the donations from sponsors, the hard work from committee members, and the army of volunteers, so thank you.”
There will be a rare appearance of Lyme Regis Brewery with Steady Habits, a New England-style IPA usually only brewed as a keg beer. Dorchester brewer Copper Street is bringing its award-winning Imperial Russian Stout, while Wimborne brewery Eight Arch will have a cask version of their Quarterjack Porter.
From further afield, Liverpool’s Neptune Brewery provides Jetty Pale Ale, and even further north, in Scotland, beers from Brew Toon and Loch Leven compliment Northumberland’s Metalhead Brewery with their Motorhead Porter.
If you prefer cider, there will be a large selection to go alongside the 84 cask beers. All ciders are traditional and made free of concentrate.
From Dorset, customers will have a chance to drink Beaminster producer Isaac Cider’s Alchemy and Purbeck Cider’s Pirate. Herefordshire is home to Celtic Marches, and their Strawberry & Lime, alongside Pulp Ciders‘ Singapore Sling. There will also be Panting Partridge Perry, from Newton Court, with more than 20 ciders available from other counties, including Devon, Kent and Somerset.
Hot snacks will be available at all sessions, plus a tuck shop and cloak room. A small selection of wines will also be available. There will be seating for more than 100 people, and live entertainment, too.
Businesses who would like to sponsor a barrel should contact Dave Harris on 07977 918130 or via the festival website.
Tickets are on sale, priced at £11, which includes a free pint, souvenir glass, and programme. Anyone wishing to join CAMRA this year will get an additional two pints and an exclusive Dorchester Beerex 2025 lapel pin badge (whilst stocks last).
Ticket outlets are:
- Convivial Rabbit, Dorchester
- Tom Brown’s, Dorchester
- Brace of Butchers, Poundbury
- The Globe, Weymouth
Tickets are also available online at camrawdorset.org.uk/.
