The Great British Beer Festival, which usually takes place this week at Olympia in London, is to set up in virtual form from 11th-13th September.
For the first time, visitors to the CAMRA event can purchase a ticket to a weekend of live beer tastings that will run from 2pm to 9.30pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There will be tastings taking place each day, led by experts such as Roger Protz, Cheryl Cade, and Adrian Tierney-Jones.
There will also be pre-recorded ‘events’ for visitors to dip into in between the tastings, which includes a tour and Q&A at:
- Charles Faram hop farm
- Crisp Malt maltings
- Harvey’s Brewery
- Little Pomona Orchard
Five hundred tickets are now on sale, retailing at £46 each. Ticket holders will receive a 2020 festival glass and 11 beers so that they can participate in two of the tasting sessions. These include an ‘introduction to beer’ session, which features five category winners from last year’s Champion Beer of Britain competition, and an additional six beers for an in-depth tasting of a specific style of their choice.
Festival organiser, Catherine Tonry, said: “The Great British Beer Festival is truly the heart and soul of what CAMRA is all about — bringing people together and making friends over a great pint. While we are sadly not all out on the festival floor this week, I am delighted to welcome back new friends and old to our very first virtual festival.
“It has been an incredibly difficult year for many people due to Covid-19, but we are looking forward to celebrating the very best beers that Britain has to offer in true GBBF style, albeit from the comfort of our own homes!
“We hope visitors will enjoy the wide range of beers, tastings, talks, and tours available, and mark their calendar for a weekend of fun, friendship, and, of course, great beer.”
