For ale fans: 24th annual Beerex Festival in Dorchester today (From Dorset Echo)

For ale fans: 24th annual Beerex Festival in Dorchester today

10:00am Saturday 4th February 2012 in News By Catherine Bolado

REAL ale fans will be flocking to Dorchester today to sample beverages including Piddle, Silent Slasher and even Leg Warmer.

The 24th annual Beerex Festival has proved to be hugely popular with all tickets for today’s event sold out.

Yesterday saw crowds gather for the opening sitting at lunchtime and performances from The Wishbones and Jack Daniels in the evening.

The event is organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), Dorchester Round Table and Dorchester Ellipse and was opened by county town mayor Tess James.

Hundreds of real ales, beers, ciders and perrys were on offer to tantalise the taste buds including those from Scotland, Wales, the Midlands, London and, of course, Dorset.

Chairman of Beerex Ben King said the event was the culmination of lots of hard work by a lot of people.

He said: “We are looking forward to a great event there’s been a lot of work done by a lot of people. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone for their help.”

Planning started last September for an event that has raised £90,000 for charity since it began in 1988.

This year the main beneficiaries will be the RNLI and the Roundtable Children’s Wish.

Community fundraiser for the RNLI Selina Taylor said: “We are hoping the money raised will buy new lifejackets for Weymouth station.

“Each one costs £350 and they are due to be in the station by August.”

CAMRA member Rich Cabe said they were delighted with the support they had been given by businesses in the community as every barrel had been sponsored this year.

He said: “It’s been going for 24 years now, it’s a charity event and people recognise a good cause and realise that you can raise money for charity and have a great time too.”

Mr Cabe added it was a good way of getting people to try different tipples as well as supporting their local pubs and breweries.

Tonight will see local band Gordon’s Alive? play to a sell-out crowd. Organisers said they might need to find a bigger venue for next year as the event keeps growing and growing.

ECHO REPORTER CATHERINE TRIES A RASPBERRY BLONDE

Not being a real ale drinker I approached the rows of barrels with some trepidation.

I shouldn’t have worried though as all the staff were extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the real ale cause.

As a novice it was suggested I try a paler beer rather than the darker, stronger varieties on offer.

I was given a small flagon of Yorkshire Brewery Saltaire’s Raspberry Blonde. It was aptly named as the aroma of raspberries and fresh fruit wafted out of the glass invitingly.

It tasted like a full bodied lager but the hint of fruit made it dance on the palette, with a slight sharpness to the after taste.

The beer had a pale golden colour and was very silky and slipped down very well. It would have been the perfect companion to a ploughman’s lunch or pasty. With so many still left to try sadly I had to return to the office.