Pigs Ear 2013

Yeah sorry I haven’t posted much of late… been busy. Before I do – here is a commercial break!

A note from my friends and colleagues at East London CAMRA.

Taste the Innovative and the Traditional at Pig’s Ear Beer Festival

The Pig’s Ear Beer and Cider Festival will be held at Hackney’s Round Chapel from December 3 to December 7. It will offer both exciting innovative beers from Britain and overseas and also traditional ales served from wooden casks, the centuries-old form of beer barrels.

Happy drinkers at Pigs Ear

The innovative will include products from many of the pioneering micro-breweries which have emerged in the last decade. Fittingly, nine of these are Hackney-based and none existed two years ago. Festival Organiser, Derek Jones, says: “These and other London breweries will be heavily featured as Pig’s Ear is cockney rhyming slang for beer. There will also be an exceptional selection of foreign beers, including several on draught such as those from Dutch De Molen and American Rogue. On offer – for the first time, we believe, in Britain – including Dominus Vobiscum from the acclaimed Quebec Brewery of Charlevoix.”
The traditional comes from the Festival acknowledging the 50th anniversary of the Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood, which advocates the use of wooden barrels as part of British beer heritage. Several wooden casks will be featured, including a one-off anniversary special 7% classic Red Ale brewed by award-winning Cambridge Moonshine Brewery.
The Festival is being organised by the East London and City (ELAC) Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). Its Chair, Marion Robbens says: “We’re delighted to be returning to the historic Grade 2* Round Chapel in Clapton which is such a splendid example of our East London Victorian history. The 2012 Festival broke records for attendance on every single session. With 250+ beers and 30+ ciders plus food stalls and pub games we expect to attract even more in 2013.”
The Festival is open from noon until 23.00 hours Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Saturday* and until midnight on Friday.

Much more news from ELAC can be found on Twitter.

*on Saturday the festival will close when there is no more beer!

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Brüpond Open Day

As the East London brewing scene expands to dizzy new heights, last Saturday saw an open day at Brüpond, Lea Bridge.

London Glider

London Glider Cider, the cider from suburbia (South Woodford, London Borough of Redbridge)

This year’s Pigs Ear beer & cider festival has two boxes of the London Glider Cider, the first cider made within the M25 in a long time – possibly ever! I’m told that it’s some of the last to be available from this year’s vintage – ELAC have got their hands on a box of dry and medium dry. Available while stocks last.

East London Festival Celebrates Hackney Beer Renaissance

So we are now just a week away from East London and City CAMRA’s Hackney beer festival – I’ll be working behind the bar for them for a few evenings. There’s more information from them on this year’s festival  below –  I hope to see you there!

Three halves at the Three Pigeons

Bar Lounge – Art Deco door at The Three Pigeons, Halifax

I took a different train route back to London this weekend, which resulted in a 2 hour dwell in Halifax. Having placed my bets on doing a bit of shopping/browsing, I was a little disappointed to find most of the shops closed. Turning to the Good Beer Guide for advice I chose the warmth of The Three Pigeons to while away an hour after some Yorkshire fish & chips.