Burton Beer Festival: A Golden Celebration of Ale and Community!
From Cask Ales to Cocktail Surprises! Burton Echo got an inside look at the bustling Burton Beer Festival, where tradition meets a welcoming and diverse atmosphere.
By Tom Drysdale
Stepping into Burton Town Hall on the eve of the Burton Beer Festival was like entering another world. The familiar space had been transformed, buzzing with activity as volunteers in commemorative grey T-shirts – marking both the festival and the 50th anniversary of the Burton and South Derbyshire CAMRA branch – put the final touches to their impressive undertaking.
Behind the Scenes: Preparing the Perfect Pint
Casks of ale, beer, cider, and perry lined every available wall, a testament to the diverse and thriving brewing scene, from established names like Thornbridge to exciting microbreweries like G3. It was a powerful reminder of what a dedicated group like CAMRA can achieve when passionate individuals unite.
Branch Chair Les Stretton and the welcoming volunteers introduced me to Jacky Allen, the esteemed ‘Festival Chair’ and the driving force behind the beer festival's smooth operation. Jacky exuded an infectious energy and an undeniable enthusiasm for her role. A CAMRA member since 1985, after being encouraged to attend a meeting by her husband (a former festival chair himself!), she simply stated, "the rest is history."
During a tour of the transformed town hall, Jacky highlighted the building's rich history. The current iteration is an amalgamation of structures, with its origins tracing back to 1891 when Lord Burton gifted the St. Paul's Institute and Liberal Club buildings to the borough council for use as a town hall. Jacky particularly admired how the arches in the main performance hall lent themselves perfectly to creating cosy mini-bars for festival-goers.
Jacky also made sure to mention the captivating Wurlitzer, played by Martin Atterbury, which she believes "brings people in on its own." She also lauded the ongoing support from East Staffordshire Borough Council, emphasising their long-standing relationship: "It’s a family, they know us," she explained, "we have been coming here for years, they know the drill!"
She also touched upon the festival's wider appeal, noting that it draws visitors from across the country and actively promotes local pubs. "We look out for the local pubs; in the programme, we display where all the local pubs are."
Venturing into another room filled with yet more ales, ciders, and perrys, I encountered familiar faces – Paul and Karen, whom I'd met at the Leopard Inn weeks prior. They were diligently ensuring all the beverages were in perfect condition before being served. Karen described this year's festival organisation as a "well-oiled machine."
"It looks a bit chaotic when we first get here on a Monday, but once we get to Wednesday, things start to look like a beer festival," she chuckled. She then outlined the setup process: "We arrive 8 o’clock Monday morning, then when the scaffolders start putting up the framework, from there we start receiving all the kegs, and then the kit from CAMRA HQ in London."
Hard At Work: Volunteers Helping With The Setup
Paul and Karen were joined by Jeff and Alan, who were meticulously testing the beers to ensure they had "settled" correctly. The group explained, "This is the first time you take the beers out of the cask; it is important to check the beers have settled before serving them out to any customers."
When asked about their roles during the festival, they described a variety of tasks, from serving behind the bars to expertly tilting casks and ensuring the competition beers were up to scratch.
The enthusiastic volunteers were keen to emphasise the rewarding nature of helping to organise the beer festival. "You see a whole different side to the festival – how it is set up and how it is run," they explained. "You feel part of a team. It is very much a team effort, and you feel part of something bigger."
A significant aspect of this year's setup was that the 50th-anniversary beer festival was entirely branch-run, the first time the CAMRA Burton and South Derbyshire branch had direct control since 2019. Everyone I spoke to expressed excitement about this, looking forward to the festival being under their direct management.
While the impressive selection of 135 cask ales and ciders was expected, the presence of a small gin and cocktail bar in the main hall came as a slight surprise. I spoke with Norrie, who explained the inclusive approach: "At the festival, we obviously have beer, but that is not everybody's cup of tea. It kind of mitigates having mixed groups, so we have a gin and rum bar."
Norrie's bar also had a commendable policy: free soft drinks for designated drivers and pregnant individuals, ensuring everyone could partake in the festival atmosphere. "It keeps people in the hall. I also do mocktails for them as well; my ‘nojito’ is justly famous!" he exclaimed.
The idea for the gin and rum bar originated from Norrie's experience at his hometown beer festival in Shrewsbury, where he noticed some attendees couldn't find a drink they liked (gin, in this case). He rectified this the following year, and its popularity led to invitations from other festivals.
At his bar, Norrie prioritises sourcing gins and rums from smaller, artisan distilleries, although he admitted that the popularity of some mainstream options necessitates their inclusion. He also offered an outsider's perspective on the Burton beer festival: "This is a beer festival that chases after the local beer drinkers who have a good time in Burton. This festival gives local people the chance to drink beer from all over the UK."
Three Days of Festivities: Beer, Music, and More!
The beer festival kicked off on Thursday and ran until Saturday, offering three days of fantastic beer, cider, and music. Martin Atterbury's Wurlitzer provided a majestic opening on Thursday, followed by live bands on Friday and Saturday.
During the event, I had the opportunity to speak with local brewers, gaining their insights into the festival's importance for the town. Emma from Burton Bridge Brewery and Heritage Brewing Company, who had a dedicated bar section and brewed "L’ Of A Beer" to commemorate CAMRA's 50th anniversary, was enthusiastic. "They were really excited to do their first Burton Beer festival pouring our own beer," she said.
She added, "It’s been a real team effort. A lot of work but a lot of fun getting it all together.” The brewery had even custom-built its own bar, which Emma explained would be reused for their own upcoming beer festival. She also felt honoured to have been asked to develop a special commemorative beer, even involving CAMRA members in the recipe and production.
Tom from Uttoxeter Brewing Company, who had three beers represented at the festival, explained the vital role of such events: "They are extremely important. It gets our name out into areas outside our local district. It means we start getting orders from further afield."
Colin from Outwoods Brewing Company, a local Burtonian brewer who had always attended the beer festival as a punter, shared his long-standing appreciation: "I always came in my early 20’s, and it was always a good vibe and atmosphere. I loved it."
He admitted to some initial apprehension about bringing his new beers to the festival for the first time: "It has been a bit stressful for me, just because I have never travelled with my beers. I did not know if they were going to settle, I did not know if they were going to be hazy."
However, his beers were a hit (a fact I can personally attest to!), and he expressed immense gratitude for events like this and for CAMRA as a whole: "CAMRA have really helped me out a lot. They are a massive help for me because they have helped put my brewery on the map."
Local Festivities: Punters Enjoying The Beer!
Hundreds of people attended over the three days, and I even spotted the Mayor of East Staffordshire, Shallagh McKiernan, enjoying a Mojito expertly crafted by Norrie! She commented on the vibrant atmosphere: "You have this atmosphere here, people drinking, walking around and having a good time. It’s great to see the town hall being used in this way to promote the town!"
During the festival, the CAMRA branch hosted a special moment on stage, inviting all former chairmen of the organisation since its inception. Most were present for an emotional tribute to their individual contributions and hard work.
I also caught up with Les Stretton, the current chair of the Burton and South Derbyshire CAMRA branch. "It is a great event! Our branch, we are proud of our heritage. We have been going 50 years, and events like this are supported by the local people and local pubs."
He concluded with heartfelt thanks: "I just want to say a massive thank you to all the volunteers! You cannot thank them enough; it is a lot of hard work."
Events like the Burton Beer Festival are vital for the town, drawing visitors from far and wide and showcasing the rich brewing heritage of the surrounding area. I extend my sincere thanks to CAMRA Burton and South Derbyshire for inviting me down and providing such open access to their operation. If you're interested in getting involved or finding out about future events, you can visit their website here or follow their social media here.
Have a positive community story to share? Email Tom Drysdale at tom.drysdale@burtonecho.co.uk, and we’ll do our best to bring it to life!
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