CAMRA prepares for 30th anniversary party

l Colin Bocking, of Crouch Vale Brewery, accepts the Champion Beer of Britain shield for the second year running at last year's Great British Beer Festival, watched by Nigel Evans (left), vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, and Roger Protz, editor of the Good Beer Guide

August 4, 2007: Here we go, then — it's the big one. The Campaign for Real Ale's 30th anniversary Great British Beer Festival gets under way on Tuesday at Earls Court.

	FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
	4 Beer from more than 280 brewers across across the UK. 4The announce-ment of the Champion Beer of Britain from more than 2,500 currently brewed, on Tuesday at around 3pm. 4Several new beers making their debut, including the exclusive launch of a new organic beer from Prince Charles’ Duchy Original brand, and Nightwatchman, brewed for England swing bowler Matthew Hoggard by Marston’s.

The revival of interest in British real ale is at an all-time high, and CAMRA is getting ready to offer beers from more than 280 UK breweries next week.

“Last year demonstrated how the event has evolved in the three decades of its life," said CAMRA chief executive Mike Benner. "It had outgrown its old home at London’s Olympia and so moved to the larger and more accessible Earls Court.

"More than 67,000 people came through the doors throughout the course of the week – an increase in attendance of more than 40% on 2005. CAMRA also welcomed our millionth Great British Beer Festival visitor and introduced a revolutionary tasting scheme called Cyclops which simplifies the look, smell and taste of real ale into easy to understand language.

“In 2007 the festival has evolved further. Its popularity has led us to order in an extra 43,200 pints – taking the total to more than 340,000. There are more than 700 real ales, ciders, perries and foreign beers at the show, and the great food, games and live entertainment guarantee that a good time will be had by all.

“For the first time we have put third of a pint measures on all glassware, as well as introducing stylish, stemmed third of a pint glasses. We have brought in the Viscount bar to showcase organic beer and real ale suitable for vegetarians and coeliacs, plus our tutored tasting with renowned beer experts such as Good Beer Guide Editor Roger Protz continue to delight seasoned beer drinkers and newcomers to real ale.”

The Great British Beer Festival started in 1977 at Alexandra Palace in London and attendance was modest. It has moved from Leeds to Birmingham to Brighton and back again, before settling in London from 1991 to the present. In the last 31 years only one Great British Beer Festival had to be cancelled following a fire in Birmingham’s Bingley Hall in 1984.