May 27, 2010 5.19 pm This story is over 176 months old

A quick tipple at the Lincoln Beer Festival

Tip over: The Lincoln Beer festival has on show over 80 real ales, and we also have a couple of recommendations for you.

The Lincoln Beer Festival kicked off on Thursday, May 27th, at the Drill Hall, aiming to familiarise us with the vast number of Britain’s home-made real ales.

Not averse to the occasional tipple, in moderation of course, we went along to investigate what the event has to offer to fellow Lincolnites over the next two days.

There are over 80 real ales from all over the UK on offer at the bar, alongside international beers and a wide range of traditional farm-produced ciders and perrys, in case beer is not your thing.

The Lincoln Drill Hall also offers a great indoor venue, as well as having a substantial outside drinking area for beer connoisseurs to bask in the sun.

Steve Renshaw, the event organiser, said the Lincoln Beer Festival wants to help people of all ages and sexes discover the taste of real ale.

“We want to raise the profile of the beers, but mainly the event gives the chance for people to come along and try something different,” said Renshaw.

You don’t have to be a beer fanatic to find something you might enjoy at the Lincoln Beer Festival. Renshaw recommended two ales as a starting point: Biggus Tickus is apparently a good session beer, and Titanic’s Chocolate Vanilla Stout offers something a little different, as it is made with real chocolate and vanilla.

Locally produced Grafters ale Biggus Tickus has been brought in especially for the Lincoln Beer Festival, and is an amber beer with a hint of toffee.

Amidst a time of crisis for the nation’s pubs, with several boozers shutting down in Lincoln in recent months, can real ale save the traditional local pub?

“The recession, pub companies squeezing licencees, as well as the supermarkets’ below-cost deals on alcohol has made pubs suffer. However, good pubs are getting by — if a pub serves good ale and keeps it well and of a good quality, then they tend to survive,” said Renshaw.

Renshaw said a good pub getting by in the current economic climate is The Struggler’s Inn, behind the Castle, which won branch pub of the year award.

The Lincoln Beer Festival is holding afternoon and evening drinking sessions, closing on Saturday, May 29th, at 11pm, with admission fees up to £3.

Entertainment is available with local bands such as the Coffee Bar Cowboys, a renowned local skittle slash punk band, and new local indie-folk band The Treehouse.

Further info on schedule and admission prices: Lincoln CAMRA