Q & A with Fuller's

Today is the last day of the Ascot CAMRA Beer Festival in association with Fuller's, which is showcasing over 220 real ales, cider and perries.

We managed to have a chat yesterday with National Account Executive at Fuller's, Arthur Voelcker about the history of this famous brewery and what he's been looking forward to tasting at this year's festival.  

Profile
Name:  Arthur Voelcker
Location: Chiswick Brewery
Occupation: National Account Executive







Questions

1. Fuller’s has been brewing beer for over 300 years, how did it begin?

That’s right. Beer has been brewed at the Fuller’s Chiswick site for over 350 years. The original founders Douglas and Henry Thompson and Philip wood had to seek another investor due to financial trouble and approached John Fuller for help. The new partnership was difficult and in 1841 when Douglas Thompson left it broke down. Finding it increasingly difficult to run the brewery on his own John Fuller looked for help and was soon joined by Henry Smith of Romford Brewery and his brother in law, and head brewer, John Turner. This formed Fuller, Smith & Turner in 1845. To this day Fullers is still very much a family orientated business with many of the family working for the Brewery.

2. How long does it take to brew a typical Fuller’s real ale?

For a typical brew it takes about 14 days for the raw products malt, hops and water to be transformed and fermented into beer. For more specialist beers the brewing process can be longer.

3. Fuller’s brew many different beers, but what would you say is the most popular?

We do have many different beers but London Pride has to be our most popular and well-known brand.

4. Are there any new Fuller’s beers that we should look out for in the future?

We launched a new seasonal beer this summer called Wild River. This is a classic double hopped American style beer which is one to look out for next summer.  However for now we have some great seasonal beers coming out with Bengal Lancer, Red Fox and jack Frost all appearing this Autumn and winter.

5. What is Fuller’s relationship with the Campaign for Real Ale?

Fuller’s Brewery has had a strong relationship with CAMRA since the group’s inception in the 1970’s, and we worked closely with them throughout the past 40 years. Fuller’s focus has always been on real ale, and the close affiliation with such a remarkable pressure group (which continues to grow) has been beneficial to both parties.

In fact, Fuller’s holds somewhat of a record with CAMRA; being the only brewery to win the Champion Beer of Britain award with three very individual beers – London Pride, Chiswick Bitter and ESB. ESB has actually won the award an incredible three times.

Fuller’s now one of the country's leading real ale brewers and a flagship brewery for craft
brewing, and the strong relationship between Fullers and CAMRA continues.

6. If someone’s palate is new to beer, what would you suggest they try first?

There is no right or wrong beer to start drinking if you are new to beer. Everyone’s tastes are different and there are many different types of beer that appeal to them. However for people who are new to beer it is best to start with one that is not too bitter and is easy drinking like London Pride.

7. Apart from Fuller’s beers, what is your favourite beer to drink on an autumnal evening?

If it’s not London Pride then my next choice and favourite for an Autumn evening would have to be St Austell Brewery’s Tribute.

8. What are you looking forward to tasting at this year’s Ascot CAMRA Beer Festival?

I am very much looking forward to tasting some of the beers from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland…and of course do some quality control of our own beers as well!

Q&A: Loch Ness Brewery

Today and tomorrow Ascot Racecourse will showcase over 220 real ales, cider and perries at the Autumn Meeting featuring the 6th Ascot CAMRA Beer Festival.

This year we are pleased to welcome breweries from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to feature on our regional bar. With this in mind, we decided to have a chat with Stephen Crossland from the Loch Ness Brewery in Drumnadrochit.He took the time to let us know the beer he brews and what he’s looking forward to tasting at this year’s Beer Festival.




Name: Stephen Crossland
Location: Drumnadrochit, Loch Ness
Occupation: Hotelier/Brewery dogsbody
Questions





1. Why did you decide to get into brewing?

Long story! We (my brother Allan and I) have run the Benleva Hotel in Drumnadrochit (Loch Ness) for 11 years and from Day 1 we've specialised in cask ales. Pretty soon we , with considerable help and encouragement from Angus MacRuary of the Isle of Skye Brewery,  that The Loch Ness Brewery was a good idea, it just took us 10 more years to bring it to fruition!

2. How easy was it to start your own brewery?

Not easy – mainly due to the problems with acquiring finance. The Hotel is a very old building and has required a lot of investment iover the years and, with the fact that our banks appear to be incapable of lending money for investment, that's caused us a lot of problems with establishing the brewery. George Wotherspoon also appeared on the scene a couple of years ago and gave us the impetus to finally get everything in place. We also had problems with other folk trying to steal the name, but a quick Trademark registration sorted that one out!

3. Is brewing real ale a lengthy process?

Not really. A day's work will get you a brew done, but then you have to wait a couple of weeks before you can drink it.

4. What was the first ale you brewed? 

A blonde beer which we ended up calling Hoppy Ness. The beer naming decision was fairly straightforward once we decided to focus on the “Ness” names, rather than Nessie herself!

5. What ale’s do you currently brew?

Dark Ness (my favourite), Light Ness, Loch Ness, Hoppy Ness, Red Ness and Wilder Ness. We've also experimented with a few specials – Mild Ness, Sleekit Ness (for Burns Night), Ness Minister (for Parliament), Nesster Piggott (for Ascot of course!), Ness Un Korma (a curry ale for reasons best known to George!) and Prince of Darkness (a 10% Imperial Stout)

6. Are there any differences between Highland & Island Ales and those brewed in England? 

Not really – there's such a wide variety of styles within the Highlands and in England that it's impossible to generalise. I reckon we probably do have an advantage up here with the purity of our water though. We have plenty of it too!

7. If someone’s palate is new to ale, what would you suggest they try first?

A nice light pale ale – not too hoppy – or a nice malty ale, perhaps a good mild. Try as many as you can, you're bound to find one you love eventually.

8. Apart from your own fine ales, what is your favourite beer to drink on an autumnal evening?

Black Cuillin or Black Gold from up here, but I do love a nice bottle of a Kernel ale. Or anything from Rob Hill's Highland Brewing Company, or Fyne Ales. I do have a lot of favourites which is probably why my kilt seems to shrink each year.

9. We hear you may be wearing some tartan attire at the Beer Festival, is this true?

 Come along and see for yourselves......

10. What are you looking forward to tasting at this year’s Ascot CAMRA Beer Festival?
To be honest I've been so busy with trying to organise the 11th Loch Ness Beer Festival which has just ended, and sorting out the Highland beers for Ascot I haven't even had time to look at the list! However, I was there last year and had a fantastic time, so I know there are plenty of good ones to choose from. I was particularly fond of the Ascot Ales themselves last year so will definitely be giving them a go again.

For the opportunity to taste some of the beers available from the Loch Ness Brewery and the numerous other breweries, book your tickets today to the Ascot CAMRA Beer Festival. Tickets from £13pp and can be purchased on the gate.

How to Taste Real Ale courtesy of CAMRA

There are over 5,500 different real ales brewed regularly in the UK. With such an amazing range of different beer styles, such as bitters, old ales, milds, barley wines and stouts and the biggest variety of draught beers in the World it’s no wonder that tasting British real ales has become every bit as sophisticated as tasting wine.

There has never been a better time to appreciate our traditional British drink, but you don’t have to be an expert. Such a wide range of flavours are available to you that you will soon realise what beers most appeal to your taste buds, whether they are chocolatety stouts or light floral golden ales.

Tasting beer is just like tasting wine, but forget about spitting it out. The first step is to make sure the beer you are tasting is served at the right temperature. Too cold and real ale loses many of its complex flavours. Served too warm, it can develop some you don’t want and quickly loses condition in the glass.

Use your eyes!

Beer should look good. It should be colourful and bright and if it is meant to have a significant head of froth, this should be thick and creamy. Remember that many beers, particularly from the south of England, are not brewed to be served with creamy heads. Remember too that some beers, such as wheat beers may be cloudy, but these too should look attractive and not dull or flat in appearance. Generally though, your beer should be bright and clear and your glass should not contain any sediment.
 

Use your nose!

The best way to sniff your beer is with a glass which is half-empty. This enables you to give it a quick swirl, place your hand over the glass to hold in the lovely aromas fighting to escape and then dive in and take a nice deep breath. You will soon learn to recognise key features such as hoppiness from a classic pale ale, the burnt chocolate flavours of a stout or the banana nose of a wheat beer.

Now the taste!

As you take your first taste of the beer you’ll notice the sweetness from the malts at the front of your mouth while dry bitter flavours from the hops dominate the back of your mouth as you swallow the beer and learn to appreciate the ‘finish’

Just like wine, beers have their own unique characteristics and complexities from the style, the ingredients and the recipe. Tasting beer is every bit as satisfying as tasting wine and you’ll soon learn to appreciate the various styles. Beer can be enjoyed on its own, but it is also exceptionally good with food, so don’t think for a moment that the dining table should be reserved for wine!

Experiment and you’ll soon become skilled in matching different beers to different food dishes.

How to Taste Real Ale is reproduced courtesy of the Campaign for Real Ale; www.camra.org.uk

Q&A: Ascot Ales

On Friday 5th and Saturday 6th October Ascot Racecourse will showcase over 200 Real Ales, Cider and Perries at the Autumn Meeting featuring the 6th Ascot CAMRA Beer Festival.

This week we decided to take some time out of the office and have a chat with Chris Gill, brewer at Ascot Ales in Camberley. He took the time to let us know how he decided to get into brewing and what he’s looking forward to tasting at this year’s Beer Festival. 





Profile
Name: Chris Gill
Location: Camberley Surrey
Occupation: Brewer





Questions

1. Why did you decide to get into brewing?

Simply, a love of beer. Both my wife & I use to work for Samsonite Luggage & at the time their European HQ was in Belgium. So we fell in love with Belgian beer & haven't looked back since. About 8 years ago I gave up the steady pay cheque & went self employed, running a small bottled beer stall in Spitalfields Market London. That was only part time & we moved on to Ascot Ales.

2. How easy was it to start your own brewery?

For us very easy, we did a “Remmington Razors”. We liked the beers so much we bought the business. Our predecessor took 6 months setting up the brewery, with the first brew June 2007. He quickly discovered how much hard work it was & as he was a computer programmer by day, found it very difficult to do both. Then Dell made him an offer to go full time, which was a 7 digit contract. It wasn't too much of a tough choice, as you'll never become a millionaire running a micro brewery. We took over December 2007 & haven't looked back since.

3. Is brewing real ale a lengthy process?

It takes about 6-7 hours to brew, then 7 days to ferment the beer out ( the yeast turning the sugars into alcohol), then we condition the beer in cask for a further 7 days. So 15 days from brewing to ready to go out to a pub.

4. What was the first ale you brewed?

Posh Pooch, our 4.2% Best Bitter, this is still our best selling beer.

5. What ale’s do you currently brew?
Lots! Posh Pooch, Alligator Ale, Alley Cat Ale, On The Rails, Aureole Ale, Anastasia's Exile Stout, Anastasia's Imperial Stout, Penguin Porter, Red IPA, a monthly Single Hop and our current seasonal is Oktoberfest

6. If someone’s palate is new to ale, what would you suggest they try first?

Alligator Ale. It's our 4.6% Golden Ale that has a citrusy grapefruity aroma from the Cascade hops. It's very popular at beer festivals and appeals to lager and cider drinkers as well as real ale fans.

7. Apart from your own fine ales, what is your favourite beer to drink on an autumnal evening? 

That's a tough one to narrow it down to just one, but I guess I'll go for Orval. It's a 6.2% Belgian Trappist beer and I love. In fact I'm currently on holiday in Mallorca as I write this and I was drinking an Orval last night.

8. Last year you won Beer of the Festival with Coconut Crocodile, are you brewing a special ale to claim the title for the second year in a row?

Unfortunately not as we haven't been asked to this time, but I have high hope for Aureole Ale our new low strength Golden Ale at 3.3%. This was initially a jubilee beer & is named after the Queen's horse that ran in the Epsom Derby 6 days after her coronation. Also our Red IPA our 5.5% heavily hopped IPA is a big crowd pleaser at beer festivals.
 
9. Apart from winning Beer of the Festival last year, what has been your highlight from past Ascot Beer Festivals?

Volunteering to work behind the bar has been good fun & brewing festival specials, like On The Rails our hoppy mild. This has gone on to become a regular beer for us.

10. What are you looking forward to tasting at this year’s Ascot CAMRA Beer Festival?

The Scottish beers in particular as I'm not very familiar with them. The hoppy beers specifically so Colonsay IPA, Fyne Ales Black IPA, Loch Ness Nesster Piggott and Highland Brewing IPA. Though I'm sure I'll try lots of the other too.

 
For the opportunity to taste some of the beers available from Ascot Ales and the numerous other breweries, book your tickets today to the Ascot CAMRA Beer Festival. Tickets from £13pp, to book call 0844 346 3000 or visit www.ascot.co.uk.

Ascot Ale's Coconut Crocodile Wins Ascot's Beer of the Festival

5th CAMRA Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival: Friday 30th September and Saturday 1st October 2011

Coconut Crocodile from Ascot Ales, a speciality golden ale infused with coconut to leave a citrus and grapefruit finish and brewed specifically for the 2011 Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival, beat off 210 other real ales to scoop the Beer of the Festival award as voted for by racegoers.

Ascot Ales in Camberley is the brainchild of husband and wife team Chris and Suzanne Gill. ‘The Beer of the Festival award is keenly contested and I am delighted that our local brewery has bagged the top honours at this year’s Beer Festival. This award is testament to the incredible effort that Chris and Suzanne put into making their brewery such a success’, said John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing at Ascot Racecourse.

Chris Gill, Managing Director and Head Brewer at Ascot Ales, said he was absolutely delighted that Coconut Crocodile won the Beer of the Festival Award at Ascot Racecourse. ‘I’m very proud to have won this award, which is voted for by the public, it’s a real honour. I love using lots of hops in my beers and enjoy experimenting with different ingredients, in this case coconut!’

‘Many drinkers at the festival were singing the praises of Coconut Crocodile, so it is no surprise to me that it has scooped this honour. It is a distinctive, unusual and excellent beer, and I am very pleased Chris and Suzanne have won this award at their "home" festival’, added Nick Boley, Berkshire South-East CAMRA branch chair.

Bumper crowds, helped by the glorious weather, attended the two day beer festival, which combines real ale with superb quality horseracing. On the track, the plaudits went to Pastoral Player, trained by Hughie Morrison and ridden by Darryll Holland, winner of the £150,000 totescoop6 Challenge Cup - the most valuable seven furlong handicap in Europe.

The 6th Ascot Racecourse CAMRA Beer Festival will be held on Friday 5th and Saturday 6thOctober 2012.

ENDS

For further information:

John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing, Ascot Racecourse; 01344 878512 / 07917 521429

  Chris Gill, Managing Director, Ascot Ales; 01276 686696 / 07931 884811

 For Beer Festival logo and images, please contact John Blake

Adrian Edmondson and The Bad Shepherds to play the Ascot Beer Festival

You can expect more than just excellent quality racing at the 5th Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival in association with CAMRA and Fuller’s on Friday 30th September and Saturday 1st October. With the help of the Berkshire South East branch of CAMRA and Fuller’s, Ascot Racecourse will be showcasing over 200 beers, ciders and perries predominantly from local craft brewers and stunning live music.
Ascot has announced that Adrian Edmondson and the Bad Shepherds will play live on the Saturday of the Beer Festival. The Bad Shepherds will be entertaining racegoers by playing punk songs on folk instruments. The band believes the songs by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Stranglers, The Jam, Sham 69, The Undertones, The Buzzcocks, The Ramones, The Specials, Talking Heads, Squeeze and others bands of a similar genre are better than people remember.
Adrian Edmondson of the Bad Shepherds stated, ‘The Bad Shepherds are all in training for our appearance at Ascot Racecourse - I am good for two furlongs as long as the ground is not too firm. Unfortunately, Troy Donockley is not much good over jumps but Andy Dinan goes quite quickly if you dangle free beer tokens in front of his face…’
John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing at the Berkshire track, added: ‘The Ascot Beer Festival continues to go from strength to strength. Since its inception, we have gone from selling 6,500 pints in 2007 to a massive 23,000 pints in 2010. The introduction of a live act such as Adrian Edmonson and the Bad Shepherds on the Saturday heralds in a new era for the Ascot Beer Festival and establishes it as one of the must-attend Beer Festivals in the UK’.
Tickets start from just £12 on the Friday and £17 on the Saturday. To book call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk. Gates and bars open at 11am with the first race at 2pm. A voucher system will be in operation for all Beer Festival ales, perries and ciders. A half pint is priced at £1.50 and a pint £3.00. A limited edition commemorative oversized pint glass is available for £4 as well as Ascot Tercentenery Ale brewed by Fuller’s to commemorate Ascot’s 300th year.

Cheers! Raise your glasses to Fuller’s Special Edition ‘Ascot Tercentenary Ale’

In celebration of Ascot Racecourse’s 300th birthday, Fuller, Smith & Turner, London’s only traditional brewer, has created a special tercentenary golden ale. Ascot Tercentenary Ale is a brand new, limited edition ale which will be available nationally in Budgens, regionally in selected supermarkets, and Ascot Racecourse itself, from late April, followed by selected Fuller’s pubs in cask during June and the Ascot Beer Festival on 30th September and 1st October. Only 30,000 bottles will be produced so they are sure to be hot property once they go on sale.

Crafted in partnership with the historic racecourse, and brewed to 5% ABV, Ascot Tercentenary Ale is bottle conditioned meaning a small amount of yeast remains to enable extra fermentation in the bottle. It is this fermentation which gives the beer a wonderful zing. Combined with unmistakable tropical fruit notes, provided in part by the dwarf Sovereign hops, this will make Ascot Tercentenary Ale a perfect summertime beer.

Richard Fuller, Sales Director for Fuller’s, said: “There are not many racecourses that could celebrate a 300th birthday; we are delighted to help Ascot Racecourse mark theirs. Ascot is a place full of majesty and history, and we like to think that our Ascot Tercentenary Ale will go down in Ascot legend in its own time too.”

John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing, commented: “We are delighted that esteemed British brewer Fuller’s is marking our birthday in this way. It is set to be an exciting addition to the racecourse’s celebrations and an absolute must-try at the Beer Festival in September.”

Pitstop Brewery’s Horsepower Wins Ascot’s Beer of the Festival 2010

Frankie Dettori performs his flying dismount after winning the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by Sony) on board Poet's Voice

23,250 pints were consmed over the two days of this year's Ascot Beer Festival

4th CAMRA Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival: Friday 24th & Saturday 25th September 2010

Horsepower, an American style IPA heavily hopped Centennial, Chinook and Cascade hops and brewed especially for the Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival, beat off 202 other real ales to scoop the Beer of the Festival award as voted for by racegoers. A great achievement in itself, but made even more remarkable as Pitstop Brewery won the same accolade last year with Sump, a Russian style stout.

Pitstop Brewery in Wantage and is the brainchild of Peter Fowler. ‘The Beer of the Festival award is keenly contested and to win two years in a row is a fantastic achievement for Pitstop as Peter only started brewing commercially 2 years ago’ said John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing at Ascot Racecourse.

Peter Fowler, head brewer at Pitstop, said he was absolutely delighted that Horsepower had won the Beer of the Festival Award at Ascot. ‘This was the second year running that the fledgling brewery has scooped the award. What makes this award special is that it’s voted for by the drinkers at the Beer Festival, rather than a panel of judges. It’s particularly pleasing that a beer that was created for Ascot proved so popular, especially considering that there were over 200 to choose from’. Peter will now be adding Horsepower to his expanding portfolio. Peter said that the continuing success of Pitstop’s craft beers means that he is currently looking for larger premises to meet the increasing demand for his beers.

‘Yet again the Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival proved to be huge success despite the cooler weather. The choice and quality of the beer on offer was excellent and Pitstop Horsepower proved to be a deserved winner and clearly comes from a thoroughbred stable!’ added Nick Boley, Berkshire South-East CAMRA branch chair.

Record crowds attended the two day beer festival, which combines real ale with superb quality horseracing. Whilst Horsepower won the plaudits on the track, Frankie Dettori stole the show with four consecutive wins on Saturday; most notably partnering Poet’s Voice in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, sponsored by Sony.

The 5th Ascot Racecourse CAMRA Beer Festival will be held on Friday 30th September to Saturday 1st October 2011.

ENDS

Notes for editors
· Attendance over the two days was 35,210, 2% up on 2009
· A total of 23,250 pints were consumed over the two days; 12% up on 2009
· The Beer Festival showcased a total of 228 real ales, ciders and perries predominantly form local craft brewers and producers; 20% more than in 2009.

Past winners of the Beer of the Festival Award as voted for by racegoers are as follows:
· 2007: Summer Lightning brewed by Hop Back Brewery, Downton, Wiltshire.
· 2008: Barbus Barbus brewed by Butts Brewery, Great Shefford, Berkshire.
· 2009: Sump brewed by Pitstop Brewery, Wantage, Oxfordshire.
· 2010: Horsepower brewed by Pitstop Brewery, Wantage, Oxfordshire.

For further information:
John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing, Ascot Racecourse; 01344 878512 / 07917 521429
Peter Fowler, Head Brewer, Pitstop Brewery; 07870 577742

Preview of the 2010 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, sponsored by Sony.

Johnny Murtagh and Rip Van Winkle following their victory in the 2009 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by Sony) is Europe’s championship race over one mile and presents the perfect opportunity for the brilliant three-year-old colt, Makfi, to crown his outstanding season in style.
Trained in France by Mikel Delzangles, Makfi may have only raced five times to date, but he has already left an indelible impression by winning four of those races in deeply impressive style, including a decisive victory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.
His only defeat came here in the St James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal Meeting in June when he was found to be sick afterwards. He returned to the track at Deauville two months later in France’s premier mile race, the Prix Jacques Le Marois, where he defeated the outstanding mare Goldikova with a scintillating display.
If he can repeat that performance this afternoon, Christophe Soumillon’s mount will surely land the £150,000 first prize and see his name added to the race’s glittering roll of honour, where he would join his illustrious grandsire, Dubai Millennium.
His main opponent is last year’s winner, Rip Van Winkle. The top class, Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old has already taken the Juddmonte International at York this season and Ascot’s stiff mile suits him well. Johnny Murtagh, who has won five races on him, will be looking to exploit any chinks in Makfi’s armour.
Frankie Dettori’s mount, Poet’s Voice, has been improving steadily and could pose a threat, while Beethoven, Hearts of Fire, Red Jazz, Bushman and Air Chief Marshall are all talented colts in their own right.
Makfi is a very worthy favourite but he will be thoroughly tested, as one would expect in the outstanding mile race of the European season for which the winner earns automatic entry to the top mile race in the USA, the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on 6 November.
“Win and You’re In” is the title of that promotion. “Win and you’re Europe’s champion miler” is what’s at stake for Makfi.

Ascot Ales to brew a Festival Special for the 4th CAMRA Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival

It has been announced today that Ascot Ales will brew a festival special for the 4th Annual Ascot Racecourse CAMRA Beer Festival on Friday 24th And Saturday 25th September.

Ascot Ales Cob wil be a 4.5% Hazelnut Porter. Head Brewer Chris Gill explains ‘This beautiful smooth chestnut ale has an initial subtle hazelnut flavour followed with rich chocolate at the finish’. The name Cob represents the link between brewing, with the hazelnut base of the porter, and the equie world with Cob being another name for a a stout strong horse.

Ascot Ales have supported the Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival, organised by the Berkshire South East branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, since its inception in 2007 and the brewery will again be sponsoring the staff t-shirts in 2010. The racing over the two days of the Beer Festival is of the highest quality including Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by Sony, Euope’s highest rated mile race.

The Campaign for Real Ale campaigns for real ale, real pubs and consumer rights. They are an independent, voluntary organisation with over 100,000 members and have been described as the most successful consumer group in Europe. CAMRA promotes good-quality real ale and pubs, as well as acting as the consumer's champion in relation to the UK and European beer and drinks industry: www.camra.org.uk.

Past winners of the Beer of the Festival Award as voted for by racegoers are as follows:2007: Summer Lightning brewed by Hop Back Brewery, Downton, Wiltshire.2008: Barbus Barbus brewed by Butts Brewery, Great Shefford, Berkshire.2009: Sump brewed by Pitstop Brewery, Wantage, Oxfordshire.

Ascot Ales http://www.ascot-ales.co.uk/ brew five regular beers; their flagship bitter Posh Pooch so named after a local woman was seen walking a dog with a diamond necklace - the dog that is!

Ascot’s Alligator Ale, a wonderful hoppy golden ale, was originally a summer seasonal, but due to popular demand is now brewed all year round. It won Best Golden Ale at Woking Beer Festival in November 2008.

Their third regular is Anastasia's Exile Stout also, unusually, brewed all year round. This is another award winner and is the house stout at the Nags Head in Reading. On The Rails was originally brewed as a festival special for Ascot Beer Festival in 2008 and has since become a regular. It's a smooth drinking dark ale with caramel and chocolate flavours from the malt and a great aroma of pine and citrus from whole hop flowers making this a memorable session beer.

The latest addition is Alley Cat Ale at 3.8%. It's their new light copper ale packed full of flavour. Refreshing and hoppy with Brewers Gold hops giving gorgeous romas of tropical and lemony fruits - a terrific session ale.

Tickets for the Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival start from just £11. To book call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk. Gates and bars open at 11am with the first race off at 2pm. A voucher system will be in operation for all Beer Festival ales, perries and ciders. A half pint is priced at £1.40 and a pint £2.80. A limited edition commemorative oversized pint glass is available for £4.

Wantage based Pitstop Brewery Revving up for the CAMRA Ascot Beer Festival in September

Rip Van Winkle wins the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 2009.

The CAMRA Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival attracts an ever increasing crowd. In 2009, 21,000 pints were sold over the two days.

Pitstop Brewery, based behind Bellingers Garage in Grove near Wantage, has announced that it is to brew a Festival Special for the 4th CAMRA Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th September 2010.

Horsepower is a 7% American-style IPA, heavily hopped with Centennial, Chinook and Cascade hops. Pitstop Brewery boss Peter Fowler said, ‘I have used Belgian yeast to give extra flavour. The result is an ever-so-slightly-hazy straw-coloured beer - probably caused from the excess of hop oils - that bursts with flavour and has a wonderfully long-lasting hoppy aftertaste’.

Peter went on to explain; ‘I'm putting Horsepower all as one word to formalise it into the motor racing world’. The real ale is hoping to emulate the feat of Sump, a superb example of a black Russian style stout that won the Beer of the Festival at Ascot in 2009.

The September meeting at Ascot, aka The Ascot Festival, is a highlight of the Flat season and one of the feature race days of the Ascot calendar. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by Sony) is Europe's top mile race and crowns the top miler in Europe. Also on the card are the Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile and the Group Two Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes, for the top two year old milers. It was on this day in 1996 that Frankie Dettori went through the card winning all seven races and creating history!

The annual Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival started in 2007 and is organised by the Berkshire South East branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

The Campaign for Real Ale campaigns for real ale, real pubs and consumer rights. They are an independent, voluntary organisation with over 100,000 members and have been described as the most successful consumer group in Europe. CAMRA promotes good-quality real ale and pubs, as well as acting as the consumer's champion in relation to the UK and European beer and drinks industry: www.camra.org.uk.

Past winners of the Beer of the Festival Award as voted for by racegoers are as follows:
2007: Summer Lightning brewed by Hop Back Brewery, Downton, Wiltshire.
2008: Barbus Barbus brewed by Butts Brewery, Great Shefford, Berkshire.
2009: Sump brewed by Pitstop Brewery, Wantage, Oxfordshire.

Tickets start from just £11. To book call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk. Gates and bars open at 11am with the first race off at 2pm. A voucher system will be in operation for all Beer Festival ales, perries and ciders. A half pint is priced at £1.40 and a pint £2.80. A limited edition commemorative oversized pint glass is available for £4.

Over 200 Real Ales, Ciders & Perries to be Showcased at Ascot this September

4th Annual Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival: Friday 24th & Saturday 25th September 2010.

You can expect more than just excellent quality racing at the 4th Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival in association with CAMRA and Fuller’s on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th September 2010. With the help of CAMRA Berkshire South East branch and Fuller’s, Ascot Racecourse will be showcasing over 200 beers, ciders and perries predominantly from local craft brewers.

‘The Ascot Beer Festival continues to go from strength to strength. Since its inception, we have gone from selling 6,500 pints in 2007 to a whopping 21,000 pints in 2009. To meet demand, we have increased the choice of real ales, ciders and perries available to racegoers by over a third’, said John Blake, Head of Sales and Marketing at the Berkshire track.

‘Following the success of the first three Ascot Beer Festivals, CAMRA is delighted to be invited back to Ascot Racecourse. This is an excellent opportunity for us to introduce the enormous variety of real ales available from independent brewers to an audience who wouldn’t usually attend a beer festival’ CAMRA Festival Organiser Mike Smith added.

Richard Fuller, Sales Director at Fuller’s, said ‘Ascot Racecourse is a fantastic venue and we have worked with Ascot and CAMRA on all the previous festivals, which were a great success. I am very much looking forward to showcasing our beers over the course of the 4th festival in September.’

Sump, a superb example of a black Russian style stout from Wantage based Pitstop Brewery, returns to defend its title of the Ascot Racecourse Beer of the Festival. This is very much a people’s award as it is the racegoers who will be voting for their champion ale.

The racing over the two days is of the highest quality including Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes; Europe’s highest rated mile race.

Tickets start from just £11. To book call 0870 727 1234 or visit ascot.co.uk. Gates and bars open at 11am with the first race off at 2pm. A voucher system will be in operation for all Beer Festival ales, perries and ciders. A half pint is priced at £1.40 and a pint £2.80. A limited edition commemorative oversized pint glass is available for £4.