THOUSANDS of real ale fans flocked to the four-day Chelmsford Winter Beer and Cider Festival.
More than 200 ales, 50 ciders and perries and dozens of Belgian beers were on offer at the event, which was held at King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford for the first time in its 14-year history.
"It was a big success moving to KEGS," said Brian Grimshaw, one of the organisers of the event, which is run by the Chelmsford and Mid-Essex branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale.
For the past 13 years the festival was held at Essex County Council's Triangle Club in Duke Street, but the extra space at KEGS meant more space for visitors and brewers.
"We hope to be there again next year. Everything went smoothly and as well as we could have hoped. The school staff were very helpful," Brian added.
"I would say there was up to double the amount of people as last year and the venue was much more light and comfortable."
There was great news for Chelmsford's new brewery Round Tower, which launched its range of ales at the festival and ended up winning beer of the festival for its Rectory Stout, a rich, dark brew crafted from seven different malts.
Festival goers voted for the beer so winning the award was a real endorsement of how good it was – as was the speed with which it was drunk.
The first cask of stout had been drunk dry by 8pm on the first day of the festival, last Wednesday, while the second cask was downed by 2pm the next day.
Simon Tippler of Round Tower said he couldn't have been happier at how well his three beers, Rectory Stout, Tippler's Gold and Solo Galaxy, went down.
"We are really pleased at how well our beer was received by everyone and wining beer of the festival is an amazing start for us," said Simon, who brews his beers from an industrial unit off Navigation Road.
"After months of planning and hard work it was great to see everyone enjoying our beers," he added.
The festival was launched by beer writer and blogger Pete Brown whose latest book, Shakespeare's Local, has been getting rave reviews.
Chelmsford and Mid-Essex CAMRA chairman Chris Pollard added: "I'd like to thank the people of Chelmsford and the volunteers who run the festival for making this a huge success.
"Planning has already started for the beer festival in July."
