Stockport beer fest impressions

Now we're getting there. (c) is obviously the driving factor. Which is fair enough, as it's your festival. Just be more honest about it. You don't need to try and wrap it up with (a) and (b). A festival as established as Stockport should know pretty well how much beer to order by now. And the quality issue is a red herring. By the sound of it, you've either got terrible environmental control or poor cellarmanship. Otherwise, why be so worried about the beer on Saturday? Oh, and you seem to think that tickers are the main group affected by this policy. I'm not sure if you are implying I may belong to this dreaded group, but as anyone who knows me will testify, I most certainly do not. I just oppose this policy as a normal beer loving member of the public.

Reply to
Alex
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I suspect you realise that keeping the beer well has more than just tapping early or not to affect it. However, since you mention beer being flat you might like to consider what happens when you have too much beer tapped too early - it goes flat before people drink it. Temperature can be countered by cooling, lack of condition due to early venting can't.

Hmmm. On that basis organising a large festival in a building with a glass roof in August would be a bit iffy.

No one knows everything. Sensible people always listen to advice, the clever ones use it.

I always refused to put beer on until I was happy to drink it. It isn't "holding back" and unless you like drinking murky beer you'd agree to it not being on. Of course every ticker I've ever met always wanted to tell me how they'd travelled miles for that specific beer and they didn't mind cloudy beer.

Maybe Stockport have good and bad times, but when I've been to the festival (on Saturday) the beer was OK. Some was a touch tired, having been broached a while, but the newer fresher tapped stuff was OK. Maybe they should have put it all on on the first day then I could have had a consistently tired pint.

Reply to
Steven Pampling

Alex:

No, I'm not being obtuse here, deliberately or otherwise, and the reasons I suggest for the Stockport BF policy are not excuses.

Since you are unreasonably determined not to believe that such a policy can be justified, you wouldn't understand or accept any explanation I could give.

I shall not respond to any further postings you make, and I don't feel you will do yourself any good by continuing this line of argument.

Colin Mills

Reply to
Colin_Mills

Obviously there's no point continuing, since we are so far apart. Interesting phrase "unreasonably determined," though. Being unconvinced by your arguements obvioulsy makes me unreasonable whilst you are presumably perfectly entitled to ignore your critics. I begin to see why the festival organisers have such an oligarchical reputation.

Reply to
Alex

Presumably a reference to the GBBF. Not a very exact comparison I would have thought. Rather expensive cooling equipment used there, for a start, IIRC. I'm sure a lot of festivals would like that luxury. Even then, in terms of beer quality, the GBBF isn't the best in the country.

Advice is surely judged on its merits. All I was saying is if people can successfully ignore it, then I would question whether it's worth giving.

No one said anything about putting beers on that weren't ready. We are simply talking about whether all beer that is ready can and should go on. They have admitted "holding back" beer for reasons other than quality concern. Which is a different matter altogether. I don't know why you brought tickers into the debate. Perhaps you think they are the only people bothered and therefore I must be one. For the record, once more, I'm most certainly not.

Or they could run a smaller festival. Just open Fri/Sat, maybe. Why open Thurs eve if it's that problematic? I'd suggest getting along to see how some other festivals manage.

Reply to
Alex

Perhaps they could look at the small two-day festival where I am beer manager (amongst other things). Always top notch beer, consistently good feedback, very popular, always a sell-out.

Beers are managed so that all are available at some time in each session.

Pretty much what Stockport does it seems, and people keep flocking back.

We must be doing something right.

John B

Reply to
JohnB

It should be pointed out that Colin is not involved in the organisation of Stockport festival.

And you do seem wilfully determined not to accept that the opposing point of view may have any legitimacy whatsoever.

Reply to
PeterE

Spreading the hall hire costs over less sales would make the festival uneconomic.

And, the fact that it's extremely successful year-on-year and gets overwhelmingly positive feedback does suggest we must be doing something right!

Reply to
PeterE

Not really. You're saying (I think), that you hold beers back purely for beer management reasons. Stockport say that but then seem to be qualifying it with other issues. Which is where I disagree.

No one said Stockport isn't successful. It certainly isn't because of the beer policy though is it? I congratulate you on running a successful festival as well, but others are a success withour beer management. So I don't think that proves anything in itself. Have you actually asked people if they are in favour of beer management? I ask because I have and they are overwhelmingly against it.

Reply to
Alex

I am simply representing a viewpoint that several people hold. I don't say your views don't have any legitimacy at all but simply that they are not convincing, in my experience. It is you who seem unwilling to accept any change in your mind set. AFAIK you (meaning Stockport festival), have never varied your system and yet are convinced it is the only way to do things. If you were telling me something I didn't know about beer and festivals, I would be happy to admit it and defend your corner. However, you haven't, so I can't see any reason to change my opinion.

Reply to
Alex

But that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement, does it? You know very well that most feedback is positive. I'll hold my hands up if I'm wrong, but I doubt you have actually conducted much research into whether specific issues such as beer availability should be changed. You seem very resistant to change. Obviously of no concern to you, but there will be a few less customers at the event next year. And don't mention tickers:)

Reply to
Alex

It isn't a luxury.

Any CAMRA festival can use the equipment. Those that don't either haven't read the information about doing so or don't want to.

Yes, the glass roof was a reference to GBBF but if I substituted under canvas at a racecourse you'd have to shift north west. Again the guys there use cooling. (They read the info and do want to keep the beer cool)

Reply to
Steven Pampling

Yes we do.

We used to have everything available from first opening, until it ran out. We were plagued with complaints, particularly on the Saturday (mainly from tickers) when several of the beers were no longer available. We carried out a survey of customers and have settled on our present policy. Since we have introduced managing the beers over the whole festival, we have had nothing but praise and support, except from, yes you've guessed it, a very small number of the panda bottle brigade. I choose to ignore both of them.

I find it difficult to believe that anyone would be happier with a lower choice on subsequent days of a festival.

John B

Reply to
JohnB

. You're saying (I think), that you hold beers back purely

your choice. Just as opening hours, which are another hot topic, are.

Oh dear, I fear we're meeting on the middle ground. These people are the bane of many a festival I have to say.

And yet I found the reverse strange! Now if there's one topic I will acccept no better qualified expert, it's local drinking habits. It might be horses for courses, but the expectations round here are for more choice earlier and less later. I've had it described as "drinking common sense." I can honestly say I know very few people who support beer management. And not a Panda Pop bottle in sight:)

Reply to
Alex

Have you expressed your concerns to the Stockport Festival organising committee, either directly or via the website?

Reply to
PeterE

Yes, I think that's where I came in:)

Reply to
Alex

I went on the Saturday afternoon, didn't hear any music as I was sat in the "stands" enjoying the view of the landscape and the aircraft coming into land at Manchester airport. Marvellous! Could have done with a table though.

Was a bit cramped. I'd shift the beer into the place the music was taking place. Closer to the food as well!

Nothing more traditional than beer straight from the cask.

I would prefer fewer beers and more volume. Gives a better chance of tasting a beer you fancy.

Reply to
Anthony Morgan

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