First day today - I went along at about 1730. It's the usual efficiently organised do in the Wulfrun Hall; their 31st so I guess they should be pretty good at it :-)
A good range of beers, though disappointingly of the four I wanted to try (Downton Czech Pale Ale, Hawkshead Lakeland Gold, Highgate Old Ember and Kinver Maybug) only the first two were on by the time I left at
1855. Both of them were excellent, and I particularly liked the Downton one which I enjoyed as much as any 'first time' beer I've had for ages.
I certainly wouldn't complain about the two beers which weren't on. If they're not ready, then they aren't, and the BMs are right to hold them back IMHO. The venue's reasonably warm (and will probably become warmer over the next couple of days) and it's good to see cooling on every cask. Another thing that's absolutely right in my book.
The foreign beer range I also thought was excellent. Only two that I immediately thought 'yuk' or words to that effect, and in any case it's so subjective that the next punter might have thought they were really great. There were a number I didn't recognise which is also a pretty healthy sign given that I've been working my way through Germany and the Low Countries, where most of them originated, for 15 years now. I couldn't really comment on the pricing as I so rarely go to festivals. Neither do I buy foreign beers in pubs, as I have a perfectly good stock at home! Prices looked OK to me, though.
Prices for the draught beers seemed perfectly reasonable, generally around the £2.00-£2.20 mark, with payment by (refundable) numbered tear-off tokens. Glass deposit was £2, also refundable. I think you can give your unused tokens to the branch's pet charity if you want.
To summarise - it's a good event. Get there if you can. By now you're all thinking I must be the Wolvo branch publicity officer. You couldn't be more wrong; I haven't been a CAMRA member for at least 15 years, and I don't live in Wolverhampton. If I were a member, then Wolverhampton wouldn't be my local branch. This is definitely a punter's eye view :-)
is the URL for details, but do note that all the non-member admission charges (which only apply after 1700) are 50p more than it says (ATTOW,
21:09 1.6.06) on that page. Tut, tut.
Dave