Beer Talk and Bacon Baps…

By Dawn Hopkins

The 4^th Norwich City of Ale 2012 meeting was held on 24^th November at the oldest pub in Norwich (the building dates back to 1249), The Adam and Eve, on Bishopgate.  As usual there was a fine turn out of local publicans, brewers, CAMRA representatives and beer aficionados, to discuss the finer details of the festival. The added bonus was the wonderful (and much appreciated) bacon baps provided by Landlady Rita McCluskey!

And so…

Invitations to take part in the festival have been sent out to breweries and pubs – it is hoped that as many as possible will sign up by the New Year, with an ‘Early Bird’ incentive.

This year 31 city pubs took part – can we make it 50 next year?

A sub-group have already met to discuss the itinerary of the ‘Beer & Travel Writers’ Preview Weekend in January (pubs, beer, breweries, food & more beer!), and invitations have been sent out.  We are very pleased indeed to have already had acceptances from Mark Dredge, Pete Brown, Jeff Evans, Tim Hampson, Darren Norbury and Adrian Tierney Jones (but we would like some ladies along too!).

Several breweries have confirmed they will be sponsoring events held at St Gregory’s Hall during the festival – Wolf Brewery will be sponsoring the ‘Barrel of Laughs’ Comedy night, Norwich Bear Brewing Co will sponsor the Pub Quiz Grand Final and Woodforde’s the Political Debate.

The Political Debate will be an ‘Any Questions’ style format with questions from the audience to the panel focused on pub, brewing and licensing issues.  We have still to confirm the panellists, but have had a positive response from local politicians as well as a Shadow Minister, and are hoping for a local celebrity chairperson too!

A number of other ideas were also discussed: a local Norfolk Wherry Skipper giving talks during the festival; a beer swap trip, with a video blog to our twin towns of Koblenz and Rouen; and a festival Treasure Trail.

The next meeting will be held on 5^th January – mmmm, Full English?!