WSR :: West Somerset Railway :: CAMRA Real Ale Weekend 2012

Somerset CAMRA Real Ale Festival 8 & 9 September 2012

Somerset Campaign for Real Ale's 13th Real Ale Festival

The weekend of 8 and 9 September 2012 are the dates of this year's Somerset CAMRA Real Ale Festival, held in partnership with the West Somerset Railway. Quantock Brewery have kindly agreed to be the main sponsor this year.

Latest festival news

Saturday evenings live entertainment has been changed. NO FIXED ABODE replace the previously advertised Ben & Tania. No Fixed Abode are an Anglo/Irish song writing combination comprising of vocalist Una Walsh and Guitarist Tony Dean. With shades of Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush, Una's voice is pure and unsullied by any commercialism or production restraints. Tony's accomplished acoustic guitar work is a perfect companion, an escort to Walsh's at times wistful and soul-filled vocals.

Beer prices for 2012 remain pegged at £3.00 per pint and £1.50 per half pint. Souvenir glass will be £3.00. A ‘starter pack’ priced £15 will be available to speed up glass and token purchase on arrival. This pack will comprise a souvenir glass and £12 worth of beer tokens. This represents excellent value, especially when taking into account entry to the festival is free of charge.

Real Ale, Cider, Perry and Wine

Somerset CAMRA say "We plan to have in excess of 100 real ales, several local ciders, perry and a small selection of wine. The local Somerset breweries will, as usual, be very well represented. In addition to these, there will be a wide selection of ales from all around Great Britain, showcasing the incredibly diverse range of tastes and styles produced by our multitude of breweries. We hope to have locally brewed festival special beers, fruit beers and a cask conditioned lager. Each train buffet car will serve a different Somerset ale (from polypins) and a choice of bottled beers, including beers brewed especially for the WSR."

Food and Soft Drinks

The Turntable Café on Minehead Station will offer a range of hot and cold food, sandwiches, and soft drinks. A Cornish pasty van will be positioned by the station entrance on both days and there will be a hog roast on Saturday evening. There are several other food outlets close to Minehead Station offering plenty of choice to the hungry festival goer.

Live Entertainment...

Somerset CAMRA say "On Saturday evening, between 8pm and10pm, we welcome NO FIXED ABODE - an Anglo/Irish song writing combination comprising of vocalist Una Walsh and Guitarist Tony Dean. With shades of Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush, Una's voice is pure and unsullied by any commercialism or production restraints. Tony's accomplished acoustic guitar work is a perfect companion, an escort to Walsh's at times wistful and soul-filled vocals.

Sunday afternoon we welcome back THE TONE VALLEY JAZZ BAND to perform their easy-listening traditional jazz sounds. Now in their 53rd year of playing together, they put their success and longevity down to cask-conditioned ale and good living. Just the ticket for a Sunday session!"

Entry, Glasses and Tokens...

Entrance to the festival will again be FREE, though you will need to purchase a glass which you can keep. You may choose a festival souvenir glass or a cheaper alternative.

A token ticket system will operate at the bar. Buy your token tickets when you buy your glass. One ticket for a half-pint, two tickets for a pint. No cash will be taken at the bar, although unused token tickets will be fully refundable.

A souvenir glass and token ‘starter pack’ will be available to speed up service at peak times following each train arrival.

We will also have festival branded souvenir clothing for sale at the membership stand.

Station Facilities...

Our real ale bar and entertainment will all be under cover on Minehead railway station platform. There will also be static railway carriages with plenty of seats available. All of the usual railway station facilities will be open during the festival.

Accommodation...

Enquiries should be directed to the West Somerset Railway by 'phoning 01643 704996.

Or check the Where to Stay page on this website.

Staffing...

Volunteers from Somerset Branch of Campaign for Real Ale will staff the festival bar, sales and membership stands. They will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

Booking...

The Booking Form is now available as a PDF. Please click here, print the form, complete the details and send to the address shown.

Getting there...well worth the effort

The very best way to arrive at the Somerset CAMRA Real Ale Festival is of course on a West Somerset Railway train!

» Train times for Saturday 8 September 2012
» Train times for Sunday 9 September 2012

A discounted full line round trip train fare, priced at £14 (£13.50 for seniors), is available to all CAMRA members. This fare is valid for full line return journeys from either Bishops Lydeard to Minehead or vice versa. To obtain this bargain ticket you must show your CAMRA membership card at the ticket office, or better still, fill in the advance booking form or BOOK ONLINE and avoid queuing on the day. Soon to be available is a booking form along with a train timetable and information about connecting buses to and from Taunton

Connecting bus service - First route no 28 - Taunton - Bishops Lydeard

Bus information believed correct on 24 January 2012 but liable to change. Before your journey please confirm bus times by calling Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or visit www.travelinesw.com or www.firstgroup.com

Saturday: First 28 bus runs between Taunton bus station and Bishops Lydeard WSR station (via Taunton railway station) at xx.05 and xx.35 minutes past each hour until 16.05. Journey time is about 30 minutes. Taunton railway station stop is at the south side interchange, next to platform 2 and also from stop C in Station Road (under railway bridge). Return buses depart Bishops Lydeard at xx.24 and xx.54 minutes past each hour until 18.54. Later buses depart 20.35 & 22.20 from near Lethbridge Arms, Bishops Lydeard.

Sunday: 28 buses leave Taunton bus station at 09.00 and then hourly, running via Taunton railway station to Bishops Lydeard WSR station. Return 28 buses depart Bishops Lydeard WSR station at 17.31 & 18.31, with a later bus from the Lethbridge Arms at 19.31.

Beer List

The provisional beer list is now available.

No.	Brewery	Beer	County	abv%
1	Yeovil	Ruby	Somerset	4.5
	Red bitter with rich malt depth
2	Yeovil	Posh IPA	Somerset	5.4
	Strong IPA, Fruity bodied, hoppy finish
3	Yeovil	Stargazer	Somerset	4.0
	Dark copper bitter, late hopped floral bouquet
4	XT	Eight Dark Roast	Buckinghamshire	4.5
	Smooth rich dark beer, complexed and balanced
5	Windy	Hurricane IPA	Somerset	4.2
	No tasting notes available
6	Windy	Flurry	Somerset	4.2
	No tasting notes available
7	Thornbridge	Sequoia	Derbyshire	4.5
	American amber ale, smooth and velvety
8	Thornbridge	Black Harry	Derbyshire	3.9
	Dark fruity ale
9	Tiny Rebel	Fubar	Gwent, Wales	4.4
	Floral hoppy flavours, leading to a dry bitterness
10	Twickenham	Hornet	Middlesex	4.4
	No tasting notes available
11	Sadlers	Golden Gremlin	W.Midlands	4.4
	Golden ale, fruity
12	Saltaire	Summer Ale	W.Yorkshire	4.2
	Golden ale, English and continental hops
13	Sarah Hughes	Dark Ruby	W.Midlands	6.0
	Renown dark ruby strong ale, balance of fruit and hops
14	Six Trees	Bitter Memories	Somerset	4.3
	Copper coloured, classic best bitter
15	Six Trees	Onslaught	Somerset	3.8
	No tasting notes available
16	Six Trees	Hop Eights	Somerset
	No tasting notes available
17	St Austell	Smugglers Tipple	Cornwall	6.0
	Blend of oak aged barley wine and dark ale
18	St Austell	Admirals Ale	Cornwall	5.0
	Premium pale ale, rich and complex
19	Steel City	New Dawn Fades	S.Yorkshire	4.8
	Pale and hoppy, fruity, Citra, Calypso, Magnum hops
20	Stocklinch	Ramblers Gold	Somerset	3.8
	No tasting notes available
21	Stowey	Nether NZ	Somerset	?
	Ultra pale ale, half Raku, half Nelson Sauvin hopped
22	Surrey Hill	Greensands IPA	Surrey	4.6
	Hop monster with modest ABV%
23	RCH	Hewish IPA	N.Somerset	3.6
	Light hoppy bitter, malt and fruit flavours
24	RCH	Pitch Fork	N.Somerset	4.3
	Yellow best bitter, citrus and hop aroma
25	RCH	East St Cream	N.Somerset	5.0
	Tawny coloured, strong bitter
26	RCH	Double Header	N.Somerset	5.3
	Light brown full bodied strong bitter
27	RCH	Western Campaigner	N.Somerset	6.0
	Festival special
28	Rebel	IPA	Cornwall	5.6
	No tasting notes available
29	Red Fox	Mild	Essex
	Dark and nutty
30	Rhymey	Export	Wales	5.0
	Full flavoured, made from combination of mixed malts
31	Quantock	Rourkes Drift	Somerset	4.2
	A light refreshing lager style beer
32	Quantock	Ginger Cockney	Somerset	4.0
	A classic copper ale with a hint of ginger
33	Quantock	Royal Stag	Somerset	6.0
	A strong ale in true IPA style
34	Quantock	White Hind	Somerset	4.5
	A full bodied best bitter
35	Quantock	Stout	Somerset	4.5
	A distinctively dry dark stout
36	Quantock	Wills Neck	Somerset	4.3
	A late hopped golden ale
37	Quantock	Sunraker	Somerset	4.2
	A delicately hopped refreshingly light beer
38	Quantock	Ale	Somerset	3.8
	A full bodied well rounded amber beer
39	Paradise	Artists	Cornwall	5.2
	Full bodied Tawny ale
40	Phoenix	Wobbly Bob	Lancaster	6.0
	Red/brown beer, malty and fruity flavours
41	Purple Moose	Snowdonia	Gwynedd, Wales	3.6
	Pale ale brewed with pale and crystal malt
42	Oakham	Citra	Cambridgeshire	4.2
	Light refreshing beer, fruity aromas
43	Oakham	Green Devil	Cambridgeshire	6.0
	Smooth, hoppy and fruity
44	Ordnance City	MK.1	Somerset	5.2
	No tasting notes available
45	Ordnance City	MK.2	Somerset	4.0
	No tasting notes available
46	Ossett	Hop Monster	W. Yorkshire	5.0
	Heavily hopped IPA, moderate bitterness
47	North Curry	Jubeelee	Somerset	4.6
	Golden, refreshing, addition brewery's own honey
48	North Curry	Curry Gold	Somerset	3.9
	Golden,smooth, with pilgrim + cascade hops
49	Nottingham	Legend	Nottinghamshire	4.0
	Pale brown bitter, fruity and malty
50	Magic Rock	Curious	W.Yorkshire	3.9
	Pale ale, american hops, citrus and malty flavour
51	Magic Rock	Dark Arts	W.Yorkshire	6.0
	Full flavours, spicy hop notes
52	Marble Beers	Dobber	G.Manchester	5.5
	Pale, strong flavoured and bitter
53	Marble Beers	Chocolate Marble	G.Manchester	5.5
	A strong stout-like ale
54	Masters	Palm	Somerset
	Rich and dark, Egyptian dates give exotic twist
55	Masters	Hefeweizen	Somerset	3.8
	Naturally cloudy, original German wheat beer
56	Mighty Oak	A seasonal beer	Essex

57	Milk Street	Funky Monkey	Somerset	4.0
	Copper summer ale, fruit flavours and aromas
58	Milk Street	Zig Zag Stout	Somerset	4.5
	Dark ruby stout
59	Monty's	Moonrise	Powys, Wales	4.0
	Copper coloured, gently malted, well balanced
60	Moor	Nor Hop	Somerset	4.1
	Golden Ale, ultra pale, ultra hoppy, Citra hops
61	Moor	Sommerland Gold	Somerset	5.0
	Golden Ale, also described as an English IPA
62	Moor	Illusion	Somerset	4.5
	Black IPA, powerful hop flavours
63	Moor	Hoppiness	Somerset	6.5
	IPA, Rich malt and fruit flavours of barley wine
64	Moor	Old Freddy Walker	Somerset	7.3
	Rich dark old ale, fruitcake finish
65	Moor	JJJ IPA	Somerset	9.0
	Copper coloured new world IPA, hoppy and malty
66	Mordue	Autumn Tyne	Tyne & Wear	4.0
	Copper coloured, single variety USA hops, fruity
67	Langton	Hop on	Leicestershire	4.4
	Premium bitter, chestnut colour, well balanced
68	Longhill	Gale Force	Cornwall	4.8
	Smooth caramel flavour, bitter dry and malty finish
69	Long man	American Pale	Sussex	4.8
	American pale ale, seriously hopped
70	Lytham	Twilight	Lancaster	4.0
	Traditional dark mild
71	Kelham Island	Riders on the Storm	S.Yorkshire	4.5
	Golden pale ale
72	Kelham Island	Route 66	S.Yorkshire	6.6
	Epic American IPA
73	Kissinggate	Black Cherry Mild	W.Sussex	4.2
	Dark mild using real black cherries in muscavado
74	Hammerpot	Bottle Wreck Porter	West Sussex	4.7
	Traditional black porter, chocolate, coffee
75	Harbour	Collaboration No.1	Cornwall	7.4
	Double IPA, a collaboration with arbor ales
76	Harbour	Pale No.1	Cornwall	6.0
	Very hoppy pale ale
77	Hawkshead	Lakeland Lager	Cumbria	5.0
	Cask conditioned lager
78	Heart of Wales	Inn Stable	Wales	6.8
	No tasting notes available
79	Hunters	To be announced	Devon

80	Garage	Young Bob	Plymouth	6.2
	A strong IPA, brewery's first brew
81	Glastonbury	Lady of the Lake	Somerset	4.2
	Amber best bitter, plenty of hops
82	Glastonbury	Golden Chalice	Somerset	4.8
	Light and golden best bitter
83	Grainstore	Silly Billy	Rutland	4.3
	Ratliffe's celebrated stout
84	Flowerpots	Lambra Amber	Hampshire	5.0
	No tasting notes available
85	Frog Island	Natterjack	Northamptonshire	4.8
	Gold coloured, smooth, fruit and hop aroma
86	Emsworth	Fairfield	Sussex	3.7
	No tasting notes available
87	Exmoor	Gold	Somerset	4.5
	Golden best bitter, well balanced
88	Exmoor	Stag	Somerset	5.2
	Pale brown, malty taste and aroma
89	Dark Star	Ardennes Pale	W.Sussex	5.8
	Straw coloured,with pale ale and wheat hops
90	Dark Star	Kiwi	W.Sussex	4.0
	Made with New Zealand hops aged on kiwi fruit
91	Dawkins	Pole Vault	Bath	4.0
	Light blond beer, using fragrant Polish Marynka hops
92	Devilfish	Devil Best	Somerset	4.2
	Traditional nut brown bitter, malty character, well hopped
93	Devilfish	Apachi	Somerset	5.0
	'Americal pale ale' made from maximum USA hops
94	Cannon Royall	Fruiterer's Mild	Worcestershire	3.7
	Black hued brew, malty aroma
95	Cheddar	Potholer	Somerset	4.3
	Pale best bitter, spicy and pale malt aroma
96	Cornish Crown	St Michael's Bitter	Cornwall	4.0
	No tasting notes available
97	Cotleigh	Honey Buzzard	Somerset	4.5
	Copper coloured, infused with local honey
98	Cotleigh	New Harvest	Somerset	4.0
	Fresh, clean and hoppy, early bird goldings hops
99	Cotleigh	Kookaburra	Somerset	4.4
	Amber Colour, using Australian Pride of Ringwood hops
100	Cottage	Golden Arrow	Somerset	4.5
	Golden bitter, hoppy with floral bouquet
101	Cottage	Somerset & Dorset	Somerset	4.4
	Dark red, well hopped malty brew
102	Ballards	Nyewood Gold	W.Sussex	5.0
	Golden brown,strong bitter, hoppy and fruity
103	Bath	Gem	Bath	4.1
	Malt caramel with fruit aroma
104	Bath	Barnsey	Bath	4.5
	Distinctive, dark bitter
105	Black Hole	Cosmic	Staffordshire	4.2
	Amber coloured, bitterness and fruity character
106	Blindmans	Buff	Somerset	3.6
	Amber coloured and smooth
107	Blue Monkey	Infinity	Nottinghamshire	4.6
	Pale Ale brewed with Citra hops from the USA
108	Bristol Beer Factory	Milk Stout	Bristol	4.5
	Dark creamy stout
109	Brodies	Old Street Pale	G.London	5.0
	No tasting notes available
110	Butcombe	Brunell IPA	N.Somerset	5.0
	Pale, dry and hoppy, bitter sweet aftertaste
111	Buxton	Imperial Black IPA	Derbyshire	7.5
	Full bodied with fresh hop aroma, malty base
112	Abbey	Bellringer	Bath	4.2
	Light to medium bodied hoppy ale
113	Allendale	Adder Lager	Northumberland	5.0
	Traditional cold fermented Pilsner style lager
114	Allendale	Wolf	Northumberland	5.5
	Red Ale, bitterness in taste, fruity finish
115	Andwell	Gold Muddler	Hampshire	3.9
	Golden Ale with hoppy citrus aroma
116	Angus	Driver Dark	Scotland	4.4
	Rich dark Stout, roasted and chocolate malt
117	Arbor	Ginger IPA	Bristol	7.0

118	Arran	Red Squirrel	Scotland	3.9
	Well balanced, malty hop blend

Please note this list is provisional and subject to change and availability.

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