Report on ERAF 2009

The quiet village of Edgworth, near Bolton, was tuned into a battlefield last weekend as Lancashire and Yorkshire breweries fought for the honour of winning the 4th annual Edgworth Real Ale Festival’s (ERAF) version of The War of The Roses.

This year the bar was split in two, with the white rose of Yorkshire hanging above one and the red rose of Lancashire above the other. Team Captains, Thwaites Brewery for Lancashire and Black Sheep Brewery for Yorkshire, sponsored the bars, with each offering over 30 different ales, from large and small breweries across their respective regions. Lancashire ran out narrow victors once the votes had been counted, but it had been a very close fight, with ale’s of exceptional quality being supplied from both sides of the Pennines.

As well as the battle between counties, there was also an individual prize on offer for the beer that has received the most votes. The ‘ERAF Beer of the Festival’ Gold award went to Bank Top’s ‘Port O’ Call’ beer. The Silver award was given to Fernandes Brewery’s’ ‘Ale to The Tsar’ and the Bronze award to Hopstar for ‘Smokey Joe’s Black Beer’.

As ever, all ERAF proceeds will be donated to charity, and the whole village turned out in support of this incredibly popular event, whether it is through the sponsorship of local businesses or just patrons enjoying the specialist beers on offer. However, it is not only the local residents that are interested – ERAF, with the help of Bolton Community Transport, operate a shuttle bus that collects drinkers from all the surrounding villages, and, this year, people travelled from as far away as Yorkshire, the Midlands and even Poland to visit a beer festival that is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the best organised events in the North West.

This year ERAF had over 70 casks of real ale, ciders and perries on offer, from Lancashire and Yorkshire breweries. A total of around 4000 pints had been drunk by the time the festival ended at tea time on Sunday, with virtually every cask empty. The festival is also noted for the quality of the food it offers – the traditional and authentic pasties and pies from local suppliers never fail to sell out, and are an excellent accompaniment to a pint of real ale. To complete the festival and create a fantastic atmosphere, ERAF puts on live music at the event. This year’s acts were Melvin and The Volcanoes on Friday and The Witnesses on the Saturday. As one customer stated “If Edgworth did beer festivals, they’d probably be the best beer festivals in the world…..”

This was the fourth annual ERAF event, and the festival goes from strength to strength. The comments received from customers, sponsors and beneficiaries alike are genuinely touching, and make the hard work of the volunteer committee members all worthwhile.

ERAF is proud to announce that they raised an amazing £12,000 from their 2009 festival, which will be divided between this year's chosen charities - Derian House Children’s Hospice and Bolton Mountain Rescue. The ERAF Committee would like to extend their thanks and gratitude to all this year’s sponsors, customers and volunteers, without whom the festival could not take place.

Put the dates in you diary for the 2010 event – 24th/25th/ 26th September in the Barlow Institute, and if you have an idea for a theme to celebrate the 5th ERAF, please feel free to email our chairman john@eraf.co.uk - Further information can be found at www.eraf.org.uk
 
 
Sponsorship Opportunity

Fancy sponsoring a cask for £60.00? We anticipate that we will be offering approximately fifty five to sixty casks of beer and cider at the 2009 festival. This classification of sponsor also receives one free entry ticket, and a total of £10 worth drinks voucher. Please contact sponsorship@eraf.org.uk for further details
 
 


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