The 47th Norwich Beer Festival will be returning home to the city’s Halls after two years waiting for the completion of their renovation.

The festival will open the doors of the medieval friary complex for a CAMRA members’ preview at 4pm on Monday 26 October, with a public opening at 5pm. The festival will then run throughout the half-term week to Saturday 31 October. 

“We’re looking forward to what promises to be an exciting week, giving thousands the opportunity to sample beers not usually found locally, while soaking up the traditional and unique historic Halls complex”, said festival organiser Craig Harmer.

The festival is not a ticket-only event, but if you want to jump the queues or guarantee a festival glass, it is best to get one. Only a portion of tickets are sold in advance and plenty of space is left for those without for every session. 

There’s also free entry for CAMRA members. Membership can be purchased at at the event, where admission will be refunded and you’ll get some free beer! CAMRA members can also secure free-entry advanced tickets for the first time.

 Music lovers will be delighted to learn that live acts will be returning to its original home on the main stage in St Andrew’s Hall.

• Thursday 29 – evening session Synergy and Hill Billy Goats Gruff
• Friday 30 – evening session Cawston Band
• Saturday 31 – all-day session The Macarnos and Joe Holden

A huge range of cask and key-keg beers will be housed in St Andrew’s and Blackfriars Halls, the World Beer Bar hosted in the downstairs marquee and cider and curiosity bars will complete the offering with hot food served throughout the event. 

Local beer offered includes Xtreme’s Xanadu, an easy-drinking golden session ale, bittered with Chinook with light summer aromas from the hops, Willamette and Columbus, brewed in Peterborough. Diplomat brewery is offering Victory, a full-bodied beer with a rich biscuit and toffee malt base, balanced by traditional English hops, brewed in Badersfield Norfolk.

From further afield comes Monty’s Malties, from Montgomery Powys, a gluten-free copper bitter, an easy‑drinking ale that delivers a toffee richness of a traditional malt‑led brew.  Greater Manchester is represented by Pomona’s Amen Break, hazy pale ale, with its name a nod to the iconic 1969 Amen Break drum solo by The Winstons, which laid the foundation for UK rave, jungle, and drum and bass music!

Meanwhile, the Curiosity Bar in St Andrew’s Hall always aims to offer something unusual and wonderful, and this year they have selected Bewdley’s Topsey Turvey, a limited-edition, sweeter golden beer and Crossover Blendery’s Bramble, Thorn & Briar, an oak-aged golden ale, refermented on raspberries and blackberries. Also, Ludlow’s Silent Knight – move over Espresso Martini this beer is a smooth creamy stout with overtones of espresso coffee and hints of sweet vanilla.

As the CAMRA organising branch is celebrating its 50th year, a collaboration with All Day Brewing Company has resulted in the launch of a unique celebratory golden ale and Norwich and District CAMRA has been inviting the public to name it via its Facebook or Instagram pages, with a Beer Lovers Hamper on offer to the winner, before its debut at Norwich Beer Festival.

Branch chair Lucy Cousins said: “This special anniversary brew is a fantastic way to celebrate 50 years of Norwich and District CAMRA. Working alongside All Day Brewing Company to create a beer that reflects both our heritage and the thriving local brewing scene has been a wonderful experience.”

This year’s festival will support Keeping Abreast, a Norfolk charity providing advice and support to women undergoing breast treatment and reconstruction. Festival-goers traditionally donate unused tokens and spare change, raising thousands of pounds for local causes each year.

Timetable:

• Monday 26 October – CAMRA members’ preview 4-5pm, public 5-10pm
• Tuesday 27 October – for the first time, the festival is open all day Tuesday with early bird entry 11.30am-5pm, session closes at 10pm
• Wednesday 28 – 11.30am-3pm, 5-10pm
• Thursday 29 – 11.30am-3pm, 5-11pm
• Friday 30 – 11.30am-3pm, 5-10pm
• Saturday 31 – 11.30am-9.30pm

For updates follow the Norwich & District CAMRA website, https://norwich.camra.org.uk or social media sites, or go directly to the ticket link here: https://norwich.camra.org.uk/festival/advance-tickets/