Woking Beer Festival

Now in its 14th year, it's a very popular event. We purchased our tickets back in August for last night. (There were also 2 sessions today.) With a commemorative pint glass in one hand, and a programme in the other, we were ready. The Main Room contained over 50 different real ales (see www.camra.org.uk), plus cider (made with apples), perry (made with pears), and a live band. The much smaller Wurlitzer Room contained almost 25 more real ales, plus...a Wurlitzer! Len Rawle played at the top of every hour for about 20 minutes.



Dave and I enjoyed scouring our programmes and then purchasing half pints based on their written descriptions. (Banana beer, anyone? How about "an authentic 100% malt brewed mild with a fine aroma of crystal malt and fuggles and challenger hops?") But the highlight of the evening was the end of session sing-a-long. Len and the Wurlitzer are at the far end of the room. Along the right wall are 2 rows of casks. Do you see the man wearing a gold chain across his shoulders? That's the Mayor of Woking! Try to imagine every person in this room singing at the top of his or her lungs. From "Roll Out the Barrel" and "Dancing Queen" to "I Vow to Thee My Country" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic," it was very impressive.