Sussex Drinker: Summer 2009 - Arun & Adur CAMRA

CIDER HOUSE NOTESSussex Beer and Cider Festival CiderBar was TOO successful – ran out by9pm on the Saturday night, and that waswith an emergency run by Roger up toMiddle Farm on Saturday afternoon for7 extra tubs of cider and perry. We gotthrough 17 tubs of perry, and 35 tubs and1 box of cider, with hardly a drop left forthe workers at the end – sorry folks!Cider of the Festival is JB (countingboth Dry and Medium votes), Perry ofthe Festival is Gwatkins Oldfield Perry,and Little Red Rooster Cider Perrywill get an award of its own as it fitsneither category. Any trip will probablybe to second place Perry, Gwynty Ddraig (Glamorgan), though I stillneed to make a trip to Tardebigge tosign the certificate for them winningCider of Festival at Lewes last year…Cider and Perry Pub of the Year nominationsdeadline for CAMRA was 31st March–nominations for 6 different pubs werereceived, and I will be deciding the winnerand notifying it to CAMRA by 18thMay. Brighton and South Downs Branchwinner was Stand Up Inn, Lindfield, andwe presented the certificate at their Beerand Cider Festival on Friday 22nd May.Brook Street Cider Party returns thisyear, after a dry year in 2008 (problemswith venue and insurance for the Tug ofWar). It will be held on Sunday 28th June,at the usual venue of Opal’s Field, SparksLane, Cuckfield, and some complimentarytickets will be held at the gate forme and guests. Otherwise, tickets £4 atthe gate; all cider is free, other drinkscharged for. Plenty of entertainment in20 Sussex Drinker: Summer 2008form of Tug of War, Splat the Rat etc.Cider Trip to Oakwood Farm,Robertsbridge, for the AGM Weekendin Eastbourne on Saturday 18th April,only one place left as of end of March.Jolly Tanners, Staplefield ran a Beer andCider festival 2-4th May, and the Beer andCider festival at Stand Up Inn, Lindfieldwas on 22-25th May. The Lansdown,Lewes, ran a Cider and Perry Festival,27-29th March, with 7 ciders and 7 perrieson offer, all sourced from Middle Farm.A very enjoyable – hic – time was had…South Downs Beer and Cider Festivalwill be held in Lewes on 19-20th June –the same time as Blues On The FarmFestival, near Chichester, run by Julianand Cathy Moores of Appledram Cider.There is a new book out in April oncider, produced by CAMRA, but it isn’tthe next Good Cider Guide; I am goingto try and obtain a copy to review it…And last, but not least, there is a newdistributor of local beer and cider onthe scene; Matt Wright has set upBeerMatt to offer home and pub deliveriesof local (Sussex) ales and ciders.For further information, log on to www.beermatt.co.uk or phone 01444 241093and check out what he has to offer.JACKIE JOHNSONSURREY AND SUSSEX REGIONALCIDER COORDINATOR