Redditch Winter Ale Festival 2016

Awesome! Lovely stuff! Great Ale! These were just some of the comments that Redditch and Bromsgrove CAMRA received about the 9^th Redditch Winter Ale Festival 2016. The event, which was held in early February at the Rocklands Social Club in Reddith, showcased 33 real ales alongside a selection of cider and perry, and attracted people from as far as Glasgow! As well as producing a Breakfast Stout at 7% which was one of the favourite ales on offer, festival sponsors Ambridge (based in Inkberrow) also brewed a special Indian pale ale to commemorate the festival’s chosen charity; Troop Aid. Blackheath-based brewers and sponsors Fixed Wheel were voted as third favourites with their Blackheath Stout; with the overall winner being Sarah

Hughes in Sedgley with their Dark Ruby Mild. Striking the chords on stage Friday night were Bromsgrove based band Cadence, who entertained drinkers with their harmonic acoustics. On Saturday evening, visitors were treated to husband and wife duo Mark and Kathy Collinson, with a supporting act by Gary, Jim and Jim. Membership Secretary Doug Robinson was kept busy throughout the festival and signed up over thirty members to the campaign, with 23 people alone coming from the Redditch area. Cider drinkers saw Double Vision from Boughton Monchelsea in Kent as their top tipple, and the festival also raised over £300 for Troop Aid who support sick and injured troops. Festival organiser Paul Richards said: ‘We’d like to thank everyone who came along to support us this year; it was great fun and there was a great choice of beers, cider and perry on offer.’