Cheers! Another triumph for Hucknall Beer Festival

Hucknall beer festival gets underway at the John Godber Centre

Seven beers entered by the company included an innovative real ale-style lager called Spring Green. This was one of seven ales served by hand pump from a bar in front of the stillage.

Twenty-six breweries from as far afield as Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight were represented at the event and a total of 61 beers were on offer with names which included Chocolate Amaretto Guerilla, Coco Loco plus Hoppy Potter and the Goblet of Ale.

One of two brews provided by the Dancing Duck brewery, of Derby, was entitled Waddle It Be? Visitors also had the chance to sample nine ciders and perries, together with a range of true-juice syrups.

The festival, which returned to Hucknall for the sixth year running, was organised in association with Nottingham CAMRA and, new for the 2016 event, Mansfield and Ashfield CAMRA.

Former Dispatch chief reporter Denis Robinson, who has never missed covering Hucknall Beer Festival, was given the privilege of pulling a half-pint (pictured).

Cobs and snacks were available at the centre bar and other food could be obtained from a stand in the car park. Singer and guitarist Alex Voysey entertained on Saturday night.

Tipplers travelled to the festival from a wide area. They included Ron Williams, of Sheffield, who said: “I was very impressed. There was a great atmosphere and it was very well organised.”

Among visitors at the opening of the festival last Friday were Mark Spencer, MP for Sherwood, and Notts county councillor John Wilmott.