They’re going to be brewing up a storm at this year’s Denbigh Beer Festival – and helping to boost the local economy at the same time.
When the festival was started in 2003 most of the ales came from England but this year all but one brewery attending the event is based in North Wales.
Local breweries and businesses have flocked to support the annual event that’s celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
The festival, organised by the Denbigh Round Table to raise money for local charities on September 28, at the Town Hall from 12.30pm to 10.30pm.
Over 30 different beers will be on sale, alongside a range of ciders and the revived Wrexham Lager.
Among the stars of the show will be CAMRA Gold Medal Winner Champion Beer of North Wales. Collaborator, which is a very dark red beer with a complex, dark roast malt, is brewed just up the road in Henllan by the Heavy Industry Brewery.
Spokeswoman said: “The Denbigh Beer Festival is a highlight of the social calendar. It’s great that the money goes to local charity.”
Other breweries featured at the festival include Buzzard Brewery, North Wales Brewery, Sandstone Brewery, Facers, Spitting Feathers, Great Orme Brewery, Purple Moose, Cwrw Llyn, and Gwynt Ciders.
Denbigh-based company Artisan Windows, Doors & Conservatories, have been the main sponsor from the beginning and are backing this year’s event too.
Artisan founder Ian Gibson said: “Denbigh Round Table puts in an incredible effort to make each beer festival better than the last.
“The focus on real ales and ciders from North Wales breweries, the support from the public and the difference it makes to local charities, means this is one community event that gets better every year.”
Other sponsors include the Pendine Park care organisation and Denbigh Chocolate Shop.
Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE, who lives in Denbigh, said: “People are crying out for things that that are different and I think the Denbigh Beer Festival is a lovely opportunity for local brewers.
“Some of the great world leading brands have only come about by somebody with a still or vat brewing something at home – let’s hope that one of them becomes a household name of tomorrow.”
“Denbigh has a tradition of being a very friendly place. The beer festival gives the people of Denbigh the chance to come together. It’s about community.
“Pendine Park is a community organisation, so supporting the beer festival ties in with our ethos.
Chair of Denbigh Business Group, and proprietor of Denbigh Chocolate Shop, Mark Young, said: “I think the beer festival is fantastic and an absolute credit to the area.
“I love real ale, and I’m a member of CAMRA. I’m a big believer in localism. It keeps money in the local economy, generates local jobs. You can find out exactly what’s gone into the beer because you can meet your local brewers and they can tell you about it.”
Round Table member and Denbigh Beer Festival organiser Gareth Luke Jones said: “There’s a buzz about it every year, but particularly this year. It’s our 10th anniversary, so it’s something special to look forward to. It’s become a firm fixture in Denbigh’s calendar.
“Last year was a record year. We raised about £6,500, so this year we’re looking to go that one step further and see is we can get £7,000.
“The beer festival is something that the community has actively supported from day one.
“There’s a core element of connoisseurs who come in at 12:30. They sample the beers and read the tasting notes, so we make sure there’s a comprehensive programme available telling them the history of the beers.
“We have three key money raising events through the year. The beer festival is the main one, the Christmas float, and then the ball drop in June.
“These three events raise between £10,000 and £15,000 on an annual basis. When you consider the small community we live in it’s a serious amount of money that’s raised.
“As well as raising money for local causes there’s also a big social element to the Round Table.
“You get a chance to do things that you wouldn’t necessarily think to do yourself. Some of the events are normal like going out for meals or for a few beers.
“We go golfing, clay pigeon shooting, go karting, we’ve even had a guided tour of the Wrexham Lager brewery. Then there are things like rock climbing and the lads recently went to Zip World, down the longest zip wire in Europe. We’re always on the lookout for new members.”
