BEER NEWS - October 2010

OktoberWEST comes to Glasgow

Beer lovers across Scotland are going west this month to enjoy a taste of Bavaria at WEST Brewery, Bar and Restaurant to celebrate 200 years of Oktoberfest. WEST has brewed a limited edition Oktoberfest beer which will be served during the month-long festival at the iconic Templeton building on Glasgow Green - along with a host of free entertainment and music throughout the month with the WEST Oompah Band giving a stirring performances on the 22nd October. WEST was established in March 2006 by native Bavarian Petra Wetzel (right) and is the only UK brewery exclusively brewing lagers and wheat beers in accordance with the German Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot) of 1516. Petra said: "We are excited to launch OktoberWEST 2010 and as we have done over the past few years we've brewed up a wonderful new beer especially to celebrate the festival. On our launch night on

And Wetherspoons too...

Wetherspoons are running what they are billing as 'The world's biggest international real-ale festival' from Wednesday October 27 until Sunday November 14 2010. 50 real ales from across the globe will be available during a 19-day festival at Wetherspoon pubs, with brewers from Sri Lanka, USA, Italy and Belgium. Overseas beers are being brewed in the UK to go on sale at the festival, including Lion Stout (Sri Lanka), Castagnale (Italy), Green Hop Blonde (USA) and Palm Steenhuffel Blond (Belgium). Flying Dutchman Junibier from Dutch brewery Heineken will complete the overseas line up of cask-conditioned beers. UK beers being featured include

And Hartlepool!

Just one more Oktoberfest-inspired event to cram in, as Hartlepool's 15th Beer Festival will offer the chance to taste 50 real ales and ciders on October 15th and 16th. Entry to the event at Hartlepool Borough Hall, on The Headland, is �12.25 each night, including a tankard, free glass of ale and tasting guide, as well as great live music and entertainment. On Saturday 16 from noon to 4pm there will

I am a cider drinker

CAMRA is toasting greater availability of real cider across Britain. as part of their Cider Month celebrations in October, they have announced that more than 550 pubs have signed up to a scheme that helps their outlet promote 'Real Cider' through a simple window sticker expressing 'Real Cider is Sold Here'. Andrea Briers, CAMRA's Cider & Perry Campaigning Chair said, "There has been a huge demand for Real Cider at CAMRA's beer festivals in recent years and more pubs are now homing in on this success. Despite 17% of pubs joining the scheme being located in the South West of England, an area traditionally known for producing and selling cider, there are plenty of pubs offering Real Cider from all of the other regions of the UK including 73 in Yorkshire, 43 in Greater London and 52 in the Midlands. Even Scotland and Northern Ireland have mustered seven affiliates of the scheme.

Highgate on a high