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[Booldawg]

Its the Great British Beer Festival today and tomorrow in Earls Court. The Booldawg posse is off there tomorrow, it'll be my 9th year on the trot. Who else is going to visit this celebration of the best beers and ciders in the world?

[WoWo]

I went on Tuesday, great stuff.

[Beanmistriss]

Is it good? My dad loves real ale. Is it worth me getting him down next year to go?

[Booldawg]

Its the biggest and best of all beer festivals in the UK. There a hundreds of beers from the remote scottish islands right down to cornwall. Also lagers from Germany, France and the US are represented too. Its only about a fiver to get in as well. Your dad would love it!

[Quizmonster]

Can't make it to Earls Court today, Booldawg, but my lady and I will certainly be hitting the Pompey Beerfest next Saturday, keeping up an unbroken 15 year-old 'tradition'.
I hope you all have as good time as we invariably have.

[Booldawg]

I hadnt heard of the Pompey one, may have to take a trip down there too as its only half hour away for me :-)

[filthiestfis]

I went to it last year and I must say that it is the biggest rip-off ever. You pay �6 entry and on top of that you have to pay to sample all the beers and ciders because the entry fee basically gives you NOTHING. No samples. NOTHING. Apart from this, there was hardly any entertainment around. The food was of por quality and a major rip-off too, yet people were happily emptying their wallets.
I honestly have a hard time understanding how Brits put up with paying over the top for little value in return. Give them alcohol and that makes them happy.
Anyway, my point is that the beer festival COULD be a great thing, certainly in any other country the entry fee would provide you with more value for money. The Festival is a blatant excuse to stuff the pockets of CAMRA.
I would recommend to anyone that they avoid it altogether.

[filthiestfis]

...By the way I am British.

[fenultimate]

I've posted a question about beers of the world tasted i their own localities.
For me...Svyturys in Trakai Lithuania and Saaremaa Olu in Kuressaare on the Island of Saaremaa, Estonia (10% abv but delectable taste)

[Booldawg]

TBH I dont think its a rip off. 4 years ago I went up with the wife the 'The Baby Show' at Earls Court. Another annual 'trade show' event for expectant mothers. The tickets were 15 quid each and again, no freebies and a captive audience expecting to be over-charged. I'm not sure what how much it costs to visit the 'Ideal Home Exhibition' (another trade show) but I bet its in comparison.

Also compare agaisnt smaller beer festivals on the circuit. I'm a regular visitor to both Southampton, Farnham and Alton beer festival - all of them are 5-6 pounds to get into; for a much smaller event in cramped, over-subscribed conditions.

As for the food, yes its poor quality and expensive. They are the same event caterers that regularly show up and rip you off at various music festival, county shows and other outside events up and down the country. Theres a very good cafe not 100 yards from Earls Court you can fill up at before entering.

Unfortunately the GBBF is comparable to other major trade events; thats rip-off Britain. But as the biggest beer festival in the UK that boasts over 800 beers, ciders and perries and the fact it charges no more than smaller events for entry fee and beer prices, coupled together with the superior entertainment I would say its a must see for anyone who's into their beers.

And you get a free commerorative pint glass for your 6 quid entry fee - thats got be worth half of that.

The alternative are pub beer festivals that charge no entry fee, have only about 50 beers on a good day - most of which run out by Saturday afternoon.