LIVERPOOL has gone into its annual real ale frenzy.
The city’s four-day beer festival, the 5,000-odd tickets for which sold out in two hours when they went on sale on December 16, was launched last night in the Metropolitan Cathedral’s crypt.
More than 170 real ales went on sale in what has become one of Liverpool’s biggest annual tourist attractions and one of the most popular festivals of its kind in the country. Tickets are in such demand that they have been put up for auction on Ebay.
“People from all over the country take the week off to come to this beer festival and there’s one guy who comes over every year without fail from California,” said Geoff Edwards, chairman of the Liverpool and Districts branch of the Campaign For Real Ale, whose members organise the huge event on a completely voluntary basis.
“This year is probably our biggest and best, especially since we have more local brewers selling their own beers than ever before.”
The biggest of these are city brewers Cains which last night launched its eagerly-awaited new beer, Bock Continental lager with a whopping 8% strength.
“It’s so strong that we're recommending that it be sold in half pint glasses,” said Ajmail Dusanj, Cains’ joint managing director with brother Sudarghara, who are sponsoring the event.
One of Britain’s leading drink writers, Roger Protz, was sent sample bottles to taste and sent an email describing the beer in three words: “superb, stunning, brilliant.”
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