Cheers to New York beer festival

GLASSES were raised to a real ale celebration long before organisers called last orders at the bar.

The third Rotherham CAMRA New York Championship Beer Festival saw 50 hand-pulled ales, a dozen ciders, bottled beers and wines grace the Millers’ home ground in a three-day celebration finishing on Saturday night.

Four well-stocked bars celebrated Rotherham and Yorkshire breweries, award-winning pints and fruity brews.

A packed entertainment programme featured a folk duo, brass band and rising star folk band The Buffalo Skinners.

David Cowburn (52), of Moorgate, attended the festival with dad-in-law Ron Myers (81), from Brinsworth.

“It’s been a really excellent night,” said David. “Little Valley’s Ginger Pale Ale was the highlight for me.”

He added: “It’s been good to meet friends we haven’t seen lately and the entertainment has been great. Everyone’s had a smile on their face.”

Ron said: “I don’t often get out to the festivals, but I made a special effort tonight with David’s help.

“It’s nice to try the local beers, but also those which aren’t available in Rotherham pubs. And it’s nice that it’s so accessible, right in the town centre.”

The festival ran from Thursday evening to Saturday night.

Ale afficionados had filled the ground’s 1925 Suite by early Thursday evening.

Australian Krissy Moore (31) was there enjoying her third taste of British beer festivals.

“I think it’s great that CAMRA encourages a respectable, responsible drinking culture,” she said.

“I’m pleased to see that real ales are so popular here — there’s much more choice than back home.”

She added: “I’ve just had a beautiful mead and a nice ginger pale. The entertainment has been great too — I especially liked the guitarist, Laura Kelly.”

Paul Moorhead is director of insolvency firm Moorhead Savage, whose company sponsored the festival’s programme, and he, his colleagues and clients sampled some of the region’s finest ales at New York Stadium on Thursday.

“Most of us at the firm really like real ale, so it’s good to get involved in something we appreciate,” said Paul.

“There are so many great breweries in Rotherham, it really is something we should celebrate.”

The Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr John Foden, dropped in on Thursday — before donning a volunteers’ tee shirt and pulling pints for punters.

The ale-loving first citizen stayed all evening to help man the pumps.

“I like the banter with the customers and other people behind the bar,” he said.

“I’ve always been interested in real ale.

“I joined CAMRA at last year’s festival and I’ve pulled a few pints before, so I know what I’m doing.

“Harthill Brewery even put me on a pump clip in 2013 and gave some of their profits to the Mayor’s charity, which was a real honour.”

He added: “I think it’s great to have a festival at New York Stadium, which is such a focal point for the town.

“It also brings business into the town — it’s great that so many breweries are using Rotherham as a place to trade.”

Rotherham CAMRA, the local branch of the national real beer lobby, organised the event to promote pubs and pints.

Beer barrels started arriving last Monday, so the ales had time to settle and cool before serving.

Communications officer Jim Crowe said: “This festival’s an important showcase for ales you might not normally find in the local pubs.

“It’s all about raising the profile of local breweries and having a good night out with a nice atmosphere.”

Jim added: “This has all been set up and staffed by volunteers who do it for the real ale cause.

“Ale is a natural, green alternative to imported lagers — they haven’t travelled very far, so they all have low food miles.”

The festival was originally scheduled for last November, but a double booking at the ground meant beer fans had to wait until last week.