Thirsty for some of the UK’s finest real ale? At the Battersea Beer Festival you can have a taste of some of the nation’s best ales right in the heart of London. Since 1990 the festival has been bringing together beer fans by offering them an amazing variety of beers to choose from.

Festival past and future
Ever since 1990 the festival has been bringing its love of beer to Battersea. Although the future of the Battersea Arts Centre is uncertain, the 2008 festival is still on. The best way to ensure the festival’s survival is to show your support. Make sure you turn up this year so that beer drinkers need not fear the future of the festival.

What’s available
Over the three day festival you can sample more than 150 cask conditioned ales from all across the UK. You’ll be able to try full pints of the stuff, although the people behind the festival recommend starting off with low gravity beers – those that are under 4 percent alcohol – before building up to the strong stuff. Tasting notes will be given in the festival programme so that you’ll get some more information on what it is that you’ve been drinking.

Support real ale
The Battersea Beer Festival is put together by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, which is just what will be available at the festival. Many of the breweries are small or medium-sized businesses whose quality products come from traditional brewing methods.

Pub of the year
The CAMRA Pub of the Year will also be announced at the festival, so your local could be the recipient of this prestigious beery award. Up for the honour this year are:

The Crown and Sceptre, Streatham Hill
The Trinity Arms, Brixton
The Beehive, St Johns Hill
The Nightingale, Balham
The Grapes, Wandsworth
The Prince of Wales, South Wimbledon
The Sultan, South Wimbledon
The Trafalgar, South Wimbledon

If beer’s not your thing…
Even if you’re not an ale fan, the Battersea Beer Festival will still have plenty to hold your interest. Sample some ciders and perries and have a taste of foreign beers, bottled British beers and country wines. If all that drinking makes you crave some food, there’ll be plenty available to fill your stomach and prepare yourself for more tasting. And once again the local charity Battersea Cats and Dogs Home will have a stall at the festival.

The Battersea Beer Festival takes place from 6th to 8th February 2008 at the Battersea Arts Centre’s Grand Hall and Lower Hall.

Doors are open from 12pm to 11pm every day. Tickets are £2.00 before 5pm and £3.00 after 5pm. Nearest rail: Clapham Junction.