MORE than 3,500 pints of beer, cider, and perry were on offer at Oldham Beer Festival as excited visitors returned to the popular event on Friday.
It was the first time the two-day festival had been held in three years amid coronavirus restrictions.
More than 200 people had already arrived by 2pm on Friday at Queen Elizabeth Hall to drink some of the more than 60 real ales, ciders, perries, fruit wines, and beer on offer.
Mike Robinson, from Royton, was the bar manager of the Cider and Perries section.
Mike Robinson
He said: “Cider and perry – it’s two of your five a day, of course, it gives you an excuse to have a good drink.
“Cider is the fermented juice of the apple, perry is the fermented juice of the pear.
“Beer is nice, I’m a beer drinker myself, but cider and perry are a yippee drink.”
Despite the South West of England typically being the home of cider production, the CAMRA award-winning Autumn Orchard cider was also on offer – from Greater Manchester.
Staff serving up drinks are all volunteers – and profits made at the festival will be donated to the mayoral charity appeal – which includes charities such as Age UK and Oldham Street Angels.
The beer selection was plentiful – the full casks came to more than 3,500 pints (but decreasing every minute).
Saddleworth’s own Donkeystone Brewing Company was well represented.
Another favourite was Brentwood Brewing Company’s Falcon Punch IPA (with Nintendo character Captain Falcon featuring on its branding)/
Peter Maguire, branch secretary of Rochdale, Oldham and Bury CAMRA, said: “Just get down here if you want to come and have a taste of some different sorts of beers – have a good time out, plenty of food, plenty of drink, easily and accessible by public transport – what more could you want?”
Oldham Beer Festival ran from noon until 10pm on Friday and was open the same hours on Saturday.
The well-attended event saw some beer running out by the later hours on Saturday, with the bar closed at 9.30pm – about an hour before the event was scheduled to close.
More information can be found on Rochdale, Oldham & Bury CAMRA’s website.
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