Carlisle Beer Festival
2021 CARLISLE BEER FESTIVAL@ the PUB 29 October to 7 November 2021
In place of the usual Carlisle Beer Festival that had to be cancelled due to the Covid restrictions the Solway Branch has organised a Beer Festival @ the Pub to support our pubs.This has been restricted to a few City Centre pubs which are hoping to put on a selection of cask ales that would not normally be available. Further details of these will be provided here when received.
The pubs involved are :-
2020 and 2021 CARLISLE BEER FESTIVALS CANCELLED
It is with considerable regret that the Solway Branch for the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has to announce the cancellation of the Carlisle Beer Festival. This decision hasn't been taken lightly and we are aware how disappointed many will feel.
The uncertainty around Covid-19 has a considerable affect our ability to run a viable Beer Festival this year. At a recent meeting, the branch committee had lengthy discussions about the event. Whilst we felt it might be just about possible to run a viable Beer Festival, it would have had a greatly reduced beer and cider range.
The pubs in this country have now been closed for three months. As a result, publicans and their staff have been really struggling. They will be struggling now with new Covid-19 restrictions, which potentially affect the viability of their businesses.
With pubs re-opening from 4th July, our branch feels now is definitely not the time for CAMRA to promote beer festivals! Instead, we have decided to cancel our event and issue a rallying call to all our customers, asking them to visit their local pubs rather than come to our Festival.
The Carlisle Beer Festival will return at The Venue next year.
Background Information
The 2020 Carlisle Beer Festival would have been the 30th event CAMRA has organised in the city. The event was due to take place at The Venue from 29-31 October 2020 with over 60 real ales and ciders on offer.
The first Carlisle Beer Festival took place way back in October 1977 in the Market Hall when beers included Theakston, Youngers, Jennings and Marstons. This is very different from the vast array of microbrewery beers that feature at our events now
BEER LIST 2019
A provisional list of the beers that have been ordered for the Carlisle Beer Festival 2019 can be found by clicking here CBF Beerlist at 26 Oct 19. Note beers may change depending on the brewers so there is no guarantee that any particular beer will be available. The 2019 programme can be seen hereCarlisle Beer Festival latest programme.
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CIDER LIST 2019
A provisional list of the ciders that have been ordered for the Carlisle Beer Festival 2019 can be found by clicking here Carlisle Beer Festival latest cider list. Note ciders may change so there is no guarantee that any particular cider will be available
PICTURE GALLERY 2019
The Venue
Stillage takes shape
Beer arrives
Keg Bar gets built
First Spike
Its lively
Filling the stillage
Bars in place
Pumps in place
Cumbrian bar comes together
All pumps in place
Pump clips on
SPONSORS NEEDED
Contact Julie Smithson at ku.gro.armac.yawlos@slaicos
Without the generosity of our members and local businesses the Carlisle Beer & Cider festival could not run.
Cask sponsorship and programme advertising is a great way to support the festival. Cask sponsors get their name next to the sponsored ale in the programme. For each cask sponsored or advert we will give 2 free transferable entry tickets to the entire festival and 2 free pints.
If you or anyone you know would be interested please contact Julie at ku.gro.aremac.yawlos@slaicos
Cask Sponsorship rates £30 per cask Cask sponsorship is always a great support to the Festival as there are many casks to sponsor, but only limited space in the programme for adverts. Sponsors get their name next to the sponsored ale in the Festival programme.
Programme advertising rates ¼ page £35; ½ page £55; Full page £100; Inside cover £110
Work has already started on planning the Carlisle Beer Festival 2018 under the direction of festival organiser Paul Claringbold.
2017 CARLISLE BEER FESTIVAL OVER FOR ANOTHER YEAR. NEXT YEAR 1-3 NOVEMBER THE VENUE, PORTLAND PLACE CARLISLE
Update 2.11.17. The beer festival had a very successful first day. Come along today and sample a wide range of cask ales and ciders. On the first day a number of awards were made. These included the West Pennines Pub of the Year award 2017 to the Drovers Rest Monkhill. Congratulations to Sandy and his staff.
The Solway Branch Beer of the Year award 2017 went to Yates Brewery Golden Ale 
Finally the Carlisle City Pub of the Year award went to the Kings Head 
Other pictures from the first day including the judging panels for the Cumbrian Beer Challenge can be found below. The winner was VANILLA OATMEAL STOUT from CUMBRIA LEGENDARY ALES BREWERY. Come early if you want to sample it before it all goes.
Update 31.10.17 The beer festival takes shape. A range of pictures as we put it together can be found below. The most uptodate beer list can be found here Beer Festival List 2017.
Update 30.10.17 It is hoped that a final list of beers will be available after all the casks have arrived and are checked. Here is the current list Beer List 2017 . Try the Carlisle Beer Festival page on facebook for daily updates.
Update 27.10.17 The list of ciders to be found at this years Beer Festival can be found here.Carlisle Beer Festival 2017 Cider List.
Update 19.10.17 Exactly TWO WEEKS until the bars open at the CARLISLE BEER FESTIVAL @ The Venue! We are still waiting for confirmation of quite a number of beers and ciders. As usual, you can expect a VERY special list of different styles. Thursday evening we will be presenting our annual City Pub of the Year and Beer of the Year Awards. We have also invited Cumbrian breweries to supply a new beer to enter our 'Cumbria Beer Challenge'. This will be judged by our panel including award winning publicans and brewers, The winning beer will be announced on Thursday evening. See if you agree with our experts.
CARLISLE BEER FESTIVAL @ THE VENUE, Portland Place Opening times:Thu 2 Nov 5pm - 11pm Fri 3 Nov 12noon - 11pm Sat 4 Nov 12noon - 11pm
The Venue
Checking the beer in
Stillage takes shape
Stamping Sue
Casks in Place
First spike
Cider in place
Cumbrian beer bar
Simon pulls through
Stage Bar
Cumbrian bar
Cumbrian Clips
Pump Clips
Almost ready
Quality control
Cumbrian bar first customers
First Customers
Judging Panel 1
Judging Panel 2
Judging Panel 3
SPONSORS NEEDED
Contact Julie Smithson at ku.gro.armac.yawlos@slaicos
Without the generosity of our members and local businesses the Carlisle Beer & Cider festival could not run.
Cask sponsorship and programme advertising is a great way to support the festival. Cask sponsors get their name next to the spnsored ale in the programme. For each cask sponsored or advert we will give 2 free transferrable entry tickets to the entire festival and 2 free pints.
If you or anyone you know would be interested please contact Julie at ku.gro.aremac.yawlos@slaicos
Cask Sponsorship rates £30 per cask Cask sponsorship is always a great support to the Festival as there are many casks to sponsor, but only limited space in the programme for adverts. Sponsors get their name next to the sponsored ale in the Festival programme.
Programme advertising rates ¼ page £35; ½ page £55; Full page £100; Inside cover £110
Banner advertising rates This year we will have space for a limited number of advertising banners on the stage behind the main beer festival bar. The will be lit up by stage lighting and highly visible at all times to all customers. You will need to supply your own banner to The Venue for display. Banner £160
2016 CARLISLE BEER FESTIVAL 3-5 NOVEMBER THE VENUE, PORTLAND PLACE CARLISLE
The list of beers available is to be found here Beer List 2016 or with tasting notes here Beer list with tasting notes. List of ciders is here 2016 Cider List.