Barcombe Beer Festival

When pushed to identify his three favourite beers at this year’s Festival, organiser Mike Lethem highlighted Crouch Vale’s Brewers Gold, Sarah Hughes’s Dark Ruby Mild and Dark Star’s Hophead – though he did stress that he liked them all. Brewers Gold has just been voted Champion Beer of Britain for the second year running and is described as ‘pale, refreshing and hoppy’. Sarah Hughes’s Dark Ruby Mild is, according to Mike, “a classic beer and always the first to sell out. It is an old traditional beer and unlike lots of new milds, is very rich.” Commenting on Dark Star, Mike says that they “consistently brew excellent beers, they have two at the festival this year Hophead and Golden Gate. Hophead became the fastest selling beer last year and I had to rush off half way through the festival to top up our supply. This year we have bought extra in advance.”

Although the 3rd Barcombe Beer Festival will be mostly about drinking beer, new and old, it is also about raising money. All proceeds are split between the village’s St Peter and St James Hospice and the Village Hall. Live entertainment is provided by The Big Blue (blues and rock), Geoff Holden & Paul Goldreich; Dave Peabody & Colin Earl (Dave is a leading blues guitarist and Colin is a founder member of Mungo Jerry); and David Hoffbrand. No need to worry about driving as a free bus will be laid on from Lewes station. Drink and be merry.