Real Ale - What is it?

Real ale is simply cask conditioned British style beer. It contains water, malted barley, hops and is brewed using top fermenting yeast. Cask conditioned means the beer is still alive in the cask. It can be served via hand pump, electric pump or gravity - as in the case of our festival. Real ale is essentially the same beer that has been drunk in England since the 14th century. The word ale is derived from the nordic Øl and has been in use in England since Anglo-Saxon times. Hops were introduced from Flanders in the 14th century, originally as a preservative.

Local Real Ale Pubs

Beer Festival Partners

Drinking Quotes

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." Ernest Hemingway

Support the 2008 Ashford Beer Festival

If you are interested in supporting the Ashford Beer Festival and would like to sponsor any part of the event, please contact Chris Akers.

Real Ales 2007 - This year's list to be announced

Abbeydale Last Rites
Acorn Harvester
Bank Top Pavillion Pale Ale
Batemans England Expects
Burton Bridge Golden Delicious
Cairngorm Trade Winds
Caledonian Deuchars
Coach House Flintlock Pale Ale
Crouch Vale Brewers Gold
Dark Star Hophead
Elgoods Black Dog
Exmoor Exmoor Gold
Hadrian and Border Farne Island Pale Ale
Hampshire Indian Summer
Hanby Nutcracker
Harveistoun Bitter and Twisted
Heather Ales Fraoch
Hop Back Summer Lightning
Kelham Island Easy Rider
Little Valley Withens IPA
Moles Rucking Mole
Moorhouse black Cat
Oakham Ales JHB Extra
O’Hanlons Yellowhammer
Orkney Raven Ale
Phoenix West Coast IPA
RCH Double Header
Rebellion Smuggler
Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild
Sharps Eden Pure Ale
Smiles IPA
Spectrum Trip Hazard
Timothy Taylors Landlord - From Keighley, Yorkshire - please don't drink.
Three B’s Stokers Slake Mild
Triple FFF Moondance
Vale Hadda’s Autumn Ale
Woodfords Wherry
York Centurion’s Ghost

Real Cider

As well as Real Ale we also stock real ciders. The most popular come from the Biddenden Vineyard, located on the edge of the Weald of Kent.

Ashford Beer Festival