CAMRA’s guide to 50 years of beer festivals is out now

Beer Festivals: A Great British Tradition by Laura Hadland is now available to buy. CAMRA’s latest book is the very first of its kind – the first to detail the history of Britain’s beer festivals. Laura, the award-winning author of '50 Years of CAMRA', has comprehensively explored the long history of CAMRA’s beer festivals. She details their origins, how they operate, and tells the incredible real stories of the real people behind these festivals. Our latest book digs into the social history of festivals and tracks how they have changed since 1975. Order your copy here. Learn how integral CAMRA was in shaping the modern beer festivals we love today and find out the crucial role that the consumer group took in changing the way the public find and taste beer over the past half-century. Beer Festivals: A Great British Tradition is a love letter to the richness and diversity of beer festivals and to the people who make them happen. Speaking about the book, Hadland said: “I believe beer festivals are significant cultural events and without them the beer scene would look very different. But just like the people that organise the festivals, this book is lighthearted and fun. Expect exploding ales, kidnapped cats and mushy pea beer in amongst the serious business of giving traditional cask ale a new lease of life.” Ends

More about the author: Laura Hadland is a drinks writer and author who champions small producers and venues. She writes regular columns in What’s Brewing and Vineyard Magazine. Her first book, 50 Years of CAMRA, was named the Best Beer Book in the World 2024 by Gourmand International and she was awarded CAMRA’s prestigious Campaigner of the Year title in 2024. Laura writes about beer and pubs for a wide range of publications, including The Telegraph, Pellicle and Ferment magazine. Photo of the author:camra-stock.camra.org.uk/photo/948/laura-hadland Accredit photo to Lily Waite. Order Beer Festivals: A Great British Tradition:shop1.camra.org.uk/product/beer-festivals-a-great-british-tradition/The Great British Beer Festival returns this August:greatbritishbeerfestival.co.uk/ticketsAbout CAMRA: CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is a not-for-profit UK consumer group. We have been campaigning for pubs, pints and people since 1971.

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