Tonbridge hosts Beer Festival

There has been lots of activity going on around the Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Club in preparation for the 5th SIBS South East Beer Festival that opens today.  Over 120 real ales are ready to titilate the tastebuds and the prize winning beers, chosen by a panel of experts, will be ready to sample tonight.  They'll be plenty of locally sourced cider too for those who like the alternative taste the humble apple can produce.  Tutored tastings are happening on Saturday but be quick as places are limited.


Tonbridge Brewery, our very own local micro brewery, will be there with quirky named real ales such as Blonde Ambition, Auburn Myth, Ebony Moon and Coppernob made from the finest malted barley and locally grown hops.  Go and try their distinctive tasting ales over the weekend.  There's nothing like knowing it's been produced on home ground.  If you want to know more about them check out their website on http://tonbridgebrewery.co.uk/index.htm

This is not just a festival for the beer drinkers among us; it is a family event with plenty of space outside on the meadows for families to enjoy a picnic and ball games, and soft drinks are available for the non-drinkers.  There will be a Hog Roast available on Saturday afternoon (get there early for the crackling) and a local concert band will entertain. Sunday is BBQ day.

Beer related events are really not new to Tonbridge.  In February 1840 free beer was distributed to the 'industrious poor' of the town so that they could celebrate the wedding of Queen Victoria in style.  And in 1855,  the people of Tonbridge partied on free beer that was provided by Bartrams Brewery, to mark the end of the Crimean War Campaign. Bartrams were situated close to The Big Bridge and more or less where Weatherspoons garden is now.  Apparantly the whole town made merry and the brewery cannons were fired from the castle wall and fireworks were set off from barges and in the street.

Finally, take a look at the ad below for a Hadlow Brewery.
1903, now that was when beer was cheap.

Tonbridge Tales, pub. John Hilton