Reflections on the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) 2016

St Austell Brewery bar at GBBF 2016 

So now its over for another the year, the mammoth effort and event that comprises the Great British Beer Festival 2016. A success - probably yes. As good as last year, probably no.....

This year numbers attending were significantly down, not quite 44,000 people enjoyed the raft of wonderful beers and ciders available. CAMRA would normally hope for circa 50,000. Beer sales were also not as high as hoped, perhaps as a result of the lower numbers through the door, or perhaps for other reasons. It as also true that there were fewer brewery bars with some big hitters such as Greene King and Shepherd Neame no longer involved. The brewers bars help to fund the event so losing the likes of these brewers is not a good sign.

Don't get me wrong, there is still plenty to enjoy at the UK's showcase beer event and the effort that the CAMRA volunteers in particular put in is not to be underestimated or devalued in any way, its remarkable that the organisation of GBBF from top to bottom is really quite a well oiled machine with everyone knowing what's expected of them. However something is not quite right any longer, indeed something is wrong I think with GBBF.

So what's wrong, why are numbers falling, why is less beer being drunk? Without doubt there are a number of reasons and there were countless superficial suggestions ranging from the train strike on Southern Railways to too much seating in the hall which drove less visits to the bar. However I think something more fundamental is going on.

GBBF was once the show case for the very best in cask ales in the UK. It still is, but the market has moved on. Cask ales are still enjoyed by many but the rise of craft and in particular keg craft and lager has not been embraced by CAMRA. Sadly that's exactly the opposite to what many younger drinkers have done, who are enthralled by the new beer styles and tastes now available and are being attracted to the new market. Many pubs and some other beer festivals have recognised this and have a craft keg and lager offering.

I believe the role of GBBF should be to showcase all styles of beer. It seems very odd that CAMRA will have European lagers on sale at this event but refuse to allow a lager from a UK brewer. They should be showcasing not just the wonderful cask beers available, but also the craft keg and craft lagers now available from UK brewers. These beers are stealing some of the cask market but by refusing to allow them at the festival they are also deterring some younger people who if they came to the event, could also try some of the great cask beers on sale.

The craft beer argument for CAMRA is much bigger than just GBBF, it targets its very roots and reason for being. CAMRA really need to address this sooner rather than later. Cask and craft can exist side by side and the CAMRA have an opportunity to be the champion for all. Its something they need to do soon. Sadly it was quite noticeable that the average age of CAMRA members at GBBF seems quite high, there is some new blood but they need more. It's not too late to change and attract new younger members and people to the event, but in five years time it might well be and the horse will have bolted to pastures and festivals new.