Rhythm and Brews
Quench your thirst with some seasonal beer festivals
No longer simply reserved for old men with whiskery beards, real ale and cider have made a big comeback and are growing in popularity with a younger crowd.
CAMRA – the Campaign for Real Ale – is supporting a host of beer festivals over the coming months, giving you the chance to sample the fruits of some of Britain's best microbreweries.
Why not find an inn nearby, park up and enjoy the festival. Plan a pub walk or two, and make a weekend of it. Buy AA books online.
CAMRA is an independent, voluntary organisation that campaigns for real pubs, real ale and consumer rights. You'll find a comprehensive list of beer festivals on CAMRA's website, but here are a few highlights.
Real ale and rock go hand in hand at Bristol's Factoberfest, on
14 October, which kicks off 'local food week' in the region. Enjoy live acoustic blues, jazz and punk while supping locally produced ales and learning more about the region's microbreweries.
Further north, folk are bracing themselves for the Birkenhead Real Ale Festival from 18 to 20 October. There'll be more than 50 beers plus ciders and perries to sample, and a host of live entertainment.
CAMRA's 31st Norwich Beer Festival runs from 27 October to
1 November, where more than 200 cask-conditioned ales will be on offer. Find out more about Britain's independent brewers, and sample Continental beers as well as cider and perry from East
Anglia and the West Country.
Head to Britain's smallest town in November for a trio of events celebrating Homer Simpson's drink of choice. The Real Ale Wobble kicks off the Mid Wales Beer Festival, on
15 November, in Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys. This non-competitive event invites ale enthusiasts to cycle through the Cambrian Mountains while supping the produce of the Heart of Wales Brewery.
Those who prefer to move at a slightly slower place can tackle the two-day Real Ale Ramble, on 22 and
23 November. Pick one of the three waymarked routes, from 10 to 25 miles, and enjoy real ale at each checkpoint.
The Pig's Ear Beer & Cider Festival provides an ideal pre-Christmas ale celebration. This is the highlight of the year for the East London & City CAMRA branch, and runs from
2 to 6 December in Hackney. Pig's ear just happens to be
Cockney rhyming slang for beer.
Lager and lederhosen
If you're up for something more adventurous, take a trip to Munich for the legendary Oktoberfest, which runs from 20 September to 5 October.
This is the 175th event, which attracts visitors from around the world every year. The event boasts a carnival and fair as well as the famous beer tents, and every Tuesday is 'family day' with discounted entry and ride tickets. There are several traditional parades and ceremonial displays too.
How to get there
If you favour the freedom of a road-trip rather than battling with airport security, you'll find our free online European Route Planner invaluable. Check out our valuable advice on driving abroad, and don't forget to sort out European Breakdown Cover before you leave. Save up to 15 per cent when you book online and enjoy peace of mind with our 24-hour English-speaking assistance.
There's no parking at the event and there is usually heavy traffic in the surrounding routes, so it's advisable to use one of the dedicated Park and Ride schemes or other public transport, which runs late into the night.
Make sure you arrange Travel Insurance in case of any mishaps while you're abroad. Annual cover with us costs from £34 and we also provide single trip policies.
Book it
Wherever you're going, we offer a wide range of great travel books, maps and guides to help you on your way. Choose from the Munich City Map, Britain's Best Pubs, or the 2009 AA Pub Guide, which is published on
30 September.
Check out our other inspirational ideas for days out and weekend breaks.
Wherever you're heading...
...plan your trip with the AA Route Planner, stock your car with essential accessories from the AA Travel Shop, and check for traffic blackspots before you leave with AA Roadwatch. Find the best places to eat, drink and sleep, and check out our brilliant travel guides.
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Always drink responsibly. Never drink and drive.
Norwich Beer Festival images by Martin Ward of Norwich CAMRA