CAMRA

[brewmasterflex]

I have just been on the Camra site now and they have loads of beer festival events listed locally, I have never heard of them locally before, Are they any good, Looks Like I migh t have to join and grow a beard to find out more ??

[DarloDave]

I went to the Stockton beer festival the other day and there wasnt many cardis or beards. They were looking for vaulenteers to help out, which I wanted to do, but turns out you had to be a member of Camra to do..So technically I'd have had to pay 20 quid to do a few hours work which somehow didnt seem worth it.

[MightyMouth]

Ah yes but the volunteers also get free beer if I am not mistaken.

[Garth]

I went to the Stockton beer festival the other day and there wasnt many cardis or beards. They were looking for volunteers to help out, which I wanted to do, but turns out you had to be a member of Camra to do..So technically I'd have had to pay 20 quid to do a few hours work which somehow didn't seem worth it.

we let anyone help at our festival, CAMRA members or not, helpers are few and far between and each year there are less forthcoming volunteers so we aren't and can't be picky, they must have more helpers than they need, lucky Cleveland Branch eh.....?!

and yes, all our helpers get free beer tokens which they can get pints or bottled beer with.

[DarloDave]

theres a Darlington beer festival in March which I cant afford to go to, but want to, so i've applied to volunteer there. Dont need to be a camra member. How generous are they with the free drinks for valunteers Garth?

[brewmasterflex]

Free Beer I want to be a volunteer tomorrow in that case

[Garth]

theres a Darlington beer festival in March which I cant afford to go to, but want to, so i've applied to volunteer there. Dont need to be a camra member. How generous are they with the free drinks for volunteers Garth?

Not sure about Darlo's festival Dave, each festival is run how it's particular Branch sees fit, you generally get a few token per shift

come and do some graft at ours, first week in September, and I'll make sure you get enough beer.........

set up is 2nd/3rd/4th, bar open afternoon of 4th and then all day 5th/6th, then the lovely dismantling on Sunday.....

[DarloDave]

Ill more than happily come help out at the Durham beer Garth. At the Darlo one they are looking for people to help set the casks up and set the bar up etc..is this a specialised job, I'd quite happily help out on that aswell, but I wouldnt have a clue how to do it, so I just put down for bar work.

[J_P]

Ill more than happily come help out at the Durham beer Garth. At the Darlo one they are looking for people to help set the casks up and set the bar up etc..is this a specialised job, I'd quite happily help out on that aswell, but I wouldnt have a clue how to do it, so I just put down for bar work.

Dave, I'm helping set the Darlo festival up and it's not nearly as complex as you think, I'll speak to Ian and Pete for you if you fancy helping (I helped out last year and I wasn't a member). Set up is Monday 9th tapping and spiling is Tuesday. Set up is a hard but fun day where you'll learn loads if you're prepared to put the effort in. I've never tapped and spiled a cask but I intend to learn on the 10th and there are 50 of them to do! If you're at a loose end then PM me and we can go along together (or e-mail me I think you have my addy). You'll learn about handling casks, cleaning and setting up hand pumps, tapping and spiling casks and generally have a good bit crack with some good people.

For the record, if you help out behind the bar then beer is half price on whatever night you choose to help and if you help with set up (minimum 4 hours) I believe you get a £5 beer card so if you help with both then that's £10 of free beer, it's been a while since I was a student but £10 of free beer is £10 of free beer any way you look at it. Plus if you join CAMRA via my good lady on the day you'll get another £5 beer card, we could make it worth your while

If you're skint then I'm sure could find a corni to tap in the shed if you fancied discussing the matter over a (free) pint and some bar munch. We could even take in some of the brewing groups bars if you'd like.

On a personal note I joined CAMRA as a "doer" rather than a "talker" I'd much prefer to put 50 cask ales, 6 ciders and a perry on the bar than attend a branch meeting, in fact I'd rather chew my own arse off before attending another branch meeting, oh and contrary to popular belief none of us have beards or cardigans

[garwatts]

I thought I felt out of place when I went to the last one as I didnt have a beard.

Is is compulsory to have a beard then to be a member of Camra.

It strains the lumps out of the beer

[DarloDave]

Cheers JP, I'd definatly be interested in getting to know how to set up, and how to set up, etc. But I dont know anyone, and im a bit worried ill get it wrong and just get in the way. .

[J_P]

Cheers JP, I'd definatly be interested in getting to know how to set up, and how to set up, etc. But I dont know anyone, and im a bit worried ill get it wrong and just get in the way. .

If you've got a set of work boots and a reasonably sturdy back you can pop along and help it's a good laugh, September was the first time I helped out and it was pretty self explanatory how everything fit together. It should be a even easier to do this year as we've ironed out the glitches associated with the new bar layout.

You'll also get to see the beer deliveries and chat to a couple of pro brewers, there may even be the chance of some fresh brewers yeast dependant on what strings Pete can pull

[DarloDave]

Ah thats good, I'll come along and try give a hand then

[Garth]

We always need folk on the Tuesday to help setup and Friday night for bar work, last year on the Friday there was so many folk in the hall the security door man said another five people in and he was closing the entry until some came out, it was mental.

oh and contrary to popular belief none of us have beards or cardigans

I started to grow one last week in readiness, but by the weekend I looked like a homeless person, so it got shaved off......

but I do not own a cardigan.....

[boingy]

Ah thats good, I'll come along and try give a hand then

Careful Dave, they've got you pinged as the new guy. You'll end up with all the heavy stuff...