All About The Beer

We will be serving a wide range of local beers, many new.....

We have at least 16 different beers - the most distant being from Triple fff in Alton (including their Beer of Britain winner Alton’s Pride) – so this really IS a local Beer Fest, celebrating local beers and ciders made by people we are proud to call friends.

CrackleRock in Botley are now Legendary, as is SteamTown in Bishopstoke. We'll have a different selection of their beers again this year - but PLEE-EASE make sure you ask for a Crafty Shag of course.

We are laminating the tasting notes this year, cos some things you remember with a sigh, read a 10/10 score on your manky old paper Tasting Notes, then taste them again and realise they really WERE a 10/10! We have some 10s again this year - and my pussnal fave is Quiver from Bowmans, but that’s quite widely available now.

So - lots to swig, sip or steal from your mate while he/she is looking at something you've pointed out just behind them...

No pressured lines. No pipes to clean. Just great beer straight out of the barrel straight into your fancy funky glass. Plus a genius range of Sticky Numerals so you can tell your own glass from your skanky mate's glass.

But when the beer is drunk, it's drunk. Cask is empty, it's e-m-p-t-y.

So if you're worried that some of the most popular choices might go early, well then, just come on the Friday night. Our local Happy Tracks duo will thank you too - long as you DANCE, or at least cheer loudly!

We know some of you will be driving your mates over from Otterbourne, or working Saturday morning, but don’t worry –

We’ve tested LOTS of non-alc Ales and Ciders and have a wide range in a special Non-Alc fridge. A festival can still be a festival without alcohol, right? (cue puzzled glances).

We also have Pimms and a good selection of wines

“c'e di Prosecco, signora? Certo!”

Three great refreshing ciders from Core Cider in Southsea (including a really interesting fruity one that’s chilled and fizzy).

2026 Beer List & Tasting Notes

Flower Pots

Pots Bitter (3.8%)

The eponymous Flower “Pots Bitter” is a blend of some of Hampshire’s finest malted barley with a selection of Challenger, Goldings and North down hops. Toffee amber in colour, with a balanced bitterness from the English hops paired with a subtle caramel sweetness from the malts, the award-winning Pots Bitter is a traditional British beer and is named after the Flower Pots farm where beer was first brewed in the 1830s.

Storm Chaser (4.5%)

A complex blend of herbal and fruit-forward hops (Celeia, Galena, Azacca, and First Gold).

Taste notes of bready lager and Vienna malts balanced by a touch of wheat.

Long, dry, and citrusy finish.

Cheriton Porter (4.2%)

This is the one that wins all of the top awards. For three years now, it has been voted by SIBA as Winner of Cask Session Dark Beer. A complex grain bill of dark malts and traditional British hops create an easy drinking classic Porter. With a creamy coffee aroma and roasted chocolate maltiness, a hint of sweetness shines through to provide a dry finish. All of our beers are brewed in the Hampshire village of Cheriton, so why not name a beer after it?

Bowmans

Swift One (3.8%)

A pale, golden quaffing ale with excellent flavours for its strength. Pleasingly hoppy throughout without being aggressive and possessing a fine aroma. The finish is dry with a small twist of sweetness at the end.

Quiver Bitter (4.5%)

A gloriously rich golden colour with a wonderful mown grass aroma, this premium bitter is full of complex flavours including a tiny amount of caramel.

Cracklerock

Dark Destroyer (4.9%)

Is well balanced traditional Porter. Large helpings of Chocolate and Crystal malts are blended with English hops to create a smooth and flavourful beer with sharp bitterness and a dry finish. For those who are looking for an English ale that really packs a punch - Come over to the dark side…

Crafty Shag (5.0%)

A beautiful smooth, strong, full bodied, well-balances dark malty ale for when you want a crafty one that delivers exceptional quality to your taste buds. Look no further! This one will do it for you.

Alfred’s

Saxon Bronze (3.8%)

Well balanced malt provides the coppery bronze colour. Tangerine and grapefruit flavours come from the use of East Kent Goldings, Cluster and Liberty Hops. The finish is crisp and clean.Often voted Beer of the Festival locally…

NZ Pale (4.0%)

This one utilizes New Zealand Motueka hops to deliver distinct citrus and tropical fruit characteristics.

Dom Boc (4.2%)

Malty goodness, crisp drinking with a nod to something darker. Mid-amber colour.

Steam Town

Bishops American pale ale (3.8%)

American Pale with pale caramalts and US dry hops. A clear golden ale, with a possible light dry hop haze.Smells of citrus, tropical fruit (pineapple),tastes of citrus (lemon, orange), very light caramel notes, moderate bitterness, crisp finish.

NZ Pale (4.2%)

lear, golden pour with a light dry-hop haze. Forward notes of grapefruit, orange, and distinct New Zealand gooseberry/white wine characters driven by Nelson Sauvin, Dr Rudi, and Pacific Jade hops. A soft, bready malt base (Maris Otter) that quickly gives way to bright citrus, gooseberry, and light tropical fruit notes. A characteristically refreshing, tart, and dry bitter finish with a mellow, soft body.

Stoke Pale (3.8%)

Pale gold and clear. Bready malt, wheat, tropical and citrus fruit notes, and a sometimes slightly sulphurous nose. Light grapefruit, tropical fruit, and citrus flavours with a touch of coconut and light-to-medium bitterness. Lingering dry bitter lemon.

Triple fff

Alton’s Pride (3.8%)

A traditional English Best Bitter brewed using water from the Hampshire chalk hills. Full and clean tasting; initially malty, then tangerine fruit and resinous hop build to a quenching bitter finish. World's Best Best Bitter, World Beer Awards 2025 & CAMRA Supreme Champion Beer of Britain 2008.

Sundown (4.3%)

Brewed for King Charles’ coronation, but it sold out within 3 weeks so had to be renamed…!Citrus, apple and summer fruits, golden and lovely.

Botley taproom

HPA (3.8%)

A lighter session pale ale characterized by an easy-drinking, gentle hoppy profile and a sweet, malty-bitter balance