The Royal Cornwall Show - A Showcase of Cornish Brewing 8th – 10th June, Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge

Download the Cornwall Brewers Alliance Showcase Bar 2017 Beer List

CAMRA Kernow and The Cornish Brewers Alliance presented the Showcase Cornish Beer Bar for the first time at this year’s Royal Cornwall Show.

The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Show is Cornwall's major tourist attraction and the county’s principle showcase. Primarily an agricultural show the Royal Cornwall Show has now diversified to embrace all aspects of Cornish produce from forestry exhibitions to solar power. Including a vast selection of world renowned Cornish food and drink. The show held at the Royal Showground in Wadebridge is usually opened by a member of the Royal family and attracts in the region of 120,000 visitors’ through its gates over the 3 days each June.

The Cornish Brewers Alliance, an open group of Cornish Brewers who informally collaborate to brew, share inspiration and promote Real Ale and Cider and Cornwall CAMRA, the Cornish Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, teamed up to put on the showcase bar. Introducing a wide range of show goers to the merits and diversity of Cornish Brewing and CAMRA campaigning directives. Every brewery in Cornwall was invited to take an active part as a member of the Cornish Brewers Alliance. The breweries that took up the invite covered the depth and breadth of Cornwall both in diversity and geography. There were be 38 beers in the showcase. Some beer coming from as far west as Cornish Crown Brewery in Penzance and as Far East as Bude Brewery. The microbreweries sitting alongside the big boys with Castle, Coastal, Dynamite Valley, Forge, Keltek, Penpont, Rebel, Sharps, Skinners, St Austell, Tintagel and Wooden hand all showcased there best beers. We were also introducing some of the newest microbreweries with Woodman’s, Fish key, Leafy Hollow and Tremethick. We had Atlantic breweries vegetarian and organic ales alongside the counties first gluten free beer from Driftwood Brewery. 8 Keg beers were also be on offer from some of the county’s finest craft brewers including Padstow, Firebrand and Harbour. Some brews were one offs just brewed for the show. There was a consistent rotation brewers manning the bar and introducing there beers.

The June weather was its regular unpredictable self, with the occasional interruption of wind and rain. This didn’t deter the persistence of the show goers with a continual flow of visitors and beer lovers to the stand. On Friday we had a special guest, HRH Prince Edward. Louise Treseder Co-owner of Driftwood Spars Brewery and Bob Bunce, Chairman of Cornwall CAMRA introduced the Prince to the Brewers and the directives of both CAMRA and the Cornwall Brewers’ Alliance. He showed great interest towards the increasing success of the counties microbreweries and the role of CAMRA.

Later that day Radio Cornwall Presenter Debbie McCory interviewed Bob Bunce, broadcasting Live the merits of CAMRA, the classification of real ale and the ongoing success of Cornish Brewing as a Brand. Bob highlighted the fantastic collaborative approach of the Cornish Brewers Alliance and invited everyone to visit the brewers at the Showcase bar.

The event was a whole hearted success in aspect with many new faces introduced to the wonders of Cornish ales and some regular faces introduced to some alternative brews. Hopefully this collaboration will continue to succeed for years to come. Every year at the show Stands tend to hold their regular position and this year was the first time the Brewers Alliance Showcase Bar was position on the main route between the BBC Cornwall Pavilion, the Steam Rally and Fun Fair. If you were not able to join us this year we hope to see you next year.

Sonia Bunce, Press Officer.

The Royal Cornwall Show Cornish Bar Programme