Devon County Show - Brewing up for the County Show

The great revival of traditional ales and cider is celebrated at this year’s Devon County Show, May 19-21, at Westpoint, Exeter.

The UK has more breweries than at any time since the Second World War, making the country the undisputed brewing capital of the world.

Devon is in the top five brewing counties including small, craft breweries, offering ale-lovers a tremendous choice.

And among many ales at the County Show is Oarsom Gold, specially made for the event by the Jollyboat Brewery in Bideford.

Brewer Jane Parry said the tipple is a light, golden refreshing ale with a crisp hoppy flavour and is 4% ABV.

“The idea behind this special ale came from observation and chatting with younger ale-drinkers at last year's County Show. Many of them prefer a golden pint! The name has romantic connections with smugglers in the moonlight rowing their boats full of 'pieces of eight' I wanted the beer to be a bit of a winner with Westcountry drinkers!”

The real ale and cider venue, The Contented Cow, is a third bigger this year reflecting increasing demand. Beer styles range from golden beers (the newest and fastest growing beer style) through to traditional milds which must be one of the oldest beer styles.  The range of ciders will again include the Strawberry Cider which proved so popular last year.

Guy Shepherd from Ales from Devon added: “Our glasses are made from vegetable starch and are compostable - and since we anticipate selling about 10,000 pints over the three days this is a large saving on plastic going to landfill which takes hundreds of years to break down; please make sure they go in the bin for compost.

The Contented Cow'is open from 9am each morning and stays open until 11pm and all beers are available to take away in 4 pint carryouts.

The County Show offers visitors an unrivalled selection of local food and drink. The focus in the food and drink marquee is on the affordability and accessibility of local food. A series of cookery demonstrations will focus on how ‘buy local’ makes sense taste-wise, nutritionally and financially.

The Devon County Show, now in its 116th year, boasts livestock, food and drink, a flower and garden marquee and lots of family entertainment on the 93 acre site.

Entertainment includes the dare-devil Bolddog Lings motorcycle display team, a team of paramotors (powered parachute pilots) performing ‘For Your Eyes Only’,  a James Bond-style show, and a 7-aside rugby tournament in the Sainsbury’s Arena.

Devon County Show is on May 19-21 at Westpoint, Exeter. For more information ring 01392 353700, email info@dcshow.org or www.devoncountyshow.co.uk

Ends