THE owner of an East Staffordshire brewery has been banned from the Burton Beer Festival — because of the way he serves his lager.
Ed Mayman, who runs the Freedom microbrewery, in Bagots Park, Abbots Bromley, says he has been left ‘bitterly disappointed’ at the decision.
The 33-year-old was told by the Burton branch of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) that he could showcase his products for the first time at its Summer Beer Festival, which starts today at Burton Town Hall.
Mr Mayman, who runs the brewery with his wife Susan, 28, went to set up his goods in the cider and wine section at the town hall on Monday.
A keg of each of its products, Freedom Organic, Freedom Organic Dark and Freedom Pilsner, were put in place.
However, yesterday morning, he received a call from festival chairman Dickie Allan, who said the national office of CAMRA, based in St Albans, had objected to his dispensing methods, which were deemed to be against regulations.
CAMRA guidelines say compressed air has to be used to force the lager out of the font of the keg, rather than CO2. Mr Mayman’s kegs use the gas.
The regulation meant the brewery chief had to remove his products from the festival yesterday afternoon.
Mr Mayman was keen to stress that he bore no ill feeling towards members of Burton CAMRA, who he says have been ‘very supportive’.
However, he says the stance taken by the national head office has left him feeling annoyed.
He told The Mail: “I am feeling bitterly disappointed and a little frustrated.
“We’ve had good support from Burton CAMRA. It’s the powers that be above them.
“We put the product into kegs. The carbonation is natural and we don’t add any gas. The CO2 is only used to force it out of the keg.
“They are lumping us in the same category as the mainstream lagers.
Surely it is about the product in the glass.
“Why would they not want to support and showcase a local micro brewery, which is increasing its sales every year on handcrafted lager?” Mr Allan told the Mail he sympathised with Mr Mayman, and offered him hope for future festivals.
He said: “The Freedom situation came from a misunderstanding somewhere along the line.
“We weren’t aware that the dispense method was not deemed acceptable until we got a call from head office.
“We hope we can get round it and work with them in the future.
“If they can get a method of dispense that is acceptable to CAMRA there is no reason why they can’t do Burton and other festivals.”
The festival will run from 7pm to 11pm today, between noon and 11pm tomorrow and from 11.30am to 11pm on Saturday.