|  | The three-day festival aims to bring as many different real ales to Berkshire, as well as offering up some top-quality traditional jazz. Some of the more popular beers sell out before the end of the festival, such as Timothy Taylor's Landlord. So this year the quota had been upped to around 15,000 pints, all selling at £2 a pint (apart from the odd Strong) and not a bad beer among them. To go with the ales, there was also a predictably popular hog roast available.
On the Thursday this year, we were treated to the ministrations of the Denise Lawrence Band and The "Old Thumper" Jazzband. (Interesting that they share a name with one of the Ringwood beers on offer, isn't it?). The Denise Lawrence Band specialises in a range of gospel, hymns and spirituals, and this soulful edge suited the relaxed mood well. The "Old Thumper" Jazzband were a bit more lively in their approach, providing the flip side of the coin.
On the ale side of things, plenty of new beers were available, including some from the Loddon Brewery, which only started brewing between Reading and Henley in July 2003. They offered up Hoppit Classic Bitter (ABV 3.5%, "Smooth malty body, quite bitter with the aroma and taste of east Kent Golding hops"). Also new to the mix was Butler Brewery from Mapledurham with a lovely ruby red bitter.
It has been a healthy year for the real ale industry since the introduction of the Progressive Beer Duty. It has been estimated that this measure has saved half of the 350 smaller breweries from going out of business.
We interrupted Lee from Reading on the way back to the bar to see what he made of the festival. "Nice. Chilled out. This is the second one I've been to and it's great if the weather's OK." Have a look at our picture gallery from the Thursday.
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