*This is copy of the branch email sent for June 2026. If you haven't received the email, you will need to check you account on the National CAMRA website to make sure you have opted in to receive the email's*

Welcome to Witch Ale, the newsletter of East Lancs CAMRA branch

Into to June we go and we’re off to Leeds for the informal Wednesday social, then presenting another Club of the Year award, and there’s lots of non-branch events as we head into the Summer.

Branch Events

June 2026 Social: Leeds
Wednesday 3 June
Presentation: Blackburn with Darwen Club of the Year 2026
Friday 12 June 19:00 Cherry Tree Cricket Club, Blackburn
Committee Meeting: June 2026
Sunday 14 June 13:30 Canine Club, Accrington

Regional & National CAMRA Events

Stockport Beer & Cider Festival 2026
Thursday 18 – Saturday 20 June

Non-CAMRA events

Roughlee Music, Beer & Gin Festival 2026
Friday 5 – Sunday 7 June
Indie-Baum 2
Friday 12 – Saturday 13 June
Darwen Cricket Club Beer Festival 2026
Friday 12 – Sunday 14 June
Pendle Pub Walk 2026
Saturday 13 June
Beer Day Britain 2026
Monday 15 June 19:00
11th Pendle Forest Sports Club Beer Festival
Wednesday 17 – Sunday 21 June
Ribble Valley Pub Walk 2026
Saturday 20 June
Bowland Brewery Tour
Friday 26 June 18:00
Tap Takeover @ 1B Tap House: Saltaire
Friday 26 – Sunday 28 June
Red Lion (Earby) Ale & Cider Festival 2026
Saturday 27 – Sunday 28 June
Padiham on Parade 2026
Saturday 27 – Sunday 28 June

Go to the Branch & Events Diary page for more information.

Event missing above we should know about? Please email ku.gro.armac.scnaltsae@swenelahctiw or share the details via social media (links below) for it to be added to the branch diary.

Thought of the month

What are you thought on ‘Drinkflation’?

Brewers have been accused of cutting the strength of beers to pay less duty, whilst at the same time not reducing the price of the beers.

Mike Kershaw, Brewery Liaison Office for Thwaites, has reported concerns about reductions in the ABVs of two regular cask beers. Thwaites Original new ABV is 3.4% reduced from 3.6% and Thwaites Best Cask (or TBC or under a house beer name in some of the firm's pubs) new ABV is 3.4% reduced from 3.8%. In his opinion there is now nothing original or best about these beers anymore.

Big national brewers are also doing the same so we ask, are the beers the same when reducing the ABV?

Pub, Club and Brewery news

The Witch Ale News page is always being updated, and we’d love to hear from you. Share what’s been happening in and around the East Lancs area so we can build a growing archive of local stories, changes, and memories. Please email:- ku.gro.armac.scnaltsae@swenelahctiw

For more broader news from across the country visit What’s Brewing online at https://wb.camra.org.uk/

Keep up to date via Social Media

Click the links to join the Facebook group, follow us on X/Twitter, Blue Sky and Instagram or search camraeastlancs

Cheers!

Alan Leach
Witch Ale newsletter editor
Thanks