The Beer Festival report

Published: August 22, 2006

The Fourth Belgrade Beer Festival ended on Sunday. Organisers are yet to announce the figures (will be posted here later) but this year the blazing sunshine ensured that punters were keener than ever to get their hands on a pint.

Apart from savouring 30 different types of beer, activities included the treasure hunt – crates of beer hidden throughout the Kalemegdan fortress, the miss wet T shirt competition, and a funfair located on site.

The music was mainly rock – some of which was a little grating on the ear after a while but the musical program also had variety if you knew when to turn up (smart enough to take a timetable with you).

The most important ingredient – atmosphere did not disappoint. Early evening a lot of rock type teenagers turned up. Black eyeliner and T shirts in abundance. By mid evening foreign types (Spanish, Italian, French, British et al) and the rest of Belgrade arrived. High spirits all round. Some locals didn’t even bother to descend from Kalemegdans fortress walls choosing to drink cheap beer purchased elsewhere and to watch and listen from above.

The arrival of the international crew from London who had traveled across Europe in an old red Bristol double decker added an air of permanence to the festival as well as ‘beefing up’ the carnival atmosphere too. They filmed their experience is Belgrade.

The crew brought a sound system and speakers with them and provided an alternative to the main stage. The twenty or so international visitors were impressed with the event and partied pretty much non stop.

By Sunday morning, a little behind schedule, the crew departed for Macedonia. They then plan to drive to Greece and then cross the water to Turkey where their voyage will end. My understanding is that one or two hearts were broken during their stay.

Other factors – organisation was impressive and policing low key.

Some noticed the gathering at closeby Barutana. Mensa Serbia happened to be meeting whilst the Festival was in full flow. Lets hope that the Mensa members didn’t decide to get plastered instead of attending their ‘serious’ meeting.

One event ends and another beckons the Serbian trumpet festival – Guca. We will have something on that too in the next few days.