Several skeletons, a glamorous vampire and a dog-dragon were among the substantial crowd of visitors who enjoyed some devilishly good Hallowe’en fun at Brentwood Brewery’s latest beer festival. (Saturday 26th October.)

“We were very pleased to welcome everyone who came along to enjoy our early Hallowe’en event, the Spooky Sausage Beer Festival and would like to thank them for coming, especially as England played a very important rugby match that morning. And well done to everyone who dressed up.”

Roland Kannor, MD Brentwood Brewing Company

Visitors wearing Hallowe’en outfits were given a free pint of Brentwood Beer. Aptly, Spooky Moon, Haunted Holmes and Devil’s Dyke were on the real ale menu which included 9 draught and cask beers. And to add to the the eerie ambience, the brewery was decorated with spiders and pumpkins.

Acoustic duo The Sidekicks, Hilary Cornell and Wayne Tinsley, from Chelmsford, kept everyone entertained throughout the afternoon, performing a lively mix of popular tunes from the 60s onwards. For many visitors, it was their first introduction to the Cajon, played by Hilary. It’s a simple percussion instrument that originates from Peru which looks like a wooden box.

Looking rather more chic than scary, ‘vampire’ Jennifer Porter from Harold Wood was pleased to try a pint of Head Brewer Ethan Kannor’s latest beery creation. The milk stout brewed in Brentwood under the Elephant School Brewing brand, My Milk Stout Brings All the Bulls to the Yard. The name was inspired by the Kelis pop hit of 2003. “It’s smooth and easy to drink,” said Jennifer. The new stout seemed to be popular with other festival goers too as pints of it disappeared pretty swiftly.

The brewery’s Dean Beckwith was head chef, sizzling the ‘spooky’ sausages to serve to hungry festival goers. Dean had some help in the kitchen as his sons Lloyd and Dan pitched in too with Dan taking on the role of quality control, sampling the fare.

Brewery regular Rubble the bulldog, who, since he was a tiny pup, has been attending beer festivals with his owner Mike McMahon from Hornchurch, turned heads in his colourful vampire dragon outfit.

“Despite the Hallowe’en theme it wasn’t too scary, the atmosphere was relaxed, as it usually is. Thankfully, our vampire and skeleton visitors were more interested in enjoying a pint or two and having a chat with friends rather than frightening people.”

Roland Kannor

Skeleton couple Adam and Nicki Crabb from Witham embellished their Hallowe’en outfits, complete with masks, with sparkly purple and orange tinsel. And dressed as a skeleton, 9 year old Lexi Ranger from Herongate enjoyed a game of chess with her Dad, Mark Ranger.

Brentwood Brewery’s next beer festival, The Drunkest Showman & Christmas Beer Festival takes place on Saturday 7th December 11am – 5pm. Following the success of last year’s brewery panto, Jack and the Beerstalk, at 2pm the brewery team and friends will perform (for free) a freshly penned pantomime, The Drunkest Showman. Written by Roland’s youngest son Ralph Kannor in the style of The Greatest Showman, this unique production tells the brewery’s own story from the spark of an idea in a pub to the present day. The audience can expect plenty of corny jokes, energetic acting and enthusiastic singing.

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