Beer.

Two weeks ago we went to the Great British Beer Festival at Earls Court. I had suggested to colleagues that this would be an ideal venue for end-of-project drinks, but they declined. Happily, Elspeth and Julie stepped into the breach and so I got two nights out instead of one, which is (usually) a good thing.

I can't quite believe that, around a decade into my drinking career, this was my first proper beer festival. So I'll follow prudence and say it's the first I can remember attending.

I did find it a rather soulless place to do drinking in, but it was so large and there were so many beers there that there was never really any wait to get served, which can't be said about the works drinks the following night. The other good thing about the venue was that it looked a bit like a tiger (subtle additions have been made for emphasis only).



The beers which we had between us were:
Fan Dance (Breconshire)
Golden Valley (Breconshire)
Red Smiddy (East Renfrewshire): Bronze award for the Best Bitters category, but I found it disappointing.
Trade Winds (Cairngorm): The category winner in Speciality Beers. Not sure what makes it a speciality, but it was rather good.
Triple FFF Moon Dance (Hampshire): Silver winner in Best Bitters category, but I was again disappointed. Maybe I just don't really go for Bests?
Pride of the River (Wychwood)
Rainbow Chaser (Hanby)
Storm Force (Winter's): On a bit of a meteorological theme. I liked this one a lot.
Two Tone Special (Northern)
Rowley Mild (Wensleydale)
Black Pear (Malvern Hills)

All in, there was only one I didn't like (except for the cider which Elspeth started the evening with, understandably), although I would have liked to have tried more of the prize winners, nad stayed for longer (probably meaning starting earlier...)

We're going to the Great British Cheese Festival at the end of next month, if anyone wants to join us.