Beer Hawk's GBBF Tasting Day

So although I had a few on the first day of GBBF, I was rushed off my feet chatting to assorted industry bods and apart from occasionally exclaiming “THIS IS AWESOME” I didn’t scribble down everything I tried.  Happily though I’d assigned the Wednesday to be my tasting day and after grabbing my pint glass and promising to restrain myself to 1/3 pint measures the tasting began.

So although I had a few on the first day of GBBF, I was rushed off my feet chatting to assorted industry bods and apart from occasionally exclaiming “THIS IS AWESOME” I didn’t scribble down everything I tried.  Happily though I’d assigned the Wednesday to be my tasting day and after grabbing my pint glass and promising to restrain myself to 1/3 pint measures the tasting began.

I score out of 50. 10 for appearance, 10 for aroma, 10 for finish and double points for taste.  These are some I tried (many recommended for sampling by the Twitterati!)

Hogs Back A Over T (9%)– My first of the day, it’s Hogs Back’s Barley wine, which despite telling myself to wait until later I crack on with anyway!  I was lured I by the man with the most majestic moustache of the festival for the second year running, Noel (excellent waxing sir!).  Pours a deep caramel with a disappointingly thin head. Iintense resins on the nose and a very pokey raisin and tobacco smokiness at the back of the throat.  Solid Barley Wine, but should have waited until later Appearance 5, Aroma 6, Taste 7, Finish 5 Total score 30/50

Brain’s Bragging Rights (5%)– This has been built up by Twitter recommendations and doesn’t falter one bit.  Light Gold, with huge foamy head.  Initially my nose tells me there’s a sweet honey bee buzzing around in my glass somewhere, but I can’t see it as its hiding behind a big bunch of bananas.  My mouth has better luck and those bananas disappear and turn into a spicy refreshing ale. Finish is nothing exceptional, but this is a mighty fine beer. Appearance 8, Aroma 7, Taste 8, Finish 6 Total score 37/50

Inveralmond Blackfriar (7.0%)– What am I doing, this is almost a Barley wine, making it 2 of my first 3 (it’s not even 1:30 yet).  My tasting buddy at the moment though is a Scot and he’s found this Tayside beer hiding amongst the Surrey and Sussex ales on bar B18.  A “wee heavy” it’s a brutish malty thug and totally opposite to the Ossian with which I’m more familiar.  Lacks a bit of sweetness to offset the initial bitterness. It needs to lighten up (much like me) so I move swiftly on. Appearance 5, Aroma 6, Taste 6, Finish 3 Total score 26/50

Harviestoun Old Engine Oil (4.5%)– I love this beer in a bottle and I love it for the thick viscosity and total mouth intensity.  The cask version is just 4.5% though and I think this loses much of what I love. It’s just a bit thin and how I imagine my 330ml bottle would taste if I topped it up with water to make it a full pint.  Not for me this time!  Appearance 8, Aroma 5, Taste 4, Finish 5 Total score 26/50

St Austell Big Job 7.2% - We’ve been invited over to the St Austell bar by Marc Bishop who wants us to try this one.  Big build up and there’s the nervousness I always feel when someone says “try this” and then watches me taste it.  I become intensely aware of my facial expressions and fear I’m going to have to find a way out.  Not with this.  It’s exactly the type of brew I love and swiftly becomes my favourite of the day. Looks amazing in my tulip glass and you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a fine Abbey ale.  Dry and hoppy but not massively bitter, I’ll be back for more of this! Appearance 9, Aroma 8, Taste 9, Finish 7 Total score 42/50

St Austell 1913 Stout 5.2% - We decide to hang around (and not just because Marc is buying) moving to the pump clip just 1 to the right it’s a stout at the other end of the beery scale.  Looks good, deep black with small legs on the glass.  It’s everything you want from a traditional stout -  chocolate, malts and a warm smoothness.  It’s a tad too hot for this beer and I imagine it perfect in winter.  Excellent but I’m still coming down from my Big Job high. Appearance 8, Aroma 7, Taste 7, Finish 6 Total score 35/50

Moor Revival 3.8% - Back down the abv scale as I’ve been playing with the big boys, I try another Twitter favourite and although ordering 1/3 of a pint I get well over a half. Pours a cloudy gold, looks fabulous and wakes me up with a couple of hoppy slaps to the jowls.  Hugely bitter that’s lovely for a bit but wish I’d just had a 1/3 by the end.  Too intense for me but undoubtedly good if you like a hop-smack Appearance 6, Aroma 7, Taste 8, Finish 5 Total score 34/50

Greene King 5X 12% -  I glance at my watch and it's 4:40, 20 minutes before today's firkin of this vintage oak classic is popped open.  I loved this last year and I want to try it again, but it sems everyone else does too.  There's a snaking queue guarded by 4 GBBF stewards looking like bouncers at an exclusive club.  I tend to be turned away by bouncers but these guys let me in.  I'm given a badge for my trouble and my 1/3 of a pint is dispensed.  Ohh it's good, sherry, brandy, fortified raisins, liquorice, marmite, bovril and every other intense malty food you can think and then a calming bitter oakiness replaces them all.  I shouldn't have another...should I?  Oh go on then Appearance 7, Aroma 7, Taste 8, Finish 7 Total score 37/50

I must confess to having a few more after this too but i've moved over to Bieres sans Frontieres, my notes are getting sloppy and also i've had my nose in a book for a large part of the day, time for some banter.  More reviews tomorrow…