Having ticked off most of the beers I came down to try yesterday, randomness is going to be the strategy today. I don’t know what I’m going to go for, so the criteria for which beer I try is going to depend very much on where there’s a gap at the bar. I’ll wander and let the fickle hand of fate determine what I try, that said I didn’t major on the big brewery bars yesterday, so will start there. The big brewers all have stands down the middle of the venue all trying to outdo each other. Most are heavy on the woodwork conjuring images of tradition and pubby expertise, there’s the odd exception though. Bombardier have a double decker bus- I must try and get on board for a photo!
Shepherd Neame Goldings 4.1% - Ooo that’s not good at all. It’s not possible I’ve got a bad pint at GBBF is it? I check my programme, this is a summer hop ale described as having ripe fruits, but to taste it’s just a big glass of bitterness. Not even a citrus bitterness, just a tongue stripping one. It can’t be meant to be this bad. I’ll come back and try this again tomorrow to see Appearance 3, Aroma 6, Taste 2, Finish 2 Total score 13/50
Time to chat to the friendly chap on the Greene King bar. He used to drive a forklift in their warehouse but now runs their events (Cool job!) He is also funny - in response to my question “So what should I have?” he says “a shower” Harsh - this is a fresh t-shirt and everything!
Greene King Twisted Thistle (5.3%) – Much better, that’s an excellent IPA. Lush fruits and low hoppiness, with a very floral aroma and middle taste Appearance 5, Aroma 7, Taste 7, Finish 8 Total score 35/50
Greene King Hurdy Gurdy (4.1%) – This is a wheat beer, but where’s the wheat? It’s see-through and lacks the lovely chewiness of something like a Schneider-Weisse. I don’t like this, but I do like the reference to the Donovan song Appearance 6, Aroma 6, Taste 4, Finish 5 Total score 21/50
Courage Imperial Russian Stout (10%) – Time to up the ante, with a half of this trembling beastie. It’s not cheap at £4.50 for a half and it’s with a little excitement that I try it out. My first thought is this is quite thin, I’d expected a thick cloying glue swirling in the glass, this looks watery and it is thinner to taste too, not from a flavour perspective which is high strength coffee and fruit but it slips down surprisingly easily. It’s good… Mike Andrews from Wells & Youngs pops up. He’s master of the Bombardier bus and we chat for a bit as he’s been setting us up with stock for the Champion Bottled beer case we are doing, where their wonderful Special London ale made the final few. It’s mid this conversation that the Imperial Stout catches up with me. Wow that’s knocked me for 6 – a final swirl of the glass and I finish it off – I add the word smoky to my notes and move off, only realising afterward I’d forgotten to ask for a tour of the bus. Note to self:-drink this in thirds. Appearance 7, Aroma 6, Taste 7, Finish 8 Total score 35/50
Country Life Pot Wallop (4.4%) – I need a refresher and spot a gap at bar B5 and search for something golden. Pot Wallop is my random selection and chance pays off as this is exactly what I wanted, it’s an excellent session ale with a good straw colour and fabulous head. Lovely middle malts and I make a note to try more of this brewery’s stuff. Appearance 8, Aroma 4, Taste 8, Finish 7 Total score 35/50
My Pot Wallop has livened me up and I go for a late lunch at the Truckle Cheese stand. This is the best food at GBBF this year for me, big chunks of cheese made into an excellent Ploughman’s lunch. You get a bit bored of pies so this is something very different. I’ll be back.
Fullers Vintage 2013 Ale (8.5%) – It’s all a bit random when trying vintage ales as they vary so much from year to year and unfortunately the fates haven’t been kind this year. It pours (unsurprisingly) with a thin head which hovers over a deep ashtray brown. It starts well with a sweet malt taste but this gives way to an unpleasant lingering bitterness rolling around your mouth. Not for me this time Appearance 4, Aroma 6, Taste 5, Finish 3 Total score 23/50
More refreshment needed and continuing clockwise round the venue I see the cider bar. I do like cider but don’t know a lot about it. The helpful volunteer suggests I try the Parson’s Choice from Somerset and it’s good, a big appley aroma and a nice tart finish and this is the drink with which I call time today. I head off to meet a friend for dinner but am a little early and wait in a bar on Fulham Road. I’m swiftly reminded that this is London as they are selling Scotch Eggs and Oysters as their bar snacks. The Oysters are £1.90 each but the Scotch egg is a whopping £5.80 as though it’s a special delicacy brought back from the north. Odd place this but I’ll be back tomorrow.
