Yesterday it was the first day of the May version of East Bristol Brewery Trail.
I'd planned this trip here to coincide - mostly because I really wanted to go to the Arbor Brewery Tap again (they're rarely open) - and with a chance to go to the Good Chemistry brewery, too.
James from Moor had told us on Friday that this weekend is their biggest with gigs and Sunday opening and everything else. For the most part, though, we'll be avoiding the taps we usually go to because we supect it'll be pretty busy.
Yesterday promised sun and warmth - today, not so much - so we decided to make the trip to Arbor then. The walk from the flat to the brewery is a pleansant 30 minute or so amble along the cycle path so even that part is a nice part of the experience. Spring is making itself known, with plenty of greenery and tweeting.
The whole way along we saw groups of people clearly travelling from one venue to another - LHG sounded very busy with people and I imagine W&T were too.
We expected Arbor to be less busy because it's a little more out of the way. But we were wrong. Very wrong.
The brewery yard had been decked out with makeshift pallet seating/tables some benches and there were people EVERYWHERE!
Undeterred, we went to the bar and were served really efficiently by their lovely crew - narrowly missing a chance to get a seat at a table we wandered around a bit and then squeezed onto some pallet seating. I've probably said before that we don't like crowds but the odd pleasant exchange with nearby punters was right up our street.
The bar was really efficient, the music good but not intrusive, it was warm and jolly - brilliant, in fact. It has to be said we did prefer being there in December, quietly in their tapPortacabin but having their beers on draught (including a couple of casks) fresh as a daisy was grand.
As an aside, I re-read a couple of my earliest posts about keg beer. Oh, boy, have I changed! I mean, I still dislike shit beer and I tend to avoid larger breweries but my taste is considerably more catholic than it has ever been. 2013 me would definitely not have recognised 2024 me's drinking preferences. Maybe you can teach an old dog new beers...?
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