There's been a lot of talk about beer festivals around the GBBF new venue and stuff.
After all these years of attending (and organising) festivals and, in my advanced age where I'm done after 3 drinks I'm pretty sure I know the best sort for me...
...beer festival in the pub. Our local does three a year on significant dates.
This weekend is the August BH one. It started on Thursday and will run to Monday. We missed the first two days (I was working in Hastings on Thursday, we worked in Town on Friday) but we dutifully strolled down yesterday.
About 12 beers on a cooled stillage at the back of the pub. Ranging from 3.8% pales and bitters to 5%+ darks, IPAs and Westies.
Nothing fancy in keg-land (this is part of the Heineken estate).
When we first came to this festival, there was a greater predominance of local, traditional, brown beers - but there's much more variety now. Arbor ZZ Hop is anticipated and Thormbridge beers are making their presence felt.
When we arrived, we simply paid for our beer and the staff were happy for us to pour our own, with glasses on a table next to the stillage. This makes us very happy because it becomes more than just buying a pint.
Sometimes we'll go three times but probably not this time (I quite fancy sitting in my garden today - I'm out a lot with work next week). We are, however meeting a couple of family members tomorrow lunchtime (we don't usually drink during the day but, we know we need to compromise with other people's way of doing things from time to time).
I've got my eye on ZZ Hop as well as Thornbridge Union. And that's really all I need in a "festival". It comes back to loving a pub that's got a big selection of cask ales available, all in different styles and strengths. Our local can't do that on a daily basis - it just wouldn't work but the festival does and it's something to celebrate and revel in.
This weekend saw the usual "East Bristol Brewery Trail" - were we in Bristol, we probably wouldn't have gone because it would have been loud and crowded but it doesn't mean we don't feel delighted that it's an event that works so well for them. Bravo!
I'll stick with our local with its increase in number of punters around whilst retaining its pubbiness for us. the other benefit was watching sport on the TV, and playing board games without feeling too weird.
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