Picture from the local rag to give you an idea of the venue - not me by the way - just some other happy punters... |
Good things? Plenty of tables and chairs...
My jury's out... but it ain't looking good..
Not a brilliant choice of ales either this year, I thought ..
Brewery | Beer (click for more info) |
ABV | Notes (from brewery website) | What I can remember... |
Hop Back | Fuggle Stone | 4% | None - launched on the day.. | Hop Back are celebrating 40 years of brewing this year and to celebrate had released a new brew at the festival. Disappointingly, we thought it was a bit flat, but otherwise an un-astounding amber, hoppy bitter. |
Bristol Beer Factory | Independence | 4.6% | "Our distinctive American Pale Ale is full of big hop character but without the strong bitterness. Carefully selected American hops are added continuously during the boil, and also during conditioning (dry hopping) to give a really fresh aromatic boost. This beer is mainly about hops but we have given it a malt backbone to balance the beautiful tropical fruit aromas". | Now I've been drinking their "Belville Hop" in bottles, so I was keen to see how this one shaped up.. stonking... mahoosive hoppy citrus bitter hit.. lovely! |
Southsea Brewing Company | Casemate IPA | 5.4% | None - no website | Small company that make beer from their brewery in Southsea Castle (Henry VIII era) - had this at the Petersfield Beer festivsal not long ago where it wa my favourite, but it was in poor condition this afternoon - flat/cloudy |
Thornbridge | Jaipur | 5.9% | "A citrus dominated India Pale Ale, its immediate impression is soft and smooth yet builds to a crescendo of massive hoppiness accentuated by honey. An enduring, bitter finish." | A premier league beer this one and after the hit and miss of the earlier beers I had two of these... smashing! |
Red Cat | Raiona IPA | 6.2% | "Packed with citra hops on a pale malt base" | Taste tested this against the Bristol Beer Factory offering - subtly different - both excellent! |