Smile for the CAMRA
Hey there.
Just wondering if there are any other real ale fanatics out there in b3ta land. Trying to figure out how wonderful/terrible the Great British Beer Festival is.
--tuqueboy
(tuqueboy has been in a medically -induced coma since, Sat 25 Oct 2008, 0:42, 11 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

I love real ale
never been to a beer festival though, oddly enough.

*Wishes 'Monk' was still brewed*
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Sat 25 Oct 2008, 1:05, Reply)

never had monk...
but was just at a real ale festival last weekend. which is a rarity here in the colonies (toronto, to be precise). i was stunned they'd actually managed to get a cask of london pride across the pond. some interesting experiments from the local brewers. including a smoked ale made with tobacco and vanilla. odd, but not bad.
(tuqueboy has been in a medically -induced coma since, Sat 25 Oct 2008, 1:16, Reply)

I went to one of those
real ale festivals last year. Mrs Monkeysex ended up with concussion, I got a hole in my favourite jeans and a grazed knee.

Never again.
( Bert Monkeysex is waiting for the mods to delete him, Sat 25 Oct 2008, 8:56, Reply)

I only discovered bitter a few months ago
and it's great. The IPA by Jennings is very nice - delicately hoppy and very clean and I tried Marston's Double drop last night ..... Tasty!

Not done a beer fest for obvious reasons but I may do so if one lands on my leave,
(SpunkyMcSpunkbubble Diddled your nubbin on, Sat 25 Oct 2008, 9:18, Reply)

its good
but insanely busy!

check the calendar in May next year, we are planning a b3ta bash at the cambridge real ale festival
(Halfy By light alone, Sat 25 Oct 2008, 9:42, Reply)

I love real ale too
I'm a regular at the Chappel Beer fest in Colchester every Sept and Colchester Beer Fest in Jan.

Can't knock a pint of Hopback Summer Lightning or Umbel Ale.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Sat 25 Oct 2008, 10:41, Reply)

Umbel
is the liquid of the gods!

also Exmoor gold, Woodefordes Wherry, Jeffrey Hudson Bitter
(Halfy By light alone, Sat 25 Oct 2008, 10:47, Reply)

I went to the one in Earls Court
last year, it was superb, but you have to drink halves otherwise you don't get to try many before you're completely blotto.

I'm curious how Mrs Monkeysex got concussed at a beer festival, unless you were "experimenting" in the toilets and you slipped.

That would explain the grazed knee and the hole too.
( Bazongaloid, Sat 25 Oct 2008, 11:42, Reply)

Real ale is wonderful
Never yet been to a festival yet though, but more than willing to give one a try!

Canadian beer is amazing too.
(Moniker, Sat 25 Oct 2008, 12:26, Reply)

@althegeordie
The festival here in toronto had 5-oz sample glasses (i.e. quarters). Course, the danger is the thinking ``oh well, they're so small, i can have another couple.'' which turns into another couple, and another, then you realize half of the damn things are actually the strength of 1845 or barley wines. then the room starts spinning, you wander out into traffic, and everyone you meet is ``my besh fren in the whole worlllldd, i love you, bleurrrrrgh.'' or so i've heard.
(tuqueboy has been in a medically -induced coma since, Sat 25 Oct 2008, 16:50, Reply)

The huge Earls Court bash is definitely worth a visit
Though, since you'll have to wait until next August for that, there are plenty of other festivals around London which are worth visiting. Particularly Battersea (February), Euston (aka "London Drinker", ~March), Ealing (~June) and Catford (if it goes ahead this year). They usually have the dates on the CAMRA website.
(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 27 Oct 2008, 12:12, Reply)