The Great British Beer Festival is something I’ve seen advertised but never managed to get to – we’ve usually been on holiday. However, it coincided with a trip to London this year and although I hadn’t planned on going, a few friends were meeting up for an ale so it seemed a fun destination.
Beers (in order of imbibement, breweries in brackets):
- Lees Bitter (Lees Brewery, Manchester)
- St Lawrence Ale (Yates, Cumbria)
- I Can’t Believe It’s Not Bitter (Oakleaf)
- Lakeland Gold (Hawkshead)
- Shugborough Farmer’s Half (Titanic)
- Cat’s Whiskers (Whittington)
- Summer Ale (Arkell’s)
- O-Garden (Otley, Glamorgan)
I think out of that lot, my favourite was “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Bitter”, which was one of those I got purely on name for the amusement value 
Meanwhile it was great to finally meet Subhi after about 10 years of talking online, plus we bumped into Matt and his folks! I finally got round to joining CAMRA, and we finished the night off with a Turkish dinner somewhere up Earl’s Court to soak up the remains whereupon I fell asleep in the restaurant (well I had been up since 5:15am…!).
A lovely evening, but I think next time I’ll get to the GBBF a bit earlier – it was hellishly busy with folks who’d got there from work when I arrived at 6:30pm.
August 8, 2008 at 10:53 am
My lot were there from about 1:30. I think it was well after 7 by the time we left. Didn’t see you anywhere. Git.
August 9, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Bah. I was there from about one until about eight.
Rats! See you next year!