Too Much Real Ale?

What a day. The meeting went to 7PM, and we were exhausted at the end. But CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) was hosting a beer festival at Nottingham Castle, and one of the chaps we were working with suggested that we head over for the evening. So we drove over (parked too far away this time), and stopped by the Olde Trip for a beer. I had the Nottingham Smooth Radio Ale while we got a tour of the establishment. But I couldn’t wait. I’d been on the tour before and I knew there were new beers right up the hill. So I went up to explore and see if I could find the rest of my friends. I went through the gates, paid my admission fee, and headed to one of the two beer tents. Oh my goodness, there was cask ale everywhere. Not just dozens of options, but hundreds! There were over 700 different cask ales at the festival, and when I later reviewed the list, I had tried only perhaps a dozen of them before. There were too many choices, and I found myself paralyzed by worrying if I’d make the right choice. You know what you need to do in that situation? Order your first beer, drink it, and then get ready to order your next one.

So that’s what I did. I started with Mauldon’s Oktoberfest, and followed it up with their Ploughman’s ale. I had a system. I’d ask for a taste of one beer, try it, and then give my ticket for another beer from that brewery. The glasses we were given were 8oz, and the tastes were half full, or ~4oz. Now with my whistle wet, I went and found our friends from Rolls-Royce. Robin (ironic name here in Nottingham) was a CAMRA member, and he recommended trying some ale from Blue Monkey brewery. I tried the 99 Balloons (presumably after the song) and followed it up with the Amarillo, named after the hops used. Both were very good. I was now hungry, so I got a bacon sandwich that really hit the spot, and then picked up a copy of the Good Beer Guide 2010 in case I get an opportunity to return next year.

I was settling down, getting comfortable with the layout of the event, so I started to roam and see what else was available. Highgate brewing was there, so I tried their Saddler’s ale, followed by their Black Pearl stout. Outstanding! We were having fun hanging out people watching. I was able to try some curry as a snack, and then Solitaire’s brewing Blackberry Cascade and their Rye Smile. I had more tickets, but was getting pretty full. I shared my tickets with my friends and called it an evening. It was a great day, rewarded by some great beer. - 5205

"Make sure that the beer – four pints a week – goes to the troops under fire before any of the parties in the rear get a drop." – Winston Churchill to his Secretary of War, 1944