"Dark Beer Fest "
24-25th November 2022
FESTIVAL BAR (CASK):
THORNBRIDGE ‘Brock’ 4.1% CASK
Stout. Out of the kitchen and onto the bar... labelled a creamy stout, and that smoothness is here in abundance. A hint of woodiness alongside a burst of freshly cut peat, with a moreishly dry finish.
DROP PROJECT x TATE ‘Grounded’ 4.2% CASK
Coffee Mild. This launches itself in one direction, and my word it runs with it. The quality of the coffee is second to none, resulting in a beer that sings with blueberry and biscoff from the beans; a vastly improved cold brew coffee that will surely kick-start the day or evening.
NORTH RIDING ‘Parkin Porter’ 4.5% CASK
Porter. We are heading straight to Yorkshire here, as all the stem ginger and black treacle abound in a proper stodgy cake of a beer. Sweet, yes, but not overly so, and devilishly drinkable.
VERDANT ‘Burnthouse’ 4.6% CASK
Porter. A no-frills porter from the kings of haze, and a bloody good one too. Toasty, roasty, and very old school.
GUN ‘Base Ejection’ 4.7% CASK
Smoked Rye. Subtle hints of smoke and spice from the rye and Bamberg beech-smoked malts makes this one a little different. With a sourdough bread base, it is nicely warming on these cold days.
MOOR ‘Steady Walker’ 4.8% CASK
Old Ale. A lighter version of staff favourite Old Freddy Walker, it retains all that Christmas cake goodness. Think cloves, plums, tangerines, raisins: like walking past a mulled wine urn.
GREEN DUCK ‘Duck Dastardly’ 5.0% CASK
Stout. A very unusual offering here, with the dandelion and burdock coming through boldly on the nose. The palate is more refined, with the delicacies of the spices complimenting the stout base.
ELUSIVE x TIM LLOYD ‘Morrisman’ 5.0% CASK
Dry Stout. Chocolate has been used at every stage of the brewing process here, and it shows! White, milk, and dark all work their way in to one of the chocolatiest beers we have ever had.
DOWNTON ‘Moonstruck’ 5.5% CASK
Dark Ruby Bitter. A tasty drop, brimming with warm baked bread and honey sweetness. Hints of caramel in the pleasingly bitter finish, too.
HOWLING HOPS ‘We Buy Teeth’ 5.5% CASK
American Brown Ale. A beer that gives you something all the way through. Pine and kumquat upon first sniff, flavours of resin, pink grapefruit, and dark chocolate meld delightfully the more you sip.
BRASS CASTLE ‘Hygge Figgy’ 5.7% Gluten Free CASK
Porter. Well, this is something! Dominated by the fig and blueberry, the fresh tartness is balanced by a nectar sweetness. A warm hug in a glass.
DOWNLANDS ‘Super Newengland’ 6.5% CASK
Stout. Fermented with a New England yeast, those fruity esters – coupled with the smooth body – ensure this does not taste as strong as it is. Think apricot tart with a lovely mug of Ovaltine.
MARBLE ‘Ogden’s Foreign Extra’ 7.0% CASK
Export Stout. Squirreled away over the summer, time to finally bring out the cask of this. In return, we are treated to satisfying raw cocoa tones and a malt loaf chewiness. Big, in an inviting way.
REDWILLOW ‘Restless’ 8.5% Contains Lactose CASK
Imperial Porter. Good morning Vietnam! Of course we have a huge coffee hit, which brings with it waftings of redcurrant. The lactose then gives it a squishy, creamy base that feels oh so decadent.
THREE BLIND MICE ‘Mordrake’s Reserve’ 11.5% CASK
Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. A whopping two years in the barrel, and the results speak for themselves. Tannins, aged leather, cherries, dates – such a perfectly rounded and luxurious offering that unveils more with every mouthful. This is such a pleasure to enjoy.
MAIN BAR (CASK):
VIBRANT FOREST ‘Cacaophany’ 8.4% CASK
Imperial Chocolate Stout. Cellar-aged for the best part of three years downstairs, this has rounded out beautifully to accentuate the cacao nib overtones. Very dry, yet with a velvety touch.
OLD CHIMNEYS ‘Good King Henry’ 10.0% CASK
Imperial Stout. Wait, haven't I just seen this? Oh yes, we have it on both cask and keg, just because we love you all so much. Which do you prefer?
PLUS 5 Others, changing as they go!
Kegs in Marquee
FESTIVAL BAR (KEG):
NEON RAPTOR x TURNING POINT ‘Mesozoic Breakfast’ 4.2% KEG
Breakfast Stout. Chocolaty cereal and a big ol' cup of joe! Thick enough to be hugely satisfying, but not so rich as to be too filling, it strikes a wonderful balance that should be tested time and again.
ANSPACH & HOBDAY x DC BRAU ‘Sticke Bier’ 5.5% KEG
Altbier. A very old German style of beer, part lager and part ale, and all delicious. It might be dark in colour, yet is light and crisp in the mouth; the flavours conjuring up fresh fruit atop caramel biscuits.
DURATION ‘Ebb & Flow’ 6.5% KEG
American Stout. A kegged stout for those who like it a little more traditional. Dry yet smooth, with just a soupçon of hop bitterness to add to its moreishness.
YONDER ‘Overnite Oats’ 8.0% KEG
Sour. Dear lordy, the nose on this one... Been smelling it for hours... Blueberry, coconut, vanilla, oats, all VERY much present & yes, correct. We could have this as a breakfast smoothie every day.
PHANTOM ‘Vertigo’ 8.7% KEG
Imperial Foeder Red. This has all the burnt toffee trappings of a great red ale. Add to that the funky sweetness of the wood, with a hint of the cherries upon which it was aged, then we have a cracker.
OLD CHIMNEYS ‘Good King Henry’ 10.0% KEG
Imperial Stout. This is every bit as good as you have been led to believe. Rum ‘n’ raisin, blackberry, and the finest dark chocolate all blending so delightfully. Simply heavenly.
Kegs In Bar
MAIN BAR (KEG):
BURNING SKY ‘Things To Do Today’ 4.8% KEG
American Pale Ale. Reminiscent of the US pales that kicked off the whole craft beer scene here. Bright, bitter, plenty of citrus pith, with a base of dank herbaceousness. Add this to the list.
VERDANT ‘Marylou’ 5.2% KEG
Pale Ale. Quintessentially and unequivocally a Verdant beer. Here we have a super juicy, soft pale that is a riot of peach, passion fruit, and gooseberry.
BEAK ‘Also’ 6.5% KEG
IPA. A delightfully pillowy IPA, far too easy to drink. Saturated with cantaloupe melon, then expressed and caressed with fresh orange zest for your drinking pleasure.
PRESSURE DROP ‘Two Weeks In Florida’ 8.5% KEG
Double IPA. The lemon sherbet of the classic Refreshers bar, blended with the chewy brilliance of Fruit Salad sweets. Any thicker and you would spread it on your crumpet.
YONDER ‘Elixir’ 5.8% KEG
Barrel Aged Sour Porter. Birch sap, chaga fungi, 10 months in barrel... Yes, this is utterly bizarre, and equally brilliant. Tart blackcurrant, liquorice root, earthy umami: an experience.
NEON RAPTOR ‘Vampyre Disco’ 10.0% Contains Lactose KEG
Imperial Sour. Peanut butter and jelly, in a sour, really should not work. And yet it does. Indulgent jammy fruit is sandwiched by the generous helpings of peanut butter.
DOUBLE-BARRELED ‘Layers’ 5.0% KEG
Stout. After the madness of the last few beers, a dose of normality here. Unashamedly traditional.
UNBARRED ‘Stoutzilla 2022’ 10.0% KEG
Imperial Stout. It’s launch day! A veritable smorgasbord of dark delights including chocolate, coffee, and whisky make this a complex beast that requires time to unpack. Worth letting it warm up, too.
Ciders
Various
All available in thirds as well as pints and halves. Enjoy.