April 2025 Beer Festival
Cask in Marquee
GRAVITY WELL ‘Kuiper Belt’ 3.4%
Mild. A pretty damn fine first attempt at a mild, this. The deep burgundy colour looks the part, and it fulfils its promise as the blackberry, chocolate, and hazelnut notes waltz along the tongue.
BLACK ISLE ‘Goldfinch’ 3.4% CASK Gluten Free
Session IPA. The nose is a huge hit of fresh clementine, all pith and juice. The palate is a little more restrained, resulting in a beer that is remarkably quaffable, and rather moreish.
WILDERNESS ‘Blonde Ale’ 3.8% CASK
Blonde. A light blonde, hopped with Citra – and boy you can tell! So much grapefruit and candied orange, with a green and grassy foundation. A modern interpretation of this oh so classic style.
SWANNAY ‘Chance Your Arm’ 3.8% CASK
Bitter. Immediately, the clarity of this is astonishing! All the way down from Orkney, it is has travelled beautifully, the abundance of marmalade on toast and fresh lemon an absolute joy.
THORNBRIDGE ‘Lowline’ 3.8% CASK Contains Lactose
Milk Stout. This is a proper grown up mocha: you have the coffee, you have the chocolate, you have the milky creaminess. Not your average morning routine.
KELHAM ISLAND ‘Fagan’s’ 4.0% CASKI
Irish Red. A hint of caramel adds depth to the fragrant hedgerow berries emanating, a beer that is on point for the style. A dryness to the finish has you rushing back for more.
GOOD CHEMISTRY ‘Magic Valley’ 4.0% CASK
Pale Ale. A smooth, soft pale that brings out the stone fruit flavours. Apricot jam comes to mind as we sup this, accentuating the promise of that initial aroma.
INDIE RABBLE ‘Route Two’ 4.0% CASK
Bitter. A surprisingly traditional offering from one of our favourite new breweries. Earthy, woody lines run through what is reminiscent of a proper old school pub distilled into a glass.
UTOPIAN ‘CF321’ 4.2% CASK
Pale Ale. A hop so new it doesn't even have a name yet, and I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more of it. Starting with creamy coconut before moving through vibrant peach, it's a winner alright.
OTHERWORLD ‘Tinderbox’ 4.4% CASK
80 Shilling. This reminds me of walking through a wild forest, a waft of wood smoke and a hint of wild spice seeping in. Hints of raisin and molasses, albeit lighter in touch, round off this wee bonnie.
FARM YARD ‘Crying Lightning’ 4.4% CASK
Oatmeal Stout. The oats in the malt bill lend this old school stout a very pleasing thickness, one that compliments the expected darker flavours expertly.
SIREN x BIRRIFICIO ITALIANO ‘Circle Back’ 4.4% CASK
Italian Best Bitter. The super bright, aromatic Italian hops lend this otherwise archetypal bitter a much stronger floral, perfumed edge. Amazingly refreshing, this is a welcome twist on the familiar.
DARK REVOLUTION ‘Sweater Weather’ 4.5% CASK
Special Bitter. Possibly a safer bet than the previous, it still has a decent level of hoppiness to it. Mandarin comes to the fore here, as well as baked apples, before settling into a satisfying bitter end.
OTHERWORLD ‘Manduca’ 4.8% CASK
IPA. Not a pale for those who prefer the sweeter varieties, this one has some bite. Piney and bitter, it punches like a West Coast classic, forcefully yet skilfully balanced.
BURNT MILL ‘A Thousand Tides’ 5.2% CASK
Pale Ale. Early frontrunner for first to go. Another cracking hazy pale from the kings of the style, it is overflowing with lychee and mango and gooseberry. More please, a lot more.
BREW YORK ‘Cherry Tonkoko’ 5.5% CASK Contains Lactose
Milk Stout. The latest variation on a perennial favourite, what a delightfully delicious dessert beer this is. The cherry compliments the coconut and tonka of the original... “just really f’ing good.”
MARBLE ‘Doctor Dee’ 5.9% CASK
Cascadian Dark Ale. The old name for a black IPA, this combines the bold fruitiness of a pale with the roasty flavours of a dark ale. A tough line to tread, but of course Marble manage it with aplomb.
THE KERNEL ‘East India Pale Ale: London 1897’ 6.0% CASK
IPA. The Kernel have been raiding the recipe archives again, and have unearthed this gem from the end of the Victorian era. A thick malt backbone supports the pale berry notes superbly. So refined.
Cask - An Expanded wonderful range on the bar
Kegs in Marquee
NEWBARNS ‘Lothian Lager’ 5.0% KEG
Lager. The plethora of jokes I could make about Scotland and sun, but no matter the jibes, this is a lager made for soaking up the rays. Bready & straw-like, with a bright crispness that is simply divine.
VERDANT ‘All Of This May Be Untrue’ 4.9% KEG
Pale Ale. Have I finally been rumbled on my tasting notes? This bright pale ale is full of cinnamon and ginger notes, with an element of eucalyptus and mint. But then, all of this may be untrue.
GRAVITY WELL ‘Fermionic Condensate’ 6.0% KEG
IPA. Seemingly the more complex the concept, the better the beer from these Leytonians. Soft, tropical, juicy: all the keywords we want in a hazy IPA are correct and very present.
PHANTOM ‘Long Live Senior Prawn!’ 8.0% KEG
Double IPA. The names may be getting dafter, but the beer is still amazing. Lychee and mango, balanced out with just enough bitterness in the finish to ensure repeated helpings are a must.
RIGG & FURROW x WILDERNESS ‘Cassette’ 4.0% KEG
Grisette. If grisettes make a comeback like cassettes, then we are living in my world. Light and fragrant, the heavy dose of blackcurrant lends this a wonderful shade of purple, and a fruity spritz.
YONDER ‘Millionaire’ 5.0% KEG Contains Lactose
Stout. Millionaire shortbread in beer form – you could not make Dominic any happier. He will drink it all, so you had better be quick. And if he says it's finished, do not believe him.
ARBOR ‘Rubber Dinghy Rapids’ 10.0% KEG
Imperial Stout. It’s been a while since we have seen anything this big from Arbor, so this Mississippi mud pie inspired offering is a real indulgence. Satisfyingly gooey chocolate tones aplenty.
Kegs In Bar
BEAK ‘Tables’ 3.4% KEG
Pale Ale. Everyone loves a tasty bit of Beak, and this cheeky treat will be no exception. A pillowy softness gives way to a zing of citrus fruitiness, a delectable little pint.
BURNT MILL ‘Bright Skies’ 5.0% KEG
Pale Ale. There are few breweries here who can do these crystal-clear pales as well as Burnt Mill. From the pithy, dank aroma, over the biscuity undercurrent, to the rasping bitter finish: a triumph.
RIVINGTON ‘Pastel Sea Of Tranquility’ 6.8% KEG
IPA. Serenity in liquid form, the sticky tropical fruit flavours have a chilled, sun-kissed vibe to them. A beer to sit back and completely unwind with.
FOLKINGEBREW ‘Blueprint (Galaxy)’ 8.5% KEG
Double IPA. If this is the blueprint, the final product must be immense! A riot of pineapple, guava, overripe pear... it coats the mouth and lasts long after you've swallowed. Study this one hard.
HOLY GOAT ‘Holy Mountain’ 6.2% KEG
Sour. Aged on Stevnsbær sour cherries of Frederiksdal fame, the blood red colour warns you of the explosion to come. Mouth-puckeringly sour, the taste is equally bombastic, and utterly remarkable. Krieky!
AZVEX x STATE OF KIND ‘Genome Project [25.04]’ 8.2% KEG
Sour. The sheer volume of fruit breweries ram in smoothie sours these days is ridiculous, and this might top the lot. They have somehow amped up Mana! Bonkers, stupidly brilliantly bonkers.
PILLARS ‘Vienna Lager’ 4.9% KEG
Lager. Something a little different, a great Vienna lager is always a pleasure. Sharp and refreshing, of course, the hint of deeper sweetness along with an apple tang ensures a rewarding offering.
DE STRUISE ‘Black Albert 2022’ 13.0% KEG
Belgian Royal Stout. A legendary stout from a phenomenal brewery, this is the very definition of decadence. Rich, dark chocolate, the length of which is extraordinary, with hints of caramel and vanilla adding a wealth of complexity and depth. The extra age on this has worked wonders, too.
Ciders
Various
All available in thirds as well as pints and halves. Enjoy.