MagicPhil's Tasting Notes 2000

London Drinker Beer Festival 2000
"Prepare to be Beerwitched" at the London Drinker Beer and Cider
Festival, Wed 22nd March to Fri 24th March at the Camden Centre,
Bidborough Street, London WC1.
Opposite St Pancras Station
Nearest tube: Kings Cross - St Pancras
Regional beers, festival special brews, cider, perry, imported beers, hot and cold food, breweriana auction Wednesday evening, live music from Wolfie Witcher and his Brew on Friday evening.
Opening Times
Wed and Thu:
12 - 3pm and 5 - 10.30pm
Lunchtime FREE
Evening 2.50 (CAMRA members 1.50)
Fri:
12 - 10.30pm
Before 1pm 1.50 (CAMRA members 0.50)
After 1pm 2.50 (CAMRA members 1.50)
No admission after 10pm.
Organisers reserve the right to refuse admission.
More information from CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, 01727 867201
www.camra.org.uk
Info from "Robin Cox" via uk.food+drink.real-ale
All Festival Programme Summaries(FPS) by Alison Cox

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes -Volume 1

Wednesday 2.15pm.

1st Pint. Barum Brewery, XTC 3.9%abv
Festival Programme Summary(FPS): None Provided
MagicPhil(MP) says: Mid-Brown Fruity/Citrus beer that lasts in the mouth. Lots of flavour, I thought it appley at first, but more citrus. Very pleasant beer, goes down well. May well be a beer that I will go back to. Recommended.

2nd Pint. Hampshire Brewery, Richard Lionheart 4.2%abv
FPS: "A smooth golden best bitter"
MP says: A straw coloured bitter -dark straw- which to my first taste was a little acidic/sour. There is more flavour there, and it gets better, but it is a little acidic for me. If you like sharp bitters try it.

3rd Pint. Tripple FFF Brewery, Pressed Rat and Warthog 3.8%abv
FPS: None Provided
MP says: A Dark Ruby Mild; A little liquorice, but very characteristic of its type. Not altogether to my liking, there is not a great depth of flavour there. This is -for me- a pleasant but undistinguished mild.

MagicPhil's Session Pick: Barum Brewery, XTC 3.9%abv

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes -Volume 2

Wednesday 5.30pm. 22/03/2000

1st Pint. Goffs Brewery, Jouster 4.0%abv
Festival Programme Summary(FPS): A very drinkable, tawny coloured ale, with a light hoppiness in the aroma. It has a good balance of malt and bitterness in the mouth, underscored by fruitiness, with a clean, hoppy aftertaste.
MP says: Yes, the FPS sums it up pretty well, I would say that there was plenty of citrus and a good depth, the only reservation I have is that I would expect a greater depth, but perhaps I am looking for more from a good drinking bitter. Recommended

2nd Pint. Royal Clarence Brewery, PG Steam 3.9%abv
FPS: "Floral hop aroma with some malt. A medium bodied complex bitter"
MP says: A very pleasant bitter with good depth of fruit and more flavour than expected, This is a good bitter to keep going with. Good nose. I can almost imagine drinking this "all day" Recommended.

3rd Pint. Holdens Brewery, Black Country Bitter 3.9%abv
FPS: A medium bodied golden ale; a light, well-balanced bitter with a subtle,dry,hoppy finish.
MP says: This beer takes a while to develope its flavours, there is more than is immediately apparent, not as much citrus as in the previous two beers. Depth of flavour is good, it is a long-lasting bitter, more appears as one imbibes! Recommended

MagicPhil's Session Pick: Perhaps I have been lucky tonight, but certainly I can recommend any of the beers in the Wednesday evening session.

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 3

Thursday 2.40pm. 23/03/2000

1st Pint. Oakham Brewery, JHB 3.8%abv
Festival Programme Summary(FPS): Impressive straw-coloured quaffing bitter with bold floral,grassy hop, grapefruit and kiwifruit and a little sweetness followed by a long dry aftertaste.
MagicPhil(MP) says: Yes, the programme note almost sums it up. It is a drinking bitter, and there are some good light flavours with a slight sour/dry finish, but I failed to find the depth of taste implied. Perfectly adequate, but no more.

2nd Pint. Wychwood Brewery, Alchemy Gold 4.4%abv
FPS: None Provided
MP says: A dark-straw colured bitter with soft flavour -almost honey flavour- which belies its strength. A pleasant drinking bitter, seems to lack the depth I would have expected from a beer of 4.4%abv. Good to drink as a session bitter, not exceptional.

MagicPhil's Session Pick: None

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 4

Thursday 5.20pm. 23/03/2000

1st Pint. Tomos Watkins Brewery, Woosh 3.7%abv
Festival Programme Summary(FPS): None Provided
MagicPhil(MP) says: Good mid-light brown bitter, plenty of flavour, good in the mouth. The flavour continues and gets better, there isadded flavour at the end. Good Drinking Bitter. Recommended.

2nd Pint. B&T Brewery, Dragonslayer 4.5%abv
FPS: A straw coloured beer, dry, malty and lightly hopped.
MP says: Yes, good beer, good flavour, good body, good depth. Plenty of flavour here, there is immediate citrus but then modified to depth, with more appearing as it is consumed. It does last. Highly Recommended

3rd. Pint. Broughton Brewery, Greenmantle Ale. 3.9%abv
Festival Programme Summary(FPS): A beer with predominantly malty aroma, a malty taste with hints of fruit and hops but little aftertaste.
MP says: Yes, the programme note sums this up very well, there is no more here than in the first mouthful. I thought that it showed more depth in the mouth, but I was mistaken.

4th. Pint. Beartown Brewery, Kodiac Gold. 4.0%abv
FPS: Not in programme
MP says: A light-straw coloured beer, good depth, good flavour, good citrus and fruit; there is more here than is immediately evident. The flavour goes on and gets better. Recommended

MagicPhil's Session Pick: Beartown Brewery, Kodiac Gold. 4.0%abv

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 5

Friday 3.30pm. 24/03/2000

1st Pint. Inveralmond brewery, Independence 3.8%abv
Festival Programme Summary(FPS): An amber-red, sweetish beer witha hint of spiciness in the aroma.
MagicPhil(MP) says: Mid-brown bitter with some hop flavours, no great depth, might be a reasonable session bitter.

2nd Pint. Enville brewery, Simpkiss bitter 3.8%abv
FPS: A medium bodied golden bitter. The refreshing hoppy taste lingers.
MP says: A medium-straw coloured bitter, light on the tongue, good flavours, lasts for a while, some hoppiness towards the end, a slight sour finish. Recommended.

3rd. Pint. Whim Brewery, Hartington IPA 4.5%abv
FPS: Pale and light-coloured, smooth on the palate allowing malt to predominate. Slightly sweet finish combined with distinctive light hop bitterness. Well rounded.
MP says: Pale straw colour, lots of fruit immediately evident, possibly honey type flavours as well, slight sour, almost grapefruit finish. A lot of complex flavours that take a while to develop. This gets better as one drinks it; had I more time, I would have a second pint. Highly recommended.

4th. Pint. Buffy's Brewery, Polly's Folly 4.3%abv
FPS: Good balance of bitterness and fruit. Lovely copper colour.
MP says: A pleasant beer, good in the mouth, some hops, some citrus flavours, it does develop a little with a dry finish. A little sweet for me at the end. A pleasant enough drinking bitter.

MagicPhil's Session Pick: Whim Brewery, Hartington IPA 4.5%abv
MagicPhil's Beer of the Festival: Beartown Brewery, Kodiac Gold. 4.0%abv
MagicPhil's Reserve Beers of the Festival: B&T Brewery, Dragonslayer 4.5%abv, Whim Brewery, Hartington IPA 4.5%abv

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