MagicPhil's Tasting Notes 2002

London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival 2002

Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, London WC1,
close to Kings Cross/St. Pancras)

Wednesday 20th. - Friday 22nd March 2002
Open Wed + Thurs 12-3pm + 5-10.30pm;
Fri 12-10.30pm.
Last admission 10pm
CAMRA members admitted free Wed + Thurs lunchtime
+ 50p up to 1pm on Fri, £1.50 at all other times
(non-members £2.50)
A range of regional beers, beers rarely seen in London,
cider, perry + imported beer. Hot and cold food.

Entertainments:
Breweriana Auction wed eve.
Thurs quiet night.
Live music on Fri eve.

This and previous years of MagicPhil's Tasting Notes at:-
http://www.littlebluerhino.demon.co.uk/ldbf.htm
or at the US mirror site:-
http://www.magicphil.net/lbr/ldbf.htm

Magicphils Disclaimer:
No warranty is implied for any beer mentioned. It should not be implied that any beer not mentioned is disparaged.
Magicphil drinks ordinary bitters and does not drink milds; and does not, therefore, review them.
Any person who chooses to read the reviews below, or indeed to base their actions on them in any way is to be cautioned that Magicphil will not hold himself liable for the actions of such persons.
This disclaimer is forced on Magicphil by comments he received at the thursday evening session.

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N.B. There are no Festival Programme Summaries(FPS) in the programme this year but the type of beer (as defined in the programme) is given.

MagicPhil's Tasting Notes -Volume 1

Wednesday 2.10pm. 21/03/2002

1st Pint. Boggart Hole Clough Brewery, Bitter, Bitter 3.8%abv
MagicPhil(MP) says: A dark-straw coloured bitter with a lot of citrus immediately evident in the mouth. The flavours go on in the mouth and, for me, become a little too sour/sharp; However, this beer is in prime condition and really should be tried.
Recommended.

2nd Pint. Picks Brewery, Picks Pale Ale, Bitter 3.7%abv
MP says: A light straw colour with a slight haze. The flavours here are mixed, some citrus, but some acetal, vinegary flavours appear early, lacks depth. Some may like this, but it is not for me.

3rd Pint. Mighty Oak Brewery, Indecent Eggs Posure, Bitter 3.8%abv
MP says: A mid straw colour bitter, good nose, slight sulphide, rich citrus in the mouth, not overpowering. Good fruits and good depths that last in the mouth. I can imagine drinking this beer all night, with the proviso that it might be a little dry after a few pints.
Recommended

MagicPhil's Session Pick: Mighty Oak Brewery, Indecent Eggs Posure, Bitter 3.8%abv

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes -Volume 2

Wednesday 5.25pm. 20/03/2002


1st Pint. Cheriton Brewery, Pots, Bitter, 3.8%abv
MagicPhil(MP) says: A good beer in prime condtion. There may not be vast depths of flavour to this beer, there is some citrus and pepper hop, for instance, but the flavours that are there develop and expand. A very good drinking bitter.
Recommended

2nd Pint. Eastwoods Brewery, Bargee, Bitter, 3.8%abv
MP says: Reasonable first flavours, it has a good attack, and may be better than it first appears, it is hazy/cloudy and lacking in body. It is disappointing that this the "Champion beer of Britain" would seem to be in poor condition for one of Londons major beer festivals.

3rd Pint. Oldershaws Brewery, Mowbrays Mash, Bitter, 3.7%abv
MP says: Slightly hazed, a vague honey tang early on, not really sweet on the tongue, good flavours, but no great length. Having said that, I would probably prefer this to the Bargee!!

4th Pint. Sweet William Brewery, Just William, Bitter 3.8%abv
MP says: A beer that does not seem to develop at all. It is almost as though it is a beer brewed for bottling, where all the flavour is immediately present in the mouth when it is opened. There is no depth that I can find.

MagicPhil's Session Pick: Cheriton Brewery, Pots, Bitter, 3.8%abv

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 3

Thursday 2.30pm. 21/03/2002

1st Pint. RCH Brewery, PG Steam, Bitter, 3.9%abv
MagicPhil(MP) says: A mid-brown beer with a good bite and depth to it, some citrus and a little sweetness coming in a bit later. In prime condition, a good all round drinking bitter.
Highly recommended

2nd Pint. Woodfordes Brewery, Wherry, Bitter, 3.8%abv
MP says: At first taste this has a thin refreshing clean citrus flavour without a great depth of body, but as one drinks it, more develop. Again, in prime condition, this is a very pleasant beer with more to it than is immediately apparent.
Highly recommended

MagicPhil's Session Pick: It really is difficult for me to choose between these beers. I could, and have, happily drunk either. The greater immediate body of the PG steam is to be set against the initial thinness of the Wherry, which however has a greater depth and finish. No, I can't choose.
I did, however, have another half of the Wherry.

MagicPhil's Session Picks:
RCH Brewery, PG Steam, Bitter, 3.9%abv
Woodfordes Brewery, Wherry, Bitter, 3.8%abv

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 4

Thursday 5.30pm. 21/03/2002

1st Pint. Boat Brewery, Bombers Moon, Bitter, 3.8%abv
MagicPhil(MP) says: Quite dark for a bitter, a bit liquorice, it is almost as though the brewer is used to brewing milds and has chosen to try his/her hand at bitter. As a bitter, for me, it is too sweet and too chewy.

2nd Pint. Cheriton Brewery, Village Elder, Bitter, 3.8%abv
MP says: Very pale, very light, good fruity citrus. All the flavours are here, this is in best condition and should be drunk.
Highly recommended

3rd Pint. Ossett Brewery, Silver Fox, Bitter, 4.0%abv
MP says: A fine golden beer, a little malty, a little sweet at the end, more bite than I had thought at first, a little citrus. Yes, maybe.

4th Pint. Hopback Brewery, GFB, Bitter, 3.5%abv
MP says: Light brown bitter with a good mouth feel, not quite as lively as one might ask, but with some hops and some sweetness, a little citrus and a bit of length.

I did have a half after this to keep company with a friend and enjoyed some Woodfordes Wherry (see Vol. 3) and noted that it had aged nicely and seemed to be richer in the cask.

MagicPhil's Session Pick: Cheriton Brewery, Village Elder, Bitter, 3.8%abv

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 5

Friday pm. 22/03/2002

1st Pint. Hogs Back Brewery, Hair of the Hog, Bitter, 3.5%abv
MagicPhil(MP) says: Rather hazed, with no great life in the mouth, but it does develop to some extent. I would like to try this when it was in prime condition. Disappointing.

2nd Pint. Harviestoun, Bitter and Twisted, Bitter, 3.8%abv
MP says: Very nice light citrus in the mouth to start with, and then some development; no great depth of flavour or body, but a really good drinking bitter.
Recommended

3rd Pint. Pitfield Brewery, Eco Warrior, Bitter, 4.5%abv
MP says: A light straw colour belies the body and strength here, there is immediate citrus but also body, there is length here as well; no different flavours and a little sweet, but those available develop well.
Highly recommended

4th Pint. RCH Brewery, Pitchfork, Bitter, 4.3%abv
MP says: Good immediate body and flavours, a pale straw colour beer in prime condition. The only problem I have is that the flavours do not develop perhaps as much as I would wish, but this really is one of the best of bitters that I have tried.
Recommended

5th Pint. Woodefordes Brewery, Nelsons Revenge, Bitter, 4.5%abv
MP says: An immediate burst of citrus flavour on to the tongue announces this beer, and then the sweetness comes in, but it is a balanced sweetness, not quite honey, but it does go on. This has body, more than is evident, but in the end a little sweet for me.
Recommended

MagicPhil's Session Pick: Harviestoun, Bitter and Twisted, Bitter, 3.8%abv.

MagicPhil's Beer of the Festival: Cheriton Brewery, Village Elder, Bitter, 3.8%abv

MagicPhil's Reserve Beers of the Festival:
RCH Brewery, PG Steam, Bitter, 3.9%abv
Woodfordes Brewery, Wherry, Bitter, 3.8%abv
Pitfield Brewery, Eco Warrior, Bitter, 4.5%abv

MagicPhil's Breweries of the Festival: Cheriton, RCH and Woodefordes Breweries


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