MagicPhil's Tasting Notes 2006

London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival 2006

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

Wednesday 22nd - Friday 24th March 2006
Open Wed + Thurs 12-3pm + 5-10.30pm;
Fri 12-10.30pm.
No admission after 10pm
Admission free Wed + Thurs lunchtime
CAMRA members £1.50 at all other times
(non-members £3.00)

Further info see: http://www.camranorthlondon.org.uk/

Food all sessions.
Breweriana Auction wed eve.
Imported Beer
Smoking Area

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. If other persons wish to have Milds reviewed, it is open to them to do so. 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 has received at previous beer festivals.

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes -Volume 1

Wednesday 2.30pm. 22/03/2006

1st Pint. Brewsters Brewery, Marquis Bitter, 3.9%abv
Festival Programme Notes(FPN) and Category(C): Well-balanced session bitter with maltiness and a dry hoppy finish. Bitter.
MagicPhil(MP) says: A mid-brown bitter witha little citrus immediately available, a bit hoppy in the mouth with a little pepper, a touch of grapefruit, perhaps. Good drinking bitter, no great development, but perfectly good for an evening.
Recommended.

2nd Pint. Custom Brewery, Centenniale Bitter, 3.8%abv
FPN&C: New Beer. Bitter.
MP says: A Dark straw coloured bitter, clear as a bell and immediately zesty and refreshing in the mouth! Lots of citrus bursting out, perhaps a little sharp, one might think, but the beer supports it. No vast development, but a beer to drink on an Italian balcony while watching the Palio perhaps. And in the pub certainly, if it can be found.
Highly Recommended

MagicPhil's Session Pick: Custom Brewery, Centenniale Bitter, 3.8%abv

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes -Volume 2

Wednesday 5.20pm. 22/3/2006

1st Pint. Millstone Brewery, Windy Miller, (not in programme), 4.1%abv
FPN&C: Not Applicable.
MagicPhil(MP) says: Mid to light straw colour; if anything, a bit sweet? Pleasant, a little citrus there, yeasty, not much development, but the sweetness is cut by the citrus as one goes on. Not really distinctive, but perfectly drinkable for an evening.

2nd Pint. Purity Brewery, Pure Gold, 3.8%abv
FPN&C: New Beer. Bitter.
MP says: A mid-straw colour, immediate citrus, an underlying sweetness that comes through. A little sharp, oranges and grapefruit in the mouth, with a tendency towards a slightly sweeter side.

3rd. Pint. E & S Elland Brewery, Bargee. 3.8%abv
FPN&C: Well-hopped session ale, with fruity taste & bitter-sweet finish. Bitter.
MP says:Licorice maybe, a bit malty? Good, a touch of banana, but not old dry banana! Pleasant beer.

4th Pint. Kelburn Brewery, Goldihops. 3.8%abv
FPN&C: Well-hopped session ale, with fruity taste & bitter-sweet finish. Bitter.
MP says:A dark straw beer, that gives both citrus and sweet, perhaps a little too sweet, but, again, perfectly drinkable beer.

MagicPhil's Session Pick: None
MagicPhil's Reserve Session Pick: Purity Brewery, Pure Gold, 3.8%abv

Magicphil's Rant today is: Why does it take so long to get in to the LDBF?
I was in the queue at 4.57pm and did not get in until 5.20 approx. Why is there no "CAMRA members with the right money" queue. The fact is that there is only one person taking money, why this is, when there are two available tills, is anyone's guess, perhaps it is just too difficult? I have to accept, that there are people who say, in the queue, that it is taking so long because the people in front are like them, and are going to hand over UKP20 notes. They seem to do this in a sort of happy way?!! nuff sed.

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 3

Thursday 2.40pm. 23/03/2006

1st Pint. George Wright Brewery, Longboat, 3.9%abv
FPN&C:Pale gold classic light summer ale with forest beer sweetness. Bitter.
MagicPhil(MP) says: Light brown, or dark straw, some immediate citrus, balanced by a little sweetness and some hops. Not a great development, and the sweetness goes on, but a reasonable bitter.
Forest Beer sweetness? What do brewers do in the woods? Obviously brew beer, possibly helped by Bruin!

2nd Pint. Big Lamp Brewery, Bitter, 3.9%abv
FPN&C: Clean tasting tawny bitter, full of hops and malt. Bitter.
MP says: Mid to dark brown, quite smokey to start with, after the first hit of flavour and licquorice on the tongue, it seems not to develop, but later on some citrus comes through, orangey rather than anything sharper. Ends up with a touch of banana. Altogether, perfectly good, if limited.

MagicPhil's Session Pick: George Wright Brewery, Longboat, 3.9%abv

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 4

Thursday 5.10pm. 23/03/2006

1st Pint. Millstone Brewery, Three shires, 4.0%abv
FPN&C. Pale hoppy beer, with fruity aromas derived from 3 hop varieties. Best Bitter.
MagicPhil(MP) says: A very pleasant, light bitter, with initial sweetness, and some citrus. Really golden, even light gold coloured beer, that even though there is little development, is a very good drinking bitter. The citrus and sweetness balance well, and all is good for a session - at least.
Recommended

2nd Pint. Crouch Vale Brewery, Brewers Gold, 4.0%abv
FPN&C: CAMRA's Champion Beer of Britain 2005. Best Bitter
MP says: Yes, very much the same as the Three shires, but slightly darker and possibly a bit sweeter. Where the Three shires is balanced citrus and sweetness, this is biased to sweetness. Good, all the same, but I prefer the Three shires.

3rd Pint. Bowland Brewery, Sky dancer, 4.5%abv
FPN&C: New Beer (light).
MP says: A dark golden beer that produces immediate "rich" flavours even before it is on the tongue. No immediate honey flavours, but very pleasant. Slight banana, and then chewy toffee flavours come in before it all comes down to honey flavours that overpower almost everything. In the end, for me, it was a bit too much like drinking sugar water flavoured with honey with alcohol in, there was no developing depth or flavour. In the end, I could only just finish this pint. Disappointing.

MagicPhil's Session Pick: Millstone Brewery, Three shires, 4.0%abv

MP's comment:
I arrived at Camden Centre today at 4.50pm and found that the queue was going around the other way (not towards Judd street) and overheard a snide comment from one of the stewards that finally the queue was going the right way. Well, if the queue should have been going the other way over the last 22 years, this is the first that I, at least, have heard of it. Perhaps the stewards should actually inform people, or even, assist people in doing what they want them to do. It is stupid to have no signs or guidance and then to complain that people are not doing what you want them to do if they have not been told what you want. This is poor management.

I have also to say that when I entered, 5.10pm or so, there was a CAMRA entry and non-CAMRA entry. This is to be encouraged at all times, and, I am sure, would ameliorate some of the queueing complaints that occur.

I must also say that the security people that I have seen and interacted with - this festival - and to some extent last - have been sensible and low-key and have only acted when necessary. It seems that having control of the fire escape routes etc. in the hands of professional people has paid off and I complement them on this.
End of MP's comment:

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 5
Friday 3.10pm. 24/03/2006

1st Pint. Butts Brewery, Traditional, 4.0 %abv
FPN&C: Rich golden beer with a hint of fruitiness. Best Bitter.
MagicPhil(MP) says: A mid-brown soft bitter, no vast flavours to force acceptance, some licquorice and banana, a little citrus comes in later, maybe a slightly sour final aftertaste, altogether unremarkable.

2nd Pint. Dark Star Brewery, Hophead, 3.8%abv
FPN&C: Light, hoppy refreshing. Bitter
MP says: Very light, very fruity to start with, a mid straw beer, citrus there, but not sharp acid citrus, more like chewy orange marmalade without the peel, that only bites at the end! This does slip down a treat and the tastes are good.
Highly recommended

3rd Pint. Frankton Bagby Brewery, Barnstormer, 3.8%abv
FPN&C: A golden beer. Bitter.
MP says: First beer at this festival that has been hazed. (In a pub I would not have accepted it) Vaguely unpleasant taste to start with, sour. I junked the last 3/4pt of this and went on to:

4th Pint. Wentworth Brewery, Best Bitter, 4.1%abv
FPN&C: Hoppy bitter beer with hints of citrus fruits.
MP says: A mid-brown beer that is fresh and refreshing.A touch of licquorice but no great citrus, again, this does go down very well, it is almost all that I could ask for a best bitter, it might be a touch sticky, but very good.
Recommended

5th Pint. Dark Star Brewery, Hophead, 3.8%abv
FPN&C: Light, hoppy refreshing. Bitter
MP says: I had a second pint of this simply to keep a friend company! But it is very good, and it is no hardship to drink it.
Recommended to all.

6th Pint. Maldon Brewery, Pucks Folly, 4.2%abv
FPN&C: Modern pale ale, with Goldings hops. Best Bitter
MP says: A very pleasant mid straw coloured beer that gives good flavours while it lasts, a little citrus, a little banana, but it does seem to run out at the end.

MagicPhil's Session Pick: Dark Star Brewery, Hophead, 3.8%abv.

MagicPhil's Reserve Session Pick: Wentworth Brewery, Best Bitter, 4.1%abv.

MagicPhil's Beer of the Festival: Millstone Brewery, Three Shires, 4.0%abv

MagicPhil's Reserve Beer of the Festival: Dark Star Brewery, Hophead, 3.8%abv

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