MagicPhil's Tasting Notes 2010

26th London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival 2010

Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, London WC1H 9AU,
close to Kings Cross/St. Pancras

70+ real ales, plus great range of imported beers, ciders + perries. Tombola, table games + excellent food every session. Music free. Wheelchair accessible

Wednesday 10th - Friday 12th March 2010
Open Wed + Thurs 12-3pm + 5-10.30pm;
Fri 12noon -10.30pm.
Last admission after 10pm
Free Wed + Thurs lunchtime
At all other times UKP3.50, CAMRA members UKP2.00

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

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 2.50pm. 10/3/2010

1st Pint. Bays Brewery, Best, 3.7%abv
Type and Festival Programme Notes(TFPN): B, An amber, well balanced, crisp beer with a dry & hoppy finish.
Type: B: Bitter, BB: Best Bitter, SB: Strong Bitter, BW: Barley Wine, DM: Dark Mild, P&S: Porter and Stout, S: Speciality
MagicPhil(MP) says: Yes, the programme note sums it up very well, although I would say it was mid brown rather than amber! It is a well made bitter in prime condition. If I have any quibble, it is that it is a touch sour for me in the finish.
Recommended

2nd Pint. Crouch Vale Brewery, Essex Boys Bitter, 3.5%abv
TFPN: B, Session bitter with biscuity taste and astringent flavour.
MP says: A mid-brown bitter, again in perfect condition, this is similar to the last beer, but is - to me - slightly heavier, slightly sweeter. It lacks the sour finish that I found in the earlier bitter, and thus for me is preferred. I cannot see it as being astringent!
Highly recommended

MagicPhil's Session Pick: Crouch Vale Brewery, Essex Boys Bitter, 3.5%abv

MagicPhil's Reserve Session Pick: Bays Brewery, Best, 3.7%abv

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 2

Wednesday 5.15pm. 10/03/2010

1st Pint. Dark Star Brewery, Hophead ,3.8%abv
Type and Festival Programme Notes(TFPN):B, Light golden citrus hop bitter.
Type: B: Bitter, BB: Best Bitter, SB: Strong Bitter, BW: Barley Wine, DM: Dark Mild, P&S: Porter and Stout, S: Speciality
MagicPhil(MP) says: Yes, light golden citrus hop bitter, plenty there, citrus, mostly grapefruit, but not overwhelming, very fresh, touch of sweetness, but balanced.

2nd Pint. Brewdog Brewery, Trashy Blonde , 4.1%abv
TFPN: BB, A malt body with passion fruit hoppiness to the fore .
MP says: A pale brown, more than slightly hazed bitter. If I had seen this in the glass before I had bought it, I would have rejected it. A lot of citrus immediate, but the fact that it is so cloudy with particulate matter is disappointing, perhaps a touch sour, but poor for presentation. Live in the cask, But not in the glass.

3rd Pint. Crouch Vale Brewery, Willy Warmer, 6.4%abv
TFPN: BB, A dark winter warmer.
MP says: Nice dark first flavours, no immediate progression. Nothing further, this is disappointing for a beer of this supposed character. There is no development past the first mouthful, and for a beer of this type, that is more than sad. The first mouthful tells you everything you need to know about this beer, you don't even need to swallow it, there is no more.

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

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 3

Thursday 5.15pm. 11/03/2010

1st Pint. Crouch Vale Brewery, Brewers Gold, 4.0%abv
Type and Festival Programme Notes(TFPN): B, Pale golden bitter with citrus nose and citrus-hoppy taste.
Type: B: Bitter, BB: Best Bitter, SB: Strong Bitter, BW: Barley Wine, DM: Dark Mild, P&S: Porter and Stout, S: Speciality
MagicPhil(MP) says: A mid yellow bitter, nice first flavours, some citrus, some sweetness. This beer does not develop a great deal, but is a good drinking bitter, very well balanced and does last. I can imagine an evening of Brewers Gold.
Highly Recommended

2nd Pint. Grain Brewery, Oak, 3.8%abv
TFPN: B, Pale brown, hoppy bitter.
MP says: Pale brown, yes, not so hoppy I would say, lively, soft in the mouth, does not have the attack of the Brewers Gold. Perfectly pleasant, but a touch diffuse for me!

3rd Pint. Dark Star Brewery, American Pale Ale, 4.7%abv
TFPN: BB, Light hoppy beer, a former beer of the festival.
MP says: A dark straw-coloured beer with an immediate presence in the mouth. Hops, citrus, lively, fruity, sweetness, depth, it is all there. This is a really good beer in prime condition. I could go on at greater length, but just drink it.
Highly recommended

4th Beer - 1/2 Pint. Acorn Brewery, Motueka IPA, 5.0%abv
TFPN: SB, An IPA using the single variety Motueka hop from New Zealand.
MP says: Very nice, sharp, clean, I have not had this hop before as far as I know, certainly there is a flavour I do not remember. Some sweetness, some citrus, grapefruit, apricots and peaches - it seems! It is perhaps a little sharp for me after the American Pale ale. More towards the citrus end of the spectrum. It is good though.
Recommended

5th Beer - 1/2 Pint. Cheddar Brewery, Goats Leap, 5.5%abv
TFPN: SB, Traditional strong, hoppy IPA.
MP says: A mid brown beer, perhaps a little sweet. Slightly hazy, but there was a warning on the cask, and it hardly affects the beer. Good, but a bit too sweet for me with a slightly sour aftertaste. I would like to try it in prime condition.

6th Beer - 1/2 Pint. Fullers Brewery, Gales Prize Old Ale, 9.0%?abv
TFPN: BW, Recreation of the Gales classic, a blend of fresh and aged beers.
MP says: It is dark and sweet and strong, and the flavours go on, it gets better as you go down the glass. Very good.
Highly recommended

MagicPhil's Session Pick: Dark Star Brewery, American Pale Ale, 4.7%abv

MagicPhil's Reserve Session Pick: Crouch Vale Brewery, Brewers Gold, 4.0%abv

MagicPhil's Strong Beer Pick: Fullers Brewery, Gales Prize Old Ale, 9.0%?abv

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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 4
Friday 3.50pm. 12/03/2010

1st Pint. Brodies Brewery, Brain Wave,3.1 %abv
Type and Festival Programme Notes(TFPN): B, A new charity beer.
Type: B: Bitter, BB: Best Bitter, SB: Strong Bitter, BW: Barley Wine, DM: Dark Mild, P&S: Porter and Stout, S: Speciality
MagicPhil(MP) says: A very pale, light yellow bitter, immediate sour sharp citrus. It is in prefect condition, but is just too sharp and sour for me.

2nd Pint. Purple Moose Brewery, Snowdonia Ale, 3.6%abv
TFPN: B, Golden bitter with citrus fruit hoppiness.
MP says: This is a light brown bitter, with citrus and sweetness, well balanced and crafted. It is softer than the earlier Brain Wave, but there is some sharp/sourness as well.

3rd Pint. St. Austell Brewery, Proper Job IPA, 4.5%abv
TFPN: BB, Aromatic hops are to the fore, leading to a bittersweet finish.
MP says: A nice mid-straw colour, with pleasant first flavours, a touch sweet at first taste, but some sharpness/citrus comes in later on. It does get better as one goes down the glass,

MagicPhil's Session Pick: St. Austell Brewery, Proper Job IPA, 4.5%abv

MagicPhil's Beer of the Festival: Dark Star Brewery, American Pale Ale, 4.7%abv

MagicPhil's Reserve Beer of the Festival: Crouch Vale Brewery, Brewers Gold, 4.0%abv

MagicPhil's Strong Beer of the Festival: Fullers Brewery, Gales Prize Old Ale, 9.0%?abv

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