Chris Hall remembers that time he went to the 2012 Great British Beer Festival, and highlights the best beers he found there.
Having had plenty of time to digest and ponder the events of the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF), I feel confident in saying that it was rather good indeed. The CAMRA-ness only occasionally got in the way of having a great time, and there was so much to enjoy. It’s a fantastic day out, and felt even better than last year.
I really enjoyed last year’s GBBF, but was blown away by how much better Olympia is as a venue. For one thing, it’s bigger. A huge, vast, aircraft hangar-meets-St-Pancras-Station of a venue, with light pouring in through its high-as-the-sky ceiling. Earl’s Court is no potting shed, but that place got so hot on the Saturday that some ale lovers had to be carried out. At least I think that was because it was so hot.
As for beer, GBBF was suitably bursting with varieties and styles. Naturally, this being a CAMRA gig, there was an abundance of milds, golden ales and best bitters. I don’t have anything against these styles because when they’re good, they’re very good indeed. However, when more than a half of what is on offer is OK at best, it can become tedious. As a result, I made an effort to seek out the weirdest, highest regarded, strongest and oddest beers I could find. There were some frankly excellent beers on display, my favourites being those below:
Ilkley Siberia – a rhubarb Saison, resulting from a collaboration with beer writer Melissa Cole. It’s rich, juicy, creamy, sweet, spicy, and does that great Saison trick of being smooth, sharp and super-refreshing. Off-the-wall and to be savoured if encountered.
Marble Lagonda IPA – Big bodied, rambunctious but sophisticated IPA. Very much of an American bent, it rides a citric hop rollercoaster around your mouth and keeps things fast and fruity.
Epic Hopulent IPA – unadulterated hop violence delivered with lightning bolts and relentless anger. Very much what you’d expect from a company called Epic.
Brodies Dalston Black IPA – I have had this before, but it still stands head and shoulders above other black IPAs I’ve tried. The roasty and citric sweet flavours are kept separate by a muscular body that keeps things even-handed and leaves you reeling when the spicy-chili-like finish lands.
Brain’s Weiss Weiss Baby – Aside from its excellent name, this latest effort from Brains’ craft brewery sports an appetising, hazy glow, and bursts with creamy cheesecake, oranges and that wheat-beer-specific-bubblegum flavour. Juicy, snappy and delicious.
Fuller’s Wild River – A great example of the forward-thinking attitude at Fuller’s lately, this American Pale Ale is a cool, sweet and spicy ale that, whilst lacking the ferocity of others of its type, is just so damn sessionable that you won’t care.
Oakham Ales Green Devil IPA – The undisputed king of beers I tried at GBBF. It does all the great US IPA things (juicy tropical fruits, citric sharpness, spicy snaps) all delivered in a cool, smooth and deliciously British cask conditioned format. Exceptional, and essential drinking for people who like beer that is good.
There were plenty of food vendors to help you soak up all the delicious beer on offer. I ended up matching a bottle of US IPA with a lamb curry, and had a great time. Admittedly, I was sat on the floor, but beggars can’t be choosers. GBBF is a busy place whenever you choose to visit, but not nearly so cramped and hectic as it was last year in Earl’s Court.
Honourable mention must go the various games of chance and skill (in Crystal Maze terms), which are irresistible after a few beers and make for a lot of frustrating, potentially prize-winning fun.
Next year, I’d like to see more beers from fewer breweries. I understand and appreciate that sponsors like Marston’s, Brain’s, Fuller’s etc get to have a stand with several beers because they put money into the event, but it’s really annoying that awesome, new, smaller brewers only get to have one or at best two of their beers displayed. It’d be great if everyone could showcase three or four, and limit it to a range of beers and brewers independently judged to be doing a great job, but that’s more of a wish than a genuine expectation.
Good job CAMRA, but I won’t feel right calling it the Great British Beer Festival until you recognise more quality keg beers. You’ve got keg German beer for heaven’s sake, why not Camden Town, BrewDog, Lovibonds? It’s what the people want.
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