London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival 2005 - Volumes 1 - 5
MagicPhil's Tasting Notes 2005 - Complete
London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival 2005
Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, London WC1,
close to Kings Cross/St. Pancras)
Wednesday 16th. - Friday 18th March 2005
Open Wed Thurs 12-3pm 5-10.30pm;
Fri 12-10.30pm.
Last admission 10pm
CAMRA members admitted free Wed Thurs lunchtime
£1.50 at all other times
(non-members £2.50)
A wide range of beers, ciders, perries and imported beers (draught and
bottled).
Details as they become available at:
http://www.camranorthlondon.org.uk/
Excellent hot and co 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. 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.
N.B. There are no Festival Programme Summaries(FPS) in the programme
this year but the type of beer (as stated in the programme, if defined)
is given.
MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 1
Wednesday 2.25pm. 16/03/2005
1st Pint. Tower Brewery, Thomas Salt's Bitter, 3.8%abv
MagicPhil(MP) says: Hoppy, a lot of bite, very peppery, mid to dark
brown, pleasant with a strong hop presence, not perhaps to my liking,
but in prime condition and a well made beer. It has a long, lasting,
not quite licquorice flavour on the palate that is not what I would
choose, but it is good.
Recommended
2nd Pint. Springhead Brewery, Bitter, 4.0%abv
MP says: The first thing to notice about this light to mid brown bitter
is the gorgeous nose that it has. Floral, citrus, fresh and lively, it
promises a great deal. Does it deliver? Yes and No.
The Yes. The initial promise is confirmed with a very fine mouthfeel
showing a lot of rich citrus, grapefruit, suggests that it might be a
little sharp to drink all night. An underlying hop flavour, but this is
sharp and light, rather than cloying.
The No. It hardly develops after the first flavours, but perhaps I
expected it to develop more given the initial promise. Slightly hazed,
but this in no way detracted from this fine bitter, but I would like to
have it in prime condition, it might get better!
Highly Recommended
3rd Pint. Charles Wells Brewery, Eagle IPA, 3.6%abv
MP says: A mid brown beer, almost no nose after the last beer, good
mouth flavour, lemon, pineapple? grapefruit perhaps rather than
pineapple. In prime condition, lively, a beer that punches above its
alcoholic content. A well crafted beer, a real session ale and then
some.
Highly Recommended
MagicPhil's Session Picks: Springhead Brewery, Bitter, 4.0%abv
Charles Wells Brewery, Eagle IPA, 3.6%abv
I cannot choose between these since I could happily drink both for
extended periods.
MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 2
Wednesday 5.50pm. 16/03/2005
1st Pint. Bullmastiff Brewery, Welsh Gold, 3.8%abv
MagicPhil(MP) says: Coppery golden colour, first nose says there is
almost nothing there, but as one goes on, that increases, and seems as
though this was an ageing beer that had been filtered, because it was
getting too old and slightly sour! Lacking.
Avoid.
2nd Pint. Copper Dragon Brewery, Golden Pippin, 3.9%abv
MP says: A light straw colour beer, light and floral! Immediate good
flavours with some sharp citrus but not overwhelming, Lively in the
mouth, it really is a bitter that could be drinkable for long periods.
No vast body but at this strength that is unsurprising. Almost no
development in flavours.
3rd Pint. Loddon Brewery, Hoppit, 3.5%abv
MP says:Pleasant enough, a little sweet for its strength, some pepper,
some body, A perfectly drinkable bitter, if of no great distinction. A
session bitter, perhaps?
4th Pint. Maldon Brewery, Puck's Folly, 4.2%abv
MP says: Medium to light straw colour beer, at first flavours, there is
some citrus, although limited, and one hopes for development, but it
never comes. In the end, this is a too sweet beer that goes nowhere.
Disappointing.
MagicPhil's Session Pick: None.
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MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 3
Thursday 2.25pm. 17/03/2003
1st Pint. W.J.King Brewery, Broadshield Bitter, 4.0%abv
MagicPhil(MP) says: A quite dark brown beer, first impression is a
little sweet, a little banana flavour perhaps? At about half way, I
found some citrus, and then it seemed not so sweet. It does get better
as it goes on. Reasonable.
2nd Pint. Sharp's Brewery, Doom Bar Bitter, 4.0%abv
MP says: At first tasting, this seems a bit thin, but almost
immediately on come the citrus and licquorice flavours and this beer
starts to develop. A pleasant drinkable beer, that develops to some
extent with good citrus, but no other deep character. Good.
3rd Pint. Holden's Brewery, Black Country Bitter, 3.9%abv
MP says: A lively, straw coloured bitter with nice immediate citrus,
not heavy. A good chewy citrus develops, reminiscent of orange
marmalade! Plenty of flavours to be had, no bananas, some honey maybe.
This goes on, and I could probably drink it all night.
Highly Recommended
MagicPhil's Session Pick: Holden's Brewery, Black Country Bitter,
3.9%abv
MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 4
Thursday 5.30pm. 17/03/2005
1st Pint. Green Tye Brewery, Uncle John's Ferret, 3.8%abv
MagicPhil(MP) says: Quite dark brown, pleasant in the mouth, nothing
remarkable. A little pepper, but not exceptional, pleasant, drinkable.
2nd Pint. Westerham Brewery, Black Eagle Bitter, 3.8%abv
MP says: A very nice light straw colour, immediate citrus, immediate
sharpness,
FIRE ALARM GOES OFF AND EVERYONE HAS TO LEAVE HALL! LATER ON, WE RETURN
AND.....
6.35pm. I have managed to drink all the black eagle and resettle
myself. The Black eagle was pleasant, but unremarkable, I could
probably drink it for an evening.
3rd Pint. Phoenix Brewery, Navvy, 3.8%abv
MP says: Quite dark, a little sweet, pleasant if undemanding. OK.
4th Pint. Acorn Brewery, Barnsley Gold, 4.3%abv
MP says: It is a lively golden brown bitter, that is very pleasant on
the palate, some citrus in the back of the mouth, maybe a little sweet
for its strength, but a good beer to put away now and then.
MagicPhil's Session Pick: Westerham Brewery, Black Eagle Bitter,
3.8%abv
MagicPhil's Tasting Notes - Volume 5
Friday 3.30pm. 18/03/2005
1st Pint. Grand Union Brewery, Gold, 4.2%abv
MagicPhil(MP) says: A light straw colour, pleasant in the mouth, a
little sweetness, a little citrus, in good condition. No vast flavours,
but a very good drinking bitter.
Recommended
2nd Pint.Triple FFF Brewery, Alton's Pride, 3.8%abv
MP says: Pleasant, light to mid brown, slight citrus, a bit of
licquorice, a slight cloying aftertaste, but this gets better, lacks a
little life perhaps.
3rd Pint. Breconshire Brewery, Golden Valley, 4.2%abv
MP says: A light brown beer, marginally hazed, a little honey there,
not great development. A little sticky for me, but perfectly adequate.
4th Pint. Green Tye Brewery, Uncle John's Ferret, 3.8%abv
MP says: I had this last night, and it has not changed. This time I
have it by mistake, but am perfectly satisfied.
Quite dark brown, pleasant in the mouth, nothing remarkable. A little
pepper, but not exceptional, pleasant, drinkable
5th Pint. Mordue Brewery, IPA, 5.1%abv
MP says: A beautiful light straw coloured beer, good citrus, life, a
little sweetness there. Everything available here. Lovely.
Highly Recommended
5 1/2th Pint. Pitfield Brewery, 1837 IPA, 7.0%abv
MP says: Rich, Strong, beautiful flavours here. I would have been happy
with a quarter pint of this beer, it is so good, that everyone should
have some of it.
Highly recommended
MagicPhil's Session Picks: Mordue Brewery, IPA, 5.1%abv
Pitfield Brewery, 1837 IPA, 7.0abv%
MagicPhil's Beer of the Festival: Mordue Brewery, IPA, 5.1%abv
MagicPhil's Reserve Beers of the Festival:
Pitfield Brewery, 1837 IPA, 7.0%abv
Holden's Brewery, Black Country Bitter, 3.9%abv
Charles Wells Brewery, Eagle IPA, 3.6%abv
Date:21 Mar 2005 13:25:53 -0800
Author:
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