Bradford Beer Festival

25^th February 2006

The usual bunch of suspects forgathered for the well established tradition of the Saturday lunchtime session. Bradford Festival is held in the Victoria Hall at Saltaire and the taxi duly delivered us there just before midday. The booklet listed 119 draught beers, 6 ciders, 6 country wines, 5 bottled real ales and a selection of continental bottled beers. As usual I stuck to the draught beers and here are notes of those I tried, alphabetically by brewery. The catalogue notes are followed by my own tasting notes.

Brown Cow (Selby)

Jack Frost (ABV 4.2%): Pale Ale brewed with lager malt and American hops

Very sharp, dry flavour. Refreshing but disappointing lack of aftertaste.

Fugelstou (Louth)

Pearlescent (ABV 4.6%) Pale with Citrus and Fruit overtones. Brewed to an 1880 recipe with Victorian hops.

Not particularly distinctive. Rather bland and not enough bitterness from the hops.

Kelham Island (Sheffield)

Brooklyn Smoked Porter (ABV 6.5%): Brewed by Garrett Oliver of the USA’s Brooklyn Brewery, using smoked malt.

The highlight of the festival, simply for it’s unique character. The smoky taste was very noticeable on the back of the palate, along with rich liquorice flavours. Not a beer to drink much of, but one to savour and certainly very different.

Langton (Market Harborough)

The Stuff of Life (ABV 4.0%): Light coloured and easy drinking bitter using only Fuggles hops..

Drinkable and refreshing but lacking in subtlety. Better than lemonade on a hot day.

Ossett Brewing Company (Ossett)

Fine Fettle (ABV 4.8%): Refreshing pale ale with a crisp, clean flavour and citrus fruity aroma.

An outstanding brew. Bitter yet flavoursome and rich. The best pale ale I tried.

Pictish (Rochdale)

Black Shiver (ABV 6.0%): Strong, Powerful malt stout with a bitter finish.

Superb. Makes Guinness seem pathetic.

Shaws (Duckinfield)

Ladysmith (ABV 4.7%): Strong flavoured IPA style beer.

In other circumstances I’d have been very impressed, but beaten by the Fine Fettle.

Station House (Ellesmere Port)

Less is More (ABV 3.5%): Pale beer with a fragrant nose and fruity/citrus tastes.

Light and bland. I’ve had better flavour from a 3.5% beer.

Three B’s (Blackburn)

Tacklers Tipple (ABV 4.3%): Darkish best bitter with a full hop flavour.

Rich and fruity. An excellent beer.

Three Rivers (Manchester)

Crystal Wheat (ABV 5.0%): Clear wheat beer with spicy character and floral aroma.

More full-bodied than many wheat beers, without losing the lightness. Very good.

Weetwood (Taporley)

Ambush (ABV 4.8%): Amber beer with a smooth, fruity foretaste finishing with a distinctive hop flavour

Rather fine with rich and subtle flavours.

Wensleydale (Leyburn)

Coverdale Poacher IPA (ABV 5.0%)

Excellent beer, very much as described Gives the Ossett a run for its money.

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