Sheffield Union Beer Festival 2009

Oh my god, I am so ridiculously far behind on updating this that I have completely missed a couple of UFC’s, Hatton – Pacquiao (not missing much, just don’t lead with your face, and please retire now), and I have beer to catch up on, which I’ll do now as my tasting notes which were in my pocket for two weeks just got water damaged so I’ll copy them up before I forget. At least they’re readable, unlike at Warwick ‘07 where the same thing happened (which wasn’t due to rain, more leaking Lucozade)

138 – Dunham Massey Choc Cherry (3.8%) – 9, noticable cherry flavours, a touch smoky and a little dry

139 – Betwixt Red Rocks (5.0%) – 7.5, fairly balanced, slightly malty, very drinkable but nothing special

140 – Ossett Excelsior (5.2%) – 7, strongish with a rich golden flavour

141 – Milestone Rich Ruby (4.5%) – 6.5, touch dark, slightly fruity and malty

142 – Brass Monkey Bitter (3.8%) – 5.5, weak, watery and bland

143 – Brass Monkey Silverback (5.0%) – 7, ok, odd slightly sweet aftertaste, hints of ginger

144 – Saltaire Sub-Lime Blonde (4.0%) – 6, smells of lime, tastes a bit of lime, unsurprisingly is too sour

145 – Fruli (4.1%) – 8.5, quality strong strawberry taste. In-running comments stated “it’s fucking Fruli”

146 – Vale Black Swan (3.9%) – 6.5, fairly standard mild that’s a bit smoky

147 – Funfair Rollerghoster (4.7%) – 6.5, bright red colour, moderately fruity but fairly average

148 – Vale Grumpling (4.6%) – 6, day 2 started here, deep and slightly fruity but a bit dull

149 – Thornbridge Jaipur (5.9%) – 8, dry, floral hints, deceptively drinkable given the strength

150 – Abbeydale Mule Cooler (4.2%) – 6.5, light, pale and hoppy, doesn’t really taste of anything in particular so drinkable

151 – Dark Star Original (5.0%) – 7.5, dark ruby coloured beer which is noticably fruity

152 – Saltaire Raspberry Blonde (4.0%) – 6.5, raspberry flavouring is a bit weak and the thing is too dry

153 – The Brew Company Slaker (3.8%) – 7, pleasant enough but unoriginal pale ale

154 – Milestone Raspberry Wheat Beer (5.6%) – 7.5, not sure whether it’s raspberry or strawberry really, subtle and not overpowering

155 – Thornbridge Kipling (5.2%) – 6, slightly acrid, can’t see through it

156 – The Brew Company Bock (4.2%) – 7, decent fairly dark and fruity ale

157 – Hecks Kingston Black (unknown%) – 6, omg a cider, notes too water damaged to read but it looks like it was a bit dry and a standard real cider

158 – Cathedral Eight Bells (4.8%) – 6, day three started here, bit bland, touch sweet, seemed weak given the percentage

159 – Shugborough Mi Lady’s Fancy (4.6%) – 6.5, golden ale that’s a bit hoppy and citrusy

160 – White Horse Giant (4.3%) – 5.5, dark brown ale that’s malty and earthy

161 – Nelson No. 23 (4.4%) – 7, refreshing and hoppy

Festival didn’t seem as good as previous years. They run out of beer earlier on the Saturday than previously, although they kept some back for Sunday (and ordered some in quickly which obviously couldn’t settle, so take the last few ratings with a pinch of salt). Food on Sunday had ridiculous queues. Bar staff couldn’t understand the difference between three £1 tokens and three strips of £1 tokens, so nearly gave me 12 quid too much beer until I (stupidly?) corrected them. Never actually got back to me re: request to staff the thing. Blades didn’t get promoted.