Beer Viking

The Beer Viking crew managed to get away from the sea long enough to attend the Great British Beer Festival in London back the summer – it was held 5-9 Aug 2008. However, during the long journey back home aboard our viking longship we lost the tasting list and our brew review notes. These historical papers have now been recovered for posterity and with here with provide a summary of what beers we did try.

In no particular order of tasting, but alphabetic by brewery first British and then US:

1. Cains – IPA. 3.5% ABV. “A light full-flavoured session beer with subtle hop aroma.” Served by a hot chick. 2 stars **.
2. Cains – 2008 Culture Beer. 5%. “Pale coloured btiter with a citrus hop character…” Only 1 star *.
3. Castle Rock – Harvest Pale. 3.8%. “Blonde straw coloured bitter with assertive citrus hop bitterness with some sweetness and a refreshing zesty finish.” 2nd beer of the day. 4 stars ****.
4. Kelham Island – Pale Rider. 5.2% “Full-bodied, straw coloured pale ale, with a fruity aroma and a strong fruit and hop taste finishing with well toned bitterness and some sweetness.” 4 stars ****.
5. Palmers – Copper Ale. 3.7%. “Copper coloured, fruity, hoppy with a refreshing zestiness.” 3 stars ***.
6. Salopian – Golden Thread. 5.0%. “A bright golden ale, using wheat and lager malt and first gold hops. 3 stars ***.
7. Weatheroak – Keystone Hops. 5%. 3 stars ***.
8. Whim – Flower Power. 5.3%. “A pale golden beer with fresh floral and fruity aroma, a bitter fruity flav and deep bitter finish.” 4.5 stars ****+. This was the beer of the festival ’08 for this crew! This also looks like it might have been a one off brew? Whim doesn’t seem to have a website but some more info on the brewery is here.
9. Chelsea (USA) – Henry Hudson IPA. 3 stars ***.
10. Smuttynose (USA) – IPA. 3 stars ***.

Overall the GBBP was a solid success and is one of the greatest beer festivals on the planet. Maybe even the universe. Next year look for the Beer Viking hospitality tent as we will be camping out for a multi-day raid next time.