our branch Awayday to the GBBF 2009-
Fran Torode
A bright morning, at stupid-o-clock on August 5th 2009, found four members of the branch ( myself, Eileen Bougourd, Lee Bougourd and Dave Dorey ) checking in for a 7.00am flight for our annual awayday to Day 2 of the The Great British Beer Festival. Just 4 of a whopping 12,772 people through the doors - the most they've ever had on a Wednesday
Our plane was on time and we were soon starting our day at the Wetherspoons Village Inn, Gatwick with a cooked breakfast and the first pints of the day, somehow seems quite normal to be drinking beer at 8.30am on this one day of the year.
We purchased a group cheap day return on the Gatwick Express and caught the first available train for the rate getting us into Victoria just after 10.00am. At this point Dave and Lee went to Wetherspoons at Victoria to break the journey to Earls Court while Eileen and myself went off to deliver a bag of clothes to my brother who was in St Thomas’s hospital.
Lee and Dave went ahead to get the glasses and a table at festival opening, 12.00 midday, while Eileen and I arrived at 12.10 , fast tracking in with our pre purchased tickets.
My first beer was a half of Patois, served under a Guernsey flag and dispensed by a flag - marked hand-pump. We gave our spare shirt ( it had proved to be too small for Lee), to the guy serving it, he was so delighted that he put it on there and then wore it all day so I hope Ian will forgive us for giving it away, it went for campaigning purposes. I then had a wonderful real ale Cornish pastie for my lunch. We found ourselves on a table with two guys from IOM so it was a bit of an offshore assembly.
After lunch I had a good chat with Paul Hurley (below), head brewer of Jersey Brewery and enjoyed a half of Mary Ann Special. Credit where due, they had flags up of the four major Channel Islands and a lot of Guernsey Tourism brochures, stressing the pan islands significance of Liberation Ale, so fair play!! Paul said there had been a huge amount of interest in the beers on the previous Trade Day.
The entertainment in the afternoon was 2 sets by the Acoustic Strawbs who were brilliant.
Our table mates from the IOM left to do a tutored tasting and we had an Australian guy called Andy to replace them. We sent him off to visit the Jersey Brewery stand and he came back with Guernsey tourism brochure, we never miss an opportunity to promote our home. All too soon it was 5.00pm and we had to start our trip back to the airport. We gave ourselves plenty of time to get through security and we were able to have a last drink, beer or otherwise, in the Flying Horse, the airside Wetherspoons. Our flight took off about 8.00pm and we were all on the way home from the airport before 9.00pm.
Another cracking day out was over...
CHANNEL ISLAND BEERS AT GBBF- Tasting notes
Randalls Guernsey- Patois Ale (4.5%)
Amber in colour, with a hoppy aroma. Bitter and hoppy both in the palate and finish.
Jersey Brewery- Liberation Ale (4%)
Brewed for the annual Channel Islands Liberation Day celebrations this light golden ale has a floral, citric (orange/grapefruit) hop aroma and a zesty flavour.
Jersey Brewery Mary Ann Best (3.6%)
A dark bitter ale with a pronounced chocolate character, but with the roasted maltiness perfectly balanced by a floral hop provided by English Fuggles and Goldings.
Jersey Brewery Mary Ann Christmas Ale (4.8%)
An opportunity to try this Christmas Ale out of season. The ale, featuring festive ingredients such as orange zest, raisins, currants, sultanas and mixed spice, is supposed to remind people of Christmas puddings.
Jersey Brewery Mary Ann Special (4.5%)
A pale ale with a sweet, fruity taste with malty/biscuity undertones provided by the use of crystal malt. The balanced after-palate is of subtle fragrant bitterness provided by a blend of finest English and European hops. Full but rounded in character.