>The Keighley & WV Railways Beer & Music Festival 2008

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Right – another weekend, another Beer Festival. Love them or hate them, you at least get a chance to try as many beers as possible in a short space of time. Why a short space of time? Because once there, you kind of want to leave….

Anyway – it’s not about the people there, it’s about the beer. And that’s why I love beer festivals – because I am like a child in a sweet shop. Still. At my age.

This one, an annual event, but one that includes a pleasant ride on a steam train on the beautiful Keighley & Worth Valley railway, is one of the better ones. I did plan to have a pint of Taylor’s on the ride but to be honest, the tiny beer carriages were rammed. No bother – ten minutes later and we’re in Beervana.

The Oxenhope tramshed the festival is held in makes a nice change – the hulking steam trains make an interesting backdrop to boozing. The blues and jazz bands playing make a pleasant sound – although not particularly conducive to conversation – and the beer selection is excellent. In fact, my quest to finally taste Thornbridge’s Jaipur IPA ended here. And boy, am I glad it did. An excellent beer; sweet as hell to start and then drying out to pucker the lips and deliver that grassy, hoppy bitterness true of a true IPA. I know it’s jaded now, almost a year after notoriety, but I loved this. Gimme more.

Dark Star’s Hophead impressed, as did Mallinson’s Conkered – a rich, malty mild that certainly hit the spot. Oakham’s JHB followed much the same style – very nice indeed. Second only to the Jaipur, Salopian’s excellent Oracle deserves a mention. Flowery hops and a crisp, pale profile really stripped the palate back and refreshed after a couple of milds. Good work – one brewery I’ll be keeping an eye out for.

Looking around, I noticed the breadth of beers showing at this weekend jaunt. Goose Eye’s Bronte gained a thumbs-up from our drinking party, as did O’Hanlan’s Port Stout – which admittedly looked delicious. I had my eye on a few beers which I didn’t get to try; Triple FFF had their (surely prohibitively?) named Pressed Rat & Warthog going great guns, Milestone were pouring a raspberry wheat beer, and Durham had a massive selection, including one of my faves, their Amarillo. Greenfield also deserve a mention for seemingly (in my head, at least) naming a beer after my current fave Leeds Utd player – Delph Donkey (What next? Beckford’s Best? Becchio Bitter? Ankegren Ale?) – add to this a decent bottle bar and – most importantly – Roast Pork Sandwiches – and you’ve got one pleasant Saturday’s drinking.