Associate
Start with that - it will be like water
Beer Festival (first time beer drinker!)
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I'd hardly say Guinness is a safe bet, especially for someone new to beer. And I'd disagree porters are similar, they are often big and flavorful brews with all sorts of strange flavours.
Soldato
Try everything. You never know what you might enjoy. Take thirds of a pint and go from there. If you're unsure the bar staff tend to love talking about beer and will recommend one or let you try something.
Cancel your plans for the following day.
Cancel your plans for the following day.
Man of Honour
That is very important.
Soldato
I once went to a Camra beer festival in a wedding dress...
Had a pint thrown in my face by a girl.
Raced someone around the winners enclosure (it was at a race track). I won.
Did a sexy dance for a lesbian to try and swing her back the other way.
Had someone write on my arse.
Had a pint thrown in my face by a girl.
Raced someone around the winners enclosure (it was at a race track). I won.
Did a sexy dance for a lesbian to try and swing her back the other way.
Had someone write on my arse.
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Associate
Good old beer festivals, Peterborugh beer fest and 2.5 pints of 12% beer left me on the floor laughing at a midget. Good times.
Excellent bit of advice there...I always go to these festivals and get so hammered so I don't remember my name, let alone the beers I like or dislike...looks like the Missus is going armed with a pad and pen at our next one...
I get the impression you're quite a big guy (you were a marine weren't you?) and I'm sure you've posted saying your missus is petite.... Might I suggest you take a wheelbarrow to your next festival so she can bundle you into it along with your tasting notes at the end of the night?
Soldato
Rather than make a new thread, I'll revive this one....
Off to Portsmouth Beer Festival on Saturday, a nice looking Line Up, some of which I've had before.
Anything in particular you recommend for a mainly dark ale/stout/porter drinker? I'm not a fan of IPA's in general (although Beavertown's Neck Oil is nice)
Are there any near you that a worth a look at?
Off to Portsmouth Beer Festival on Saturday, a nice looking Line Up, some of which I've had before.
Anything in particular you recommend for a mainly dark ale/stout/porter drinker? I'm not a fan of IPA's in general (although Beavertown's Neck Oil is nice)
Are there any near you that a worth a look at?
Caporegime
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Epic thread revival...
Beavertown neck oil is nice, it's begorgeously yum!
As already mentioned don't be afraid of asking for samples, explain what you prefer and let them try and help you. Above all else, enjoy yourself!
Beavertown neck oil is nice, it's begorgeously yum!
As already mentioned don't be afraid of asking for samples, explain what you prefer and let them try and help you. Above all else, enjoy yourself!
Soldato
I've just trawled through all their websites to see what they are offering. Have a list of 26 beers now that should be interesting.
Unlikely to be able to walk straight afterwards. All in the name of science though....
To Science!! *drinks*
Unlikely to be able to walk straight afterwards. All in the name of science though....
To Science!! *drinks*
Soldato
So these beer festivals is it like a buffet where you pay one price and you can sample anything you want with no extra paying? As ive wanted to go to one for awhile but never understood the rules as well er never been lol. Wouldnt be able to afford much if it was buying pints or samples as i expect £20 would run out in 2 mins lol.
Now if they did a beer festival with a bbq on at the same time, i think id take 40 quid and have a bloomin good time. Providing it wasnt too far so i can get a bus home or taxi. 
Now if they did a beer festival with a bbq on at the same time, i think id take 40 quid and have a bloomin good time.
Providing it wasnt too far so i can get a bus home or taxi.
Soldato
Its been a while since I've been to one.
Pay ticket price (£10 in this case), get souvenir glass, programme and 1 free beer (hopefully a pint). There's live music and food too.
In the past, I've been given a bunch of tokens which entitles you to a 1/3 pint per token but they all work slightly differently. There are 7 of us going so should be a laugh anyway.
Best places to try new beers you can't always get hold of or don't want to spend a lot on. £30 should see me through the day.
Pay ticket price (£10 in this case), get souvenir glass, programme and 1 free beer (hopefully a pint). There's live music and food too.
In the past, I've been given a bunch of tokens which entitles you to a 1/3 pint per token but they all work slightly differently. There are 7 of us going so should be a laugh anyway.
Best places to try new beers you can't always get hold of or don't want to spend a lot on. £30 should see me through the day.
Commissario
The majority of beer festivals I've been to (and it's been a lot), you pay three or four quid entry fee and then another £2-£3 deposit for a glass. Often you get to choose between a half pint or a pint glass. You'll also get a list of beers which you can just throw away. If it's a CAMRA festival and you're a member, you normally get free entry, unless it's the GBBF.
Head up to the bar, take a look at what's on offer and pick whatever name you like the look of. I tend to start with lower strength beers and normally ask for a sample first - They'll pour a small amount into the glass for you to try. If you like it, get it topped up, if you don't, say so and they'll pour it away. Don't take advantage of this though and just use it for free booze!
I normally get the pint glass but order half pints. Most places will serve you slightly above the half pint line anyway.
Most festivals have food and quite often it's a BBQ or a hog roast. At the very least they'll have pork scratchings (essential) and crisps/nuts.
Some places have a token system where you buy a number of tokens which you can exchange for your beer. Personally I don't like this way of doing things but I can see the advantage in that the staff serving the beer don't have to handle any cash.
Enjoy it! Use the chance to sample beers you've never had before.
Head up to the bar, take a look at what's on offer and pick whatever name you like the look of. I tend to start with lower strength beers and normally ask for a sample first - They'll pour a small amount into the glass for you to try. If you like it, get it topped up, if you don't, say so and they'll pour it away. Don't take advantage of this though and just use it for free booze!
I normally get the pint glass but order half pints. Most places will serve you slightly above the half pint line anyway.
Most festivals have food and quite often it's a BBQ or a hog roast. At the very least they'll have pork scratchings (essential) and crisps/nuts.
Some places have a token system where you buy a number of tokens which you can exchange for your beer. Personally I don't like this way of doing things but I can see the advantage in that the staff serving the beer don't have to handle any cash.
Enjoy it! Use the chance to sample beers you've never had before.
The token system is often used when there are a lot of different vendors spread out across the venue. I went to one in Bristol a while back where each brewery had its own 'stall' up so there were probably 20+ people 'selling' beer. Rather than having to equip them all, there was instead just a single place to buy tokens and then every stall just had to swap a token for a 1/3 and away you went.
But then smaller ones I've been to in pubs will operate a more traditional 'bar' style.
But then smaller ones I've been to in pubs will operate a more traditional 'bar' style.
Soldato
I've been to the St Albans one for a few years in a row...CAMRA HQ and all that - it's a reasonably sized festival!
Always a good laugh and there's loads of stuff to try. I usually go with a 1/2 pt glass as you can try more different ones without getting too hammered if it's over a weekend, try going on one of the earlier days as it is a lot quieter and some stuff starts to run out towards the end. Also, you can't beat a big bag of proper pork scratchings with a good drink nom nom nom.
Entry is a few quid for non CAMRA members and you a few quid for the glass but you either get it back or keep the glass.
Always a good laugh and there's loads of stuff to try. I usually go with a 1/2 pt glass as you can try more different ones without getting too hammered
if it's over a weekend, try going on one of the earlier days as it is a lot quieter and some stuff starts to run out towards the end. Also, you can't beat a big bag of proper pork scratchings with a good drink nom nom nom.Entry is a few quid for non CAMRA members and you a few quid for the glass but you either get it back or keep the glass.
Soldato
Beer festivals, no matter how much you try and stay sober, it just isn't going to happen!
Usually I just try whatever's strongest for the fun of it, also pick a few with the best names.
For op though, as your not much of a beer drinker, just ask to try whatever takes your fancy, they'll happily pour you a mouthful just to try. If you find beer really isn't your thing then there should be lots of ciders onsite too, careful with the ciders though, they can be rather strong! Last festival I went to I found a yummy cider called JB, it was around 9% I think, had 6 pints of the stuff and safe to say I was rather merry!
Usually I just try whatever's strongest for the fun of it, also pick a few with the best names.
For op though, as your not much of a beer drinker, just ask to try whatever takes your fancy, they'll happily pour you a mouthful just to try. If you find beer really isn't your thing then there should be lots of ciders onsite too, careful with the ciders though, they can be rather strong! Last festival I went to I found a yummy cider called JB, it was around 9% I think, had 6 pints of the stuff and safe to say I was rather merry!