Pints West 86, Summer 2010 - Bristol & District CAMRA

PINTS WESTSIBA Beer Festival atTucker’s MaltingsOne thing everyone agreed on at this year’s SIBA Beer Festival at Tucker’s Maltings in NewtonAbbot was that the standard was higher than ever. The festival takes place every springand is an opportunity for brewers from all over the South West to promote their beers. It isvery much a social occasion as well, with many brewers turning up in person, with some of themmanning the bar. It is also a great opportunity for publicans, punters and beer festival organisers tosample the latest offerings from established breweries as well as trying out beers from new breweries.The first day of the festival is given over to a blind-tasting competition, with knowledgeable andexperienced panels of judges sampling a wide range of beer styles and strengths, with the winnerfrom each category going forward to a ‘beer of the festival’ competition. Once the winners have beenannounced, the doors are thrown open to the public, who can then see how far they agree with thejudges’ verdicts.The overall winner this year came from Forge Brewery, which opened in 2008 at Hartland, justabout the most inaccessible part of Devon – which probably accounts for most people not havingcome across it. Forge also picked up two other awards, suggesting that there will be an unprecedenteddemand for their ales in the coming months. Having sampled Forge beers a few times at the TomCobley Inn at Spreyton, I was not that surprised by their success, and the Litehouse Bitter which tookthe Gold award was a worthy winner.With so many breweries in the running, it was inevitable that most did not feature in the finalreckoning. Only one Bristol brewery – Arbor Ales – was rated, with no less than four of its beerspicking up awards – aphenomenal achievement.As for Somersetbreweries, Yeovil AlesPosh IPA was overallrunner-up, Moor’s Revivaland Northern Starboth scooped a silver,as did Cottage Goldrushand Exmoor Beast,while Isle of Avalon’sJake’s Mild picked upa bronze. Two awardswent to Wiltshire, bothin the speciality beerscategory: WadworthSwordfish was awardeda gold and Box SteamPeter Kerr presents Jon Comer (right) of Arbor Aleswith one of his four awardsFunnel Blower won abronze.Andrew SwiftThe full list of results is as follows:OVERALL CHAMPIONGold Forge Brewery Litehouse 4.3%Silver Yeovil Ales Posh IPA 5.4%Bronze Dartmoor Jail Ale 4.8%MILDS (up to 4%)Gold Otter Mild 3.8%Silver Arbor Ales Mild West 3.6%Bronze Isle of Avalon Jake’s Mild 4.0%BITTERS & PALE ALES (up to 4%)Gold Dorset Brewery Co Ammonite 3.8%Silver Moor Beer Co Revival 3.8%Bronze Forge Brewery Maid in Devon 4.0%BEST BITTERS (4.1- 4/5%)Gold Forge Brewery Litehouse 4.3%Silver Moor Beer Co Northern Star 4.1%Bronze Teignworthy Beachcomber 4.5%PREMIUM BITTERS (4.6-4.9%)Gold Dartmoor Jail Ale 4.8%Silver Cottage Brewing Co Goldrush 5.0%Bronze Forge Brewery Dreckly 4.8%STRONG BITTERS (5.1-5.5%)Gold Yeovil Ales Posh IPA 5.4%Silver Bays Devon Dumpling 5.1%Bronze Palmers Tally Ho 5.5%STRONG ALES (over 5.6%)Gold Country Life Devonshire 10der 10.0%Silver Exmoor Beast 6.6%Bronze Keltek Beheaded 7.6%PORTERS, STRONG MILDS, OLD ALES &STOUTSGold Arbor Ales Festival Mild 5.2%Silver Arbor Ales Oyster Stout 4.6%Bronze Penpont Porter 5.8%SPECIALITY BEERSGold Wadworth Swordfish 5.0%Silver Arbor Ales Hunny Beer 4.2%Bronze Box Steam Funnel Blower 4.5%BOTTLED BEERSGold Quantock Stout 4.5%BOTTLED BITTERS (up to 4.9%)Gold Skinners Cornish Knocker 4.5%BOTTLED BITTERS (over 5%)Gold St Austell Admiral’s Ale 5.0%BOTTLED GOLD BEERSGold St Austell Proper Job 5.5%BOTTLED SPECIALITY BEERSGold Downton Honey Blonde 4.3%BOTTLED PORTERS, MILDS, OLD ALES &STOUTSGold Quantock Stout 4.5%THE THREE TUNSSt. George’s Road,Bristol BS1 5URMark Farrell(previously Landlord ofThe Plume of Feathers)Introduces aGreat Range of AlesPlus Live MusicMondays, Wednesdaysand Saturdays0781 2201844Beer FestivalFri 2nd & Sat 3rd Julywith 15 real alesand live music Sat eveningPage 13