Comments on: Session 16– Beer Festivals

By: purlygrrrl

purlygrrrl — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:46:21 +0000

Hi Pete– Thanks for the tip re. the Tuesday– I will look into it. I realize that to really get the most out of the festival I would have to go once in lonely “ticker” capacity, and then maybe again with some mates and just have fun. There’s just so much, but I’m not sure I’m ready to show up with a spreadsheet!

By: Pete Brown

Pete Brown — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:21:29 +0000

I agree, it does get better. CAMRA is still full of arcane Luddites, but the poeple who actually run the organisation now seem to have their heads screwed on and are doing a great job of bringing GBBF and CAMRA itself into the twenty-first century. The international stall gets better every year and was awesome last year. The programme is getting more helpful, the tasting notes are now comprehensible to non-geeks, the staff have, in the main, learned a basic degree of inter-personal skills. All to the good.

The best day without doubt though is the trade session on Tuesday afternoon, when everything is fresh. As bloggers you guys should try to get press entry for that session. It’s not one you can take a big bunch of mates to, but it always makes me want to go back again later inthe week, which has to be a recommendation. Fridays and Saturdays I’m never sure about…

By: purlygrrrl

purlygrrrl — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:12:20 +0000

Hi Boak,

This was last year. Now I’m wondering what it might have been like in years previous. I went early on the Wednesday or Thursday I think. I will keep that in mind about the beer condition and going later in the week.

I’m trying to rope in as many non-beer geeks as I can this time– bring the party with me, because I certainly wasn’t finding it there. Your Beer Fest post was spot on– I would argue the GBBF needs more of the festival aspect!

By: purlygrrrl

purlygrrrl — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:09:36 +0000

Hi Pete– I’m relieved I didn’t see that tee shirt. Presumably someone wearing that is really trying to say they are terrified of women and never actually want to get laid.

I am already working on finding more people to go with this year– the idea of being a woman alone in that mess, trying to elbow your way to a crowded counter for a third of a pint of something– it’s just depressing!

By: Boak

Boak — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:58:07 +0000

When was this?

GBBF does seem to get better each year. When I first went (about five years ago, not really into beer at the time) it was full of dreadful t-shirts and very testosterone fuelled.

Last summer was a real contrast – very mixed crowd, a lot less dodgy t-shirts. The international counter was superb, with some great American stuff. We had a good time, and I would certainly bring non-beer geeks next time.

Main trouble with GBBF seems to be the condition of the beer. Certainly by Friday a lot of it has gone off. Just goes to reinforce the stereotype of ale being a bit “farty”.

By: Pete Brown

Pete Brown — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:48:41 +0000

Gender relations is one area that’s always worried me about GBBF. I no longer loathe the event with every fibre of my being the way I once did, but somehow, whenever I persuade a female acquaintance to come along, she never wants to go back again. Maybe it has something to do with a popular T-shirt design you seem to have missed – the one with the slogan, “If you can read this, the bitch fell off”.

By: purlygrrrl

purlygrrrl — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 06:29:45 +0000

Hi Beer Nut– There were several versions of Oliver Reed tees. Spoiled for choice– if you bought three of them you got one free. Having only seen him in The Devils and Oliver!, someone had to explain to me his spectacle of alcoholism.

By: purlygrrrl

purlygrrrl — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 06:19:23 +0000

Hey Lori– I’m sure they will have the pies tee shirt this year too. I will get you one, but the sizes were pretty big– you might have to wear it as a dress!

You need to come here just for the cheese! I have a pot of clotted cream in the fridge and everytime I get it out it asks me “Where is Lori?”

By: The Beer Nut

The Beer Nut — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:46:49 +0000

Holy crap! Until you added the picture I honestly thought you were joking about the Oliver Reed t-shirts.

Superb post.

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:22:43 +0000

“Achy melancholy” — wait, yes, that’s exactly what I get when I drink sweet-ish boozy things. Thanks for putting a name on it.

I think I might actually need an “I Ate All the Pies” t-shirt. And cheese and chutney and biscuits!