Thursday 30 August 2012

The Michael Jackson American Cask Ale Award


At GBBF 2000 it was decided that we now had a sufficient number of Cask Ales from America on the Bières Sans Frontières bar to run an informal competition. That first year the award went to Shipfitters Bitter from the Quincy Ships Brewery in Boston, that Brewery no longer exists but the Brewer is certainly one of the most respected in America, Tod Mott.
Over the years the number of beers that have been brought over has steadily increased and the competition has become eagerly anticipated, not just by those judging but by the Breweries that have sent their beer over.

Following Michael Jacksons death it was decided that the Award should be named in his honour, little did I know that that would take two years of negotiation with his Literary Agent and Executor to gain official permission. But permission was eventually granted and the Award took on an extra cachet for the American Brewers who held him in such high esteem.
This year the honour went to Marble Brewery of Albuquerque New Mexico for their stunning Double IPA, runners up were Smuttynose with Finest Kind IPA and Lowell Beer Works with Sour Red.
Earlier this year Marble Brewery Albuqurque and Marble Brewery Manchester participated in a bottle swap via BSF staff at The Bruges Beer Festival. Let's hope that winning this award will encourage them to visit GBBF next year and maybe make a trip to Manchester! I'm sure James will be only too happy to do a collaboration brew.

Smuttynose are no strangers to the competition having won on three separate occasions, a testament to the quality of their beers.
The Sour Red from Lowell Beer Works was an exceptional example of the Flemish Sour style that managed to fool more than a few into believing that they were drinking a Belgian Beer.
Congratulations to them all, let's hope we see many more Cask Ales from America next year on the Bières Sans Frontières Bar.

Friday 17 August 2012

GBBF 2012. Part 1



I've just spent another 11 days in London for the Great British Beer Festival, this was the 17th straight year that I've worked there and all of it on Bières Sans Frontières. There was quite a contraction in size compared with last year as we adjusted for the impact of the Olympics and the lack of one of the Halls. For most of the volunteers this was a welcome return to the far more attractive Olympia with natural light flooding the building for most of the time. 
One day to go before we open
One radical change was the location of a few bars on the upper level, sadly it appears most visitors thought there was just a single green carpeted scaffolding staircase to the new area, shame they missed the doors around the sides but I guess that as they were closed and were Fire Doors there was an assumption that they were not accessible.
Every one a winner
There's always great anticipation over the arrival of the American beers, we've had our fair share of mishaps with the shipment, but thankfully when I checked it all we had only lost half a dozen bottles. More importantly every Cask was sound and showed no sign of leakage. Deliveries from The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Norway and Australia followed without a hitch.

Setting up the Festival in preparation for opening to the public regularly presents us with a few problems, like trying to put just short of sixty Casks into a space for twenty or 400+ cases of beer into a fridge with half the space taken by those casks that couldn't go on the stillage. But every year we manage, we have some dedicated volunteers who know what needs to be done.
My opening day started early with a spell of judging on CBOB, very enjoyable but I had to cut short my visit to the buffet that had been laid on to get back to my bar for opening time. The Annual race to the tables is an amusing diversion as the staff urge the visitors to put on a bit of a sprint. Before too long the cash was mounting up in the tills, a few sales to 'tickers' certainly helped. I do, however, wonder at the goings on in the head of the person who spent over £100 on beer and left it all behind, a case of more money than sense?
One of the sponsors of the mainly American 'Rest of the World' bottle bar was The Brewers Association, to whom many thanks for their assistance and, of course, the beer. Accompanying the new Brewers Association European Ambassador, yes we have to call Andreas 'Your Excellency', were Jack White and Bill Graham. Why do those those names ring a bell? Whites Stripes and Evangelism at GBBF? Actually founders of, respectively, Ballast Point and SkaBrewing. Also in attendance were Jamie Cook, not from The Arctic Monkeys but Stone & Wood Brewing in Australia, and Mike Murphy from Lervig Brewery in Norway. Naturally all these guys need to do serious QC on their beers to ensure they reached these shores in excellent condition. Luckily I can report all were very happy with their beers.
Trade Day was quieter than usual, probably down to a smaller number of Brewery Bars and the expense, many who would normally come down and send a night or two in London made day trips instead. Even the Brewery Bars that were in attendance seemed to have fewer representatives. However introductions and networking are all part of the day and I did my share arranging a visit to Fuller's for the overseas Brewers the next day to be shown round by John Keeling.

Apart from the beers I sampled during the CBOB judging I had two marked down as must try's for Trade Day. Both were in limited supply and both caused queues to form when the Firkins were available. Firstly it was Fuller's Brewers Reserve No4, aged in Armagnac Casks, another beer that is influenced by the Spirit rather than obliterated by it. I'm sure this will age rather nicely just as 1,2 & 3 are doing. This one I fear will be a little more expensive than the previous offerings, but we have definitely entered an age where we are increasingly willing to pay for special beers.
Secondly was Greene King 5X, a massive 12% beer that is the base for Strong Suffolk Vintage Ale (which I would dearly love to get my hands on again) aged for 24 months in massive Oak Tuns. Seeing the rather long line of eager punters I headed straight to John Bexon to get my taste of this special beer. It was simply stunning, rich dark caramelised fruits, Sherry, Liquorice and a touch of sourness. The queues for this beer must give cheer to GK, everyone who tried it thought it was wonderful.









One drink that almost lifted my skull was a tiny sample that Rich at Magic Rock insisted I try, he'd had some beer distilled at Herriot Watt to make a beer Schnapps. Well that certainly was hoppy! With more hops and added hops. Did I mention the hops? I think it may take a little more work on that project!


And before I continue with more on GBBF 2012 let's return to name the Brewer, this time I'll give a little hint.  He's a damn good brewer.

Which Brewer do you admire...?
Steve Wagner and Lee Chase
Favourite Brewery...?
Stone Brewing Co
Favourite overseas Brewery...?
Fuller’s 
What's the next big thing...?
My participation in the JD Wetherspoon International Real Ale Festival
If you weren't a brewer you'd be a...?
mayor of my home town. I was trying to do. But have never run the election.
Does consistency of flavour matter...?
I believe it’s very important to ales we’re making. But very hard to keep the consistency. It’s challenging every day.
Michael Jackson always denied that he had a favourite beer, but said if you asked him what        his final beer would be as he faced the firing squad it would be...?
Bitter, of course it’s REAL ALE.
And what would your final beer be...?
Stone IPA or Arrogant Bastard 
If it were possible, which Brewery/Brewer would you consider doing a collaboration beer with...?
Lee Chase, Jeff Bagby and me plus Mitch Steel & Steve Wagner
If you were to give one piece of advice to an aspiring Brewer it would be...?
I’d like them to have lots of experiences with looking at facilities at other breweries, tasting other beers and making collaboration beers with other brewers. 
And a few more personal questions;
What do you do to relax...?
Swimming in the ocean, biking from home to the brewery and running on the beach. Triathlon!
Favourite musicians...?
Spandau Ballet and Bob Dylan
TV, Cinema, Concert or Theatre...?
Akira Kurosawa’s movies
Favourite holiday destination...?
San Diego, CA