GOLDEN PINTS 2015
Well, not quite everyone is doing it but I'll throw in my selection for consideration and/or ridicule.
My year of beer started with the Manchester Beer Festival at the Velodrome, I'll miss that venue in some ways but not in others. Quickly followed by Bierfestival Brugge.
Next up was my my local beer festival, one I've been working at for over 30 years.
In March one just has to attend this and the following week the volunteers of Bieres Sans Frontieres descended on the fair City of Milan, four brewery visits and a beer festival, not bad for a weekend away!
July and we're back in Staveley for one of the best Beer Festivals in the land, don't miss it.
August brought GBBF and London Craft Beer Festival, some bloggers seemed to think LCBF was superior... I just don't see how.
September means Leeds International Beer Festival great fun to work at and great company.
October and my first visit to Indy Man Beer Con great venue, great beer, enthusiastic punters and many friends. Somehow ended up heading to the wrong bar for after festival drinks with Stu McKinlay and Dan Shelton.
Anyway, the awards...
My year of beer started with the Manchester Beer Festival at the Velodrome, I'll miss that venue in some ways but not in others. Quickly followed by Bierfestival Brugge.
Next up was my my local beer festival, one I've been working at for over 30 years.
In March one just has to attend this and the following week the volunteers of Bieres Sans Frontieres descended on the fair City of Milan, four brewery visits and a beer festival, not bad for a weekend away!
July and we're back in Staveley for one of the best Beer Festivals in the land, don't miss it.
August brought GBBF and London Craft Beer Festival, some bloggers seemed to think LCBF was superior... I just don't see how.
September means Leeds International Beer Festival great fun to work at and great company.
October and my first visit to Indy Man Beer Con great venue, great beer, enthusiastic punters and many friends. Somehow ended up heading to the wrong bar for after festival drinks with Stu McKinlay and Dan Shelton.
Anyway, the awards...
Best UK cask beer:
Vocation Life and Death, a bit of a latecomer in the year for me as I first encountered it in November, but what a beer.
Best UK keg beer:
Hawkshead Chuckleberry Sour, one of the most refreshing beers I had all year, and what a colour!
Best UK bottled beer:
Best UK bottled beer:
Fullers 2003 Vintage Ale, it was just so damn tasty.
Best UK canned beer:
Moor Nor'Hop justifying the decision to move over to cans, this (and the other Moor canned beers) show that canning has truly come of age.
Best Overseas Draught Beer:
Birrificio Italiano Tipopils, this time drinking it at Birrificio Italiano restaurant in Lurago Marinone.
Best Overseas Bottle/can Beer:
Sierra Nevada Torpedo, again because it's constant and downright delicious.
Beer of the Year:
Best Pumpclip or Label:
Best UK Brewery:
Kernel or Wild Beer Co. or Hawkshead or... this is just impossible, we have so many excellent breweries in the UK, we should be ashamed.
Best Overseas Brewery:
Pub/Bar of the Year:
North Bar, again by a short head
Independent Retailer of the Year:
No idea
Online Retailer of the Year:
Don’t buy on line
Best Beer Blog or Website:
Tandleman & Zythophile are the only ones I visit regularly.
Best Beer Festival:
GBBF still the best, also enjoyed Leeds International Beer Festival and blown away by IndyMan
Best city for beer in the UK:
Leeds
Supermarket of the Year:
Booths
Best Beer App:
Craft Beer London
Best Beer Book or Magazine:
Too many are just lists of beers so it goes to Stephen Beaumont for The Beer & Food Companion.
