Rotherham Oakwood Beer Festival

Attended the afternoon and evening sessions today of the Rotherham Oakwood beer festival. I’ve not been to this festival before, but had heard good things about the scale and variety of ales on offer – especially when compared to the Sheffield ‘festival’ which, for the last few years at least, has amounted to 50-60 beers in a hall. Rotherham claim well over 250 ales – not including the variety of wines, ciders and bottled continental beers on offer.

In days gone by, I’d tick off beers I’d tried in the official programme with a pen or pencil, and scribble a score out of 10 next to the beer. I utilised my technological wonder that is my E90 and jotted some notes for each beer along with a score.

Started with one from the Sheffield Brewery Company and tried their “Seven Hills” – a very hoppy light ale which is the sister ale of their “Five Rivers”. I scored it 6/10. Too light in colour and hop-heavy for me.

Then tried the Acorn “Old Moor Porter”, hoping for deep Porter flavours, but instead found it to have a very ‘Bacony’ taste on the tongue and didn’t really enjoy it. 5/10

Moved into the St George’s room and sampled a Fuller’s HSB – I’m a massive fan of their ESB, but HSB – their acquisition from taking over Gales’ brewery in 2005 – had been an unknown to me until now. It’s an excellent premium ale, and a solid 8/10.

I then moved into my most familiar territory – stouts and porters – and enjoyed an excellent (9/10) Wentworth Oatmeal Stout, followed by an exceptionally quaffable ‘Cumbrian Legendary Ales’ (sorry, no website) ‘Craife Crier’ porter. Anything described as ‘sherberty funky malt’ simply has to be tried, at least once! Legendary indeed – I could drink this stuff until it drips out of my ears! Dangerously drinkable at 5% – very easy drinking. 10/10.

Moved into the ‘Midlands’ room and chose a Red Rock Brewery’s “Humber Mild”, which is a lovely tasty mild with porter pretenses. 8/10

Time is being called at the bars for a dinnertime break, so I ask the nearest barman for his choice – he hands me a Butcombe IPA. IPA’s aren’t usually my bag, but this is sublime with no bitter aftertaste at all. 8/10.

We try our hands at the tombola, and I win a prize! A Theakston’s T-Shirt, two sizes too small. Damn. Oh well, Emma can wear it in bed!

We decamp to the identikit Wetherspoons-style bar next door to grab a bite to eat whilst the festival restocks for the big Saturday evening session. This proves to be a bridge too far for me – and I end up throwing up half of the ‘Surf and Turf’ I’ve ordered. Utter crap. I do enjoy asking for rare steak and recieving some frazzled to a crisp crap instead!

The pub is so busy/poor (delete as appropriate) that there’s no cutlery, and Ian resorts to stealing cutlery from a CRIPPLE to fill his belly. Deplorable.

We return to the festival and I try an Elland Brewery “Nettlethrasher” which isn’t half as interesting as it sounds, and turns out to be fairly average session bitter.

I then try a Thornbridge ‘Voland’ porter. It’s 8% and tastes every inch of it. It’s thick, dark and very strong. 7/10.

Last, but by no means least is a quick trip to the continental beers tent, and a dabble with a Huyghe Delerium Nocturnum, which is the famous Delerium Tremens’ stronger brother – fantastic. Amazingly drinkable for such powerful brews – 9%. 8/10.

Before we leave, I decide it’s a great idea to suppliment my free T-shirt and get one in my size, and one for Aimee – so I spank 20 quid on T-shirts. These are the silly things you do at a beer festival, then.

We stop off at the Hillsborough Hotel on the way home for a couple – their selection is disappointingly ‘pale’ – with no strong or dark ales on offer. We leave around 10:30pm, and taxi it home. A good day, and, definitely, time for bed.

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