So Firkin Fest, or I should say Firkin Fest the Fourth. At the Happy Gnome. Once more I had the happy duty of serving as a judge -- this time with a LOT more beers on than the first year, when I also did it. (Life has intervened in cruel ways for the middle two years -- and nearly did again.)
Some of the beers were great. Some were not so great. But since the judging teams got them blind, I can't always tell you which were which. So I will narrate this in pictures. (The full list of beers is
here though, and more picks and people's choice winner announcement are
here. Plus Michael Agnew has the overall recap
here. So far I haven't seen the judge's winner list posted yet officially, so I will stay mum till I do!)
1. Synchronize the pastel silicone sheathed electronics. It's 11 am and nearly time to start judging beers before the crowds press in. Early "VIP" entrants start coming soon and by 1 when the regular tickets get you in, the line is wrapped around the block. Good thing too -- this is one of the beer fests that actually pays for the beers instead of begging brewers for donations. Good for you Happy Gnome!
2. Looking at the tent before it's jammed with people. There are about 80 firkins of beer. A "firkin" is a cask of medium size, and as the beer geeks know they are traditionally conditioned in the cask, and served from the cask by gravity dispense (like here) or via handpump. It's 30 degrees out today (see chunks of ice), so they're not warm.
3. Two of the British beers here, ones I'm looking forward to having. (Incidentally, both were quite clear -- unlike many of the local beers). Thornbridge's Jaipur I have not had before. Really nice, very drinkable, and surprising in its astringent, tannic bite. For American tastes, it is quite dry for an IPA and not smashing you over the head with fruity hop. The Bitter and Twisted is a great beer that I love in the bottle -- very unique lemony hop character that I will have to write about soon. Both really lovely beers.
4. Twenty for me, one for you. No, actually in the foreground are the pours I'm tasting, the other half Fletty's tastings of the same beers. We have three judging teams, and there are a lot of beers to get through still.
5. It's not very formal, but we do actually have a plan, and though no one ever believes it, there is work involved. We divide the beers into dark, not dark, and eclectic categories. So porters and stouts (mostly), pale ales and bitters and light beers and even some lagers, and then everything with blueberries, maple syrup, mushrooms, oak, and whatever else.
6. One big issue is just the drinkability, but another important one for a cask beer festival is the condition of the beer -- carbonation, clarity, and whether this method of serving compliments the beer or brings out interesting things in it.
7. Curt is an extremely friendly guy. Just at the moment he is telling me to put the damn camera away and get on with the judging.
8. More "not dark" beers to do in various degrees of not-darkness.
9. Also plenty more dark ones!
