Just over a week-ago, having thoroughly enjoyed an exciting range of Cumbrian brewed beers in Carlisle, I mused that the market would be “certainly worthy of greater research”, however little did I know that I would again be venturing into Lakeland, well at least not so soon, but the prospect of the “CAMRA Westmorland Beer Festival” in Kendal (Town Hall, Highgate, 12-15 October 2011), was an opportunity not to be missed.
 Copyright © 2011 Marston's PLC |
By way of research, having downloaded the proposed Beer List from Phil Hodgson’s excellent “Newcastle Real Ale Listings” site - www.newcastle-real-ale.co.uk, I settled in for a quite evening of contemplation, trying to find as much background on the Brewery’s and beers to be showcased, helped along by a few bottles of Jennings Cumberland Ale 4.7%; not quite as good as their cask equivalent, or exciting as many of the prospects on offer, but at 3 x 500ml for £4.00 (Asda), I wasn’t going to get much better, well at least not this side of the Pennines. (Jennings, although established in Cockermouth since 1874, are now part of the Marston's Group and can no longer be classed as an Independent Brewery. However, their parent company's commitment to the plant was demonstrated in the wake of the 2009 Cumbrian Floods, when after being badly damaged and out of operation for three months, they effected rapid repairs at the cost of several million pounds).
The day dawned damp and overcast; a typical autumn Tyneside morning, and nothing like the clear, crisp October day looking out over Cummock Water, as depicted on the labels of last night’s beers, but I was sure thing’s would improve. A breakfast of Tea and a Bacon Stottie (Bun, Bap, Cob or whatever you call your local bread speciality) in the Central Station . . . no beer at breakfast for me, but feeling suitably invigorated the first train of my journey beckoned - the “Carlisle Rattler”! Looking serene and innocent when I pictured the beast upon our arrival, but who ever thought you could put an old bus on rails and expect a smooth ride at 70 miles/per hour? Suitably shaken, I was stirred on to look for a pint to calm me down.
They say familiarity breeds contempt, but from experience of last weeks excursion and the fact that I only had some 50 minutes before my next train, I plumped for the safe option and headed for “Wetherspoon’s”, only to find it had changed its name. Of course, it had always been the “William Rufus” - American Vice-President, and not the guy who got the top job commemorated some four doors down. My mistake and should you refer to my earlier posting, (Carlisle Awayday - Just the Ticket!), you’ll know were I’m coming from. Anyway, told you I was shaken, but my pint of Thwaites Daniel’s Hammer 5.0%, there being no Cumbrian beers on offer, certainly hit the mark, and as I strolled back to the Station reminded me of my visits in the 1970’s, when each north-bound trains carriage wheels would systematically ring to the strike of the “Wheeltapper” - a practice I’d never seem before or come across since.
The remainder of the journey proved uneventful; a short haul over Shap and onto Oxenholme, before changing for the Windermere train and the 5 minute run into Kendal - all in air-conditioned luxury and aboard a modern, smooth running high-speed Diesel, in marked contrast to my earlier experiences, and this a single-track five mile branch to a rural backwater, not a main cross-country route, but I digress. And so, on to the venue, a short walk up into town and like most blokes where beer is to be found, an easy find; although the 60ft banner and pointy-arrow may have helped. Free entry, a well laid-out and airy room with numerous tables and lots of seating, together with a great range of home-cooked food beckoned, and that’s not forgetting the beer, the 19th century provincial splendour of the upstairs Assembly Room only adding to the relaxed anticipation of the afternoon’s events.
An array of homemade pies and assorted pickles set before me, I headed to the bar to find my first beer; I had hoped it to be Beckstones Rev Bob 4.6%, but as I was to find out, many of my carefully researched choices were among the handful of beers which hadn’t arrived, had been substituted or weren’t quite ready - so much for my careful preparation. Not to be fazed, I plumped for a previous favourite; Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold 4.3% - a Gold Medal Winner at the 2011 “Great British Beer Festival”. Now, it may have been my disappointment at the disruption to my schedule, the delicious pickles dulling my palate, or even having to sup from a pot with a handle, (an alien tradition here in the North East!), but either way it didn’t quite work out and proved to set a precedent for the afternoon. Onwards and upwards?
Sadly, my next three selections I again found to be lacking - it can only have been me as we we're talking some of Cumbria’s finest and innovative brewers; Croglin (had hoped for their Gylden Ringer 3.8%) Trickster 4.2%, Kirby Lonsdale Monumental Blonde 4.5% and Ulverston Celebration Ale 3.9%, although all were second choices, I just wasn’t having any luck. However, although the glassware wasn’t to my preference, I found some consolation in the fact that they were marked for both third and half pints, this together with all beers being individually priced, meant that I’d hardly splashed out a fortune and was just over a pint into the session. Time for drastic measures - and what a devil; Summer Wine Diablo 6.6%, its sharp hop kick and fruit laden mouthful guaranteed to lift the palate!
The brief trip into Yorkshire certainly helped, and with my next two selections I literately began to scale the heights that I knew Cumbrian brewers could aspire too; Hesket Newmarket Scafell Blonde 4.3% and Coniston Old Man Ale 4.2%, both rising above the perception of mediocrity I had earlier encountered. There was now only one option; Hexhamshire Old Humbug 5.5% - aptly named to describe my earlier mood, its dark, malty flavours and lingering palate allowing me to reflect on my day, and accept that you can’t have your cake (or pickles) and eat it! Kendal had been a great day out; the friendliness of the “CAMRA Westmorland Branch” members second to none and very much worthy of praise for their efforts, and that despite my own initial thoughts, confirmation that Cumbria has many bright stars in the brewing stratosphere.
 |
| © Thwaites/Wetherspoon |
An array of homemade pies and assorted pickles set before me, I headed to the bar to find my first beer; I had hoped it to be Beckstones Rev Bob 4.6%, but as I was to find out, many of my carefully researched choices were among the handful of beers which hadn’t arrived, had been substituted or weren’t quite ready - so much for my careful preparation. Not to be fazed, I plumped for a previous favourite; Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold 4.3% - a Gold Medal Winner at the 2011 “Great British Beer Festival”. Now, it may have been my disappointment at the disruption to my schedule, the delicious pickles dulling my palate, or even having to sup from a pot with a handle, (an alien tradition here in the North East!), but either way it didn’t quite work out and proved to set a precedent for the afternoon. Onwards and upwards?
Sadly, my next three selections I again found to be lacking - it can only have been me as we we're talking some of Cumbria’s finest and innovative brewers; Croglin (had hoped for their Gylden Ringer 3.8%) Trickster 4.2%, Kirby Lonsdale Monumental Blonde 4.5% and Ulverston Celebration Ale 3.9%, although all were second choices, I just wasn’t having any luck. However, although the glassware wasn’t to my preference, I found some consolation in the fact that they were marked for both third and half pints, this together with all beers being individually priced, meant that I’d hardly splashed out a fortune and was just over a pint into the session. Time for drastic measures - and what a devil; Summer Wine Diablo 6.6%, its sharp hop kick and fruit laden mouthful guaranteed to lift the palate!
 |
| Copyright © 2008 Hexhamshire Brewery |
