h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's 9pm and the Beerfest is officially underway

If you want to grade your beer, please give it a rating out of five and a short description. I'll put the results together sometime over the weekend.

I only have the Wychwood cider, which I'm saving for simultaneous drinking. So I'm controversially starting with an ale, St Austell's Tribute.

OK, Single Variety Cox's, courtesy of Thatcher's.

Pours nicely, some lingering head bodes well for carbonation. Worrying yellow colour best described as 'afternoon urination'. Inoffensively medium, lingering dry flavour balanced with a slightly tongue-curling sweetness.

/ out of 5.

B

Weston's Premium Organic Cider.

Nicely golden, lightly fizzy, quite sweet, not as cidery as I'd like but not bad.

/5

I'm refusing the Thatcher's Katy at this hour. It's 7.5% and usually puts me to sleep. So I'll be starting the Green Goblin at about 9.30

B

Tribute: Tempting light amber in colour, slightly acidic aroma. Lightly roasted malts and fairly bitter; a fairly standard beer but done extremely well. Let down a little by gassy bottling, but by and large thoroughly drinkable. I can imagine drinking it on a cold, crisp autumn day in a beer garden overlooking the coast.

out of five - a good start.

9.30 for the Green Goblin sounds reasonable. Wychwood's beers are generally pretty good, so I'm looking forward to the cider. Ever had oak-aged cider before?

I've only the one cider so am pacing myself and making it last till 10.00. Well, that's the plan.

I went to the local store and found this gem.
Henry Westons Vintage 6.0%

Crisp and dry with a sharp clean taste, mildly sweet with no sour aftertaste.

/ 5

As long as we save the listed beers until we're all ready for them, it's fine to drink something else

Is there something with the bottling of smaller breweries, that they find it difficult to get the gas levels right? Sharps was similar last week, although more off-putting. We've had a new brewery open in the Bay - called 'Bays Brewery', and their beer is ok but but really, really lively.

There are a couple smaller brewers in the midlands that struggle to get it right, but it is worth it when they do

Despite the fact that I only live just down the road from Westons, their cider does have the annoying habit of making me very ill.

B

It's only in the bottle that they seem to get it wrong, Bob. I'd prefer it flat than tingling in my mouth; sometimes it's like drinking it with a bit of Alka-Selzer, and that can't be good.

Are we almost ready for the Green Goblin?

Just waiting for the end of HIGNFY

B

My offie usually has quote a range, but only had the commercial non-ciders, Brothers Pear Cider (the 7.5% festival strength as pictured in a litre paper cup at this year's Glasto in my Facebook photo. It's much better at festivals than at home. As are most things), Old Rosie, which is similarly over powered, and the Weston's.

The Weston's seems to be getting sweeter with every swig. I might have to ditch a from its score.

Wasn't Madeley crap? I expected better from him, though I'm not sure why.

I must conspire to be somewhere other than my folks' living room at 21.00 on Christmas Day.

Oh wow. This is rather special...

B

That's interesting. Green Goblin is produced in partnership with Thatcher's. I'm just about to cap and pour it, as I can't wait any longer...