Oh, what a lovely hoppy biscuity malty brew of a day. Palace's first beer festival was a great success with over 1,000 attendees, music, food, live football and the FA Cup final shown on screens - and even at one point a bit of a dubious cheerleading exhibition.
I started off with a pint of Dark Star Espresso Stout, watching the game on the pitch while slamming down the rich coffee-ground flavours. Then, given that the measures seemed more than generous, I switched to halves: Toad Chocolate Stout (not as sweet as the first and a bit disappointing); the showpiece beer brewed especially for the occasion, Morrissey Fox Palace Ale, a light and hoppy, easy drinking glass, which will be on sale next season; Sambrook Brewery's Wandle Bitter, thrilling because we're so often out walking next to the River Wandle and the beer's brewed up the road in Battersea; Mauldon's Black Adder stout, which again I found a bit bitter; a sumptuous porter called Old Slug from RCH in the West Country; and a few I don't remember too much about, including Oldershaws Alchemy blonde ale, Hopback Crop Circle blond ale, and Springhead Bramley Apple (blonde ale not cider). Must remember to try RCH beers if I see them on sale cos their Steam Pole Bitter, which Martin let me try, was outstanding too.
Other beers worth a mention, of which I had a little tasting sip, were Ringwood Old Thumper pale ale, Kelham Island Pale Rider IPA, Exmoor Gold bitter, and Thornbridge Jaipur IPA.
Given that we were treated to music, an exhibition match on the pitch, the freedom of the Upper Holmesdale, and an engraved glass, and all for a fiver, leads me to agree with James - we really do have the best owners in football. Hats off to Palace, this was a great idea executed well.
I started off with a pint of Dark Star Espresso Stout, watching the game on the pitch while slamming down the rich coffee-ground flavours. Then, given that the measures seemed more than generous, I switched to halves: Toad Chocolate Stout (not as sweet as the first and a bit disappointing); the showpiece beer brewed especially for the occasion, Morrissey Fox Palace Ale, a light and hoppy, easy drinking glass, which will be on sale next season; Sambrook Brewery's Wandle Bitter, thrilling because we're so often out walking next to the River Wandle and the beer's brewed up the road in Battersea; Mauldon's Black Adder stout, which again I found a bit bitter; a sumptuous porter called Old Slug from RCH in the West Country; and a few I don't remember too much about, including Oldershaws Alchemy blonde ale, Hopback Crop Circle blond ale, and Springhead Bramley Apple (blonde ale not cider). Must remember to try RCH beers if I see them on sale cos their Steam Pole Bitter, which Martin let me try, was outstanding too.
Other beers worth a mention, of which I had a little tasting sip, were Ringwood Old Thumper pale ale, Kelham Island Pale Rider IPA, Exmoor Gold bitter, and Thornbridge Jaipur IPA.
Given that we were treated to music, an exhibition match on the pitch, the freedom of the Upper Holmesdale, and an engraved glass, and all for a fiver, leads me to agree with James - we really do have the best owners in football. Hats off to Palace, this was a great idea executed well.
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