Wandsworth Common
Halloween Beer Festival
29th Oct - 1st Nov 2014
Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat
A FESTIVAL OF DARK, AUTUMNAL, MILD, BARLEY WINE, PORTER AND STOUT FROM THE 4 CORNERS OF BRITAIN
100+ different real ales, 25 ciders, wine by the glass and full bar
Original Title
The Beer List: Wandsworth Halloween Beer Festival 2014 - final
Wandsworth Common
Halloween Beer Festival
29th Oct - 1st Nov 2014
Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat
A FESTIVAL OF DARK, AUTUMNAL, MILD, BARLEY WINE, PORTER AND STOUT FROM THE 4 CORNERS OF BRITAIN
100+ different real ales, 25 ciders, wine by the glass and full bar
Wandsworth Common
Halloween Beer Festival
29th Oct - 1st Nov 2014
Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat
A FESTIVAL OF DARK, AUTUMNAL, MILD, BARLEY WINE, PORTER AND STOUT FROM THE 4 CORNERS OF BRITAIN
100+ different real ales, 25 ciders, wine by the glass and full bar
Abbeydale Brewery, Sheffield, South Yorkshire Dr.Mortons Funny Luck 4.1% Extremely pale ale made with new experimental hop from America. Fresh and citrusy. Full English Breakfast Stout 4.9% Rich dark stout. With added coffee, cocoa & maple syrup. Plus 5 different malts.
Arundel Brewery, Autumn Breeze 4.6% A wonderful dark old ale to kick us off with. Roast malt aroma, with berry fruit and chocolate flavours. Smooth and fruity but with a bitter finish. MUST TRY
B & T ( Banks & Taylor) Shefford, Bedfordshire Shefford Plum Porter 4.5% Dark and rich with the addition of natural autumnal plums.
Bank Top, Bolton, Lancashire Gold Digger 4.0% Golden coloured with a citrus aroma. Grapefruit with a touch of spice.
Batemans, Wainfleet, Lincolnshire This family owned brewery is among the last to be fully controlled by the founding family who also work hands on in the brewery. We are thankful to Jaclyn Bateman for personally bringing down the quite sensational Amaretto Mocha. Amaretto Mocha 6.5% Every now and again I am simply blown away by a new beer. This is it. Massive explosion of coffee, chocolate and Amaretto liqueur flavours. Originally only in bottle. Batemans have graciously 10:49 supplied us with the only cask version available anywhere. Beer of the Festival? Must try.
Belleville, Wandsworth, London SW18 Spiced Pumpkin Ale 5.4% A special seasonal ale from our nearest operating brewery. This beer was brewed for the first time last year and proved to be very popular.
Blackedge, Horwich, Lancashire Cascade 4.2% A single hop pale golden ale. Slight hint of lychee & grapefruit. Revolution Red 4.4% Ruby red ale with a velvety smooth mouthfeel.
Black Hole Brewery of Burton Staffordshire Super Nova 4.8% Pure gold colour. Like a Marmalade made with Seville oranges. A sweet start but dry lingering finish.
Black Sheep Brewery, Masham North Yorkshire Reaper 4.1% A three hopped red rye beer. Halloween Special
Blindmans Brewery, Leighton, Somerset Eclipse Porter 4.2% Traditional porter, full of chocolate flavours and subtle bitterness.
Brecon Brewing, Brecon, Powys, Wales Busters Broomstick Bitter 4.3% A Halloween special blood red ale. Red Beacons 5.0% A red coloured smooth ale. Full bodied with a balanced variety of hops. Goldings, Sovereign, Pioneer & First Gold.
Brightside Brewery of Radcliffe, Manchester Underworld 4.4% A crisp refreshing Porter made with English hops
Brimstage Brewery, Wirral Scarecrow 4.2% Orange marmalade in colour Good session brew with citrus fruit flavour and aroma. Winner of numerous awards.
Bursclough Brewery, Ormskirk, Lancashire 10:49 Mere Blonde 4.0% Its not all dark ales at this festival weve slipped this one in. Pale but full flavoured. Hoppy, with a massive grapefruit finish.
Burton Bridge, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire Thomas Sykes 10% A full on barley wine. Deceptively easy drinking so be careful. How can you leave the festival without trying at least a half of this brewing blockbuster. One of my favourites.
Chimay Top Belgian beer 6.0% Available on draught from the keg remote bar
Cotleigh Brewery, Wivelscombe, Somerset Tawny 3.8% Well balanced traditional bitter using only English whole (not pellet) hops and local barley. Night Owl 4.5% A dark chestnut colour using Bramling Cross hops which tends to impart a slight blackberry/orange flavour.
Downton Salisbury, Wiltshire Quadhop 3.9% A pale session bitter. Very refreshing Elderquad 4.0% Pale yellow colour. Addition of elderflower makes for a real thirst quencher. Honey Blonde 4.3% Light ale made with honey Nelsons Delight 4.5% Lest we not forget the Battle of Trafalgar each October. Here is a mellow amber ale with added rum. Rich and sweet. Pumpkin Ale 4.2% Flavoured with pumpkin flesh and only brewed in October each year. Dark Delight 5.5% An Old Ale. A style of beer which is disapperaring but which is of exceptional quality. Chocolate Orange 5.8% Consistently one of the most popular beers at every Festival. Each brew benefitting from a bottle of Cointreau and a Terrys chocolate orange. Must try. Chimera IPA 6.8% A genuine British style IPA uninfluenced by the re- imported US style of IPA that is fast replacing this traditional brew originally brewed for export to India. Roman Imperial Stout 9.0% Abundance of chocolate and roasted coffee aromas. Rich, malty flavour balanced by powerful presence of hops
Elland Brewery of Elland, West Yorkshire 10:49 White Prussian 3.9% This very pale beer is the lightest coloured beer at this festival of predominantly darker ales.
Fool Hardy Ales, Heaton Norris Rhidonkulous 3.7% Another super pale coloured ale. Extremely pale triple hopped. Big flavour for low gravity beer.
Frodsham Brewery, Frodsham, Cheshire CLG 4.4% Chocolate, lemon and ginger. Its all in the name for this most unusual beer. Titans Bolt 8.5% A full on barley wine originally only in bottles and brewed for the first time in September 2013.
Fuller Smith & Turner, Chiswick London Honey Dew 5.0% Available on the keg bar. Exceptional honey infusion a beer that benefits from being kegged. Black Cab Stout 4.5% Keg stout that aims to produce a softer less bitter finish than Guinness. If you are a creamy stout drinker try this small batch brew. Available on the bar inside Le Gothique. Frontier Lager 4.5% Another small batch craft brew from Fullers. The only UK brewed lager that I am consistently impressed by. Available on the bar inside Le Gothique. Vintage 8.5% A rare one-off cask from the depths of Fullers Chiswick cellars. Dark amber malty, fruity aged for 7 years in oak. Must try.
Grafton Brewery, Worksop, Nottinghamshire Framboise Raspberry Beer 4.0% A pale ale made with the addition of raspberry juice. Fruity but with bitter finish Lady Ruby Cherry Beer 4.5% Ruby coloured. Initial fruitiness gives way to big cherry finish on the back of the tongue
Great Newsome, Winestead, North Humberside Jems Stout 4.3%. Dark and rich with a slightly liquorice finish. Named after the brewery dog.
Gypsy Hill Brewing, Gipsy Hill, London SE27 **NEW BREWERY*** Beatnik 3.8% A pale ale made with Amarillo US hops. 10:49 Southpaw 4.2% An amber ale made with Cascade and Simcoe hops.
Hambleton, Melmerby, North Yorkshire Ey Up ! 4.0%. An easy drinking pale ale with characteristics of lemon, lime and tropical fruit. Hoppy but not over hopped.
Highland Brewing Orkney Blast 6.0 A barley wine style beer very warming and perfect for an Autumn day. Big on malt while still retaining its hoppiness.
Hornbeam, Denton, Manchester Licence to Spill oo7% A simply stunning complex beer that defies description. Must try.
Irwell Works, Ramsbottom, Lancashire Mad Dogs & Englishmen 5.5% Easy drinking IPA with lots of flavour.
Ilkley, West Yorkshire Ilkley Black 3.7% Dark and velvety made with chocolate and roasted barley malts. Rich and satisfying while still being low gravity.
Itchen Valley, Alresford, Hampshire Hampshire Rose 4.2% Brewery situated on the Watercress Line steam railway and often served on board in the buffet carriage. This beer named after Henry V award given to Hampshire archers at the Battle of Agincourt. Made with 4 hop varieties and fit for a King.
Kelham Island, Sheffield, South Yorkshire Radar Men from the Moon 4.0% Excellent name. Excellent beer. Kelham Island continue to produce award winning beers. This is their October special.
JW Lees, Middleton Junction, Manchester Moonraker 6.5% Reddish brown. Rich and sweet. Was originally 7.5% but reduced ABV to avoid punitive tax on beers of 7% and over. Wonderful barley wine style. One of my favourites. Rarely brewed by JW Lees and not 10:49 always available in their tied houses. Beer volume sustained by selling to festivals such as this.
Little Beer Corporation, Guildford, Surrey Little Snug 5.4% A traditional warm, mellow pale ale with a slight tinge of nuts from the chestnuts added in the mash. Special cask version as normally only in in bottle. Little Rosy 5.5% A rosy coloured beer. Colour and flavour coming from the addition of fresh raspberries from Jims allotment. Light fresh, and thirst quenching. Must try.
Mauldons, Sudbury, Suffolk Black Adder 5.3% Superbly balanced dark, sweet ale. The Brewerys flagship beer.
Moorhouse, Burnley, Lancashire Black Cat Mild 3.4% A Halloween favourite. A dark mild with chocolate and coffee roast flavours. Crisp bitter finish.
Mr. Grundys, Derby, Derbyshire Olive Branch 3.9% Brewery started in 2010 principally to supply Mr.Grundys bar. Smooth & hoppy. Made with 4 different hops.
Old Bear Brewery, Keithley, West Yorkshire Enchanter 4.4% Light amber US hop influenced beer. Rich and flavoursome with citrus, pineapple and tropical fruit. Perfect for Halloween.
Partners Brewery, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire Justins Brew 3.5% A good beer to start the festival with. Easy drinking session bitter with 4 different malts. Festival organiser Mark Justin would keep sober if he only drank this one all night instead of the Snowflake.
Peerless, Birkenhead, Merseyside. Kiwi Gold 4.0% Time to get some Scouse beer down yer neck with this New Zealand hopped special. Fruity, passion fruit and citrus flavours.
Problem Child Brewing, Parbold, Wigan 10:49 ***NEW BREWERY*** Scallywag 3.7% A golden hoppy ale. First brewed for customers at the Wayfarer Inn. Rapscallion 4.2% Deep gold in colour. Hint od background liquorice. Chinook and galaxy hops. Scoundrel 4.4% Straw coloured hoppy ale. Good Spankin 4.4% Gols colour. Made using lager malts. Magnum and Brewers Gold hops. Big flavour. Winner at local S & M Festival.
Ringway, Reddish, Stockport, Cheshire ***NEW BREWERY*** Session 3.8% Light hoppy pale ale with citrus hop character.
Reedley Hallows, Burnley, Lancashire Monkholme Premium 4.2% Brewery started in 2012. A golden ale. Smooth with a great hoppy taste.
Robinsons, Stockport, Cheshire Old Tom 8.5% A full on dark beer. Malty, dark chocolate and port flavours. An absolute classic.
Rudgate Brewery, Tockwith, North Yorkshire. Asgard Legend 3.8% A dry golden session ale with floral aromas and zesty mouthfeel. Rudgate IPA 5.2% Amber coloured premium ale with a fruity, malty, flavour and a spicy, hop character. Not all IPAs are the same.
Saddleworth, Oldham, Greater Manchester Hopsmacker 4.1% As name would suggest big hoppy ale.
St. Georges Brewery, Callow End, Worcestershire Dragons Blood 4.8% Ruby red with a hint of chocolate. Hops give a slightlt spicy aroma.
Sarah Hughes Brewery Sedgley, Dudley This Black Country brewery is of traditional tower construction. The unique character of the beers is derived from the use of a rare Victorian open 10:49 topped copper. Unable to fully supply its own brewery tap, the legendary Beacon Hotel, the beers are hard to come by and unavailable to source through the usual wholesalers. The ONLY way to get some is to go up there and collect it yourself. And take back the empties! Pale Amber 4.0% Initially slightly sweet but getting hoppier all the time Jester 4.6% First of two new medium gravity beers from festival favourite Sarah Hughes Phoenix 4.6% Beer on its way from Sedgely at time of writing programme notes and so you will have to tell me about this one as you will be the first in London to try it. Sedgeley Surprise 5.0% Bitter sweet and medium bodied. Nice to have all 3 beers from Sarah Hughes for you to sample Sarah Hughes IPA 5.3% Traditional IPA style. Big on hops big on flavour. Dark Ruby Mild 6.0% Regulars at this and other festivals will be aware of this wonderfully eccentric extremely drinkable 6% mild . Uniquely flavoured due to use of a Victorian open topped copper. Has acquired an almost mythical status as its either never arrived or just run out. Dont worry we have several firkins put by. Enjoy. Snowflake 8.0% Snowflake is the ultra rare seasonal ale from the Beacon Hotel in Sedgley. Rarely sold outside the homebrew pub. Barley wine style with a hint of coconut. Matured in cask for one year.
Sierra Nevada U.S. Beer available on the keg bar
Shepherd Neame Faversham, Kent Green Hop 4.2% Sheps are the largest brewer by volume to be featured at this festival of otherwise entirely micro breweries. But never under estimate what great beers they can produce from their Faversham base in the heart of English hop country. Made with new season green (undried) whole hops. Sam Adams Boston Lager 5.0% Brewed by Sheps at their Faversham facility. An amber style lager that looks and tastes like a bitter. Brewed to an exacting US recipe. Available on bar inside Le Gothique.
Southwark Brewery, Southwark, London SE.1. *** NEW BREWERY*** OPENED OCTOBER 2014*** The new brewery stands in the shadow of the Shard, Londons tallest building. 10:49 Southwark LPA (London Pale Ale) 4.0% Modern style of easy drinking pale ale. Bitterness and subtle hints of citrus/tropical flavours. Big powerful aftertaste. Bermondsey Best 4.4% Traditional English style best bitter with Marris otter and East golding hops. Chestnut coloured with spice, honey and shortbread overtones.
Strathaven Brewery, Strathaven, Lanarkshire Festival Ale 4.5% Amber/brown with toffee, spice and fruit overtones.
Tickety Brew, Stalybridge Manchester *** NEW BREWERY*** Manchester Hop 4.5% ??? A husband & wife brewing partnership initially making beer for bottles only. Hopefully we have two cask versions for the festival. Website offers little in the way of information, on ABV or descriptions. Ask servers for more details. Dubbel 6.5% Belgian style beer with dark malt, fig and raisin flavours.
Titanic, Burslem on Trent New World 4.4% Made with American hops, deep amber colour. New World hops. Old World hops Chocolate and Vanilla Stout 4.5% Titanic always produce excellent beers. This is another. Cocoa, sherry, almonds. Must try. The best of the stouts at the festival.
Three Rivers Brewery, Stockport, Cheshire GMT 3.8% A golden session ale which doesnt stand for Greenwich Meantime. Its the eponymous 3 rivers of Goyt, Mersey and Tame.
Wilson Potter, Middleton, Manchester In Shreds 4.7% Award winning beer made by two women with brewery itself named after their grandmother. Pine and lemony notes made with Motueka and Green bullet hops.
Windsor and Eton Windsor, Berkshire Conqueror Black IPA 5.0%. Complex black IPA with a full roasted taste and intense hop aroma. Now showing unbelievable concentration of flavours. Even Paddy the brewer amazed at its staying power. 10:49
Wolf, Attleborough, Norfolk Poppy Ale 4.2% Pale golden ale infused with honey giving a delicate fruitiness. Very moreish. Must try
THE CIDER BAR Mr Whiteheads, Selborne from the Heart of Hampshire *****All Ciders priced at 4.00/pint 2.00 half**** Blackberry 4.0% Strawberry 4.2% Plum 4.0% Rum 7.0% Toffee Apple 4.0% Boxing Dog 7.5% Cirrus Minor 5.0%% The Devils Device 8.4% Equinox 4.5% Apples & Pears 5.0% Midnight Special Perry 5.0% Novo Pyrus (new season pear) 7.0% Single Variety Katy 5.0% Single Variety Dabinette 6.8% Single Variety Russet 7.5% more ciders will be added throughout the festival.