PubsandBeer
01st Amber Valley Beer & Cider Festival (The Ripley Rail Ale Festival) (CAMRA Beer Festival)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle Brook - Slum Dog |  | 1 |
| Dunham Massey - Chocolate Cherry Mild | | 1 |
| Cropton (see also Great Yorkshire) - Blackout | | 1 |
| Amber Ales - Chocolate Orange Stout | | 1 |
| Amber Ales - Black Cherry Stout |  | 1 |
| Buxton - Blonde | | 1 |
| Marlpool - Scratty Ratty | | 1 |
| Amber Ales - Scary Dark | | 1 |
| Sarah Hughes - Dark Ruby | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Bishops Farewell | Not Tried | 0 |
| Whim - Hartington Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Castle Rock - Elsie Mo | Not Tried | 0 |
| Ossett - Silver King | Not Tried | 0 |
| Castle Rock - Black Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Castle Rock - Harvest Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oldershaw - Regal Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Wentworth - Bumble Beer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark Island | Not Tried | 0 |
| Iceni - Fine Soft Day | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mallard - Duck And Disorderly | Not Tried | 0 |
| Mallard - Featherlight | Not Tried | 0 |
| Enville - Saaz (aka Czechmate, Wheat, White) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Whim - Arbor Light | Not Tried | 0 |
| Whim - Snow White (aka Schnee Weiss) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Abbeydale - Black Mass | Not Tried | 0 |
| Abbeydale - Last Rites | Not Tried | 0 |
| Leatherbritches - Hairy Helmet | Not Tried | 0 |
| Abbeydale - Absolution | Not Tried | 0 |
| Enville - White | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marble - Summer Marble | Not Tried | 0 |
| Purity - Pure Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| BrewDog - Punk IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Whim - Flower Power | Not Tried | 0 |
| Amber Ales - IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Attila | Not Tried | 0 |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Saint Petersburg Imperial Russian Stout (now superseded by 7.4% version) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marble - Pint (was 3.9%) | Not Tried | 0 |
| BrewDog - Trashy Blonde | Not Tried | 0 |
| Abbeydale - Deception | Not Tried | 0 |
| Castle Rock - Screech Owl | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marble - Dobber | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Akenhatan | Not Tried | 0 |
| Oakham - Citra | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rossendale (formerly called Pennine) - Sunshine | Not Tried | 0 |
| Nutbrook - Banter Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Rowton - Meteorite | Not Tried | 0 |
| Buxton - Kinder Downfall | Not Tried | 0 |
| Funfair - Teacups | Not Tried | 0 |
| Funfair - Tunnel of Love | Not Tried | 0 |
| Blue Monkey - 100 Red Baboons | Not Tried | 0 |
| Blue Monkey - Revolution | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brampton - Best Bitter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Brass Monkey - Golden Monkey | Not Tried | 0 |
| Dunham Massey - Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Full Mash - Seance | Not Tried | 0 |
| Holland - Chocolate Clog Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Holland - Mad Jack Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
| Kinver - Cavegirl | Not Tried | 0 |
| Marlpool - Straw's Gold | Not Tried | 0 |
| Spire - Sergeant Pepper Stout | Not Tried | 0 |
Visits Details
02 Oct 2010 (Alenomore)
Another new beer festival and an early start from Maidstone (0630), arriving in Ripley, via a bus from Derby, at 11am. A 15 minute walk soon found the Midland Railway Centres' Butterley Station. Well worth a look on it's own with plenty of Diesel & Steam locos in action. The beer tent here, a large marquee, housed a well laid out bar area with over 60 ales on offer plus 10 ciders, CAMRA products and tombola. A good crowd turned out and a few familiar faces were also here. I only stayed for 8 samples as there were just too many new ales on offer, and then visited some pubs. FYI, all festival ales are listed . Recommended.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunham Massey - Chocolate Cherry Mild | 3.80 | | "Smooth dark mild with a dry hint of cherry". This was more like a Belgium Kriek. Superb. |
| Cropton (see also Great Yorkshire) - Blackout | 5.00 | | "Smooth rich porter to a 1930's recipe". Another dark and delicious type. |
| Amber Ales - Chocolate Orange Stout | 4.00 | | First ale of the day. Award winning stout, taking Gold, in the speciality section of the beer of the year awards at the recent GBBF. As expected, a 5* stout. |
| Bottle Brook - Slum Dog | 5.90 | | My last ale here, and again, a top ale. If you like Jaipur (silly question!), you'll love this one too. Superb. |
| Amber Ales - Black Cherry Stout | 4.80 | | Very good, but the cherries were not overpowering. |
| Buxton - Blonde | 4.60 | | My first lae from this brewery, and a very continental taste too. |
| Marlpool - Scratty Ratty | 4.40 | | Another new brewery, from nearby Heanor. This ale from a handpump, and very good too. |
| Amber Ales - Scary Dark | 3.60 | | A very refreshing mild. |
| Sarah Hughes - Dark Ruby | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Bishops Farewell | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Whim - Hartington Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Elsie Mo | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Ossett - Silver King | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Black Gold | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Harvest Pale | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Jaipur | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oldershaw - Regal Blonde | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
| Wentworth - Bumble Beer | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Orkney (Sinclair) - Dark Island | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
| Iceni - Fine Soft Day | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Mallard - Duck And Disorderly | 5.10 | Not Tried | |
| Mallard - Featherlight | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Enville - Saaz (aka Czechmate, Wheat, White) | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Whim - Arbor Light | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
| Whim - Snow White (aka Schnee Weiss) | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Abbeydale - Black Mass | 6.70 | Not Tried | |
| Abbeydale - Last Rites | 11.00 | Not Tried | |
| Leatherbritches - Hairy Helmet | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Abbeydale - Absolution | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Enville - White | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Kipling | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Marble - Summer Marble | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Purity - Pure Gold | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| BrewDog - Punk IPA | 6.00 | Not Tried | |
| Whim - Flower Power | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Amber Ales - IPA | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Attila | 7.50 | Not Tried | |
| Thornbridge / Thornbridge Hall - Saint Petersburg Imperial Russian Stout (now superseded by 7.4% version) | 7.70 | Not Tried | |
| Marble - Pint (was 3.9%) | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
| BrewDog - Trashy Blonde | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Abbeydale - Deception | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Castle Rock - Screech Owl | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Marble - Dobber | 5.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Akenhatan | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Oakham - Citra | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Rossendale (formerly called Pennine) - Sunshine | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
| Nutbrook - Banter Bitter | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Rowton - Meteorite | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Buxton - Kinder Downfall | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Funfair - Teacups | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Funfair - Tunnel of Love | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Blue Monkey - 100 Red Baboons | 4.90 | Not Tried | |
| Blue Monkey - Revolution | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Brampton - Best Bitter | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Brass Monkey - Golden Monkey | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
| Dunham Massey - Porter | 5.20 | Not Tried | |
| Full Mash - Seance | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Holland - Chocolate Clog Mild | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
| Holland - Mad Jack Stout | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Kinver - Cavegirl | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Marlpool - Straw's Gold | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
| Spire - Sergeant Pepper Stout | 5.50 | Not Tried |
About the 01st Amber Valley Beer & Cider Festival (The Ripley Rail Ale Festival)
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 4 |
| 4 |
 | - |
 | - |
 | - |
The pub is found in Ripley, Derbyshire, DE5 3QZ.
This beer festival is held at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley. A preserved Steam & Diesel railway, Butterley Station, a short walk or bus from Ripley, contains a museum, gift shop, cafe, model railway society and a working loco shed. This first beer festival, with help from Amber Valley CAMRA, was held in a marquee, with over 60 Real Ales and 10 Real Ciders on offer. In addition to the good beer, there was Indian Food, traditional snacks and Morris dancers. Plenty to see and do at the Railway Centre too. Nearby Ripley is also worthy of a visit.
We have visited this pub once, seen 62 different beers and tried 8 of them.
Postcode: DE5 3QZ