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Great British Beer Festival 2005 (CAMRA Beer Festival)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Alcazar - Alcazar AlePoor1
Brown Cow - Brooklyn BlondAcceptable1
Cairngorm - White LadyExceptional1
De Ranke - XX BitterExceptional1
Dogfish Head - 90 Minute Imperial IPAExceptional1
Durham - White BishopGood1
Frome (formerly Milk Street) - AmarilloExcellent1
Grainstore - Rutland PantherExcellent1
Itchen Valley - Hampshire RoseAcceptable1
Mighty Oak - Burntwood BitterGood1
Nottingham - Extra Pale AleGood1
Oakham - Bishops FarewellExceptional1
Oakham - JHBExceptional1
Oakham - White DwarfExceptional1
Ossett - Mellow YellowGood1
Rogue - Brutal BitterExcellent1
Rogue - Shakespeare StoutExcellent1
Salt Lake Brewing Company - IPAExcellent1
Sharp's - Atlantic IPA (now replaced by 4.2% Atlantic)Acceptable1
Victory Brewing Company - Hop DevilExcellent1

Visits Details

04 Aug 2005 (Ian)
As before.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - JHB3.80ExceptionalOakham had their own stand at this beer festival so they could keep control of the quality of their product. All 3, JHB, Bishops Farewell and White Dwarf were 5/5 stunners. All with the distinctive Oakham characteristics, yet all indentifiably different. JHB was wonderful with lots of grapefruit and tangerine and hops
Oakham - Bishops Farewell4.60ExceptionalSee notes on JHB
Oakham - White Dwarf4.30ExceptionalSee notes on JHB
Cairngorm - White Lady4.70ExceptionalFor me, the surprise of the festival. Cloudy amber/orange beer with lasting off white head. Spicey aroma some bubblegum. Smooth in mouth with nice cinnamon spicey/hoppy finish. Gorgeous
Dogfish Head - 90 Minute Imperial IPA9.00ExceptionalSlightly cloudy dark copper/orange colour. Slight herb on the intensely hoppy slightly metallic aroma. Just a huge roller coaster of a beer. Superb, good citric lime flavour. Hops are just incredible. Did not drink like a 9% beer. I just wanted to keep tasting it.
Rogue - Shakespeare Stout6.00ExcellentBlack, fresh, roast malt nose coffee, some chocolate, some toffee, not too full in mouth but the finish is outstanding. Long with coffee, burntness and some charcoal
Durham - White Bishop4.80GoodPale gold, blond citrus hoppy beer but this is one of the better ones. Hoppier and more floral with excellent citrus
Mighty Oak - Burntwood Bitter4.00GoodEarthy Goldings hops. Bitter golden brown with subtle hop aroma. I like the caramel malt and hop flavours in the mouth with good balanced ginish. Tasty session beer
Brown Cow - Brooklyn Blond4.40AcceptableSome diacetyl, some hop, some hay. Blond cisturs hoppy beer, good hop finish with some citrus but again no true identity, it could be any one of a number of this type of beer
Alcazar - Alcazar Ale4.00PoorPale gold, eggy nose with some hay/hop. Thin in mouth with thin quickly disappearing hoppy dry finish. Pity as all the other beers I have had from this brewery have been good
03 Aug 2005 (Ian)
This is the largest beer festival I have been to. Excellent location in the Grand Hall, Olympia with high glass ceiling letting in lots of sunlight. Beers are organised by region or some brewers have their own stands. Also a cider/perry stand, foreign beer bar (Biere Sans Frontiers) and a Bar Nouveau
BeerABVScoreNotes
De Ranke - XX Bitter6.20ExceptionalGood to find this on draught. Cloudy gold colour, superb, hops, citric fruit, good balance. Just a nice beer.
Grainstore - Rutland Panther3.40ExcellentNutty mild, dark ruby colour with good malts, some fruit. Excellent mild with coffee flavours throughout and on the finish
Rogue - Brutal Bitter6.20ExcellentCloudy amber beer, with sweetish fruity aromas some citrus fruit and then a strong citrus hop finish typical of this style of US beers
Frome (formerly Milk Street) - Amarillo4.30ExcellentRussetty colour. Amarillo hop nose with a clean taste. Not overpowering and extremely drinkable. Will look out for other beers from this brewery
Salt Lake Brewing Company - IPA6.00ExcellentGolden beer. Good fruit tasting of berries, with good hops and citric fruits, only slightly sweetish unlike some US beers, nice and extremely drinkable even for a 6% beer
Victory Brewing Company - Hop Devil6.70ExcellentReddish brown. Extremely hoppy aroma. Nice berries and hops in mouth with challenging hoppy finish. Does exactly what it says on the tin
Nottingham - Extra Pale Ale4.20GoodPale gold. Creamy light hop aroma, good summer beer. Hoppyish finish bit of citruc fruit but very hoppy
Ossett - Mellow Yellow4.50GoodSome hop aroma, Golden blond citrus hoppy beer, smooth in mouth with good balanced hop finish. Better than the average of this type of beer
Itchen Valley - Hampshire Rose4.20AcceptableBit disappointed in this. I have loved all the other beers from this brewery but this was nothing special. Dark gold, odd mouldy nose but the flavour is ok.
Sharp's - Atlantic IPA (now replaced by 4.2% Atlantic)4.80AcceptableGolden brown. Hay, some buttery diacetyl on aroma, good supping pint but not the best Sharp's beer.

About the Great British Beer Festival 2005

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional6
Excellent6
Good4
Acceptable3
Poor1

The pub is found in Olympia, Greater London, W14 8UX.

What can I say about this? Brilliant. Huge. Biggest beer festival I have been to and the most enjoyable. The range of both UK micros and macros and the beer from around the world is magnificent. A must for any lover of beer.

We have visited this pub twice, seen 20 different beers and tried them all.

Map location

Postcode: W14 8UX