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St Albans Beer Festival 2024 (CAMRA Beer Festival)

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Ossett - VoodooExcellent1
Northdown - Squidly DiddlyExcellent1
Tring - Colley's DogExcellent1
3 Brewers of St. Albans - Classic English AleGood1
Vale - Red KiteGood1
3 Brewers of St. Albans - Special English AleGood1
Garden City - Black Hert(s)Good1
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - HopfestGood1
Anarchy - Dark SoulsGood1
Big Bog - Peat Bog PorterPoor1

Visits Details

28 Sep 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
My second visit to this excellent festival with some 200+ real ales on. My first visit on a Saturday and very much busier with the majority being younger people in their 20s and 30s compared to the Thursday last year. Great atmosphere with a live band playing most of the time from my arrival mid-afternoon and good to see some familiar faces from SE and SW London.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Tring - Colley's Dog5.20ExcellentGreat head and lacing. A spicy hit on the taste buds with a bitter aftertaste.
Ossett - Voodoo5.00ExcellentGood one to end on as never tried before as always had run out at other festivals. Great head and lacing. Very dry, sweet mouthfeel and certainly moreish.
Northdown - Squidly Diddly5.80ExcellentA good start to the festival's offerings and brought back memories of my visit to Northdown's taproom on the Isle of Thanet, just outside Margate, at Easter. Hazy, as is their way of doing it, for this pale with a fruity mouthfeel and good head and lacing.
Mad Squirrel (formerly Red Squirrel) - Hopfest3.80GoodVery good head and lacing. Very murky but with a pleasantly fruity mouthfeel.
3 Brewers of St. Albans - Classic English Ale4.00GoodGood head and lacing. A slightly sweet, biscuity mouthfeel.
Vale - Red Kite4.30GoodGood head/lacing. Very bitter, earthy mouthfeel and not sweet.
3 Brewers of St. Albans - Special English Ale4.80GoodGood head and lacing. Came with caramel flavours and with a bitter, hoppy aftertaste.
Garden City - Black Hert(s)4.20GoodGood head but minus lacing in this porter. Malty flavouring and a touch of liquorice in the dry aftertaste.
Anarchy - Dark Souls5.10GoodGood head and lacing. Malty mouthfeel and a dry, hoppy aftertaste.
Big Bog - Peat Bog Porter4.90PoorThey do not call it Peat Bog for nothing! No head or lacing and lacklustre in flavouring. Perhaps a hint of liquorice and if that is not from the beer before just tried. This is the one that wins the award for not being anywhere near the rest or being the best!

About the St Albans Beer Festival 2024

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional-
Excellent3
Good6
Acceptable-
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3LD.

The 2024 beer festival held in late September in the Alban Arena. Offers hundreds of cask ales, an array of craft beers, international brews, ciders and perries, street food and musical entertainment. This year some imported US cask ales are available.

We have visited this pub once, seen 10 different beers and tried them all.

Map location

Postcode: AL1 3LD