The previous Biennial Weekend with Graeme and Marion pre-dates Bier-Traveller.com, that was York. This year it was our turn to chose the venue. I have dropped in to Chester twice in my life and been more than impressed by the ambience, to stay a long weekend, well…
Arriving just before 20.00 we were in time for dinner at the Brookside Hotel, our sleeping quarters for the next three nights. Dinner had to be commenced by 20.30. This is the British Way! The Brookside Hotel was a late choice, our original venue, the Bull & Stirrup, letting us down very late on.
Dinner was nothing special, the Ale was Bottled and Warm, time to get out of here. Given that time was passing, Graeme suggested the nearby George and Dragon. Robin has not educated me in Ale all these years to go to a Pub that sells only Greene King Ales. We passed it by and the Bull & Stirrup which had no Ales at all. The Pied Bull was our next place for inspection..
Serendipity Strikes Again!
Now on our very first Weekend Away together as a Foursome, Marg did not believe that it was chance that we met Clive in Keighley as we headed for the train back to Haworth. It was also pure chance that the KWVR Ale Festival was on that particular weekend. The Pied Bull had a Festival on too! It was advertised as UK v USA. In the excitement of seeing a dozen Hand-pull Taps set up on a Temporary Bar, I failed to notice a smaller one opposite with the American Craft Beers being dispensed.
When I finally got served I had to ask for advice, many new names. I was told that a Brewer was around, but we never met up. His choice of Ale was also Hop and Citrus and so it was suggested I start with a Salopian (Shrewsbury, Shropshire) 4.5% – er, Hop Twister. I have enjoyed their Ales over the years but of late have not been so impressed. The Hop Twister felt a bit Thin, nothing special at all.
Next up was a local Ale, the Redwillow (Macclesfield, Cheshire). At 5.9% this should have hit the spot, again I found it to be a disappointment. The Dark Gold Body was certainly full, however I hoped for something more in my face.
It was getting late, a final Ale was negotiated. The Brewery within the City Walls of Chester who takes its name from these very premises – The Pied Bull (Chester, Cheshire) – had potentially the best Ale of the evening. A boldly named Matador at 5.0% had Citrus and Hops to the fore, but Malt too?
Chester has other places to visit, two more Brewery Taps within the City Walls, at least. However, I felt a strong urge to return here, there is still the USA Craft Beer to consider…