Arrival
This weekend is a tribute to Dr. Stan who will be 65 in a few days. Hector was set the task of suggesting a venue and setting things in motion. A weekend in Cambridge was conceived, but for the majority more time was spent in Peterborough. Even Dr. Stan was misled.
Marg and Hector arrived at Stansted at 21.05, only a few minutes later than the advertised time which was something of an achievement. A BA flight to Oslo from Heathrow had to make an emergency landing which resulted in BA grounding all Airbus 319s. A PIA flight to Manchester was redirected to Stansted after some naughty Chaps caused a fracas on board. Our easyJet Flight was an Airbus 319 and Stansted bound. No Volcanic Over-reactions this time.
Lord Clive and Lady Maggie of Crawley were also Cambridge bound by car and so collected us at Stansted in their brand new Four Door White Mercedes Benz. By this time Dr. Stan and Neil were the last Men Standing and were desperately trying to last the course until our arrival. By the time we checked in at the Travelodge and walked the necessary distance, it was 23.00 before we arrived at The Kingston Arms.
Crouch Vale’s (Essex) Brewers Gold at a modest 4% was the recommended Ale to kick things off. Needless to say the first intake of Ale in six days rarely touches the sides. It was OK, but after the joy of The Staggs (Musselburgh) last Saturday and the Best of Oakham Ales (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire) it could not be described as outstanding. Dr. Stan and Neil has spent the day in Peterborough.. no more need be said.
Taylor’s Landlord (Keighley, Yorkshire) at a better 4.3% did not feel like a typical Friday Night Bier either, however was up to its usual standard. Although not in our now preferred style of Hop and Citrus overload, this Ale still has much to offer.
People were fading, Hector was in the mood, Bells were ringing, Time Please.
Just to set the standard for the remainder of The Weekend, Hector was last out of The Kingston arms.
It was agreed, we would all spend Saturday in Cambridge
Marg was watching Hector enjoy Curry at the impressive Prana when Yvonne texted to say – They were all at the Beer Festival and as Andechs Spezial Hell (Andechs, Herrsching, Bayern) was the only impressive Bier on offer, They would not be staying long.
Hector would not be hurried. Having sated the Curry Appetite we wandered towards the town centre and with the aid of Google Maps took the bearing for Jesus Green.
Now CAMRA Members gain access to this Festival for free. The last time I attended it was not that wonderful and so we did not stay that long. Marg was happy to go for coffee in the the centre of Cambridge. What would it cost to get her in?
Explaining that Marg didn’t drink Bier and only intended to say- Hello – then depart, she was intermediately given the status of Designated Driver. This gave Marg Free Entry also and tokens for Soft Drinks. Now there’s a practice that many Festivals could adopt.
The Foreign Bar was the obvious place to head for. Had there been any Ales of note the Jungle Drums would have beaten loudly. Although Olaf was nowhere to be seen, these were clearly the Biers from the Schellenberg Mercedes Van. Nobody else does this range. Edelstoff (Augustiner, München, Bayern) was going through a cooler something I first witnessed at the Bradford Beer Festival earlier this year. The Andechs Spezial Hell may well have been the Choice of Champions, however the Trunk (Vierzehnheiligen, Bad Staffelstein, Bayern) Silberbock was on. At a surprisingly drinkable 6.8% this is one of the finest Helles Biers there is. The Server was struggling to pour a Pint and so I asked for a half. A Generous Half was presented. Marg fetched her Soft Drink from an adjacent stall and we headed outside the Marquee to find The Chaps.
Once the Silberbock announcement was made, nobody was going anywhere
Dr. Stan was given his Birthday present, he has wanted a Kindle for sixty of his sixty five years, allegedly.
Schlenkerla Märzen (Heller, Bamberg, Bayern) and a Bottle of Füchsen Alt (Düsseldorf, NRW) had to be sampled also. One cannot survive on Silberbock alone, especially when sitting in the Sun.
The Schlenkerla Märzen at 5.4% is the major Rauchbier produced in the fine City of Bamberg. Hector and Steve will return in July. No October trip planned as yet for the Urbock. The Füchsen Alt was a way of coming off the Mountain. At a more modest 4.5% this is a novelty on our shores, how often does one taste Altbier in the UK? My third favourite Altbier. Finishing on a Bottled Bier!
Craig took little persuasion to do on the Silberbock. George, The Duke of Hamilton, followed on. Yvonne stayed on the Andechs Spezial Hell. Had Howard been with us he too would have been in Hog Heaven. Clive was trying English Ale then realised nothing would compete with Olaf’s finest choice of Deutsche Bier. Meanwhile Marg had Lemonade and Coffee.
As various members headed off towards the town centre we were joined by locals. One Chap pointed in the exact direction of our next port of call, The Maypole. Well done that Chap.
The Maypole had two Bars and a lot of Bier. Whilst the majority went Domestic including 14 gravity dispensed, Hector spotted Franziskaner (Spaten, München, Bayern) vom Fass. It is nearing the end of May and Hector has not set foot in Deutschland since November. Unglaublich! Franziskaner is part of the Staple Diet. Who knows what Marg paid but as she and Maggie had decided that it was lunchtime, dinner time, what time was it?
Jonathan and Dr. Stan, remember him?, texted from St. Radegund to say they had found the Best Bier of The Day, so far... the 6.2% UK, NZ and USA Hopped – Flava Bona Pretiosior Est Rubinibus from the Milton Brewery. (Cambridge). As everyone knows – A Good Blond is more Precious than Rubies.
The Duchess had now joined The Duke.
How Jonathan managed to text was a mystery. In previous visits the use of Mobile Phones in any form was strictly Verboten. The Ale was decidedly warm after the Cool Delight that was Deutsche Bier. The Flava was initially Sweet too but settled on the Palate. Hector was just getting used to this when Clive announced it was time to go to Inder’s Kitchen. Yes, Dear Reader, time for another Curry-Heute!
A certain Football Match at Wembley was just finishing when we rejoined the rest of the Company who were by now at Hector’s Favourite Cambridge Pub – Cambridge Blue. The German Team won.
The Ale that first drew our attention to the mighty Oakham Brewery (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire) Inferno at a now seemingly weak 4.0% was the best on offer. A new Oakham Ale, Sock Monkey ta 5.0% went off before I could have any.
The Fridge had to be studied, and there it was, one of my Mostest Favouritest Biers – Hanssens Oude Kriek! There is not a Cherry Bier known to Hector as Sour as this. This is it, the Most Cheek Sucking Cherry Bier on The Planet. At 6.0% a careful session can be had.
Alas time ran out before a Session could be contemplated. Cambridge Blue shuts at 23.00. There’s always tomorrow. Ah, but, the Kingston Arms is just around the corner.
Those who hadn’t had a break had all gone home by closing time. Robin and Mags have not rated a mention. I cannot keep notes on everyone else. The Brothers were left at The Maypole, they are residing in Peterborough. I thought this was a Cambridge Weekend?
Jonathan replaced Dr. Stan to keep the same six as last night, but what to have? A British Ale wouldn’t work, nor would a German…and so Farmhouse Perry (Ross on Wye, Herefordshire) again at 6.0% was the Nightcap. This had the Body and total lack of Sweetness to be palatable.
The Pubs and Festival Visited:
The Kingston Arms – 33 Kingston St, Cambridge, CB1 2NU
The Cambridge Beer Festival 2013 – Jesus Green, Cambridge
The Maypole – 20A Portugal St, Cambridge CB5 8AF
St. Radegund – 129 King St, Cambridge CB1 1LD
Cambridge Blue – 85-87 Gwydir St, Cambridge CB1 2LG
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Good stuff. A very pleasant weekend. Olaf was spotted at the Beer Festival incidentally.