The Plan today was to work a Split Shift: 14.00 – 18.00 then 20.00 to Closing Time. This would permit Hector to satisfy his other Source of Pleasure on the First Full Day of the Summer Vacation. Arriving in Candleriggs just after 14.00, both Dakhin and Dabba were found to have open doors but were in fact – closed. I tried two more Venues selling British Fayre but walked out having been totally ignored. This was not a great advertisement for Glasgow Hospitality.
As it happens, the Festival was not opening its doors until 15.00 due to the fact that other Businesses were in operation within The Briggait and we were in effect blocking their access. Well that’s more or less what I was told. There was time for a Swift Half before the Shift began. Oakham’s Scarlet Macaw (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire) a Favourite Ale in The Company was now on. Green Devil, also Oakham, was still on but would not last much longer.
The Man Who Knows confirmed that we had used only 20% of the Stock yesterday. There would be plenty of Ale left for Saturday. Surely by the end of this evening Everything would be tapped?
Yvonne and Tracey were manning the Reception with Dr. Stan. Mags and Neil turned up for their First Shifts, they too were set to process the Arrivees at the Door. A Glass, a Festival Programme with a page commemorating Dr. Rick who is no longer with us, and a Colour-coded Wristband were issued to each Customer. I believe People had to pay to enter for the second time, with a reduction for bringing their own glass (from Yesterday).
Euan was also in the building and joined Alan, Craig and Hector at Bar A-K. Rob of Forth Valley CAMRA was also with us, a First for Hector and Rob to be behind the same Bar. At opening time there was Ten of us behind the Bar, nobody could see the Ales. Time for a Break. Howard (Bar L-Z) a Half of Scarlet Macaw please. Ricky and Alistair were on their Break already. With Jonathan and Kenny on The Floor complete with Cyborg Communication Devices and Stewart allocating Staff, The Company was almost complete. Where was Robin?
Enter The G-RAF
John from The Far East entered The Briggait suitably attired for the occasion. I did hear someone ask – Why is he wearing a Giraffe Costume?
Hawkshead’s Five Hop (Stavely, Cumbria) was one of the first Ales to go. Their Lakeland Lager disappeared quickly too, its lesser strength suiting many. The Lakeland Lager made a quick reappearance. I found myself standing mostly on the extreme right of Bar A-K and so poured little of Derek’s Kelburn range, and even less of Orkney, but plenty of Highland. Marg and Hector visited both Orkney Breweries last year. Our allegiance lies in Swannay, not Quoyloo.
Derek Noon Bitter
Say it aloud! Derek has been brewing Dark Moore for some years. Those who know, get it. Hector dreamt up Derek-Noon-Bitter and gave Derek immediate rights to use this, on one condition – Derek brews a Pale, (New Zealand/American) Hoppy Ale at over 5.0% with a Citrus finish. He insists his family would kill him if he did. Today I offered Derek a new Opperchancity to corner the market – Ale Brewed with Methi. Now imagine how Dry and Flavoursome this would be? Derek admits to being Too Traditional. Are there any Brewmeisters out there wishing to try? Let The Hector know.
A Taxi for 4 at 6
Mr. Holden managed to prize himself away from his Post long enough to announce that he had arranged a Taxi to take us to The New Karahi Palace, A Bridge too Far for He and Alistair to walk. In the end, Dr. Stan stayed at his post for Kenny’s predicted Five until Seven o’clock Rush, which never came. Business had been steady all afternoon. There were no queues a la Paisley. The Briggait was continually proving itself to be Spacious, Bright, Airy, a Perfect venue.
I returned from an Excellent Curry to meet up with a Couple who had arrived just as I was departing for Dinner. Scarlet Macaw was still the Ale of Choice. Howard and Tracey joined us and then Neil who was discovering Breaks were Mandatory.
Alan and Stewart had realised that many of those who were there at The Start of the Day were packing it in and so my 20.00 scheduled return was beneficial. We had been well staffed over the Two Days so far.
Still, many of the Casks were held in reserve. At times it felt like a certain chain who advertise Ales as – Coming Soon. However, at times they don’t even have the Ale in the building and usually don’t have the staff capable of putting it on. We had The Man Who Knew, and he was still saying nothing. Chaps were asking about the Allendale Casks. Surely they would be on tonight? Indeed they were, but The Chaps had gone. The Man Who knew explained his Mathematical Approach to Tapping and Venting. If the Festival is overloaded, then all unsold Ale gets poured down the sink at the end. Once Vented, that’s it, the Ale cannot be sold on, Profit oot-the-windae’. After The Arches Beer Festival there were no risks being taken at this Fest. There was plenty of choice of all Ale styles, maybe not Everyone’s Favourite. Dark Star’s Revelation (Partridge Green, West Sussex) was keeping The Company in Bar A-K more than Happy. The American Pale Ale would hopefully be – Available Soon.
By the end of Day 2, over Eight Hundred People had entered The Briggait in addition to yesterday’s Five Hundred. The Festival was a Success, there was still Another Day, and there was plenty of Ale. Kenny was indeed The Cat who got The Cream. Jonathan and Howard were in Modest Mode. How Happy were The Company? Never have so many Happy Chappies been Blogged.
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