We dropped into a great beer little festival this week at The Bhurtpore Inn on Wednesday night, when I say little, it’s a big festival in the little rural village of Aston in Cheshire and with 280 UK and Continental beers, plus the Ciders and Perry’s you’d hardly call it small fry.
I’d not been to the Bhurtpore Inn before and was looking forward to the event even more so due to the location as I’d heard so many good stories about the place. Not least that it had won the South Cheshire CAMRA’s Pub Of The Year award six times since 2000, the last being 2010.
The 16th Summer Bhurtpore Inn Beer Festival
5th – 10th July 2011
at the Bhurtpore Inn, Aston, nr. Nantwich, Cheshire
130 Real Ales. Plus Real Cider & Perry, 150 bottled Belgian & German beers
Festival Opening Times
Tuesday: 6.30 – 11.30pm, Wednesday – Saturday: 12 noon – 11.30pm
Sunday: 12 noon – 11pm
CHESHIRE’S BIGGEST BEER FESTIVAL – FREE ADMISSION: All enquiries ring 01270 780917
The Bhurtpore, as you can see from the top photograph has been extended over the years no doubt due it’s popularity, this meant for the festival although it was a seemingly small venue, the areas were well laid out allowing three bars to sell beer while still offering a full menu of hot meals which we gladly devoured. The beer menu was great listing brews from a wide variety of breweries from across the UK including many local ales too.
First on the list for me was spotted and downed just as quickly, Fyne Ales Jarl. It’s a fine (Fyne) golden session ale, light, with citrus and peppery hops. To be honest I think I heard this mentioned more than any other beer available on the night. Very refreshing, one of the few I went back to.
The others making up my beer quaffing list were, Bank Top Brewery – Calico Jack, North Curry Brewery – Curry Gold, Ulverston Brewery’s Flying Elephants & Fra Diavalo and two crackers from Coastal Brewery Strawberry Mild and the epic 9% Kernow Imperial Stout.
The Kernow was my pick of the bunch by some margin and is a Coastal special making it’s 2011 debut at the Bhurtpore Inn. Despite it’s high abv it was exceptionally drinkable, having light mouthfeel with bags of caramel sweetness.
Sadly we had to depart early for our mini bus as the Bhurtpore is a little difficult to get to from Stoke, it was doubly disappointing that so many of the beers I’d gone for were not ready on Wednesday. Including an astounding six beers from Summer Wine Brewery, these being Ensign, Polestar, Rouge Top, Nerotype Black IPA’s Bravo & Hercules and finally 7C’, plus local favourites OffBeat Brewery’s Way Out Wheat and Kooky Gold then Merlin Brewerys Wizard.
I hope you lucky punters going this weekend enjoy MY BEER! (grumble, grumble) 😦
The festival runs for another 3 days including tonight, so if you are in the area get yourself down for some cracking ales in a lovely location. I’ve attached the advance the beer list kindly received from the landlord Simon George here.
Have fun!
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Beersay 