Literally Sun fest 2013.

Cor Blimey!

       As I never say. Its ort!

Well. Good. It makes a chuffing change. I love rain, as anyone with no concept of enjoying anything does but you know now and again a blast of vitamin D would be well, a shot in the arm. So sparse have the glinting rays been over the last decade I was tempted to think that Sun fest had never been blessed with such a thing. Although 2006 was a scorcher I hear.....

Anyway this year sun was on tap as was a very large selection of rather good beers at Sunfest 2013 at the Rising Sun in Nether Green. Owned by the Abbeydale, its not really a pub I get to very often what with it being bloody miles away but almost every of the last 5 years I've rolled up at Sunfest. This year though I was heading for a Thursday visit. This would be a unique opportunity to sample an almost empty bar and to attend without 10,000 other punters.

Straight away I got my ticket card and proceeded to the bar. There were 5 staff and 3 customers. Get in! I tried to get two people to serve me simultaneously, you know, to make it worth their while but in the end I got just one person and one beer, a very tasty Smoke Bomb which was a light brown smoky ale with what I would, after the festival at any rate,m discover was their signature hoppiness - a good start.

I soon fund mys elf returned to the bar, without remembering to have checked where the beer was. In the heinous situation you didn't read last years review I'll explain briefly that all the beers have a unique code - U(pper) M(iddle) L(ower) and B(ottom) and a number. That way, both you and the staff can quickly find the brew you want. So its a bit silly to turn up, having looked at said code, with no memory of it. Yet somehow I accidentally arrived almost facing the Tiny Rebel Fubar. a slightly odd tasting but very enjoyable drop.

I caught up with Ally and Malc and Shaggy and Chris in-between spotting other beer monsters including Unpro,  whom I discovered cowering grumpily in the tent tying to avoid direct sunlight. Yes kids, it seems the rumours are true.

Next up was a very refreshing accomplished low alcohol North Riding Summer ale, before I tried my first saison, the Saison Noir from On the Edge. To an extent the dark malt aspect was a little heavier than I wanted, and some people said it lacked the lemony edge of a proper saison, but to be far, since when has any saison been black? It was still a very refreshing beer.

Its probably worth listing the rest of the beers I tried, since in all honesty the order is a little unclear some 4 days letter a

Arbor Ales Monsoon Saison
Barlow Karma Citra
Cross Bay tempest IPA
Hamelsworde Brewery Cherokee IPA
Purple Moose Ygaswen
Steel City Angel of Death
Talke o The Hill  Citrade

The Monsoon was my finisher but my favourite, it pains me to say, was the Angel of Death, which was really perfectly balanced. Other stand out beers included the Cross Bay Tempest, the Arbor Monsoon and the Talke Citrade.

I did intend to try one of the Keykegs (*its the future and its real ale, in fact, even more so than cask....) but they were mainly stronger offerings and the combo of sun and no food (despite a crammed wrap from Tesco) was making me a little tipsy. Not forgetting that I had a warm up half of the Green Devil IPA at the Bath - on for 6 days and somehow contriving to taste even better.

There were a few disappointments beer wise - the Barlow Karma Citra must have been the result of an evil act because it was Karma-crystal. Malt. No hops were detected. The Hamelsworde was even worse. A wincingly sweet heavy affair which I'd like to think was an anomaly. Surely.

Also, Dan Baxter, there wasn't any Ascension from Abbeydale on Key keg. Which was a shame since it sounded really nice described as being dry hopped to counteract the fact that it would be served at a lower than intended temperature. Yet despite being the subject of a rare Abbeydale blog post and being on the list in the beer tent it was nowhere to be seen. Which is a shame because that's one experiment that could have generated some interesting results on such a hot day.

Still, overall I had a very enjoyable drunken time talking beer with a multitude of people and enjoying a slightly less manic bar than I might reasonably expect on a Saturday.  My only suggestion for improvement might be a £5.00 card - since, I didn't have enough money to buy an £8.00 one (now I had a glass) just to use it to top up the shortfall of 30p on one half to cash it back in. I don't have spare cash in that quantity at the end of any festival unless I haven't drunk anything!

Otherwise another well organised well run festival with some truly exceptional beers, that I won't hesitate to attend next year.

Cheers

Wee Beefy

*I'd like to think you "get" the joke here. Obviously Keykeg isn't real ale. But surely that's the point. And it doesn't want to be either. Meaning us what like the few good examples get to enjoy stunning beer n Keykeg as well as enjoying the same in cask. That's called choice..... 

No rest for the thirsted

Hello,

   just a few lines about stuff that hasn't happened yet.

The completion of the long awaited refurbishment of the Closed Shop  - hasn't happened yet. It has, however, begun in earnest, which is near Commonside, and expects to continue for a bit, during all of which hiatus the pub will remain closed. According to Mr Stephens, the plan is to reopen on the 25th July, which is a Thursday. You can get updates on progress on their Twitter and Friendache accounts, I understand.

Next up in the future is the Monkeyfest (7) at  Armitage Bridge, um, "club" near Huddersfield. Alas I haven't made it to this popular beer festival destination before and can't get this year but I'm assured by regular attendees that its rather good. Since I clearly have no idea where it is or when (it's this coming weekend for certain but that's all I know) here is a link to a blogpost about it.

Meanwhile, the Sunfest 2013 at the Rising Sun Nether Green, also hasn't happened yet - but it will, starting on Thursday 11th July and running until Sunday 14th. The nice folks at the pub have even published a beer list on their website, plus meaningless details like "when they open" and "food". You can find this informative link here .

Another event that you won't need to travel back in time to attend (unless its very late on the 21st July or thereafter) is the Tramlines. You may remember the Tramlines from last year when there was oodles of free music and pubs you couldn't get served in. This year will be exactly the same but not as free. Here is another link. It confirms the dates as Friday 19th to Sunday the 21st July as well.

Finally, by far the most spectacular event will be the beer festival at the Star Inn, Folly hall, Huddersfield starting on Wednesday 17th July. I mentioned it on here last year and then promptly didn't attend - not only that, but a paucity of visits to the textile and agro-chemical capital of West Yorkshire means I actually have never made it to the Star. This year all that will change and I'll jolly well be there. Not that this should detract from your willingness to attend. Possibly.

I have included a link to the website if you wish to sample the flavour of life in the pub in September 2009 but for more up to date info see Facefriend or Twitter. Alternatively, Ale Ambler and Will at the "A Swift One" blog nearly always seem to get hold of the list and post details on their blog (see earlier link).

So, another anhydrous month should be avoided, another year off my life should be achieved, but am sure all of the above events are likely to be worth a visit, even if the price you pay is considerably lower than expediting your demise...

Cheers

Wee Beefy