Spoons Fest Who's tried what?

having tried a few of the US/UK brews all I can say is roll on GBBF 2014 where we get real US cask beers.

 

Went yesterday and they still had a few on which I tried before finishing off with Poltergeist Porter.
I must say that Spoons were praiseworthy in holding the festival , I realise that many of the beers were pretty average but of course Spoons is a mainstream pub chain.We hear much about the "IPA explosion" in the US but to place it in perspective it's only 2% of the annual barrelage in that country.Spoons isn't in the niche market but caters for everyday drinkers and it's at least given an indication of what lies elsewhere.
We're very fortunate in this area as our Spoons pubs are excellently run, and as for value I had two pints plus a lamb Rogan Josh (pretty good and attractively served) and got change out of £8.

 

Ahh...the one time of the year that it is acceptable to visit a spoons' pub. I miss their beer festivals

 

Always get value at spoons. It is the atmosphere that is missing - feels like walking into a Sainsbury for the majority of the day.

 

The TBI in Nottingham might surprise you. Since the article was written the beer selection has widened and is now pretty good. I've seen 5 different milds on the bar in May and the same number of stouts and porters during the Nottingham Stout and Porter Stroll.
http://curryandbeer.co.uk/wordpress/trent-bridge-inn/

 

They are all souless in glasgow, but one is very near my work on the way to the station so I frequently nip in for a pint as it's usually in good nick.

They had a Hawkshead minifest from monday and their bitter was excellent.

 

Well, they tend to be big and it's difficult to get soul in a large space.I was pleased when one of the staff came to our table to ask us our opinion about the beers ; she had obviously tried them all and could discuss their merits in a knowledgeable way.

 

Spoonyfest start tomorrow. No sign of any beers as yet when I popped in for a full English this morning. Plenty of lumpy foul mouthed harridans screeching at their unruly broods though.

 

I tried a few last night and wasn't impressed by anything other than Oakham's Armageddon. I didn't think much of Black sheep's Reaper. The flavours were too muffled but then my Wetherspoons doesn't keep its beer well.

 

I had the Adnams/sixpoint one today, was solid as expected. The couple of spoons i go to seem to keep their beer fine by and large, although it's served a tad cold. not exactly the end of the world

Also saw a batemans/wicked weed DIPA . Don't know if want

 

My 'Spoons is only getting 10 of the 50, however, I'm hoping to try them all. There are 3 or 4 going on tomorrow including Abbaye du Val-Dieu Abbeye Blonde, had the Brune version of this in Brussels earlier in the week.

 

Only the DIPA and the pumpkin ale are leaping out at me from the list.

 

Just back from 'Spoons and had the Abbaye De Val-Dieu Abbate Blonde, creamy and smooth and certainly didn't taste like 6%. Brouwerij't Ij ISA, fruity with a bitter aftertaste, really liked this.

 

had the Lambrate and the New Zealand one, neither rocked my boat.

 

Popped into 'Spoons on my way home for a couple, had,

10 Barrel O.G. IPA - liked this, hoppy with citrus aftertaste.

Birrificio Lambrate Ligera - again, hoppy and citrus notes, but a little bit more bitter than the O.G.

 

I heard Wetherspoon's is moving into Ireland. I wonder if they consider moving into the States at some point?

 

Popped in tonight, had the Elysian Pumpkin Ale and actually enjoyed it. Also had Bateman's Colonel's Whiskers, fantastic dark ale with chocolate notes, yum, yum.