GBBF 2013

I've been a few times and while I've enjoyed it, it was more for cider and perry. The real ale side is always a big let down and don't get me started on the dire 'International Beer' stand. I would not waste the price of a train ticket attending the GBBF if only seeking out Real Ales.

 

You think the widest selection of foreign beers ever assembled in the UK is dire?

 

Quantify 'let down' on both fronts - real ale and international beers.

What do you expect in terms of international beers?

 

I dunno for sure but people always complain about how they sell out of lots quickly such as the more limited US stuff. Then again its still better than every other real ale fest just by having that small amount.

 

Personally speaking I couldn't give a shit about the more limited American stuff given the abundance of unpasteurised, unfiltered Czech pilsners and unblended lambic.

 

Yeah - the American stuff at the GBBF doesn't really excite me. It's more American stuff for the British palate, drinkable fayre but not massively hopped or big ABV numbers.

Lilke you say - the unblended lambics do it for me and there are usually some interesting barrel aged stuff from the likes of De Molen.

Thinking about the post at the top of this page - has this guy been to the GBBF in recent years ?

'International Beer Stand' ???

Last year there were at least 3 overseas bars, US, Benelux and German/Czech ... from a hazy memory!

 

Yeah but lots of other people do I'm afraid. It's one of the specific complaints I read a few times after last year. Stuff like the Abyss and other sought after imperial stouts selling out so quickly it seemed like they had only a couple of bottles of each.

 

Oh, I know, but I think it's a fairly silly complaint to have. I would have liked a bottle of Parabola last year, and was even there on the Wednesday morning, but it didn't happen and so instead I just drank a bunch of the other incredible beers that were readily available.

 

Mmm...I forgot about the De Molen wood-aged stuff that's usually available. Tsarina Esra Reserva is my nemesis.

 

True but then again people do get annoyed over silly things like that!

 

Absolutely.

 

http://www.beerhawk.co.uk/birrificio-tipopils.html

?

 

Thanks, but I saw that a good few months ago and I'm pretty sure it's the same stock. I'm willing to pay nearly £4 for a 330 bottle if it's fresh, but not if it's six months old.

 

Ah ok. At least it seems it's being regularly imported to the UK. Their website has a list of places where it's regularly on tap.

• CALABRIA CUCINA, 30 Glumangate, Chesterfield,Derbyshire, S40 1TX 01246 559944
• LE LANGHE, The Old Coach House, Peasholme Green, York, North Yorkshire YO1 7PW 01904 622584
• PORTSTREET BEER HOUSE, 39-41 Port Street, Manchester M1 2EQ 0161 237 9949
• VESUVIO WINES, 3A Houndgate, Darlington, County Durham DL1 5RL 01325 788564
• COMO BRASSERIE, 41 Market Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1HH 01273 945 045
• IL FORNO RESTAURANT, 132Duke Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 5AG
• LA MAISON DU VIN, 70 East Street, Brighton BN1 1HQ
• CIAO BELLA RESTAURANT, 20 Dock Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS10 1JF 0113 246 9444

 

I noticed Tipopils at Le Langhe a while back but didn't buy any as it was already out of date. Great deli but they could really do with paying more attention to their beer quality....

 

Oh, I didn't see this when I looked on the website, so many thanks for pointing it out. Bizarre that there's no where in London where it's on. I'm heading down to Brighton in a few weeks and will look for it at 'La Maison Du Vin'.

 

Glad to be of service. It is odd there's nowhere in London, they could get away with a hefty mark up there.

 

To be honest, I don't see much Italian craft beer at my local specialist shop. They have some Brewfist and Amarcord (San Marino) and nothing else. It's a bit surprising, as Italy's beer scene is booming....

 

Not that surprising if you think about it.
Same reason why the US gets the same half dozen UK breweries importing their wares.
They are all fairly small scale in Italy so they just don't have the capacity to export elsewhere in Europe.
Some of the longer established micros pop up in bottle and on tap in London, other than Brewfist you'll see Ducato, Baladin and Borgo occasionally, but that's pretty much it.

 

so happy you appreciate our efforts, do let us know when you organise a better bar.