Winchester Real Ale & Cider Festival 2014

The VegHog visited the Winchester Real Ale & Cider Festival yesterday at the historic Winchester Guildhall. The guildhall was packed with beer and cider casks, also foreign bottled beers were available, a food court with even some veggie options, and live music. The atmosphere was cheery and uplifting.

I wanted to share some tasting notes with you of the ales and ciders I tried.

Flowerpots, Cheriton Hampshire: Edge of Darkness 4,8%

• first impression: pretty good!
• dark, reddish brown
• aroma of hops and caramels
• German malt character with a long bitter finish
• almost like Altbier

Highland Brewing, Orkney Scotland: Island Hopping 3,9%

• pale
• golden with a lemony fresh hoppy zing
• some grassy notes, like a Highland meadow in the morning

Dancing Man, Southampton Hampshire: Pilgrim's Pale 3,9%

• fruity mango nose
• explosion of tropical fruits with a moderate bitterness
• fresh, quenching mouth feel
• papaya and citrus flavours also from the hops

Downton, Downton Wiltshire: Slovenian Dream 4,5%

• pale
• light mouth feel
• grassy hop character

Vibrant Forest, Lymington Hampshire: Pale Ale Citra 5,0%

• pine and resin character from the hops
• long bitter resiny after taste with grapefruit

Dan y Graig, Grosmont Monmouthshire: Dan y Graig 6,0%

• cloudy cider
• medium, without being too sweet

So all in all I had some delightful tasting experiences.

Your VegHog