Meeting People Is Easy

[lupestripe]

Last night, a pack of us visited the 21st Wakefield Real Ale Festival held in a delightful Eighties leisure centre next to a bus station.

It was a small affair with three stands of real ale on offer, as well as ciders, perry and continental brews. As it was the last day of the three day event, over half of the ales had sold out. Consequently the hall was none too busy and we had a relaxing evening chatting and sampling many drinks. I tried nine - including some from the Wolf Brewery. Aroo!

Skavinski popped down for his first ever British real ale gathering and I think he enjoyed it despite being confused by the customs. I had a burnt pork pie, tried exotic chocolates with infusions of black pepper, lime and chili while many people had a beer. One man was so drunk he fell off the primary school type bleachers laughing. His mate bought him another beer - the last thing he needed.

The people in the hall were fascinating and I spent most of my time talking to randoms about a variety of different things - particularly politics and brewing. I continued this in Leeds once we returned, chatting to the owner and two brewers of one of our favourite pubs. I was trying to convince them that the taste of a beer can be influenced by the shape of the glass in which it was served. By this point we were quite drunk and left our special beer festival glasses behind. Wolfie had to go pick them up today XD

I also loitered outside a restaurant in which one of my colleagues works, spying on him like a drunken assassin. A bald man kept giving me evils. My friend did eventually spot me though and we had a quick chat.

Baloki stayed at ours last night and he was a sweetie this morning. Having woken up before us, he went out and bought ingredients for a fry up. We then cooked it before I headed into work. It was great having him over - we like having people come to stay ^^

And ooh as I write this, a fight has broken out in the bottom deck of this bus. I am all alone upstairs. Probably the best place to be. *it seems to be an argument between a 30 something bloke and a group of pensioners. How bizarre. Subway sandwich bloke has gone now. I think it was over a bus ticket. People are strange.

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Comments

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

I must say, I've been quite impressed by the attendees at the GBBF - on the three times I've been along (always on the Friday, so there's no need to worry about work the next day, and only have to take a single day off, without the huge Saturday crowds. Just the sizeable weekday ones =:), everyone's maintained their composure admirably.

I do still have one of the GBBF glasses. The first one was mercilessly slaughtered by the dishwasher (not sure what happened - probably some minor stress in the glass, which then gave way under the pressure of the rack prongs), and the second fell victim to, of all things, a USB cable. Somehow, when the free end swung down, it did so with enough force over a small enough area to actually crack the glass. Probably a completely unrepeatable event.. ^_^; Not that I'm wanting for glasses - I picked a new one up last night, in a box with two bottles of Bath Ales' Gem, with many hares racing around the middle of the glass, and there's a Hopping Hare one arriving next week - a nice change from the 250ml tumblers supplied in the temporary accommodation!

I also just checked when the local beer festival is - the middle of October. =:P Hey ho. I'm sure I'll make it along to another one someday. ^_^

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Up here, Friday night is the busy night and Saturday is far quieter. I think many of the beers have gone by Saturday so it is far less popular.

We have our Wakefield ones but we keep leaving them behind in places we visit. I do think the glasses make a nice souvenir of the evening. I had Bath Ales when I was in Bristol last week, particularly in an ale house which specialised in their brews. Most excellent - I will have to get some of their glasses ^^