The worst beer festival I've been to. Almost all the beer had a barnyard taint to it. We tried 40 beers in all and only a handfull were as good as reasonable. How does that happen? How can beers from all over the area and beyond all end up with the same off-flavour?

The Loweswater Kirkstile Gold was the worst - no barnyard taste here though. The overpowering taste of TCP was horrid. Their Melbreak had the manurey smell & taste.

Hawkshead Gold is one of my favourite beers, but here it was mediocre. I ended up drinking cider as the manure smell & taste doesn't ruin cider in quite the same way as beer.

A visit to The Bitter End brewpub reminded us how beer should be! Wonderful.