My favourite beer festival returned to Edgeley Park football ground in Stockportⁱ & I went to the Saturday lunchtime session.   A quick list of why its so great (I know I say this every year);

• Open air if its hot (& it often is)
  
• Under cover if its raining
  
• Seating for all
  
• Great public transport links
• Hot food

It was another scorcher but the outside venue plus the shade from the football stand roof helped keep it comfotable.   We took a picnic with us & enjoyed the view of the hills to the East over the town hall.

Amongst the beers tried this year;

Bollington, Oat Mill Stout - smooth & malty sweet. Good.

Harviestoun, Mae Best - like Bitter & Twisted but without the so much citrus flavour. Light, hoppy & fairly dry.

Hornbeam, Malt Mountain - apt name as it was massively malty & full tasting.

Inveralmond, Independence - good, light, pale ale with a cascade hop taste & some spiciness.

Inveralmond, Lia Fail - smooth & malty, a little peppery. Good.

Marble, Dobber - excellent beer. Massively floral & perfumed, some elderflower.

Naylors, Pinnacle Mild - TCP! Undrinkable.

Newby Wyke, Black Funnel - big malt flavour, a little treacle. Good.

Northern Brewing, Mar'v'lus Mild - Good beer. MAlty sweet, a little chocolatey.

Outstanding, Smoked Out - another apt name: Massively smokey beer, almost too much. Very interesting beer.

Phoenix, Earthquake - very good beer. Good hoppiness, a little citrussy.

Storm, Bosley Cloud - a little malty sweet & caramelly.

Summer Wine, Helios - a mellow pale ale, hoppy, good.

Thornbridge, White Swan - a little barnyard smelling, a very pale beer with a dry, citrussy taste.

Thornbridge, Jaywick - lovely floral hoppiness, very grapefruity. Excellent refreshing beer.

Traditional Scottish Ales, Stirling Brig - malty-sweet ordinary beer.

Traditional Scottish Ales, Lomond Gold - Sweetish, nougat-like flavour.

Whim, Kaskade - a wonderfull beer! masses of citrussy cascade hop flavour, very pale ale. refreshing & easy to drink.

I would vote the Whim, Kascade or the Thornbridge, Jaywick the beers of the festival.   Both were very good, summer, hot-weather beers & wonderfully refreshing.

A good piece of entertainment was the stag do there, dressed in 70's fashion.