rory's blog

On Friday I went to the Rochford Beer Festival with Ian and Derek. I consumed a moderate amount of beer, with ciders before the festival closed at 3pm and some beer when it re-opened at 5:30pm.

Luckily, almost opposite the Freight House (where the festival was situated) there was another beer festival with about 30 beers in Blanchfields Bar.

Anyway, here is the list of beers that I imbibed:

• Buffoons Ribcracker, Essex 8.4%
• Holders Blended, Gloucestershire 6%
• Broome Farm Tardrive, Herefordshire 6.5%
• Bin Laden's Downfall, Somerset 10%
• Xmas Bull, Blanchfields 5%
• Norman's Conquest, Cottage, Somerset 4.5%
• Moondance, Triple FFF, Hamshire 4.2%
• Herefordshire Dry, Hereforshire 7%

The next day, I took Ian back to Hatfield and we went to the Lower Red Lion in St Albans where they were holding Dr Diesel's Birthday Beer Festival. I had:

• Molly's Cherry, Church End 4.5%
• Bank Top, Dark Mild 4%
• Medic Ale, Bartrams 4.4%
• Doctor Hors D'Oeurvres, Bartrams 8.9%

The problem with this fest was that there were a lot of blends, what's the point of mixing two beers together and giving it another name --- unless you are a ticker!

It must have been the beer festival that made me do it. Today I have started making a batch of Scammonden Dark.

A rich dark ale in the style of a Porter. Its blend of pale, crystal and roasted malts affords this beer a great complexity of flavour

However, when I made it I knew I hadn't added enough water, because my bucket wasn't big enough. I made 17 litres and I should have made 23 litres! So it will be interesting to see the result in about 5 weeks, it may be more alcoholic.

On Friday morning I went to St Albans by Train. It was a pretty smooth journey, more relaxing than the car and very good value for money (you readin' this Ian). It cost £22 (open 5 day return) and took about 2.5 hours all in. I think I will have to meet the Big E (see picture) again before Christmas.

We met at 12:15pm and we proceeded to have a very groovy time. I had decided before we went to have a very moderate festival and I only drank 4 pints on the Friday and 2 pints on the Saturday. The picture of the festival has a slight shake on it, this was done on purpose!

1 Woodfordes Mardler's Mild 3.5% (Good session beer)
2 Spectrum Captain Scarlet 4.5% (Didn't like)
3 St Peters Lemon & Ginger Spiced Ale 4.7% (Like medicine!)
4 Elgoods Black Dog Mild 3.6% (V. good - a meal)
5 Mersea Island Mersea Mud 3.8% (good)
6 Isle of Mull Terror of Tobermory 4.8% (Excellent)
7 Red Squirrel Conservation Bitter 4.1%
8 Tring Side Pocket of Toad 3.6%
9 Orchard Blakeney Perry 6.5% (Very good)
10 Troggi Monmouthshire Cider 7.0% (Gut rot!)
11 Budvar Dark Lager - on draught 4.8% (Good)
12 Woodfordes Norfolk Nog 4.6% (Another good beer)

I left at about 1:45pm (Saturday) and was home by 4:30pm; there were some problems on the District Line. Then I had a very good meal and a relaxing evening. I expect Ian, who incidently was there every day of the festival (Wed 28 - Sat 1), was still there at closing time and 12 pints or so beers later! A true legend.

All in all a very successful beer festival with over 300 different beers. I am already looking forward to the Rochford (just outside Southend) Beer Festival on 22-26 November (Tuesday-Saturday).

My name is Rory McPherson, I am 38 years old and have been a Home Dad (I think that's the best description) since 2001. Before this time, I was an HR Consultant, but who cares?

I have two boys; Angus is 4.5 and Ross is 2.5. They were both born on exactly the same day, two years apart - now that's what I call planning. Now I am waiting for the next arrival on April 15 2006.

Oh yes I forgot to say that I am happily married to Mandy and have been since December 1997.

So what am I in to, well apart from the kids, Linux, cycling and swimming in the Thames Estuary.