For what it’s worth, the beer list is up:
Real ale festival Wed 11 – 22 Oct 2023 - J D Wetherspoon.
I am still a ‘Real Ale’ man at heart and that list looks fine to me. Plenty of new or one off brews to try, will keep my ratings ticking along nicely too.
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It’d just be nice if occasionally they introduced some different breweries. I might stick my head in once or twice to try to pick up some of the Scottish and Welsh ones along with the Salopian one to boost my region stats though.
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What’s the status of the foreign ones that are actually brewed as guest beers in the UK? I would have liked a South African tick, but it is actually brewed at Banks.
All the foreign ones will be entered as collaborations brewed at the UK brewery that’s brewing it - so the “South African” one will actually be a West Midlands tick.
Easy enough to get yourself a South African tick anyway - Sxollie cider is stocked at loads of UK supermarkets (from a very quick online search it looks like you can get it at Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Waitrose at least.
I’ve added all the beers that are new to RB, but there are 3 where the fest versions are different to the ones currently on the database. I’ll leave it up to one of the admins to take a call on whether we need a new version, or just need to update the existing entry…
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Adnams Nut Brown
Existing entry is 3.2%, fest version is 4%. Fest version also has hops (Ekuanot, Jester) that didn’t exist when the original reviews were entered for this beer, so it appears to be a completely different recipe. Based on the reviews, I’m guessing that the new recipe and higher ABV was released in 2017 - I’d suggest splitting this one with reviews up to July 2017 being left on the old entry, and reviews from August 2017 onwards being moved to a new entry (if the admins don’t want to split it, it definitely needs the ABV updating):
https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/adnams-nut-brown-ale/13216/ -
Lancaster Harlequin
Existing version on database is called Harlequin Pale, and is 4.3%. Fest version is called Harlequin (ie without the “Pale”) and is 5%. I’d suggest the admins just change the name & ABV of this one & add a note documenting the change?
https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/lancaster-harlequin-pale/1108313/ -
Wychwood King Goblin
Existing version is 6% and contains goldings (amongst other hops). Fest version is 6.6% & no longer contains goldings (but other hops are the same) - it appears to be the same as the bottled version rather than the cask version. I’d suggest this isn’t a sufficient enough ABV/ recipe change to warrant a split, & just needs the ABV updating & a note adding to document this?
https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/wychwood-king-goblin-cask/132716/
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Just a reminder that this starts today for anyone who’s interested.
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Popped into one the Shrewsbury branches last night and they had a few on - I had the Hogs Back & New Realm (Hook Norton) offerings as only had 20 minutes before her indoors fetched me home (I know that makes me a ‘not proper ticker’)
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Looking forward to it. I haven’t really ‘participated’ in the past few fests but I should have time for this one.
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Sadly I am on a self induced diet and beer drinking is a big NO NO at the moment. I seem to be adding on weight all the time and can’t shift it like I used to be able too.
I want to lose a few lbs before a cruise late November and for Christmas. Trouble is I’ve got rather a large ‘stash’ at the moment as well.
I should be back to normal soon (I hope).
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Good luck @BlackHaddock ! I look forward to the bathing suit photos 
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I made a rare visit to the Falcon last Weds as was off work … wasn’t sure if the festival was on then actually as I picked up 2 new beers which is unusual for me there!
Never liked the Falcon much, one of the poorer Spoons. Shame they get rid of Billy Bob’s rather than that one.
Unexpectedly hit a Spoons today after running into an old friend. The Acorn brew was decent (3.3), the Cairngorm IPA was a bit of a mess (2.6), highlight of my threesome was the Rudgate Vanilla Mild (3.8).
Edit: have just realised that the Cairngorm one isn’t a festival brew, despite being marked as one in the pub.
That might be it for me unless I get a chance to pop out next week.
Managed another 4 scoops today, on an impromptu visit to Shrewsbury town centre - only ‘stand out’ was the Steel & Oak Easy Stout, not too bad at all, if a little thin. Busy weekend and off to Germany on Monday so that could be my lot. Hope everyone else gets to sample a few, and some are worthwhile
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I am meeting an old friend in my local Spoon’s tonight, decided to have a few pints after all. Hopefully they have some decent beers on. I will report back.
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Seven new rates for me, the best being Hogs Back Ratfink & Ripsnorter, the worst Milestone Rich Ruby which I returned as it was ‘on the turn’, replaced without any problem but they didn’t remove it from sale.
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First visit to a Spoons in ages, probably years. I’m at the Montagu Pyke in Soho, which I don’t think I’ve been to in a decade or more. Couple new beers for me, and I indulged in a breakfast. As it happens, my daughter attends a Bulgarian school on Saturday mornings and this Spoons is nearby. There’s only so much to do in the morning in Soho so this works pretty well.
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That Cairngorm IPA was marked as a fest beer when I had it too… but it’s not actually in the fest list. Wonder if it was a last minute replacement for another one, and if so which?
We’ve kind of moved on from the trad spoons breakfast in this era Leighton !
Check out the ‘Miners Benedict’ next time you visit … I recommend a side of hash brown with it.
