Here for beer at Old Vic

But last Thursday night I was privileged to attend the Old Vic’s beer festival in Ossett, which deserves a spot of reflection.

I arrived shortly after 6pm and the place was already nearly full. But I managed to grab a seat by the team from Ossett Brewery who had helped organise the event at Manor Road.

One of the first things I noticed was that people were drinking third-of-a-pint measures, so I had a quick look on the list and grabbed a pint of thirds. I was keen to try some the breweries I had missed at the recent Wakefield Beer Festival.

So that meant thirds from Merrie City, James & Kirkman, Tiger Tops, Revolutions and Hamelsworde. But the beauty of drinking thirds meant that haul of breweries amounted to less than two pints.

The beer was in good condition, particularly Five Towns’ Art Decade, and there was a chance to confer notes with like minded people. You could also talk to some of the brewers. Bob Hunter, of Bob’s Brewery, Barry Smith, of Tiger Tops, Andrew Helm, of Revolutions, and Five Town’s Malcolm Bastow were all there.

But this meet the brewer event wasn’t in a lecture style format, it was very informal do where you could have a chat with the brewer over a beer.

I spoke to Mr Helm, who is helping organise the first Castleford beer festival at Queens Mill on November 20 to 21. It will be an all Yorkshire ales affair. Sounds like another date for the diary.