September...

Mad busy in September, so I have not had time to update the blog...

The first weekend in September, the Enid were playing at Bury Met. I haven't seen them for probably 20
years and, other than Rob Godfrey looking even older, they are just as good as when I saw them last Century.



Vin Garbutt was on at the Trades in Hebden Bridge on Sunday, very funny.

I was down in Baldock during the week, so popped into the Orange Tree for a quick pint. They have just finished a superb smoking shelter out the back.

 On Wednesday I was down to Pridewood Farm again, for a great sunny day around the Hop fields.

Fuggle was just being harvested, so I picked up 10 kilos of fresh hop to do a Green hopped beer.













































 I managed to get a room at the Talbot, so had an evening of great beer, great food, and a fantastic breakfast the following morning (bacon from their own piggies!).

The following weekend was the black pudding throwing championship.  I think this weekend should be made into a Black Pudding Festival, rather than just the championship on the Sunday.












Another week passed and it was time for the Ramsbottom Music festival.

We spent a day putting up marquees in and out of the rain, while the stage grew out of the ground the opposite side of the cricket club. 

The music was great over the weekend, but the rain continued to pour.

Some of the bar staff started looking a bit rough...

The highlight of the festival for me was the Sunday.  Mid afternoon we had the absolutely stunning Racheal Sermanni, alone with her guitar in the middle of the huge stage, her superb voice and powerful playing made me forget about the rain for a while.




Kan followed and had the crowd jumping up and down (splashing), while dancing Dave was puddle jumping!

Thea Gilmore was fantastic as was Seth Lakeman rounding off a fantastic Sunday.
Once the music was over, the crowds dispersed, and the volunteers got to the beer tent for a well earned pint or three.

Thursday and it was down to Visbikky and Elgoods Brewery for the judging of the East of England Beers. this was a much bigger competition this year with, I think, 190 beers being judged.

I was judging the Milds in the third round, and it was a close call between, what turned out to be, Batemans DM, and the eventual winner, B&T Shefford Dark Mild, both of them being amongst my favourite milds.