Off to the CAMRA Cask Fest at Big Ridge Brewing with some of my favourite fellow beer testers!

This event was held out in Surrey at the Big Ridge Brewing Co. on September 21st. Big Ridge Brewing sent a van to pick us up at the Sky Train Station, and later dropped us off back at the station.

Big Ridge Brewing Cask Fest Van

The casks didn’t open until three and as we were there early we started with a flight of Big Ridge brews: Harvest Lager, Chimney Hill Wheat, Rodeo Red, Clover Ale (IPA), Old Sullivan Porter, and a ‘seasonal’ Kolsch. All were excellent examples of their style, and we rated them at least 3 stars out of 4, with a 3 1/2 stars going to their Clover Ale IPA. (Noting that the standard for our rating is Driftwood ‘Fat Tug IPA’ with 4 stars.)

Big Ridge Brewing Co. Flight

This event was sponsored by CAMRA, ‘Campaign for Real Ale’, in support of Craft Beer (http://camravancouver.ca)

The casks were opened and the place became a hectic zoo. From the eight casks we chose the following line up: Yaletown IPA, Red Truck Ale, Dead Frog India Golden Ale, Four Winds Nectarine IPA and Central City Pale Ale.

our Cask Fest line up

The Yaletown IPA rated number 1, and the Central City Pale Ale number 2, followed by 3. Red Truck Ale and 4. Four Winds Nectarine IPA. The Dead Frog India Golden Ale didn’t rate, it was awful!

beer tasting notes at Big Ridge Brewery Cask Fest

Happy testers with the brewery in the background

Fish tacos to absorb some of the beer at the Big Ridge Brewing Cask Fest

Spicy Garlic Squid – this kept wafting by all afternoon until we finally figured out what that incredible smell was and then had to order it.

Spicy Garlic Squid

We met some other interesting taster testers – the ‘Daughters of Beer’ don’t have business cards, they have coasters. Their blog keeps track of beer events both near and far:  http://daughtersofbeer.tumblr.com .

the ‘coaster’ business card for the Daughters of Beer

In the mood for some completely different beer? Here is our experience with Belgian beers, as served in a few traditional pubs in Brussels:

TRADITIONAL PUBS WE VISITED WHILE IN BRUSSELS (BRUXELLES)

• Au Bon Vieux Temps: a 300 year-old bar in Brussels, where we had an interesting beer tasting experience
• A la Becasse, where Al had a slab o’ bread with Ardennes ham, and of course we both tasted more Belgian beer
• A la Mort Subite, a historic brasserie in Brussels