Several Fenland folk recently took the opportunity and the train to travel to Nottingham beer festival which is held at the Castle. Meeting up with a fellow member from the Mansfield and Ashfield branch, some of the group made a first stop at the Trip to Jerusalem for a quick photocall and Nottingham Rock Mild.

On then to the Castle where the first beer sampled was one brewed by Castle Rock in memory of Spyke Golding and dispensed from wooden hogsheads with a £1 from every pint donated to charity. 900 different casks of real ale indicates that Nottingham has the largest number assembled at a beer festival anywhere in the world. Obviously only a small sample of these ales could be tried on the day even with third measures and between a small party of Fenlanders!

Heeding complaints made by one Fenland member last year, this year's programme was printed on white paper allowing the "Chief Ticker" (Dave) to mark up the notable beers. Amongst those ales that were given multiple ticks and stuck in the taste memory included Dunham Massey Milk Stout, Titanic Mild, Welbeck Abbey Spyke's Gold and Portland Black, Whim Tripple B Honey Stout, Magic Rock Dark Arts, Naked Brewer Kiss M', and the range of Dancing Duck beers. The Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby (6%) also proved very popular with certain imbibers. One member was seen sampling the Teignworthy RIP (13%), and was reported later as having slept well on the way home.

Excellent views over the city from the Castle walls along with the gardens and general ambience make this one of the best venues for a large beer festival surely anywhere. The Chief Ticker even managed to find an old friend in the grounds to share his pint.

As one of the party had never visited the Nottingham Pubs, the trip was rounded off with a visit to the Roundhouse, Canalhouse, and the VAT & Fiddle before waddling back to the station for the train home.