Champion Winter Beer

Mmm! And Old Tom doesn't have a distinctive flavour and isn't brewed in greater Manchester?

Sour grapes - sorry - sour barley? Doesn't your local brewery brew award winning ales then?

Brian

A worthy winner. A friend of mine used to drink "mild and old" - 50% Old Tom and 50% (what's now called) Hatters Mild. After a pint he was wondering whether it would be safe to drive home.

Brian

Sorry? I wasn't passing any comment, but FWIW I think it's a superb beer and a richly deserved winner (the sig. might just hint at this)

A friend of mine when new to the Stockport area supposedly consumed three pints of it and then drove home, claiming he wasn't aware of its strength.

Knowing this person, the story might just be true :-(

Many years ago before pumps had the ABV on the clip I used to attend a meeting once a month in Macclesfield. (a Robinsons house) I used to drink 3 pints of Old Tom before driving back to Warrington. (Pre breathaliser) I used to wonder why the roundabout in the centre of Knutford was so much harder to negotiate on the way home. 8^)

-- Dave Croft Warrington

My favourite Old Tom moment is ending a wonderful roast beef sunday lunch at Alvanley Arms in Cotebrook (used to the in the GBG in the early 90's) with a glass!

Mine is serving behind the pool table at the Llanwrtyd Wells beer festival a few years back at 4am and not caring as the Old Tom was still flowing.

Whilst the venue was OK, there was a distinct lack of seating. I was in the queue before opening time on Friday and the small group of tables were claimed before I got in. someone said there was also a lower hall at the same venue. If it is held there again, could I suggest, moving the bottle (foreign) ale bar downstairs and using the extra space upctairs to incrsease the range of cask beers, which might reduce the risk of running out of beer, and then putting more seating and tables down stairs ??

I think the range of beer was a little narrow for a national festival. Previous festivals in Glasgow and Manchester were bigger than this(I think). I can't comment on the two Burton festivals because I was unable to attend them.

The hall was originally booked on the understanding that the lower hall could be used. At fairly short notice the hall management said this would not be possible - therefore the festival was smaller than the organisers wanted.

No doubt all this will be considered at the post-mortem.

# The hall was originally booked on the understanding that the lower hall # could be used. At fairly short notice the hall management said this would # not be possible - therefore the festival was smaller than the organisers # wanted.

# No doubt all this will be considered at the post-mortem.

Thanks! I did enjoy the festival, but wanted comments to get through if they were helpful in any way.