Having missed the Cherry Tree's Easter beer fest, I was determined to make the trip over to Steventon for this one. Taking place over Thursday-Sunday 6-9th October, a day off work meant I could go to the Friday session. The original advert can be found here, and previous fests here (April '04) and here (Oct '04)

25 ales were kept in fine water-cooled condition on the pub patio again, in the shelter of a marquee to allow drinking outside whatever the weather. Despite this, I settled at the bar at 4pm, and pretty much moved only for toilet breaks and refilling for the next 7 hours... Turnout of people was impressive - with a good crowd from the old workplace down the road, and JT travelling up from Reading for the afternoon.

Tried 11 different ales - starting on halves, then moving onto pints under pressure from JT not to be an English wuss (the Scots have a way with words...) Notes weren't kept, on the grounds that I couldn't read my own handwriting after a while - so here's the full beer list (those sampled in blue):

Brewer	Name	ABV
Black Sheep	Best	3.8
Butcome	Gold	4.7
Cains	Cask Lager	5.0
Caledonian	Golden Promise	4.4
Dark Star	Hophead	3.8
Elgoods	Black Dog Mild	3.6
Hidden	Quest	4.2
Hook Norton	Old Hooky	4.6
Hopback	Summer Lightening	5.0
Inveralmond	Thrappledouser	4.3
Lodden	Hoppit	3.5
O'Hanlons	Port Stout	4.8
Princetown	IPA	4.0
Ringwood	49er	4.9
St Austell	Tribute	4.2
Sharps	Doom Bar	4.0
Shepherd Neame	Late Red	4.5
Skinners	Betty Stogs	4.0
Summerskills	Best	4.3
Timothy Taylor	Landlord	4.3
Westerham	Black Eagle	3.8
White	Heart of Rother	4.5
White Horse	Bitter	3.7
Woodfordes	Wherry	3.8
Youngs	Special London Ale	6.0

Had a really good evening, depite constant ridicule (if the Evo people read this - the beard has sadly departed - but may return after a wedding in December :-) ) Was glad to see that Jez still hires the finest waitresses in the area - which also allowed Jules to drop me in it a couple of times... thanks...!

Forward planning meant I got to sample the pub's B&B room - which had possibly the most comfortable bed and fanciest bathroom fiitings in the world (and the 2nd most powerful shower, second only to Mr Rainbow's in Southampton). A full English on Saturday morning, including some mighty powerful coffee was exactly what was needed - and may explain the speedy 2h journey time to get back to Canterbury. Look forward to the next one.