It has been a couple of weeks since my last beer festival so I jumped at the opportunity to attend Dark and Wild in Leeds on Saturday. I like Leeds, having visited a few times before to see my friends. And I’d never made it to Northern Monk’s Refectory which was hosting the event. We just about had time for a quick platter of cheese and charcuterie, and a session IPA in Friends of Ham.
I was there with Tom from Land and Labour and I gave him a (very small) hand. He was pouring Finnberry, Biere De Rhubarb and cask Cherry Wine which all very much ticked the Wild remit of the festival. Next door, all the way from St. Petersburg, Florida was Cycle. And they brought some Dark with them. I really enjoyed the original Nibs and the Wednesday which had vanilla and hazelnuts.
Tom tipped me off about A Tue Tete’s lovely fruited sours. The Lime Framboise and Kiwi were properly tart. I was just hankering for some fluffy meringue afterwards.
During the break in between sessions we decamped to The Grove Inn for some malty, smooth Ruby Mild from Rudgate on cask.
Back at the festival Little Earth Project started opening their bottles of Pre Industrial Porter, which was rich and interesting. I’m going to have to visit them in Suffolk, they have a brewery, pub and campsite which sound idyllic.
We were staying with my friends so they joined us for the evening session. I have to say it’s a great venue and I was happy to attend but I’m possibly a bit old for the very loud music that made conversation difficult!
On Sunday I spent some time in Whitelock’s, where I was joined by Dave from The Bierhaus, Cork as he had also attended the festival. I liked Sepia Brown Ale from Fell.
A short stroll brought us to Bundobust where the Coriander Pilsner went down nicely with assorted vegetables. I’m not sure what all of them were, but they were tasty.
We finished off the afternoon in the very salubrious surroundings of Brownhill and Co. They had a few fridges well stocked with an assortment of ales, local and from Belgium. I was happy with my choice of Donzoko Festbier. And then it was time to hotfoot it to the airport. See you next time Leeds. Sláinte