The Beer Festival bandwagon has taken a while to get moving in 2024 but is steadily gaining momentum courtesy of visits to Hereford and Wolverhampton during the summer, followed by the trio of Tamworth, Shrewsbury and Codsall once autumn leaves started to fall. Next up is a repeat visit to the Kidderminster event held once again in the shadows of the Aggborough football stadium...
- Kidderminster Station Frontage -
Trip Log: Saturday 9th November 2024 and a persistent blanket of anticyclonic gloom (not a weather term I'd heard of until this last week) has camped across the West Midlands skies for what seems like an age. Things may be very grey but at least it's dry as I make my way over to Kidderminster via Smethwick Galton Bridge. I know I'll be struggling to get decent pictures because of the overcast conditions but that won't stop me trying a few snapshots of Kiddy's twin stations, i.e. the mainline stop and the adjacent Severn Valley Railway terminus.
- GWR Clock in the Severn Valley Booking Hall -
Talking of all things Severn Valley, they aren't running a timetable today but the concourse and museum are open to visitors so I can scout around in the booking hall looking for interesting artefacts. One GWR-era clock is a good start and some memorial wreaths have been laid out too, whilst three large bags of glittery tinsel suggest their Christmas decorations will be going up imminently. Period advertisements for Lloyd's News and Webb's Seeds (the latter being perfect for growing prized potatoes apparently) add to the bygone charm while volunteers in oily overalls cheerfully bid me good morning en route to their locomotive preserving activities.
- The East Terrace -
After a few years at the Town Hall, Kidderminster Beer Festival switched venues in 2023 to be hosted at the Kidderminster Harriers Social & Supporters Club; I was impressed with the set-up twelve months ago hence being keen to return today. Hoo Road soon has me homing in on Aggborough where preparations are underway for the match against Farsley Celtic later this afternoon (Harriers would win that 1-0 thanks to a goal from Ben Beresford). I'm here for the beer of course although a picture or two of the ground won't hurt, especially with the East Terrace having a rusty corrugated throwback appearance.
- The Festival Kit -
As was the case last year, the festival admission package costs £15 and the ale action is mainly focused upon the large function room once I've been assigned a green wristband. My opening half is of Green Duck's 'Sitting Duck', a quality golden ale from Stourbridge's finest. Some of the darker stouts and porters have already sold out - those are the perils of attending these things on the Saturday session - so I progress through RCH's 'East Street Cream' (a 5% premium bitter with chestnut tones) followed by Bewdley's 'Sunshine'. The last of those means I have now seen some sunshine today after all, and proves a nice 3.8% zingy session beer.
- Cob and Reading Material -
The stage is being set for a Morris dancing demonstration of some description as I shift my focus onto the cider offering. 21 tipples of an apple or pear persuasion are available which is plenty to be going at; I just try two of them, namely Heck's 'Slack-Ma-Girdle' and Barbourne's 'Major Jane'. Both of these are listed as dry ciders and they have a certain tartness that tests out my tongue's powers of resilience but I find myself growing to like them with every passing sip. A cheese and onion cob for lunch is accompanied by reading matter in the form of Pint Taken, the Worcestershire CAMRA newsletter which I always enjoy perusing.
- The Land Oak -
With five halves quaffed and all tokens spent, I do my usual trick of seeking out a previously unvisited local establishment to round off the afternoon. My choice this year is the Land Oak on Birmingham Road, a corporate Marston's roadhouse I must have passed countless times during caravan rides to Stourport or cricketing journeys towards Worcester. It's a longstanding landmark, built in the 1930s I believe when the Chester Road was widened, and is serving a fairly standard combination of Wainwright, Hobgoblin and Banks's Amber. Although done out inside, I quite like the zigzagging chimney breast and dedicated games area, plus it seems popular enough with local families. With that I hustle on back to Kidderminster Station, ears primed for Molineux goalflashes as Wolves secure their first Premier League victory of the season against Southampton. Three points, a pub tick and a fun festival = a great few hours!
No comments:
Post a Comment