Festival Fun in Dudley with Nick and D9...

The final week of November usually means only one thing where the beer festival calendar is concerned - yes it's time for the Dudley Winter Ales Fayre, hosted as ever at the Grade II-listed Dudley Town Hall. After a year's hiatus due to you know what, there is added anticipation about the 2021 event and I'll be joined by both Mr D9 and our resident royal, Nick HRH of Warwickshire...

- Mander Centre Mural -

Dateline Friday 26th November 2021 and yes, Nick is indeed being made an honorary member of the Hub Marketing Board as we prepare to converge upon Dudley by 1pm. My Wolverhampton morning has already involved some Mander Centre artwork investigations (new murals have recently been installed along the ground floor mall) before I catch the X8 across via the Birmingham New Road, Roseville and the Priory Estate. The bus drops me off on New Street in prime position for our designated rendezvous pub and I can see up ahead that someone has beaten me to it... 

- Feeling Festive in the Court House -

Nick times his arrival at the Court House with the utmost precision, getting there literally a few seconds ahead of me although Mr D9 is marooned somewhere on a diverted number 11. The Chairman's delayed attendance doesn't prevent those who are present from indulging in an opening half, hence Salopian's Farside Stout acts as the perfect preview for the winter ales to come. Historically a noted Hanson's tied house, the pub was taken over by Black Country Ales in 2009 and stocks a wide range of guest beers. A Christmas tree by the dartboard captures our imagination although the cavernous subterranean toilets also merit a mention!

- A Superswooning Chairman -

Checking on the Chairman's latest whereabouts, we arrange to meet him at the festival itself and thus join the happy throng inside the Town Hall. £20 admission gives us plenty of tokens to work through so we get stuck straight in with the Highgate Old Ale from Davenport's. Soon enough a bald spot hoves into view and Mr D9 makes his presence felt thanks to a Burning Soul concoction. We say hello to some of Nick's Heart of Warwickshire counterparts and partake of respective thirds of 'Superswoon', a rather special Chocolate Fudge Stout that certainly meets the 'amplified' description! 

- Motivational artwork, Dudley style -

By way of Ginger Gothic (Enville), Macavity (Red Cat), Spanish Porter (Henry Smith's) and Thick as Pudding (Imperial) we proceed through the programme, tempted in by the darker ales and in D9's case a mission to sample some of the strongest brews on offer. Aside from the Superswoon, my personal highlights include Kinver's 'Phil Me Pint Up' - brewed in tribute to the late Phil Welsh, a long-time stalwart of the local CAMRA branch - and Fownes's 'Baltic Porter'. The latter is part of the KeyKeg bar and packs a punch at 9% ABV, not to be taken lightly! Conversations about Antarctic cruises, faulty trams and the perils of bus timetabling keep us occupied as our tokens get whittled down. 

- Best Bathams in the Lamp Tavern -

Having thoroughly enjoyed our time at the festival - and with special thanks to all the CAMRA volunteers who make sure the event can happen - we return our glasses and see what else Dudley has to offer. Encouraged by some 'Yam Bostin' lettering, we plod forth to the Lamp Tavern, a timeless Bathams boozer at the top of Blowers Green Road - just one sight of the brown bull tiles or Delph Prize Beer stained glass and you know you're in a special place. The ever-trusty Best Bitter is on top form as we sit in the front bar, discussing the finer aspects of true Black Country hospitality. 

- The Bottle & Cork -

Dudley Town Centre is beginning to feel the early effects of Storm Arwen so we escape from the chill via a Wetherspoons interlude (Mauldon's Black Adder in the Full Moon) and then try out a microbar on New Mill Street. None of us had sampled the Bottle & Cork previously and it has a cocktail emphasis with wine chateau labels cladding the walls; there isn't any cask ale so we settle on the Sharp's Atlantic keg pale to accompany some much-appreciated cobs. With that, Nick bows out gracefully by boarding his X8 to Birmingham whereas Chairman D9 insists on a nightcap at Dubliners, a lively Birdcage Walk establishment that's very handy for the bus station. One Carling conclusion later we consider the trip to be complete, and once again Dudley has certainly delivered - cheers!