The Event: British Beverage Showcase June 22/17

The Date and Time: Thursday, June 22, 2017   3:00 Pm to 6 PM

The Event: British Beverage Showcase

The Venue: Wychwood Barns

The Target Audience: alcohol beverage trade (wines, beers, spirits)

The Availability/Catalogue: all products are in play in Ontario, with certain exceptions – they will come in later.

The Quote/Background: I was only interested in beer and ciders

The Beers: I sampled 7 beers plus a cider (Caple Rd Cider Blend No. 3 500 mL $2.95 +498014, rated BETTER 3.5 stars). For starters I had some Hush Heath 1503 Balfour Classic Cuvee, TBD for Classics Catalogue, about $45, made in traditional method (rated BETTER 3.5 stars). For dessert I had a small snort of Thunder Toffee and Vodka Spirit Drink (29.9%, 375 mL, $23.95 +496067 rated BETTER 3.5 stars).

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Innis & Gunn Bourbon Cask Dark Ale 330mL 7.4%  $2.95  +478297

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Innis & Gunn IPA 6 x 330 mL 5.6% $14.50 +493627

-Elvis Juice Grapefruit Infused IPA 330 mL 6.5%  40 IBU $3.25 +489385

-Wychwood Brewery Hobgoblin Gold 500 mL 4.5% 35 IBU $2.75 +488445

-Hall & Woodhouse Badger Fursty Ferret  McClelland Premium Imports

 

*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Charlie Wells Dry Hopped Lager 500 mL 4.7%  27 IBU $2.65 +476887 

-Harviestoun Brewery Raspy Engine Raspberry Porter $3.20 Kinetic Brands/Imprese

 

The Food: traditional, but with new spins: pig in a blanket, roast beef in yorkshire pudding tarts, toad-in-the-hole with avocado and quail egg, "fish and chips" (upscale seafood in tacos), Stilton and cheddar cheeses, clotted cream and strawberry preserves, biscuits and scones.

The Downside: not enough beer or cider for me to sample.

The Upside: it has been a couple of years since we had a UK beer show – the last was in October 2014 at The Caledonian, and it was all Scottish beer and ciders.

The Contact Person: isabell.french@mobile.trade.gov.uk

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89.

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com