Derby 2014

Derby 21st Feb 2014

Up for it were:

Yupmeister, Anytime Tone, Granpop Bill, Stubby, JayCee, Craigee, Bolt from the Blue, 2 Pie Hard Dave Semi-Colon, Tim Mothy, Corky, Sean of the County Wounties, Huge Mungeous, Ali Gee, Sid dropped out, BrollyWolly Bagman of Talke Talke, Tony Brolly Wolly 2 and End of the Day Laura.

Likened to a bunch of geriatrics the usual boys met at Stoke Station, eager to get to Derby for their annual Beer Festival; Stubby was on antibiotics for a raging toothache and hoped the ale would help, and Jaycee was hobbling again, knowing that the ale would make him hobble and fall about even more.

The taxi from the Westbury at £11 was almost dearer than the return train tickets which were just over a fiver each with the group discount. Craigee arrived late as usual, but not too late, and we scrambled aboard one of the two, packed Cross Country carriages at 12.33 to take us to Derby and the Winter Ales Festival which has now moved venues from Manchester to the Roundhouse at Derby.

'I'm a full frame photographer personnally', someone began. 'I just set it to sepia', said Brolly Wolly Man, 'it works every time for me.' 'I use x20 plus super xr.'

'I've changed my camera body youth'. said Ali. 'It uses your hard drive', replied 2 Pie Hard Dave Semi Colon.

'Depends if you're on a shoot', came the response. Anyway, I like them raw', said Ale G (sorry Ali G).

Okay, we get the picture ........

It was all too much for Craigee and Bolt who were in sepia land.

A cracking day out yet again

Cheers

Yuppers

(PS Photos taken with my mobile phone)

We were pleasantly surprised as we walked out of the station at Derby to see a chip van giving away free portions of chips. There was an initial scramble which subsided after we'd had 2-3 portions. Well that was lunch over; we could now go for a pre festival drink at The Brunswick; a listed building I might add.

Granpop Bill and Corky opted for BOB from the Wickwar brewery whilst the Bateman's Yellow Belly Gold proved popular for others which unfortunately soon ran out.

Still starving, Granpop Bill ordered a pie at the bar and whilst waiting stood drinking Tony's pint. That's the way to do it youth.

To get into the Roundhouse we returned to the Station, tempted once again by the chip van but amazingly declined this time. Once inside we waited for Corky who had slipped to the gents. We stood around just inside the Roundhouse like meerkats keeping an eye out for him.

It was much busier than the average Derby Beer Festival as it was now also the home of the Winter Ales festival for the forseeable future.

Starting alphabetically some of us began with the Abbeydale brewery and didn't move on very far. There were plentiful supplies of programmes although Mid Week Tone and Mark missed out.

There was a quieter room at the back which Sean of the Counties, Mothy and Jaycee had found.

'Ayup Duck' and Sqwalk ales were available in there and a tray full of pork pies was being paraded around at £3.50 a shot. Needless to say, we were full of chips. Bill was full of chips and pie but was still tempted.

Whilst waiting for Brolly Wolly man to get the next round in, newcomer, Gadget show Tony took an interest in any gadgets on show, including Granpop Bill's mobile.

Meanwhile Corky went looking for a strong ale advertised at 12 per cent, but fortunately for us it had run out.

Jaycee finally bought a copy of the Good Beer Guide, or was it just a bag? and we set off to find the Viceroy indian, which many have declared as being the best ever. It still offered 2 main courses for the price of 1 with the same time restrictions as last year.