#peakender

Rather than purely an ego-titillating exhibition, they chose to showcase a host of excellent British breweries including Wild Beer, Buxton and Dark Star rubbing shoulders alongside their extended American family of Victory, Sierra Nevada and Brooklyn to name a few.

And so I set forth into the distant exotic known as the Peak District, seeking the holy craft that would bring much refreshment and joy at [cue epic, sweeping orchestral score] The Great Peak Weekender.

Upon arrival (12am I might add) I made a beeline for the local, rocketing Buxton Brewery. They've been concocting all sorts of craft mystic of late and Red Raspberry Rye (4.9% abv) is no exception. The murky burnt umber hardly entices the eye but the spicy rye and citric aromas draw me in and the first sip was like having a bucket of raspberries thrown in my face! With every sour mouthful I exhibited all manner of peculiar contorted expressions; I'd definitely started the day right.

Next door but one to the RRR was an intriguing pump clip that caught my eye. Brewed by two of the UK's most progressive minds Harbour and Wild Beer Co., Comus (5.9% abv) was a barrel-aged amber lager. Intrigued? I was so captivated I think I may have raised one eyebrow and stroked my chin.

The oaky tannins had calmed any exuberance of the lager fizz, offering a woody, citrus crackle. This was all new to my palate and the best way to describe it would be to say it was like drinking Brooklyn Lager from a tree hollow. Gorgeous...

Since Thornbridge had gone to all the trouble of putting on such a great event I thought it best to grab a half of their recent collab with Sierra Nevada, Twin Peaks (5.0% abv). 

It was looking pretty damn fine with the golden clarity I've come to expect of Thornbridge brews. A clean, tropical wave over the palate of mango and grapefruit and boy, was it an easy drinker! In the words of Dale Cooper, "Every day, once a day, give yourself a present." A wise man indeed...

[If taken by a flash of passion, you could get freaky in the Jaipur Beer Bus]

I fancied a return visit to Buxton Brewery but Far Skyline (4.9% abv) was yet to tap dance its way to the bar. Now seems as good an opportunity to get this minor irritation of my chest: there weren't enough lines at the festival. With a programme of beers as long as my list of adjectives there were certain brews that would never materialise on the day. And I was so hoping to try Thornbridge's Peanut Butter Brown Ale... *sigh*

[Nick toasts the loyal order of the craft]

Enough moaning lad, get back on track... Far Skyline was eventually acquired via bottle and immediately demolished. A Berliner Weisse by nature but dry-hopped to the heavens with Mosaic and Motueka. Stand back and use the goggles, for it was a hop bomb up front with a nuclear fallout that was tart, dry and fruity. Very nice and worth the wait.

Keeping things British I head back to the Wild Beer corner to discover Ninkasi (9% abv) has landed. A simple formula of "Bubbles + Apples + Wild Yeast" equals a fruity Saison perfect for this positively sweltering day in the Derbyshire sun – now I know how those Belgian farmers must've felt. It's dry, yeasty, soft and hazy, like drinking an apple juice and champagne cocktail through a strand of hay.

This is taking ages, so I'll wrap it up quick... Thornbridge's Wild Raven (6.6% abv) was tasting as black as midnight on a moonless night. Amelie (5.0% abv) by Wild Beer Co. (yes, again), was sharp, tart and cherrilicious! And Brooklyn's Fire & Ice (7.2% abv) brought the proceedings to a darkly rich and smoky smooth close.

Blessed with simply stunning weather and surrounded by plenty of lush stately ferns, the family friendly Great Peak Weekender could be a serious contender for British beer festival of the summer. The bar staff were knowledgeable and chirpy and frankly my one gripe that a few more lines would satisfy the lips and curiosity of the many can be overlooked. One day that Peanut Butter Brown Ale will be mine, oh yes Thornbridge, or else there'll be trouble... Next year?