SIBA Beer Festival: Heaven sent?...

My taste buds are involuntarily going wild at the mere thought of this year's SIBA Beer Festival which will take place in a marquee to the rear of Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Club on Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 16th, 17th and 18th. If last year's was anything to go by this is one not to be missed for fans of proper beer. I'm not exaggerating when I say that going to the event last year changed the beer drinking part of my life for ever. Since then I've been far more picky when it comes to what beer I buy in the supermarket, I invested in a copy of the CAMRA Good Bottled Beer Guide, which became a further source of information; okay for a while I did become a bit of a beer bore, it has to be said, but I'm sure you can forgive me for that. Wherever I travel in the UK I now try to find the local small independent breweries' ales. Generally they cost a bit more than the average gassy big brewery alternative but I'd say they are worth every penny and more. Imagine this scene: it's a lovely sunny evening in mid July, you walk in free, you buy a souvenir half pint glass you are then completely spoilt for choice as you are faced with well over a hundred different casks of beer down one side of the marquee, stacked three high along a fifty yard bar with loads of knowledgeable, bar staff (some of them are even pretty girls!)   Ok there's no football, golf or motor racing going on but isn't this pretty close to most men's idea of Heaven! The majority of the beers are produced by micro and medium sized inde breweries, so you get a great smug feeling of doing one's bit for helping further the cause of real beer and boosting the local economy.So get your selves down there on at least one of the three days and give your taste buds a treat. More information to come on times nearer the weekend of the event....