Colchester Winter Beer Festival

Today I finished Dry January a day early to visit the Colchester Winter Ale Festival, as I had done last year (see here).

As before, I went by train and, having some time before the festival opened at 12, I did (most of) the tour of the city walls, which I had done before (see here) and visited the camera shop to look at cameras. 

Here are a few photos.

I walked down from the station and crossed the River Colne...

..before following the walls.

The weather was cold and drizzly and I need my umbrella.

Eventually I came to the Jumbo water tower. Built in 1883, Colchester’s iconic Jumbo water tower is the largest surviving Victorian municipal water tower in Britain. It has recently been in the news (see here) for a successful bid for a grant from the National Lottery to turn it into a heritage and events space.

The Arts Centre is just round the corner from the tower, but first I visited the deli for a sandwich and sausage roll to have later.

I was there just after 10 to 12 and there was already a queue.

I was lucky to get a seat at a table.

The beer in the nave.

One thing I had forgotten was the wonderfully tiled and equipped toilets.

Each urinal has its own little washbasin on top. I've never seen that anywhere else. It got busier and busier...

...and by about 2:30 was so crowded that they took the tables and chairs away so it was standing room only.

A bit too crowded for my liking and by about 3:30 I had had enough and headed back to the station for my trains home.

As for the beers, well I had a good selection of 1/2 pints. Among them were...

• Measea Island Mersea Mud (Mild) (3.7%)
• Steam Shed Iceni Queenie (Gold) (4.1%)
• Old Cannon Perfect Storm (Old Ale) (4.6%)
• Wharf Brewery Nine Feet Underground (Stout) (5.2%)

but my favourite was...

• Brentwood Brewery Chockwork Orange (Old Ale) (6.5%)

Delicious!

Well that was good, but if I go again next year I will go earlier in the week when its not so busy.