The Chester Craft Beer Festival organised by Helsby based Beer Heroes was held at the Carriage Shed, adjacent to Chester railway station. A semi covered venue and a gloriously warm April day provided the perfect environment in which to sample some of the 60 or so beers available on offer. As with such events the festival presents the opportunity to try something new/different and with pours available as 1/3, 1/2 or 2/3 that’s all the encouragement you need.
Top Rope – Liverpool
Overkill IPA 5.5% Â – An American west coast style IPA first brewed as a tribute to Motorhead’s Lemmy who died in 2016. Light amber, hazy with a light head. Citrus with hints of nutty caramel the develops as it warms. Low bitterness.
Papa Mango Pale Ale with mango 5.1%Â – Yellow, cloudy with little head to the beer. Pronounced mango on both the nose and palate. Quite sweet, low bitterness.
Gibberish – Liverpool
Custard Cream New England Pale 5.2%Â – Pale amber/yellow, opaque, gives the appearance of being much thicker than it really is. Very pronounced aromas of grapefruit and lemon, high bitterness, creamy with a developing smokey note. Finish is grapefruit pith and a little aggressive. An interesting beer in a style which may well be an acquired taste.
Vibrant Forest – Hampshire
Dunkelunch Dunkel Weisse 5.6%Â – A dark style of wheatbeer. Light brown, hazy, light head. Flavours of treacle, nutty, smokey. Quite full flavoured and creamy with a nice lingering finish.
Runaway – Manchester
NZ Pale 4.2%Â – a light pale ale brewed with New Zealand hops. Amber with a slight haze and a light head. Low bitterness, malty, caramel, slight crispness. Good flavour, very drinkable.
Marzen Lager 5.4% –Â Yellow/gold, slight haze and little head. Malty with. slight touch of sweetness, clean ,dry. Very drinkable.
Chapter Brewing – CheshireÂ
Parabola Pale Ale 4.7%Â – Light amber, slight haze, light head. Lemon citrus with grapefruit notes, floral,low bitterness, some caramel, quite full flavoured. Very drinkable and a reasonably low ABV.
Steadfast Companions 6.6% – A collaboration with Beer Heroes a New England IPA. Light amber, hazy no head. Grapefruit is the dominant flavour, nice  creamy texture which makes it very appealing. Has a good rounded slight bitter finish. Very nice indeed.
Stone – California
Go to IPA 4.8% –Â Light gold, clear, no head, lemon citrus, fruity. Medium bitterness. Lingering flavour of citrus on the finish. A very drinkable session beer.
Exhalted IPA 7.0%Â = Gold in appearance, clear and bright, no head as such. Rich, savoury and complex with a nice citrus finish. Medium bitterness.