Hastings Tap Takeover But No Oktoberfest!

I'm disappointed that Oktoberfest at The Prince Albert, 28 Cornwallis Street, Hastings TN34 1SS (instagram), has not happened this year, despite an excellent festival last year (blog), and I doubt they'll even have a late one sadly, as the bar staff seem to have no idea whether on or not. 😞 Anyway, too late for that now methinks, but they did take part in the Hastings Tap Takeover (blog), with London brewers Anspach & Hobday as their takeover brewery (website). 

Taking into account the Tap Takeover and Oktoberfest, I'm starting off with their 5.8% Ansbacher Festbier, their take on the 'Oktoberfest' biers of Munich! The hops used are not shared, as far as I can find, but they do say 'noble hops' so I'd guess similar to the hops used for their lager (below). A nice golden beer, light malt/bready taste, with a dry bitter finish, certainly an English twist to the Oktoberfest biers of Germany, very decent, but sadly not the same. 😕

Next, their 5.0% Ansbacher Lager, in the style of Helles lagers, and they have shared the hops used for this, with German Hersbrucker (hopslist), Czech Saaz (hopslist), and making this a bit different, from the USA, Mosaic (hopslist)! Pale golden colour, refreshing, slightly fruity, the result of the Mosaic hops no doubt, hint of malt to the taste, crisp and fresh, very good too. 👍

I didn't do too many of the participating pubs this year, too many fizzy beers for me, 😕 but I drank a proper cask ale at The Albion, Marine Parade TN34 3AG (website - also has an address at 33 George Street TN34 3EA, but the entrance is actually on the other side of the building in Marine Parade, although you can exit into George Street). The brewery adopted here, unsurprisingly, was East Sussex brewery Lakedown Brewing Co (website) and their 4.7% Phoenix Green Hop IPA (hopslist), brewed with local fresh hops picked in the morning and immediately delivered to, and used by the brewery straight away.

The first green hopped ale I've had this year, I've had another since, so expect a blog about green hopped ales in the next month or so folks. What can I say, the Phoenix is an excellent English style IPA, indeed, I had the last near-pint poured, as you can see, and it was still in fine form. Copper coloured, slightly spicy hoppy bitter ale, pretty damn good, cheers! 😁

My last beer of this 'festival' (I did drink more than just reviewed here, but these were the best!) at The Jolly Fisherman, 3 East Beach Street, Hastings TN34 3AR (website), whose guest brewery was Azvex Brewing Co of Liverpool (website). A very different style of beer, brewed in collaboration with Welsh brewery Polly's (website), Danish Pastry 8th Birthday Imperial Stout (11.0%), brewed with fresh vanilla, raisins and cinnamon. Review of this excellent beer? I'll just copy out what I wrote at the time, which says it all: Hint of coffee and the Danish pastry, yes, in the aroma. Taste? Gorgeous, rich, hints of chocolate and almond, very nice indeed!

Cheers m'dears! 😁

Don't forget though, that there are many things that can go wrong drinking alcohol, be aware of limits and potential physical, social, and legal factors. The drinkaware website offers advice, tools to help, where to get support and 'facts' you may not be aware of. Stay safe folks! 👌