Decatur recap

A festival-goer at the Decatur Beer Fest complained to me that his 1/4 pint of Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale, pulled from a firkin was too cold. I told him: "Wait!"

Under the bright sun at the Great Decatur Beer Tasting in Decatur Georgia on Saturday, that little glass would be plenty warm in a few minutes. At this and many outdoor festivals, I part with tradition and ice down my cask. Cellar temperature of 54°F (12°C) is one thing, but pavement temperature of 84°F (29°C) would be quite another!

My volunteers were pouring from bottles of Small Craft Warning Uber Pils, Winter Storm Imperial ESB, and Peg Leg Imperial Stout. They caught onto my training points quickly, and acquitted themselves well with the handpump. Even though it wasn't the most exact description, they would tell the uninitiated to sample the cask ale because it was so fresh it was still fermenting!

Over 5,000 festival go-ers, prepaid, flowed well through the square of the town of Decatur, just outside of Atlanta.

I did overhear a few complaints later in the afternoon (and read similar complaints about the Maryland Brewers Oktoberfest held the same day) about slightly intoxicated revelers. Well, it is a beer festival after all! The time for ticking, reviewing, and intellectual chit-chatting with brewers is early in any festival. But 4 hours later? Come on now!

It was a beautiful, warm autumn day, and a fun festival. A hearty thank you to the Brick Store Pub and the other organizers of the festival. Clipper City will be back again next year!

More photos here.