Beer Festival

Historians theorize that humankind's fondness for beer and other alcoholic beverages was a factor in our evolution away from a society of nomadic hunters and gathers into an agrarian society that would settle down to grow crops (and apparently drink). The first product humans made from grain & water before learning to make bread was beer.

Some lay the blame firmly at the feet of French monks. Some say beer dates as far back as the Greeks and Romans. Whatever. The Kiwis love their beer as much as the next country. Fortunately for us, they also come together once a year to toast their best ales amid live bands, tasty grub and, well, more beer! Over 50 different ale houses and we had press tickets so we didn't once have to put our hands into our pockets. Nice!

The Great British Beer Festival, this ain't. What it is though is a riot. Grab a glass and make a choice, as young fit promo girls disappear with an empty glass and return with it full! When you feel like a stroll, disappear from the press tent and join the drunken masses for a boogie, burger and beer. Montieths 'Lager', great. Gisbone Gold, superb. Some real strong dark ones, not so good. Back to the press tent. And so t went on, and on, and on. Munted!

Course, the cops always know how to break up a good party. Mind you, these two were a good laugh. Only when we tried to take their hat did they say 'enough's enough'. 38,000 drinks were sold that day. Of the independent breweries, 18 sold out. And it peed it down all day long. Defo going next year.