Purpletigron

Been busy ... still trying to get caught up at work after my Skye holiday, trying to support Mater in recovering from her recent apparently over-medication-induced hospitalisation, and helping with preparations for the Brum Beer Fest Vegan Bar, and the West Midlands Vegan Festival just up the rail in Wolverhampton (http://www.midlandsveganfestival.org.uk/), both this week.

The Brum CAMRA Fest opened yesterday, and is outstanding :-) If you like real ale, I'd recommend a trip down tomorrow: http://www.birminghambeerfestival.co.uk/ There's a large LocAle bar, dedicated Wye Valley and Purity bars, and 120 ales on the main bar! in a lovely venue, the Second City Suite at the bottom of Hurst St, just 15 mins walk from the railway station.

Best of all for me, there are 20 vegan ales, all but one on a dedicated Vegan Bar which I worked staff on after work last night, and will staff for most of today as well. Lots of interest from 'tickers' (who try to taste a half-pint of every real ale produce, so an unfined version of an ale counts as a new one! :-) and real ale enthusiasts - I would argue that unfined, slightly hazy ale is more traditional, dating from the days before glass beer mugs - and anyone familiar with the brews of Marble, Spectrum (yes, they do a Captain Scarlet ale and it's on the Vegan Bar :-), Liverpool Organic, Outstanding, Marstons (who've sent EPA with their new vegan-friendly Fast Cask method) as well as vegetarians, vegans and our friends :-)