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On Friday 4 May Portland Coastguard C Watch beer club (and CAMRA members) Nigel Robson, Phil Chappell and Simon Palmer made the trek to Blandford (and by public transport it is a trek!) for the 3rd annual Railway Hotel Beer Festival.
 
Arriving at about 1215 we discovered that the festival was not due to start until 2 o’clock . However thanks to the good offices of mine host we were allowed to get stuck in straight away. There were 41 west country ales plus 3 ciders. Waverly TBS were heavily involved and the festival glasses and beer list were excellent.
 
Amongst the usual suspects it was good to see (and drink) a couple of Isle of Purbeck and Jersey brewery beers. Making its debut was the very first batch of Badger Stinger which is flavoured with nettles (apparently supplied by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall ). A tart, well hopped beer with a citrus flavour, it should be popular for the summer though with no free trade discount you will be “stung” £3.10 a pint!
 
During the afternoon Vale FM from Shaftesbury broadcast live from the festival and yours truly was interviewed and got in a good plug for CAMRA.
 
Due to the vagaries of the aforementioned public transport it was necessary to start back soon after 3.30 and while a very pleasant meander through Milton Abbas, a journey of nearly 2 hours meant that the gents on the esplanade took a severe pounding before we adjourned to the Boot to round off a thoroughly enjoyable day.
 

A general view of the stillage		Nigel the landlord
Phil Chappell - CAMRA member		Radio Vale FM doing their stuff.