Despite a bus strike by one of the local bus companies, many CAMRA Kernow branch members and friends used various Transport for Cornwall bus services to attend the first day of the Driftwood Spars’ ‘The Dark, the Light and the Saison’ October beer festival on 21 October.

We were greeted by Landlady Louise and her team including Head Brewer Mike. As the name of the festival suggests, there was a beer menu with the choice of fifteen beers including pale ales, stouts and saisons. To sample as many of the beers as possible many branch members chose to select the ‘beer flight’ option (three third pint glasses on a wooden paddle). One of the beers available from Driftwood Spars Brewery just a few steps away from the pub across the road in Trevaunance Cove was a pale ale called ‘Green Hop’. This was a light and citrus beer brewed with fresh wild hops picked on the same day as brewing in St Agnes. Also of particular interest to lovers of Driftwood’s ‘Alfie’s Revenge’ were two brews called ‘Alfie’s Return’. One had been oak aged with French Oak; the other with American Oak. Tasters were encouraged to give their preference. An enjoyable afternoon was had by all those that attended. I would encourage any reader to visit this beautiful old pub by the sea at any time but their beer festivals usually held in the spring and autumn are a must!

Words by Jan Curtis

Photos by Steve Barber