Piss up in a brewery

Today I went to an actual piss up at a brewery. No, really.

The Brits in SF group on Meetup had organised a get-together at the Marin County brewery that had organised a beer festival to raise funds for breast cancer research – the irony, promoting liver cancer in aid of breasts.

So, bought my ticket and took the ferry across the bay to Marin. It’s a nice trip, made better by the Farmer’s Market at the ferry terminal. The market’s like Borough market at home, overpriced but excellent quality, apart from the oyster that were far too small to be harvested.

The ferry was packed with people all set to enjoy themselves and it was clear when we reached harbour almost everyone had beer on the mind. So I joined the throngs heading for the festival.

However, it seems the organisers really couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery. First off there were a pathetically small number of people handing out entrance tickets. I had time to eat a two sausage hot dog in the 25 minutes it took to get into the venue.

Secondly the glasses they gave you were less than a third of a pint. Now I know that this is supposed to be a ‘tasting’ festival but let’s be honest here, no-one’s going to be spitting it out afterwards. And you can’t have a decent chat with someone over a third of a pint. It’s gone before you’re five minutes in.

Still and all there was a good range of beers there, including some excellent lagers, which is usually a contradiction in terms. But no draft beers, which was very disappointing. Draft beer is essential, after more than three pints of the carbonated stuff you’re ready to belch, which is never polite.

Still, met some interesting people, one of whom is also a professional contact with whom I had friends in common. Headed home with a bit of a hangover and went to bed with a few pints of water. A good day.