IT is fair to say I have had more arduous assignments than my day as a judge at the northern section of the Society of Independent Brewers’ Competition.

Partial to the odd beer, I jumped at the invitation to taste lots of ales delivered from 45 breweries across the north of England, all free of charge.

But make no mistake, my invite did not arrive because I am a real ale aficionado.

My taste buds are well rehearsed in lagers from around the world, but I was an unlikely candidate to run the rule over independently brewed beers.

No, for me it was purely a perk of the job, and a great way to spend last Friday.

And so I arrived at the beer hall in the Hawkshead Brewery (in Staveley as it happens) at 10.30am feeling quite under-qualified in the company of my fellow judges – most of whom were experts, while others were enthusiasts who had won competitions by demonstrating their passion for beer.

I was seated at a table with six other judges, while Julian Grocock, SIBA chief executive, outlined the task ahead.

“I have the unenviable task of teaching you how to drink beer,” he joked to us all. “The vast majority of you will no doubt need no introduction.”

What followed was, to me, the Jilly Goulding, of Food and Drink fame, guide to ale judging.

For the full article go to:  North West Evening Mail