Friday 7th September 2012 - Being a RAT

I took the opportunity offered by a few days off work which coincided with RAT 2012 (the Rail Ale Trail) to see what this festival offered.  For those who don't know it is hosted at a number of venue that can be visited easily by train, in the case The Station at Codshill, Odfeelows in Shifnal and The Old Fighting Cocks at Oakengates.

Given there was time to kill in Birmingham, en route however, our first port of call was the Windsor where I sampled Thornbridge Lord Marples and then Archers Old Glory.

Onto the RAT and first stop at Codsall where we found the festival in a tent by the car park  I'd chosed this as the start as it appeared to offer the best beer selection of the venues and true enough I wasn't dissappointed.The only downside was that the fezstival Special wasn't on at that venue but hoefully it wopuld be at opne of the others so instead I went for :

• Allgates Apollo
• Birds Thunderbird
• Griffin Golden Flame
• Lymestone Stonecutter
• Wanstsum IPA

Moving onto the Shifnal and the Odfellows, the festival beer was on but in the main bar rather than the tent so I might have missed it if I hadn't popped in.  Beers samples here were :

• Ironbridge RAT Festival Ale
• Shires Dabley Gold

Finally it was time for the  train out to Oakengates where the festival beers were in the main bar.  I chose

• Ironbridge IPA
• Buxton Axe Edge (which wasn't on the festival programme) - a double IPA at 6.8%