As with previous events that I have attended at Nod Hill, the beers were stationed at/on the taproom bar, in the taproom itself and all around the edges of the larger back space bar/function room, with food (oysters!) set up in the intermediate brewing passageway and a food truck outside in the parking lot; it is too early in the season and way too cold for the biergarten.

Unlike at most cask events that I have attended, I did not immediately head for the strongest beer to “get it out of the way asap”, there were actually so many classic styles on display that I just wandered from end to end and back again, to scope out whatever took my fancy; I actually walked the entire course before deciding on my first sample.

And the funny thing was, the first five beers that I tasted ended up being my favorites, but in no particular order; the quality of the beer was that impressive.

So, the first/top-5 for me were:

• Daedalus from Caius Farm Brewery of Branford, a Franconian-style Rotbier brewed as a collaboration with Icarus Brewing from Lakewood NJ. This is a style that is new to my tastebuds, I think that I have only ever tasted one other example of a Rotbier. A beautiful clear pale amber, with a sweetish but not cloying maltiness, more in the nose than the taste, and an overall crisp and clean experience.
• American Zoigl from Fox Farm Brewery of Salem, another amber lager that comes with a cool history courtesy of Goldfinger Brewing of Downers Grove IL. Just like everything else that comes from Fox Farm, this beer is perfectly executed and just plain delicious; these guys are always in my top-5.
• This and That Czech pilsner from New Park Brewing of West Hartford. I have had this beer before at last year’s event, rating it in my top-5 again. I am pretty certain that I used it as an antidote to some monster barley wine or imperial stout on that occasion, but this time I went for it early so that I could enjoy it for what it is, a clean and clear classic bohemian pilsner.
• Public Night from Kent Falls Brewing, an easy drinking English Dark Mild. This one also gets the nod for best head, a lacy frothy example topping a deep ruby beer. Last year, these folks won my best-in-show award for an unusual golden mild, and once again they have shown that they have a deft touch with mild ales in general.
• And the last award goes to the home team, The Parsons Green Best Bitter from Nod Hill Brewery themselves. I am a fan of their Chesterfield Ordinary Bitter, but this really takes me home; a base of fuggly earthiness with fruity high-notes (yeast? Finishing hops?) and an overall tea-and-biscuits experience. They have a real winner here.