a swift one - Wakefield Beer Festival 2014

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I'm looking forward to some dark beer out of the wood this week.
Today sees the start of Wakefield CAMRA Beer Festival, which has 120 ales on offer over three days.
The theme of the festival is beers from the Celtic fringe of Britain, so expect ales from Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man etc.
But it's two beers that have travelled slightly less further afield which have caught my eye.
Wakefield-based breweries Fernandes, of Kirkgate, and Five Towns, of Outwood, both have beers served from wooden casks.
Fernandes has Black Voodoo on, which won last year's beer of the festival, while Five Towns has Raven King on, which recently scooped first prize at the Independent Salford Beer Festival.
I've tried and enjoyed both of those beers before out of conventional casks, so I'm really looking forward to trying the "wooden" versions and all the flavour that type of cask imparts.
Five Town's also has another beer in the wood on, Strange Brew, a 7% APA. I understand the casks for the Five Town's beers have come from The Junction at Castleford, which has done pioneering work in promoting beer in the wood.
Right, that's my finishing beers taken care off, but what about my starters and mid session ales?
I'll have to do some more scouting of the beer list.
It's available on-line here but you need to click 'view' when you get through to the festival site.


Wakefield Beer Festival is at The Space, Waldorf Way, off Denby Dale Road, from November 6 to 8.
The venue is about midway between Wakefield Westgate and Wakefield Kirkgate railway stations. It's not far Sainsbury's on Ings Road.
You can pay on the door, apart from Friday night when entry is by advance ticket only.


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