The Second Bournemouth Beer Festival was held at the BIC from 22-24 April 2010. I managed to get to the Saturday night session, I was even first in the queue.

That’s how dedicated I am about bringing news to my regular readers, or something like that!

But first I know that I’ve haven’t been providing a good service of late. I regret that other commitments prevented me from doing my Preview of the Beer at the Bournemouth Beer Festival this year.

I do apologise and if I get the list in plenty of time for next years event I hope normal service will be resumed.

Around 200 beers were available to choose from at this years festival and again another great range of beers.

Regular readers will know my current taste is for Porters and Stouts and there was plenty to keep me happy.

Dark Monro (4.0% ABV) from Highland Brewing was my personal favourite. On the lighter side there was many a decent drink to be had. Local company Dorset Piddle, had three beers on offer Piddle (4.1% ABV), Silent Slasher (5.1%) and Thunderbox (4.5%). Each of them are different in their own way.

Piddle being hoppy full bodied, Silent Slasher is a blond lager style beer and Thunderbox being a porter. I didn’t try them at this event but I have done before and so I know the excellent quality of them.

Other local brewery Isle of Purbeck has two on offer, Solar Power (4.3% ABV) a premium lager style beer and Studland Bay Wrecked (4.5% Abv) which is my favourite of theirs, a full flavoured deep red ale with malt and caramel flavours.

I just wish there was longer to try more beers at the festival, as the organisers have seemed to see out breweries that aren’t too regular on the festival circuit.

There was a number that I haven’t come across before. Feeny Popper (4.0% ABV) by the Concrete Cow brewery from, well you’ve probably guess it, Milton Keynes was a lovely refreshing citrus flavoured beer. It made me want to seek out more of their products.

Glad to see Norfolk breweries in greater attendance this year. As you may know I’m a fan of the beer produced in that part of the World and I have to rate Wherry (3.8% Abv) from Woodfords amongst my personal all time favourites.

Glad to see it at this festival, but the Norwich Festival has an entire hall dedicated to local (to them) beers and I will be going up there for the 15th+ time in a row this year, I’ve left all the East Anglian beers until them.

Talking of local beers I did notice one thing that puzzled me. Why were there no Ringwood beers at the festival? Other festivals seems to promote their local breweries and as Ringwood must surely be the local one to the festival I was surprised that there wasn’t one available.

Another thing that surpeised me about the event. The beer glasses. Same design as last years. As an avid collector of them I do like to see different designs.

So all in all another great festival. Many thanks to all who organised it and to the CAMRA volunteers who gave up their free time to serve us thirsty customers. So over to you. What beers did you try? Which were your favourites? Any you didn’t like? I would love to hear your thoughts on this festival.