GOLDMARK
Two weeks after launching Lenson at the Tap & Vine Takeover, Ethan and Spence spent Friday 18th and Saturday 19th September at the Horsham Beer Festival, at the Horsham Brewing Company taproom on Blatchford Close. Lenson was on the keg bar, it had run dry by 11:05am on Saturday, and it still finished the weekend as the festival's highest-rated beer.
What is the Horsham Beer Festival?
It's Horsham's September beer festival, now at its permanent home in the Horsham Brewing Company taproom, with over 40 beers and ciders from all over the UK. The festival buys just one of each beer, and for good reason: it gives everyone the chance to try lots of different beers, and when one's gone, it's gone.
Friday: guests for the night
On Friday we went along as guests, and it was a brilliant night. So many of our friends and supporters from Horsham were there, and it was great to just hang out with them, pint in hand, and catch up.
The Horsham Brewing Company team had created a fantastic atmosphere, and we took it all in. We also met the team from Aleworks Brewing Co along the way, one of the best things about a festival like this being how many brewers you end up chatting to.
Saturday: behind the keg bar
On Saturday we swapped sides. Ethan and Spence volunteered for the afternoon shift behind the keg bar, and it was heaving, in the best way.
Lenson, our 4.2% New England IPA hopped with Idaho 7, Citra and Nectaron, was the only Draft Pick beer on, and Friday's drinkers had got through a lot of it. The first order of Saturday was a pint of Lenson, and there was only a half left in the keg. That was it for the rest of the festival: Lenson wasn't served again after 11:05am on Saturday.
With Lenson gone, we had a front-row seat for what everyone else was drinking. Koda was getting huge respect from the crowd, and West Street, Horsham Brewing Company's West Coast IPA, was another big favourite.
The highlights
- Top rated beer of the festival. Lenson finished the weekend as the Horsham September Beer Festival's top-rated beer, with 4.42 stars from 26 ratings, despite not being poured after 11:05am on Saturday. The festival called it a brilliant debut from Arundel's newest brewery, which was incredible to read.
- The Sussex Breweries map. Meeting Shed8 Art and finding out we'd been added to the Sussex Breweries map was huge for us.
- Working with the Horsham Brewing Company team. Being part of their team for an afternoon, and chatting beer with Jack, one of their brewers, is what made the weekend.
Thank you
Thanks to the Horsham Brewing Company team for having us behind the bar, to Aleworks and Shed8 Art for the chats, and to everyone who ordered a Lenson, especially the ones who got there before it ran out.
Missed it? See the Draft Pick beers, read about Lenson's launch at the Tap & Vine Takeover, or find us at a pub near you. Running a festival or a bar? Talk to us about trade.
Photos
Friday night, soaking up the party atmosphere. 
Proud to see Lenson on the bar. 
Ethan with the team we worked alongside. 
Behind the bar together on Saturday. 
Talking beer with Jack from Horsham Brewing Co.
Find our beer
Goldmark heritage cask and Draft Pick modern beer, from one brewery in Poling.
Running an event?
Festivals, takeovers and bars - talk to us about Goldmark, Draft Pick or both.
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