So just a few words on the event we all went down for, and what was a great celebration of beer, food and the writing that so much passion goes into…

I’d been looking forward to the dinner it for some time, mostly to put faces to the names and people I’ve met via blogging over the last 6 months.

Mark Dredge - you couldn't keep the smile off this chaps face all night...or the next day!

The night started by meeting Mark Dredge and Pete Brissenden at The Rake near Borough Market, a pub I’d heard spoken of only in circles of people who know what they’re talking about.

To call the Rake comfy is kind – it was crammed and the bar run was a veritable sardine scuffle, but it served fine, fine ale and had the atmosphere of a place assured of its place in the world.

We sipped a half of Racer 55, a 7% US IPA and a 1/3 pint of the lambic joy that is Cantillon before hopping over to the Hilton Tower Bridge where the awards were been hosted. White Shield greeted us, and was followed by a chilled Budvar Dark to refresh us a little before we sat down.

I was sat slap bang in the middle of the hall, snuggly between Marston’s and Hall & Woodhouse and next to Mark Dredge and Zak Avery.

The first course was soup (technically chowder) dressed with fancy titbits that I questioned the edibility of. It was and the course was delicious. Paired with a Meantime Pilsner, which is nice but not mind blowing, the soup - clam and mussels I believe – complemented each other really well.

Following was venison wrapped around goat’s cheese, which for me is a cardinal sin. I have a palette which cannot abide goat’s cheese – I only tried it 2 or 3 years ago and it still haunts me to this day! But Zak, who also is not exactly an advocate of the devil cheese decided to throw it straight in his gob so with such manly gusto I had no choice but to follow.

And it was ok, better even. It tasted a lot subtler than goat’s cheese I’d had before, more like Italian soft cheese at first. It was only as it hit the back of my mouth and I felt the awful tang of goat’s cheese hit me, so I quickly swigged a mouthful of the sweet/sour Duchesse de Bourgogne, a beer I have a particular fancy for. The combination was liberating and I can safely say I will try goat’s cheeseagain.

And to the main course, rabbit on a flat mushroom, served with some sort of wonderful sauce and a bottle of Old Thumper (and as the organisers joked, they did pick it for the pairing rather than the name!). I wish they hadn’t though, I found the beer, in all honestly, just not that nice. It had have rich malt flavours, and I can see how it complemented the dish, but it didn’t tickle my taste buds as the previous two combinations had.

The rabbit however was stunning, the softest rabbit I’ve ever had – I just wish there’d been more mushroom!

As Zak jumped up on stage to start dishing out the coveted silver tankards, dessert appeared in the form of Camembert and Fuller’s Vintage 2005. A fantastic pairing of rich, barley wine like ale and a smooth yet thick runny cheese. Breadsticks were the only companion needed, although the fruity addition that accompanied it (which were some sort of plums or over sized raisins perhaps – can any help?) made the cheese even more delicious and bring out the fruitier elements of the beer.

And what could round it all off? A tower of chocolate, that looked like a mousse, felt like brick to cut into with your spoon, and melted in your mouth when eaten. Washed down with Flying Dog’s Gonzo stout the chocolate afters was brilliant (I’m by no means a chocolate person). My head couldn’t get round the paradoxical texture of the scrumptious dish, the whole bowled me over.

There was still half eaten chocolate towers left (purely through their grand size rather than them not being nice) as the awards came to a close and the winners congregated around the tables, sipping the remains of the beers and tastes of Woolpack Dave’s home brews.

Pete Brown acccepts his Golden Tankard from Zak Avery at the British Guild of Beer Writers awards

It was a great night and a celebration of beer tasting and food pairing. Lots of discussion arose from the beer and food, the consensus being from my chats with people, that it’s all so subjective anyway. One man’s death row meal is another’s meal from hell, whilst another’s favourite tipple is yet another’s worst nightmare.  Given the variety of tastes and styles I think a big cheers should go to the Guild for making a very interesting and ultimately satisfying night of beer and food.

And a huge well done to all the winners, particularly Mark Dredge for his new media tankard, Woolpack Dave for the recognition of his great blog, Jeff Evans for his trade writing, and of course Pete Brown for a deserved Golden Tankard for keeping us all entertained with not only Hops & Glory but his blogging rants too. And to all the other winners who I didn’t get to meet, a big cheers!

I’ve written the menu details (well all of it) purely from memory so if there’s any beer induced inaccuracies then please let me know!)