The Dorset Beer Festival at the Hall & Woodhouse Brewery, in Blandford, last weekend has raised more than £10,000 for good causes, say organisers.
Pete Brown (left) and Badger head brewer Toby Heasman
More than 1,500 guests visited the home of Outland and Badger beers to enjoy brews and live music.
Writer Pete Brown staged a session explaining some of the emerging neuroscience behind beer and music matching, and sharing some of his favourite examples.
“I started matching beers with songs as a joke, then discovered that scientists at Oxford University were doing something very similar and taking it really seriously,” said Pete. “So I’ve been hosting events to show how music can influence the taste of beer, and have just published Tasting Notes, a book about it.
“The crowd at the Badger Brewery were very responsive to the pairings, and particularly enjoyed drinking locally-brewed Outland West Coast IPA with Human, by The Killers. I matched these partly because IPAs and The Killers’ music have both been shaped by cross-Atlantic travel. IPAs were first brewed in the UK and then adapted by American brewers, while Human, written by a West Coast USA band, has achieved anthemic status in this country.”
Badger head brewer, Toby Heasman, said: “The festival was, as always, a wonderful celebration of beer, food, and music. And, as in previous years, all proceeds from the event go to charitable causes, this year The Huntington’s Disease Association and The Brewers’ Benevolent Fund.”
Hall & Woodhouse raised over £850,000 for good causes in its heartland last year.
Toby added: “Pete’s sessions were a great addition to the beer festival. We all enjoy listening to music while savouring a beer, and this was a fun way to understand how the relationship between the two is closer than we think.”
