Judging ends

I awake at 7:20. It's still dark outside. This could make life difficult.

We're supposed to be meeting for breakfast at 7:30. When I get down at 7:45 no other judges are there. Martyn shows up around 8:15. And a few other judges trickle in.

A breakfast of bacon and scrambled egg.

The good news is that they have bacon. So it's scrambled egg and bacon for breakfast. Followed by some fruit. Along with orange juice and a couple of cups of coffee. I need waking up.

Judging is supposed to start at 8:30. When I enter the judging room at 8:50 there are just two judges. I guess we'll be starting later. A late start doesn’t particularly surpriser or concern me. I’m used to South America. It’s best to just take things as they come.

The mini-Best of Show round starts around 9:30. Though I'm not involved.

"I'm saving you for the Best of Show." Chris tells me.

“I could have had another two hours in bed, then.” I don’t reply. I’m too polite for that.

Not sure if being saved for the BOS is a good or a bad thing. At least I've got some time to write. Which is exactly what I'm doing. That’s how I fill in all the dead time. Except for when I’m doomscrolling.

I chat with Ben Wood for a while about his attempt to recreate the beer of his ancestor's brewery in Boston. I suspect he won’t find any brewing records or recipes. Some suggestions of places he can look are the best I can do.

Best of Show judging.

The Best of Show is with Sandy, Uwe, Martyn and Andreas. It's remarkably painless. We take it in urns to kick out a beer until only three are left: Catharina Sour, Belgian Strong Dark Ale and a Nutella Oatmeal Stout. The Belgian Strong Dark Ale just wins out over the Catharina Sour. But it was very close.

“You like pisco, don’t you?” Chilean judge Daniel says as he hands me a bottle of pisco. “Share this later with some of the other judges.”

Do I like pisco? Is poop in the woods?. Will I share this with the other judges? Yes, sure. Really sure. No way I’ll scurry up to my room and drink it all on my own. Really. No way I’ll Bogart it.

“Do you want a lift?” Chris asks.

“Of course, I fucking do.” I don’t say.

“That would be nice.” I do.

We’re going to Estación Tropera, the lunch location. Where we’re sitting in a covered outdoor area. Which, judging by the ashtrays, is usually the haunt of smokers.

It’s long table time again. Well, two long tables. As a latecomer, I’m at the end again.

Judges eating pizza.

I have some pizza and a couple of pisco sours. Both are pretty nice. I’ve really become quite the food critic, haven’t I? OK, the pizza is crispy on the bottom with stuff on top of it. That should give you an idea. Expect lots more use of the word “nice” in future food and drink descriptions.

I go back to my hotel. From where I nip out to the Lider supermarket and get myself a bottle of cheap pisco and a nice one. One for the hotel, the other for taking home. I hope that’s enough. The cheap one should be good enough for Andrew.

Tonight, we're gathering in KrossBar. Where, shockingly, they sell the beers of the Kross brewery. We're expected there from 19:00. I get an Uber there at 19:45. And I'm the first one there. It's after 20:00 before anyone else arrives.

We’re in the rooftop bar, which is open to the stars. Or at least will be once the sun has finished going down. There’s a great view over to dusty brown mountains. A wan crescent moon hanging in the milky sky above them.

I drink a Maibock. At least to start with. I soon switch to pisco sours. Beer is so filling. And, well, I am in Chile. It would be an insult to the nation to eschew pisco sour.

Two plates of steak and chips.

We get plates of grilled beef and chips. Pretty good stuff again. It fills a food-sized hole. Which has appeared in the age since lunch.

Back at the hotel lobby, we get stuck into Daniel’s pisco. Didn’t have time earlier to drink it all by myself. Damn. Some people end up getting pretty pissed. But not me.

I leave before it gets too messy. Because I’m a good boy, me. And I need to make sure I get enough sleep. It’s another early start tomorrow. Aren’t they always early starts at these events?



Estación Tropera
Av Vitacura 3285,
7630578 Vitacura,
Región Metropolitana.


KrossBar BordeRío
Costanera Sur S.J.E. de Balaguer 6400,
LOCAL 2B,
7640859 Santiago,
Vitacura,
Región Metropolitana.
https://www.kross.cl/locales-krossbar



Disclaimer: a fee, my hotel and some meals were paid by the Chile Independent Beer Week.