 |
By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
It was 1998 and Norwich was hosting the 18th Real Ale festival in an old warehouse near the city centre.
30 Students from the local university, UEA, including myself, had been signed up to work over the four day event.
£9 an hour...free beer...live music... what more could a recent graduate want..!?
I half recognised a few of the other students... a lad from the rugby team, some girls who played hockey, and a lad from my course.
" Riiiiight....it's veeery simple.... customers buy tokens at the booths, and redeem them for pints... all you have to do, my luverlies, is pour..."
The event manager was about 55, tall, slim, and had a scraggly beard...he was dressed in an old T-shirt, faded and stained jeans, and a west german army jacket....in short, the word crusty had been invented for Dave.
"Ahhh...yes...let's start with the best sellers... Sharp's Doom.. now...you two...pour a pint....you drink the result so make it a nice pour"
Two students who I didn't recognise jumped up and poured away. The black lad in a hoodie poured the perfect pint and grinned broadly before stepping away and taking a sup. The girl he went up with was in green jeans and oversized jumper...and got nothing but froth.
"Ooohhhh dearrrrrr.... well, lass, drink it up!"
The poor young woman gulped down the froth and looked green soon after...slight burps eminating from her as the afternoon went on
"I think we'll put you selling tokens" remarked Dave.
The two hockey girls were up next, all posh accents and effortless cool... and both poured perfect pints. They high fived and downed the pints happily.
" You two ...let's see you.."
I went up along with a slim girl in black jeans and shoulder length brown hair. Her waist looked smaller than my thighs and she squinted a grin as she pulled the pint.
"Not bad, you two...fine...next"
We both moved away, pints in hand, and awkwardly stood next to each other
"More of a lager man myself" I said "but it's not bad"
"The third drink is the best...after that...who cares!?" She responded
"My name's DS...just graduated..."
"Hi, I'm Jax...likewise"
"Big ale drinker?"
"Not really, but when in Rome..."
The group continued their 'training' with mixed results.
"Right... John...Poppy, Scarlet...the three of you at the big stall, number 6...erm, let's see...yes...DS and Jax, stall 7" said Dave, waving into the warehouse.
It was 3pm...feeling a bit bloated after the pint I followed Jax into the depths of the event hall.
.... |
mmm shows promise.
