Monthly archives: November 2016

Not just the ale talking

Experts may have been scorned by Michael Gove, but visitors to the biggest beer and cider festival in the North will soon have the chance to hear from people who really know their stuff.

The Manchester Beer and Cider Festival 2017 returns to Manchester Central in January and has lined up some of the most entertaining beer and cider speakers to share their liquid loves. And as you’d expect, generous samples will help bring their knowledge to the taste buds of their audiences.

The festival has grown consistently and for 2017 will offer 30% more floorspace – and more seating – than ever before. It is organised by the combined expertise of the eight Greater Manchester CAMRA branches. Offering nineteen separate bars, it has become an essential entry in most beer lovers’ calendars.

The line up of speakers is:

• “Whatever happened to IPA?” John Clarke, a Manchester-based beer writer and newspaper columnist takes a look at the rise, fall and re-birth of India Pale Ale. From Empire to your local. Where it started to where it is now. Tickets include tasting of six different IPAs and John’s entertaining and expert commentary.

• “Going Dutch – the Dutch beer revolution.” It isn’t all Heineken. The renaissance of artisanal Dutch beer is not as well-known as it ought to be. John Clarke, an expert in the subject will bring you an insight into what is happening in the Netherlands as he discusses six craft brewed Dutch beers of varied and contrasting styles. Tastings of six beers are included in the ticket price.

• “Certificate in Beer appreciation.” This training course is presented by Christine Cryne, a Master Trainer, Member of the Guild of Beer Writers and European Beer Consumer Union accredited judge. She’s aiming at beer lovers who want to understand how the ingredients that go into beer affect the appearance, aroma and flavour. The course is externally accredited by People 1st, part of the Hospitality Guild. Christine says that no prior experience is necessary, and promises six beers to taste alongside her humorous style.

• “Cider tasting.” Charlotte Bulmer (no relation) lifts the lid on the traditional delights of the UK’s favourite fruit drink. She’ll be pressing her audience to try six core examples sure to appeal.

• “Holy Orders.” Monks have been involved in the brewing of beer since time immemorial. John Clarke talks guests through the history of brewing in monasteries by introducing you to six different beers, all brewed by the Trappist Order of monks in Belgium and the Netherlands. Tastings of six exciting beers are included in the ticket price.

Deputy organiser Peter Alexander said: “There’ll be nothing dry about any of these talks! The space we have at Manchester Central gives us the opportunity to put these tutored tastings on. I’ve been able to secure some of the best speakers whose expertise is nationally recognised. They will be entertaining as well as informative. And advance tickets make great Christmas gifts for those people you’ve no idea what to buy.”

Manchester Beer and Cider Festival runs from Thursday 19th to Saturday 21st January 2017. General entry tickets are available from www.mancbeerfest.uk, and the special event tickets are now on sale at https://mancbeerfest.uk/about/events2017/#tickets

Further information:

David Rigby
press (a) mancbeerfest.uk

Notes to editors:

1. The Manchester Beer & Cider Festival is organised by the Greater Manchester branches of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

2. The festival will be open to the public on Thursday 19th, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st January 2017. Detailed opening times; Thursday 12pm – 10.30pm; Friday 12pm – 10.30pm; Saturday 12pm – 7pm.

3. Advance tickets for the 2017 festival are on sale via mancbeerfest.uk, Eventbrite.co.uk and facebook.com/manchesterbeerfestival.

4. Entry prices now include £3 refundable glass hire and are from £7.

5. The 2016 festival attracted 14,804 customers to Manchester Central from 20^th – 23^rd January 2016.

6, There will be a trade/CAMRA members only preview evening between 5pm and 9pm on Wednesday 18th January. This will incorporate a press reception. Media organisations can be added to the invitation list by contacting press(at)mancbeerfest.uk

7. Follow us for all the latest news: facebook.com/manchesterbeerfestival and @MancBeerFest.

3^rd November 2016
For immediate release:

Festival raises glasses to Manchester’s heritage

Manchester Beer & Cider Festival reveal logo celebrating the city’s past and future

The team behind Manchester Beer & Cider Festival have revealed the logo which will feature on publicity, glassware and clothing when the festival returns to Manchester Central in January. The logo features four of the pillars on which the city built its national and international reputation while celebrating that the city is now equally recognised around the world for its brewing and beer scene. The fourth incarnation of the Campaign For Real Ale’s premier northern beer festival are represented by four pint glasses, each containing an icon representing the city’s rich heritage in the fields of science, industry, music and sport.

The man behind the design is Andy Heggs who has recently combined years of experience as a graphic designer with his passion for real ale to create branding for some of the best of the region’s new crop of brewers such as Ramsbottom’s Brewsmith and bars including Manchester’s The Brink. Co-director of Manchester based agency Drumbeat, he also pioneered the #Tryanuary social media campaign which seeks to inspire people to experiment with new beers, visit local breweries, bars and bottle shops during January – a month which is traditionally a quiet period for pubs and brewers. With the first Tryanuary in January 2014 taking place in the same month as the first Manchester Beer & Cider Festival, Andy has collaborated with the festival organisers from the start, but this is the first time he has contributed his design skills.

Festival organiser Graham Donning said “For three years, the festivals logo has reflected our host venue. Our brief to Andy was to come up with something which reflected that the event is much more than the venue, that it is part of a modern beer scene which the whole city can and should be proud of. The way that he did that, mixing beer with the aspects of the city’s past in a clean and modern image is striking, but thought provoking.”

The city’s growth during the industrial revolution is represented by the gears which transmitted power around the mighty cotton mills. An atom represents the scientific breakthroughs which the city’s universities continue to lead the world with – from Ernest Rutherford’s ground-breaking work in nuclear physics to the pioneering Graphene institute. The city’s long and varied musical heritage – from the Hollies and Herman’s Hermits in the 1960s, punk pioneers The Buzzcocks, the heady days of the Madchester era through Oasis to Elbow and The Blossoms – are represented by a turntable. The final glass holds just one of the many trophies which the city’s sporting teams have won – from the packed cabinets at City & United to the new powerhouse of British Cycling at the Velodrome – the festival’s home for the first two years of its existence.

Graham continued “Manchester has such a rich history in so many fields but the region’s beer revolution is perhaps better celebrated outside the city than in it. Greater Manchester now boasts around 80 breweries many of whom, from the oldest to the newest are exporting around the world. Robinsons now export over a million pints a year of their Trooper ale to over 50 counties and JW Lees’ annual Harvest Ale is eagerly awaited by beer fans in the USA. However, they are not alone – beers from the new breed of Manchester brewers such as Marble Beers & Cloudwater are in demand from craft beer bars and shops across Scandinavia and mainland Europe while many of our other brewers like Runaway and Track can’t brew enough to supply demand from across the UK.”

The three-day festival which opens on 19^th January will feature around 700 beers, ciders and perries ranging from traditional bitters to the very latest bold flavoured beers from the very best of the world’s new breed of brewers. Almost 15,000 thirsty drinkers attended the 2016 event and organisers report that advance ticket sales indicate they are on track to welcome even more people to Manchester Central’s magnificent Central Hall. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mancbeerfest.uk

ENDS

Further information:

Graham Donning
organiser (at) mancbeerfest.uk

David Rigby
press (at) mancbeerfest.uk

Picture editors:

Logo can be downloaded at : https://mancbeerfest.uk/MBCF17-logo.pdf
Further photos available from www.flickr.com/MancBeerFest

Notes to editors:

1. Manchester Beer & Cider Festival opening times:

• Thursday 19^th January: 12pm – 10.30pm;
• Friday 20^th January: 12pm – 10.30pm
• Saturday 21^st January: 12pm – 7pm.

2. The Manchester Beer & Cider Festival is organised by the Greater Manchester branches of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
3. The 2016 festival attracted 14,804 customers to Manchester Central from 20th – 23rd January 2016.
4. Andy Heggs is co-director of Drumbeat Creative – drumbeaters.co.uk Tel. 0161 817 3410
5. There will be a trade/CAMRA members only preview evening between 5pm and 9pm on Wednesday 18th January. This will incorporate a press reception. Media organisations can be added to the invitation list by contacting press@mancbeerfest.uk
6. Follow us for all the latest news: facebook.com/manchesterbeerfestival and @MancBeerFest.