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Beer festival organisers in Manchester are opening the flood gates to welcome a remarkable collection of European beers into the heart of the city this month.

To mark becoming the biggest beer and cider festival in the North, the Manchester Beer and Cider Festival team’s experts have sourced beers from across the continent to rival traditional home-produced delights for drinkers.

The European invasion will take control of two of the festival’s specialist Bière Sans Frontières bars – one for traditional German, Belgian and Czech beers with the second featuring the Rest of the World – and spill over onto the adjacent bottle bar. They are just three of 20 bars at the Manchester Central event.

The festival is organised by the combined expertise of the nine Greater Manchester CAMRA branches. It has become an essential entry in most beer and cider lovers’ calendars.

Six Octoberfest draught beers from Germany are expected in Manchester, and bar managers plan to rotate these on the bar. All German beers at the festival are brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot (purity law) and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

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Lucky drinkers are in for a treat as 13 breweries showcase their fantastic beers at the biggest beer and cider festival in the North.

Manchester Beer and Cider Festival will have beers from over 100 breweries, as well as a remarkable selection of foreign beers and ciders. It has always invited some brewers to promote their own beers at their own bars, alongside the huge main bars. But this month there will be a record number of brewery bars where festival goers will have the chance to meet brewers, talk all things beer – and, of course, drink their ales.

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

Brewery bars manager Caroline O’Donnell said: “We have some returning established favourites, and five breweries new to the festival as its reputation spreads. But more than half our brewery bars are from Greater Manchester, reflecting the county’s position in the brewing industry. “

“We expect the beer selection will include Championship winners, traditional favourites, key-keg conditioned and some new beers never seen before. With such a great selection, Manchester can expect to be the UK’s beer capital this month.”

The breweries exhibiting are: (more…)

The appeal of two of the UK’s traditional drinks is set to swell attendance at the biggest beer and cider festival in the North this month.

Cider and its pear-based cousin, perry, has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in recent years. It has suffered from an negative image driven by cheap industrial namesakes, but real cider and perry have always been traditional products made naturally from selected varieties of apples and pears.

The natural yeasts from freshly-pressed apples or pears ferments the juices, producing alcohol and CO2 and are matured in barrels before being released to enjoy.   Real cider and perry are never carbonated or pasteurised, a status they share with real ale. But unlike their beer counterpart, cider and perry production is dependent on the seasons, with October the busiest month.

Now one of the largest selections of cider and perry ever assembled will be available for drinkers to savour at Manchester Beer and Cider Festival, held in the cavernous hall of Manchester Central.

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 and cider lovers’ calendars.

Among the treats in store are the current national silver medal Dunkerton’s cider from Herefordshire at 7% ABV. Many ciders are considerably stronger than ales, with Green Valley’s  Rum Tiddly Tum from Devon eclipsing this at 7.5%. But there are also less alcoholic fruit ciders available, including Celtic Marches’ Raspberry from Bishops Frome and Hogan’s Elderflower from Warwickshire (both 4%) .  Making a welcome return to the festival is the national gold medalist Two Trees Perry from Gwynt Y Ddraig in Pontypridd, Glamorgan.

Cider bar manager Mike Robinson said: “The traditional cider counties of Devon, Somerset and Herefordshire have been joined by enthusiastic producers across England and Wales. We’ll have ciders from across Great Britain including seven ciders made right here in Greater Manchester, together with the greatest selection of northern ciders on sale anywhere.

“Our perrys are a world away from the dubiously-named ‘pear ciders’ you may see on supermarket shelves. I’d encourage all festivalgoers to sample the excellent examples and maybe we’ll convert a few ale aficionados to apples and pears!”

Manchester Beer and Cider Festival runs from Thursday 19th to Saturday 21st January 2017. General entry tickets are available from www.mancbeerfest.uk

The full list of cider and perries ordered is here: mancbeerfest.uk/beers-ciders/cider-perry-2017/

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While everyone may be planning a traditional Christmas dinner, organisers at the biggest beer and cider festival in the North have been hatching their own festive fare to be dished up next month.

The Manchester Beer and Cider Festival 2017 takes place at Manchester Central. Alongside a staggering array of beers and ciders, visitors can expect a stunning selection of street food traders from across the country.

Feedback from the last festival focused organisers’ minds on how the food offer could be improved. The CAMRA organising team worked with the venue to share experiences from beer festivals as small as local brewery taps to the giant of the annual Great British Beer Festival held at London’s Olympia. And whether drinkers fancy a snack to accompany great ale or plan to have something more substantial, there’ll be sustenance suitable for everyone.

Handmade Cornish Pasties will not only be shipping up the South West delicacy, but also baking vegan and gluten pastries. Also from the region, The Muffin Man and Company specialise in traditional English muffins with a variety of delicious fillings. They are proud to source ingredients locally, and have proved very popular at other beer festivals.

A traditional favourite with a contemporary twist is promised by Viva La Toastie. Based in Cheshire, expect the county’s cheese on sourdough bread and so much more. Pies are a festival staple, but The Crusty Pie Company from Bradford promise the ultimate pork pie experience. And adding to the Yorkshire influence, The Pickled Porker specialise in applewood smoked pulled pork and the intriguingly-named Yorkshire Tapas.

Lancashire is represented by What’s Your Beef, specialising in ground steak burgers in brioche buns. They admit to using Himalayan salt and coconut oil, although the main ingredients are locally-sourced. And long-time supporters of CAMRA, Pipers Crisps of Lincolnshire will be offering the tried and trusted accompaniment to a pint.

Organiser Graham Donning said: “Our festival goers expect some of the best beers and ciders at Manchester, and we plan to add to their enjoyment with this fantastic selection of varied food concessions. We’ve worked with the venue to bring some of the outstanding street trader foodstalls, many of whom have experience with beer festivals up and down the country. We are confident they will make the 2017 festival bigger and better.”

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.

Manchester Beer and Cider Festival runs from Thursday 19th to Saturday 21st January 2017. General entry tickets are available from www.mancbeerfest.uk (more…)