MBCF leads CAMRA’s Learning & Discovery programme into 2020 with daily flavour packed & brewer led beer tastings, brewing ingredients and cider tastings led by the cider bar team and cider producers.
CAMRA aims to make learning about beer, cider, perry and our campaigning activities more accessible to members and the wider
public. Our Learning and Discovery Zone is free and will help
you understand many of the different aspects of beer and cider.
You can chat to experts, brewers and cider makers and tell us what
you think CAMRA should be doing to protect drinker’s interests.
See the timetable below for what’s on:
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 22nd | 1500 – 1900 | Make your own mind up by tasting a single beer dispensed from two different containers – Thirst Class Brewery’s Penny Black IPA on cask & keg. And learn what makes a Black India Pale Ale! Hosted by CAMRA’s Learning & Discovery Manager Alex Metcalfe and MBCF volunteers. Plus ingredients on show: a chance to handle, smell and taste brewing ingredients, such as hops and malt first-hand. |
| Wednesday 22nd | 1530 – 1630 | Learn about cider apple varieties with Baristree Cider’s Dave Matthews and New Union Cider’s Phil Walker |
| Thursday 23rd | 1200 – 1900 | Cloudwater brewers Robyn Bell & Charlotte Cook invite you to taste Cloudwater’s Pale on cask and keg.  Plus ingredients on show: a chance to handle, smell and taste brewing ingredients, such as hops and malt first-hand. |
| Thursday 23rd | 1600 – 1830 | Learn about modern craft cider with Beardspoon Cider’s Steve Town and Manchester Cider Club’s Rob Muir. |
| Friday 24th | 1200 – 1500 | Master Cooper Jonathan Manby from T&R Theakston will lead a demonstration of the art of building traditional wooden barrels. Famous beer writer Roger Protz and representatives from the Society For Preservation of Beers From The Wood will be on hand to talk Beers From The Wood. |
| Friday 24th | 1300 – 1700 | Local cider producer Chris Hewitt of Dunham Press Cider is joined by Manchester’s only certified Pommelier Cath Potter to lead tastings of modern craft ciders. |
| Friday 24th | 1530 – 1900 | Wild Beer Company’s co-founder Brett Ellis invites you to compare and contrast sour beers with a tasting of Wild Beer Pogo alongside Fruitbooter. Plus ingredients on show: a chance to handle, smell and taste brewing ingredients, such as hops and malt first-hand. |
| Saturday 25th | 1200 -1800 | Hawkshead Brewer John Major invites you to compare 0.5% low alcohol beer Lighter Times with 3.5% Windermere Pale. Learn how the brewer gets a full IPA flavour at a low alcohol content. Plus ingredients on show: a chance to handle, smell and taste brewing ingredients, such as hops and malt first-hand. |
| Saturday 25th | 1300 – 1600 | Learn about how cider apple varieties produce different flavours in the finished cider. Hosted by Manchester Cider Club and MBCF cider team’s Dick Withecombe and Cath Potter. |