MANCHESTER Food and Drink Festival www.foodanddrinkfestival.com , which kicks off on Thursday, September 28, has placed a greater emphasis on beer to toast its 20th anniversary, recognising Greater Manchester’s craft revolution – witness the new ‘Best Brewery’ category in the 2017 Manchester Food and Drink Awards.
They are also collaborating with Connor Murphy (above), organiser of the influential Manchester Beer Week, to curate a series of events.
20 Years of Beer – A Celebration Festival Hub, Albert Square, M60 2LA. Saturday, October 7. 7pm. £15, book via www.foodanddrinkfestival.com
Murphy himself and Paul Jones (below) from Cloudwater will be teaming up with some of the best brewers in Manchester to give an insight into the difference two decades have made to the Manchester brewing industry – from the continuing legacy of the big family breweries to the explosion of independent microbreweries, which has brought global fame to operations, many of which started up under railway arches. A prime example is Cloudwater, open just two years but recently voted fifth best brewery in the world by influential US website RateBeer. Oh, and don’t worry, for your money on the night, you do get to taste some incredible beers, too!
Brasserie du Mont Salève tap takeover 57 Thomas Street, M4 1NA. Friday, September 29, 7pm. Free
Well-regarded French brewery Brasserie du Mont Salève is making a rare trip across the channel for an evening of beer and cheese at 57 Thomas Street.
Join the brewery team to sample four beers on keg and four bottled, each introduced by one of the brewers.
A range of cheeses will also be available for you to snack on throughout and create your own beer pairings.
Meat the butcher with Littlewoods Heaton Hops, 7 School Lane, Stockport, SK4 5DE. Saturday, October 7, 4pm onwards. Free.
The award-winning microbar teams up with neighbours Littlewoods Butchers to offer some BBQ delights to accompany your beers. Staff from Littlewoods will be on hand to offer BBQ brisket, burgers and butchery demos, while Heaton Hops is planning some treats on its taps.
Weird is my happy place Beer Nouveau, 75 N Western St, Manchester M12 6DY. Friday September 29, 2pm-10:30pm and Saturday September 30, 12 noon-10:30pm. Free.
Throughout the history of beer there’s always been the more – unusual – side of brewing. From the infamous Cock Ale of the early 17th century, brewers have been adding more than just water, malt, hops and yeast to their creations.
For this weekend, Beer Nouveau have rebrewed Cock Ale with chicken and Mercer’s Meat Stout with beef extract alongside more modern creations such as a Berliner Weiss dry-hopped with a new experimental hop from New Zealand, a Blackberry fruit beer fermented with a Norwegian Farmhouse yeast and a beer recipe from the States that smells, and tastes, of pizza! A weird collection of beers to help you find your happy place.
Runaway meet the brewer Oddbins Chorlton, 603 Wilbraham Rd, M21 9AN.Thursday, October 5, 6pm-8pm. Free
Join a member of the brewing team to learn more about their range and sample a range of their latest seasonable bottles.