Regular TOM followers will recall that we love the annual Broadbottom Cricket Club Beer and Cider Fest. Sitting in the sunshine, the sound of leather on willow, sipping some of the finest local ales known to mankind, cannot be beaten.Views to die for down the Etherow valley to Marple, or over the Peaks to Hayfield and the mighty Kinder, make the experience a great day out for all.
This weekend, starting at noon on Saturday, the 11th Annual Festival will be wowing everyone once more with a variety of beers and ciders to suit everyone's tastes. The regular club bar will still be open with a selection of wines, including bountiful Prosecco, spirits and softs to ensure the full family are catered for.
Very decent, good value, home-cooked food will be available all day. Take your pick where to watch the cricket from. The club has recently opened a new suntrap terrace in front of the pavilion and bar with a unique picnic area. Or just bring a rug and sit on the grass round the ground.
On Saturday, the village First Team take on Old Glossop in a late season 45 over thriller, commencing at 12.30pm. On Sunday in a more relaxed style, the holders - the magnificent Ladies team - renew their annual Caneston Cup fixture against an all male X1, selected by the club chairman Steve Croft.
What's on the Festival menu for beer and cider lovers?
Festival curators Mick Royle and Sean Langton have once again spent most of this year choosing the best beers from the region to offer 26 real ales and three magnificent ciders.
Probably the most exciting is the world premiere of one of two special Festival ales brewed by Broadbottom based brewers Green Mill. Called Heniz-iken, it comes in at 4.1%. We are very excited to get an early taste of the always excellent brewery's new creation.
Regulars at the brewers’ own pub in Broady, The Harewood Arms, will be familiar with Green Mills' Ella, a 4.0% session pale ale, and Northern Lights, a dark bitter brewed with new Aurora hops at 4.2%. But they may not have come across their dark smoky stout, the unusually named Put this in Your Pipe at a decent 5.0%.
The Festival's good friends at P.Noot Brewery have also created a special Festival ale. All we know is it’s strong and called Flag Wash. P.Noot's other offerings are Apex at 3.8% a lovely golden ale and Stark at 4% a spicy hoppy blonde.
Buxton Ales offer up a dark tasty porter in Gate Keeper at a relatively low 4.1% and Buxton Best at 4.2%. Their classic best bitter with a pleasing bittersweet finish.
Glossop’s Howard Town have had a rebrand. Their Distant Hills Pilsner at 4.5% comes highly recommended. Brewed using only the finest German malt and hops this lager, will keep the aficionados more than happy. Howards Town bitter fans can also feast on Astral, a new unique black IPA full of tropical flavours, coming in at a heady 5.3%.
Moving further south, Bollington Brewing Co features their classic Ginger Brew a pale hoppy bitter at an easy 4.1% and the rich in body and flavour IPA Eastern Nights at 5.6%. Nearby Mobberley Brewhouse is offering their no nonsense IPA at 5.2%, citrus on the nose with a subtle toffee back noter and another single hop pale ale Mosaic, coming in at 4.5%.
Also from that area Wincle Brewery in the delightful River Wincle valley on the south edge of the Peak District, are offering three lovely session beers at 3.7% - 3.9% Otter Pool (what a lovely name for a beer) a refreshing summer ale, Hens Cloud a fragrant amber IPA with a lovely mixed hop aroma and their full flavoured session ale Straight Furrow.
Storm are another Macclesfield based outfit (is it summat in't' warter?) . Their champion golden ale Bosley Cloud is so fruity you can claim one of your five a day with every pint at 4.1% it's easier than munching your way through an apple. Their equally fruity Isobar is a light and hoppy session IPA with a distinctive sharp taste at 4.3% Their final offering is Dessert Storm, a smoky amber ale and at 3.9% showcasing the breweries characteristic hopiness.
Yorkshire is once again represented by Holmfirth based The Nook, named after their pub in the centre of the town.
Their beer fest debut last year was a storming success. This year they will be showcasing Sky Blue, a rich biscuity sweet blond ale at 4.5%; Bees Knees a classic Yorkshire golden session ale at 4.2%. Most interestingly and probably one for your pudding, is their Chocolate Orange Stout which tastes of exactly what it says on the tin. At 5.2% be careful if you have a sweet tooth!
Mossleys Millstone Brewery, whose ales have been featured at the Festival since year one, are supplying two of their most popular ales Tiger Rut at 5.2%, a very pale and hoppy ale and Trinnacle at 4.2%, a crisp subtle bitter with tropical flavours and a sweet floral aroma.
Pure North Cider Press are showcasing three of their finest concoctions from their base in Holmfirth. The highlight is the bright refreshing Vintage Deanhouse. Matured for two years in oak casks, at 6% it will keep the cider fans more than happy. Sweet union at 5.5% was a big hit last year. It mixes Yorkshire cider apples with Lancashire eaters to create a delicious sweet union of the two Roses counties. Valley Gold is a golden, medium sweet offering at 6% with a classic bitter finish.
Broadbottom is a mile from the end of the M67, served by frequent trains and buses. The area is a safe enclosed environment for kids, with a play park nearby. Well behaved dogs are welcome There's no excuse to miss this highly recommended day out for all the family. Hope to see you there?
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Broadbottom CC Beer and Cider Festival takes place on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th Sept from noon until Late and you can find more details on their Facebook page.