THERE’S a rather exceptional Manchester brewery called Wander Beyond (see Thursday listing) and their name could be applied to the best advice on how to get the best out of Manchester Beer Week (June 29-July 8), lest it all become a fuzzy round of tap room takeovers, ‘did we win that quiz?’ and ‘just a couple more barley wines and DIPAs for the road?’.
Here are 10 of the more oddball stop-offs on the road to Beervana over the 10 days of this outstanding citywide festival, the full details of which are here. Note that some of these gigs may be sold out. Always check in advance
FRIDAY, JUNE 29
Nova Runda at Öl Nano
Unfamiliar with Croatia’s finest ales? Then get down to Hatch to meet Marko and Miro from the brewery named that nation’s best in the 2017 RateBeer Awards and sample five beers, including the delightfully monickered ThroaTTwisterR IPA. A chance too to discuss Croatia’s prospects in the World Cup (good).
Öl Nano Brewery & Bar, Hatch, Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 7ED. 7.30pm-11pm. £10 a head.
SATURDAY, JUNE 30 and SUNDAY, JULY 1
Dog Yard
The aim of these two days down on Salford Quays is to create the beer lover’s equivalent of Cruft’s. There'll be craft beer for the humans while their furry friends will get to try some doggy beers and, for the more sophisticated pooch, doggy pawsecco. Gives a whole new meaning to ‘hair of the dog’.
The Dockyard, Dockhouse, Media City, Salford, M50 2EQ. Free
THURSDAY, JULY 5
Namast-Ale – Beer Yoga at Wander Beyond
Beer yoga has been a thing for a while, but have you ever done a class in a working brewery? Join yoga teacher and beer fan Helen Simpson for an hour long fun and flowing yoga class. No yoga experience is necessary, just wear comfortable clothes. Mats and yoga beers are be provided. All profits will be donated to the Mayor’s Homelessness Fund. Main piture
Wander Beyond, 98 North Western Street, Manchester, M12 6JL. 5pm, £15. Entry from 6.30pm- 8.30pm for non-participating pals and the public.
FRIDAY, JULY 6
I’m On A Boat With Pomona Island
Who was it who said: No Pomona is an Island? Now the cult new brewery are running a fun cruise with tunes from Spinningfields down the Irwell to Mode Wheel Locks, where you’ll disembark and regroup at the brewery. It all starts with beers at basement bar the Gas Lamp at 6pm.
Gas Lamp, 50A Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BW. 6pm-11pm, £15 from the bar or £20 online. Sold out but more tickets may become available if weather remains fine.
Left Hand and Friends Tailgate Party
Just love Wikipedia’s dry definition of a Tailgate Party – a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle. Tailgating, which originated in the United States, often involves consuming alcoholic beverages and grilling food. Not sure how much of that’s going on at Marble’s version of Fourth of July two days later. Still it’s an enticing line-up of America’s craft finest. They'll be pouring Colorado’s iconic Left Hand Brewing Co, Angry Chair Brewing, Slim Pickens Cider & Mead, Founders Brewing and more. Marble also declare it’s an evening to ‘kick back and embrace the pastryarchy’ with a pastry stout.
57 Thomas Street (Marble bar), NQ, Manchester M4 1NA. 7pm onwards. Free.
Beer and Wine Cheese-pairing showdown
Who let the wine and cheese into this Beery Wonderland? West Didsbury merchants Reserve. Their manager Nic Rezzouk will lock horns with fellow cheese buff, Runaway brewer/owner Mark Welsby in a battle to prove which tipples are the best match for the cheeses. Stinking Bishop, anyone? The ticket price includes entry to the event and all cheese. Beer and wine pairings will be available on the night by the glass or flight for an additional charge.
Runaway Brewery Tap Room, Unit 4, Dantzic Street, Manchester M4 4JW. 6.30pm-10pm. £12, buy here.
SATURDAY, JULY 7
A Women’s Institute Pub Crawl
Promises to be a rowdy affair. Starting at Marble Arch at 12.30pm and progressing via Runaway Brewery (2pm) to The PIlcrow (3.30pm), where non-members can join, and eventually the Smithfield Tavern. Free.
Rivington Brewery at The Creameries
Farm meets dairy as one of ToM’s favourite breweries, located just outside Greater Manchester, showcases its beers at Chorlton’s groundbreaking bakery/dairy/cafe. Brewer Ben Stubbs (above) has teamed up them to create a black pepper and rhubarb saison as part of the Beer x Food initiative where leading restaurants and breweries collaborate to make a beer. Expect the saison to complement beautifully Mary-Ellen McTague’s exquisite food and Sophie Yeoman’s artisan bread.
The Creameries, 406 Wilbraham Rd, Manchester M21 0SD, 0161 312 8328. 2pm-6pm. Free. Kid’s play area provided.
SUNDAY, JULY 8
WrestALEmancMANIA – Craft beer meets grapple as Failsworth-based wrestling promoters Futureshock join forces with street food organisers GRUB to host Futureshock Untapped! at the Fairfield Social Club. You get three hours of pro tussles plus beers from Liverpool’s wrestling-themed micro-brewery Top Rope Brewing, whose motto is “putting hops in a headlock”, and a strong street food line-up.
Futureshock Tapped! 5pm-8pm. Fairfield Social Club, Archway 6 Temperance St, Manchester, M12 6HR. Tickets from £13.45 general admission. Buy them here.
FESTIVAL LONG
Scandinavian Beer Week at PLY
The NQ bar in conjunction with Bottle Shop London are running a nine-day-long in-house beer extravaganza featuring brews from the legendary Mikkeler, Omnipollo, Dugges, Brewski, Rocket, Stigbergets, Warpigs and many more. A big bonus – they’ll will be giving away 50 special Scandinavian themed pizzas to kick the week off and running a Scandinavian beer art exhibition throughout the entire event with works from world class artists associated with the breweries such as Karl Grandin (Omnipollo), Keith Shore, pictured above (Mikkeller & Warpigs), Neale Payling (Stigbergets) and Kasper Ledet (Toøl). PLY, 26 Lever St, Manchester M1 1DW.
