IT may not offer the high drama of the World Cup but a craft beer shoot-out between five great UK brewing cities promises to kick off Manchester Beer Week with a refreshing dose of friendly rivalry.
Teams from Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, and London, as well as two from host city Manchester, will create one-off collaboration beers that will be put to a public vote on the opening weekend of this year’s festival (June 29-July 8) to decide which one wins. The team sheets and their beers are pinned up below!
The competing beers will be launched at the Summer Beer Thing at The Pilcrow at NOMA Sadler’s Yard on Friday June 29. Plus there will be simultaneous 'suburb' launches at venues in the north, east, south and west of Greater Manchester – Bunbury’s in Bolton (above), Stalybridge Station Buffet, Burnage’s Reasons to be Cheerful (below) and The Northern Type, Eccles – as well as venues in each of the other four participating cities.
Drinkers at these events will be given the opportunity to vote for their favourite beer and the winner will claim the unofficial crown of England's best beer city.
There’s a fund-raising element too. A percentage of profits from each of the beers will be donated to charities in each of the five cities, including the official charity of Manchester Beer Week 2018, Mustard Tree, and launch event punters will also be asked for donations to a variety of causes.
You will be able to vote on your favourite beer via this link from Friday June 29 or by contacting @mcrbeerweek on Twitter while using the appropriate hashtag (see below).
Teams:
Leeds (#MBWLdsWins): North Brewing Co, Northern Monk, Kirkstall, Zapato
From Leeds With Love, Hoppy Dortmunder Lager. Leeds is twinned with Dortmund in Germany, and home to the Dortmund Drayman statue. This is a modern interpretation of a Dortmunder, dry hopped with a whole load of Citra.
Liverpool (#MBWLplWins): Mad Hatter, Chapter, Neptune, Top Rope, Gibberish
Scouse Sour, kettle sour with beetroot. Designed to replicate the taste of pickled beetroot, which is a traditional accompaniment to Scouse, a type of stew that was traditionally popular in Liverpool.
London (#MBWLdn1Wins): Fourpure, Beavertown, Brew By Numbers, Orbit
London Murk, American pale ale, 5.4% ABV. A zero IBU nostalgic juicy murk bomb. A secret blend of 11 hops, malts and adjuncts, with London Fog yeast adding extra opacity.
Manchester one (#MBWMcr1Wins): Cloudwater, Track, Runaway, Wander Beyond
Pale and bitter DDH IPA, 6% ABV. Designed to reflect Mancunians' traditional leaning towards 'pale, bitter and hoppy', with golden syrup also added to mimic honey, as a vegan-friendly nod to the Manchester bee.
Manchester two (#MBWMcr2Wins): JW Lees, Marble, Beer Nouveau
Porter, 6.0% ABV. A modern interpretation of a recipe from the JW Lees record books, this full-flavoured porter combines six different malts and three hops, Pilgrim, UK Cascade and Mandarina Bavaria. Designed to be fruity and sweet with a firm bitterness.
Bristol (#MBWBrisWins): Lost and Grounded, Moor Beer Co, Left Handed Giant
Berry Lush, blackcurrant witbier, 4.0% ABV. A nod to the mighty Ribena, which was originally manufactured in Bristol. It uses Pils malt, wheat malt, flaked wheat and rolled oats with 300kg of blackcurrant puree, designed to be tart and refreshing.
The Manchester Beer Week print programme is out now. Don't miss Taste of Manchester' own online preview coming soon.
