Favourite UK Beer events / festivals

Discussion in 'United Kingdom & Ireland' started by hdtrice, Aug 3, 2016.

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  1. hdtrice

    hdtrice Initiate (0) May 29, 2015 England

    Earlier this week I was searching for upcoming beer events, in the UK. There were a couple of sites purporting to list them all, but none seemed to be that comprehensive, or user-friendly.

    So with that in mind, I wanted to garner BA's thoughts on their favourite / best UK beer events / festivals. Format. Costs. Value for money. Range. That sort of thing.

    I've not experienced that many, but without question my favourite would be IndyMan, in Manchester. Fantastic venue. Amazing selection. Great atmosphere.

    Of particular interest to me, I've been looking at the Rainbow Project launch event for 2016 (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-rainbow-project-2016-launch-tickets-26582280316). Now, it's a bit of a schlep for me coming from't North, so I wondered if anyone had experience of this event in the past?
     
    #1 hdtrice, Aug 3, 2016
  2. Graeme24

    Graeme24 Initiate (0) Dec 16, 2008 Ireland

    IndyMan is definitely one I'd love to attend in the future. Seems to be a really well organised event wtih lots of top beers on offer.

    My own personal experience with British festivals is limited mainly fo the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) which I have attended for the last 5 years or so and will be attending next week. It's probably becoming a little unfashionable in light of some of the more recent festivals emerging and the way the 'craft' beer scene is going in general. I personally love it and the range of beers on offer is incredible. A much better experience is now had following the festival moving from Earls Court to The Olympia. Roomier, allot more seating, better air conditioning and that thing called natural light!

    There are lots of people who accuse CAMRA of being dinosaurs (I don't entirely disagree!) but the range of really good quality American, Belgian, Dutch, and other international beers shows that they are forward thinking in some way. I must admit that I don't pay allot of attention to the British beers on offer but I make no apology for this given the great range of international beers that I'll likely not come across often.

    Interested to hear peoples thoughts.
    G
     
    #2 Graeme24, Aug 3, 2016
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  3. Georgefox

    Georgefox Crusader (404) Aug 19, 2013 England

    #3 Georgefox, Aug 3, 2016
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  4. hdtrice

    hdtrice Initiate (0) May 29, 2015 England

    #4 hdtrice, Aug 3, 2016
  5. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Grand Pooh-Bah (3,113) Jan 24, 2011 England
    Pooh-Bah

    Gbbf is great. Shame have lots of work on in August.
     
    #5 CwrwAmByth, Aug 3, 2016
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  6. EmperorBevis

    EmperorBevis Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,338) Sep 25, 2011 England
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The Independent Salford Beer Festival
    Friendlier and better value than Indyman
    All thriller and no filler
    For a good cause
    but most of all it's the only beer festival
    to boast having me there pulling pints
    http://salfordbeerfestival.com/
     
    #6 EmperorBevis, Aug 3, 2016
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  7. hdtrice

    hdtrice Initiate (0) May 29, 2015 England

    Sounds like I'm going to have to give GBBF a go next year.

    And I might have a gander at Salford as well. Would be rude not given the proximity... especially so if you're pulling pints, Bevis!
     
    #7 hdtrice, Aug 3, 2016
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  8. marquis

    marquis Pooh-Bah (2,313) Nov 20, 2005 England
    Pooh-Bah

    Nottingham has the biggest beer festival in the world based on the number of cask ales on sale.It is in October.
    Personally I prefer smaller ones such as Melton Mowbray in September,only 50 or 60 beers but a lovely atmosphere.
     
    #8 marquis, Aug 9, 2016
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  9. EmperorBevis

    EmperorBevis Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,338) Sep 25, 2011 England
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Canned yesterday
    Bought today
    Will be drank tonight
    Rule of thirds India Pale Ale.
    Half Sound Wave. Half Cannonball.
    Half Gamma Ray
    Take Flagship IPAS from Siren, Magic Rock, Beavertown and combine them to create something entirely new, yet distinctively familiar. That's the goal with Rule of Thirds, with each of the deliciously defining features flowing seamlessly from one to the other.
    Three breweries, one beer: The Rule of Thirds.
     
    #9 EmperorBevis, Aug 10, 2016
  10. reprob8

    reprob8 Initiate (0) May 22, 2008 England

    done 25 years of GBBF, still a great festival but now declining. Manchester Beer & Cider in January is well organised with good choice of beers, Nottingham is big but who wants to see the worlds largest collection of towels? Plenty of decent local CAMRA festivals and more are making use of CAMRA cooling equipment (take note Nottingham).
    IndyMan is excellent as is Leeds international, very different demographic to CAMRA Festivals.
     
    #10 reprob8, Sep 7, 2016
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  11. Goudie

    Goudie Initiate (0) Jun 13, 2014 Northern Ireland

    Rather than repeat myself, here is my post from another thread. Can't recommend this festival enough and only in its second year.

     
    #11 Goudie, Sep 8, 2016
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  12. Hanglow

    Hanglow Pooh-Bah (2,051) Feb 18, 2012 Scotland
    Pooh-Bah

    Fynefest is good although it is on at the start of June. You can camp there for the weekend or get day tickets. Good range and great setting
    http://www.fynefest.com/
     
    #12 Hanglow, Sep 8, 2016
  13. Georgefox

    Georgefox Crusader (404) Aug 19, 2013 England

    I'm at the magic rock tap now for it, long queue to get in but now we are in its good. Did you make it to siren?
     
    #13 Georgefox, Sep 17, 2016
  14. hdtrice

    hdtrice Initiate (0) May 29, 2015 England

    We were second in that long queue at Magic Rock! :wink:

    I'm insanely rough today, but that may have been the whiskey and White Russians that accidentally happened later on...

    What did you think?
     
    #14 hdtrice, Sep 18, 2016
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  15. Georgefox

    Georgefox Crusader (404) Aug 19, 2013 England

    Yeah I enjoyed it, first time I've been to there.

    Of the Rainbow Project beers I enjoyed the Siren, Beavertown and Burning Sky offerings the most. Then I'd probably rank the Magic Rock, Hawkshead, Wild Beer and Partizan ones in that order. Wasn't bothered about getting a box this year as got to try them all there.

    Bit gutted that the Bearded Lady Hazelnut had gone when I went for it, but I did also enjoy other beers from Siren (Summer Citra Party), Liberty (Halo Pilsner), Magic Rock (Common Grounds) and Wild Beer (Witness).
     
    #15 Georgefox, Sep 18, 2016
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  16. CwrwAmByth

    CwrwAmByth Grand Pooh-Bah (3,113) Jan 24, 2011 England
    Pooh-Bah

    Always avoid the rainbow project hype-train. Southern are bad enough.
     
    #16 CwrwAmByth, Sep 18, 2016
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  17. hdtrice

    hdtrice Initiate (0) May 29, 2015 England

    I'm just about recovered I think.

    Bearded Lady was one of my favourites - we were lucky that we got a table right by that bar.
    In the end, we ended up getting a lot of the other beers, besides the rainbow project one's - and got the box so we don't miss out. But did try and really enjoy the Burning Sky. Always love Sleeping Lemons, and really enjoyed the Louche Cerise... oh and the Los Lobos.

    There was a lot of top beer. Good atmosphere. Good food. Good weather. And went on to The Grove in Hudds afterwards - what a selection they have there.

    Pencilled in next year already!
     
    #17 hdtrice, Sep 20, 2016
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  18. hdtrice

    hdtrice Initiate (0) May 29, 2015 England

    IndyMan reconfirming it's place at the top of my tree over the weekend. So good. I only wish I did more sessions. Next year...
     
    #18 hdtrice, Oct 10, 2016
  19. Georgefox

    Georgefox Crusader (404) Aug 19, 2013 England

    I am planning to do the Sunday next year too, apparently they were giving out left over stock for free.
     
    #19 Georgefox, Oct 10, 2016
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  20. hdtrice

    hdtrice Initiate (0) May 29, 2015 England

    I almost wish I didn't know this!
     
    #20 hdtrice, Oct 10, 2016
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