Festival season is in full swing, and of course we mean beer rather than music. Events take place throughout the year in Manchester but here’s a look at some of the most interesting and diverse taking place over the coming months.
Chorlton gets not one, but two beer festivals in the summer months with the second event taking place this weekend. The Chorlton Summer Beer Festival, organised by Love Beer Festivals, will be held over three sessions at Chorlton Irish Club. Expect both keg and cask beer from across the UK – including London’s Hammerton Brew, The Waen Brewery and Mad Dog Brewing from Wales, Arbor and Bristol Brew Factory from the South West and Scotland’s Windswept Brewing. Street food, live music and family activities (Saturday day session) will also be available.
Staying in south Manchester, Levenshulme will also play host to a beer-filled event this bank holiday weekend. Blackjack Beers have again teamed up with Shebeen Events and Grub for Levy Beer Fête. Taking place at The Klondyke Club, local keg and cask beers will be served alongside street food, musicians and DJs, carnival games and activities for the kids. Three sessions will take place with tickets available for £5 or £6 for each, while kids get free entry.
Slightly further afield over in Huddersfield, Magic Rock Brewing will be hosting the northern launch of the Rainbow Project 2015 on Saturday September 19. This transatlantic event sees seven UK breweries paired with counterparts in the US and each duo assigned a colour to brew a beer loosely based around it. All seven rainbow beers plus a further two from each US brewery and one from the UK brewers will be on offer – a total of 28 brews to sample. Tickets are £10 including a glass and seven tokens. OK, it’s not Manchester but it’s only a short jaunt on the train!
October may already be in your diary for Indy Man Beer Con (October 8-11), but it’s not the only beery event taking place – the Independent Salford Beer Festival will also be taking place on the final weekend of the month. Focusing on beers from Lancashire, Cheshire and Yorkshire, the event is returning to Saint Sebastian’s Community Centre in Salford for the second year in a row. Tickets cost £4-£5 and are now on sale.
Feeling thirsty? See Time Out's guide to Manchester's best craft beer bars.