Manchester Craft Beer Festival

Anne-Marie Pattenden, Food & Drink Writer
Manchester Craft Beer Festival

Manchester Craft Beer Festival at Depot Mayfield, Manchester 22 — 23 July 2022 Tickets from £49 — Book now

Manchester Craft Beer Festival returns to Manchester in all its glory this summer. On 22 and 23 July, you can celebrate craft brewing at Freight Island in the Depot Mayfield, by sampling a selection of beer from over fifty breweries.

Food from some of the North’s most exciting chefs

Your ticket not only includes all your beer and a free tasting glass but access to live performances from musicians Goldie, Norman Jay MBE and David Holmes too.

To complete the experience, there’ll be food from some of the North’s most exciting chefs. You’ll have the opportunity to try the festival’s new open fire pits feasting concept featuring: South American asado from Country Fire Kitchen, local Caribbean favourites Jerk Junction, South African flavours from Chakalaka, and spectacular dishes such as low smoked pork shoulder encased in handmade doughnuts by From The Ashes BBQ.

Lost & Grounded’s Märzenbier is an amber lager famous for being swigged at Oktoberfest

We attended a preview event at Beermoth Café where Greg, co-founder of the festival’s organisers We Are Beer, told us all about the event and talked us through four of the delicious beers you’ll be able to try.

First, Lost & Grounded’s Märzenbier, an amber lager famous for being swigged at Oktoberfest. It’s strongly honey-scented with a dark amber profile, and best described as a smooth, easy-drinking beer with an unexpected ABV of 5.6%. Unlike other amber beers, it’s only mildly malty, and tastes like you’re drinking steins in a Munich beer hall.

Next up is Full Dome by Manchester’s very own Track Brewing Company. Inspired by East coast US flavours, this DIPA is juicy, hoppy and totally tropical. It has an ABV of 8.5% and you can certainly taste it. After enjoying this one so much, it’s hard to move on to the latest Biére de Saison by The Kernel Brewery, but we live to serve.

This year’s seasonal offering from the Bermondsey-based brewery is sour cherry flavour. It’s a blended beer aged on macerated cherries, with a cherry colour and seriously tart flavour. Greg advises us that it goes fantastically well with blue cheese, and guess what? He’s right.

All this plus high-end barbeque food and outstanding live DJ sets

For beer-festival-goers, dessert comes in the form of Peel and Bean from Tallinn’s Põjhala brewery. A rye porter brewed with cacao nibs and orange zest, it’s smooth and chocolatey with a sour note. It’s a delicious find, bound to convert many non dark beer drinkers, such as yours truly.

This is just a small sample of the many, many beers you’ll be able to knock back (responsibly) at the festival. Imagine all this and more with high-end barbeque food and outstanding live DJ sets to boot. Fingers crossed the weather will bring sunshine to go with it all, for the perfect summer outing.

Manchester Craft Beer Festival at Depot Mayfield, Manchester 22 — 23 July 2022 Tickets from £49 Book now

Where to go near Manchester Craft Beer Festival

Manchester
Music venue
The Star & Garter

The Star and Garter is a legendary Manchester pub and music venue located in a grade II listed building on Fairfield Street.

Manchester
Restaurant
Mayfield

Mayfield is about to be reborn. Innovation, audacity and imagination are in the air, as energy, ideas and life return to this neglected part of Manchester city centre.

One Star Doner Bar
Manchester
Bar or Pub
One Star Doner Bar

One Star Döner Bar is the latest addition to the fast-growing Escape To Freight Island, the exciting urban market located at Depot Mayfield.

Manchester
Mayfield Park

Manchester has a new green heart: The 6.5 acre Mayfield Park, complete with the largest public playground in the city.

Manchester
Event venue
Freight Island

Freight Island is back after a winter break, with a sparkling new line-up of events and happenings.

Manchester
Restaurant
GRUB Manchester

Manchester’s legendary independent street food festival GRUB has found a permanent home in the Green Quarter, aka Cheetham Hill.

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