International Brewing & Cider Festival Reveals Bar Zone Line-Up

The line-up has been announced for the first-ever International Brewing & Cider Festival taking place in Manchester next month.

The much-anticipated two-day event is gearing up for a spectacular celebration of the largest collection of beers and ciders in the UK, if not Europe. Taking place on 22nd - 23rd March at Depot Mayfield, The International Brewing & Cider Festival will be showcasing hundreds of incredible and award-winning pours from more than 100 breweries and cider mills from around the world.

Festivalgoers can sample the wares of world-class beers and award-winning ciders in the Competition Zone from international brewers and cidermakers entered into The International Brewing & Cider Awards. Expect traditional cask ales, limited availability small pack and bottled beers, along with delicious ciders and perries galore.

An impressive lineup of street food options will be available to complement the UK’s and world’s best beers and ciders, along with live music from stellar local selectors including Maya Blandy, The Get Back Beats and Token Honey, creating a vibrant atmosphere to celebrates the artistry of brewing and fermenting.

The line-up in the Bar Zone boasts an impressive selection of both local favourites and renowned brewers and cidermakers from across the country. Beer and cider enthusiasts can look forward to tasting an extensive variety of brews, from innovative experimental releases to classic styles.

Brewers and cidermakers confirmed include -

• Hobsons Brewery is a well-regarded independent, regional brewery, based in Shropshire. Renowned for their innovative case ales since 1993 with sustainability at its core, the brewery champions the work of local skilled people in its brewing, where pints are brewed with the finest quality, locally sourced ingredients.
• VOG Brewery have been brewing banging beers in Barry, Wales since 2005. With a vast range of delicious styles to choose from including juicy East Coast Pales, hoppy IPAs and blackcurrant Porters to Weiss beers, modern Bitters and imp stouts, VOG has a brew for everyone.
• Geipel Brewing is a microbrewery in rural North Wales, specialising in bottom-fermented beers, more commonly known as lagers. Geipel has reinvented British lagers by returning to the traditional methods that originally made it the most popular beer style in the world, and only use malt, hops, yeast and water from the Welsh hills.
• Hawkshead Brewery is known for brewing bold, innovative beers since 2002 that are distinctive, full of flavour, handmade and perfectly crafted by trained brewers. Based in the heart of the Lake District, their range is an eclectic mix of beers inspired by both the flavoursome hops of the new world and classic European styles and flavours.
• Joseph Holt has been perfecting the brewing technique since 1849. Over the years, the Manchester brewery has remained faithful to the brewing traditions established by Joseph Holt, but embraced modern technology to ensure its beers continue to serve generations to come.
• Nightingale Cider Company is the product of a lifelong love affair with all things liquid apple. Having been fruit farmers for three generations, their craft ciders are made from hand-picked fruit grown on the Nightingale family farm and local orchards in the Weald of Kent. Working with indigenous wild yeasts from their orchard, Nightingale Cider Company creates ciders that showcase vintage and terroir.
• Afon Mêl Honey Farm & Meadery produces one of the largest collections of real mead in the UK. With more than 20 years brewing mead, they are a small, family-run bee farm business based on the outskirts of New Quay in West Wales. Its traditional aging of Afon Mêl meads is characterised by the time spent in barrels and bottles before sale, developing a wonderful variety of flavours and styles, all driven by the taste of honey.
• Hideaway Brewing Co champions freshly prepared beer made local in their family-owned Salford brewery. Specialising in modern beer in a variety of styles, Hideaway continuously challenge consumers to try something new.
• Tartarus Beers brews unique craft beer at their microbrewery in Leeds. Named after mythical creatures and beasts, Tartarus’ offering is truly unique with a wide range of styles and ABVs, including a 17% imperial stout released once a year.
• Courier Brewing Co. is an eco-forward nano brewery based in the heart of Manchester. Established in 2022, the brewery produces Vegan Friendly Craft Beer and is focussed on making as little impact on the environment as possible.
• Northern Monk is an independent brewery based in Holbeck, Leeds. Built on their northern values of community and collaboration since 2008, their mission is to create incredible beer experiences.
• Big Trip is a small brewery making beautiful beers with big recipes in Manchester. Being new to the beer scene, they wanted to create an entity that encapsulates better days and a nod to their misspent youth (spent dancing in disused northern warehouses mostly).
• Vocation started out as a chicken shed, and grew to a global brand for craft beer. Known for its innovative approach to brewing, the little brewery on the top of a windy hill in Yorkshire brews over 10 million pints a year sold to 40 countries, and continues to push the boundaries of brewing.

Ruth Evans MBE, Director of the International Brewing & Cider Awards who is running the Festival, said: “We have a superb selection of brewers and cidermakers lined up for the inaugural International Brewing & Cider Festival in Manchester.

“The festival is set to bring the largest range of beers and ciders from around the globe together in one place, offering attendees a unique opportunity to taste the diversity and creativity within the beer and cider industry.

“The Festival aims to champion the very best in the brewing and cidermaking world, and provide a platform to showcase their craft and expertise. For the first time, local, national and international brewers and cidermakers will come together to promote their brand, showcase their products and most importantly, tell their stories to the wider public, providing a tasting experience that’s truly unmatched.”

Tickets for The International Brewing & Cider Festival are on sale now via the festival’s official website. Festivalgoers can choose from a wide range of ticket options across the weekend, starting from £20*. The entry fee includes access to the festival, a free pint glass, the chance to engage with the people behind the brewery, and a full music lineup. For an enhanced experience, a token wristband provides the opportunity to sample five beers and ciders from The International Brewing & Cider Awards.

The International Brewing & Cider Festival has partnered with two charities; Forever Manchester and Spoons. Festival attendees will be able to include a ‘Digital Pint’ donation alongside their ticket purchase, with 100% of the proceeds being split between the two charities.

The International Brewing & Cider Festival takes place at Depot Mayfield on Baring Street on Friday, March 22nd. There are three sessions across the weekend – ‘Beer Geek’ session from 6pm – 11pm on Friday, 11am – 4pm and 5pm – 11pm on Saturday, March 23rd.

*Ticket price excludes booking fee

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