We love a good beer festival, and Manchester holds a huge range of them each and every year. From sweet Summery beers to rich Winter ales, there's a beer festival for every time of year, and every style. Below are our picks for some of Manchester's best Beer Festivals.
Manchester Beer and Cider Festival
When: January
Where: National Cycling Centre, Sport City
The Manchester Beer and Cider Festival is in its third year, and is run by CAMRA.
Situated in the pit area inside the track of The National Cycling Centre, or 'The Velodrome' as we like to call it, is the Manchester Beer and Cider Festival. As the successor to CAMRA's National Winter Ales events, this festival is sure to include a wide range of hearty beers and sweet ciders and perries, as well as the impressive promise of the most cask conditioned craft ales than any festival that's ever been held in the UK. With the amazing venue also comes the prospect of cyclists using the track whilst the festival is ongoing, with hopefully past, present and future world champions whizzing around you as you tuck into another beer.
Bent and Bongs Beer Bash
When: February
Where: The Formby Hall, Atherton
The Beer N Bong Festival traditionally takes place in Formby Hall, Atherton.
Despite being in the 25th year of it's proud history, the Beer N Bong Festival still manages to draw in big crowds, and a huge range of beer from the local and nearby breweries. As well as the beer are the 'tasty fodder' in the shape of locally sourced sausages and puddings, with the distinct possibility of some home-cooked hotpot. All of this, and the bands on every night, makes Beer N Bong a great choice to enjoy a beer in a friendly and beer-soaked atmosphere.
Chorlton Beer and Cider Festival
When: July
Where: St.Clement's Church, Chorlton-cum-Hardy
The signs of a good beer festival. Kegs, ready to use, and lots of them.
In its 9th year, the Chorlton Beer and Cider Festival is another great festival run by the ever resourceful CAMRA, who make great use of the now 66 strong number of breweries within 20 miles of the festival. Past festivals have also included such attractions as the North West round of the Champion Speciality Beer of Britain Competition, which allows festival goers to try the best of the best of beers around the country, and watch the judges, made up of CAMRA members, publicans and celebrities, decide which beers are good enough to go to the next round.
Ramsbottom Beer Festival
When: September
Where: Ramsbottom Civic Hall, Ramsbottom
Organiser and chief brewer at Irwell Works, Peter Booth intends for all proceeds to go to charity.
Held yearly in the Ramsbottom Civic Hall, the Ramsbottom Beer Festival is put on by local and experienced volunteers, with all the funds going to the very worthy cause of the England and Wales Mountain Rescue charity. With an incredibly cheap entrance fee of only £2.50, or £2.00 with your CAMRA card, and beer from a variety of the UK's Micro Breweries, the Ramsbottom Beer Festival is a great choice to drink some of the best of the UK's craft beer, and feel all tingly inside for doing a good deed. Or maybe it's the beer...
Manchester Food and Drink Festival
When: September - October
Where: Manchester City Centre
The festival has rightly earned national acclaim since its inception way back in 1998.
The Manchester Food and Drink Festival has been a staple of the Manchester calendar for over a decade now, and continues to bring in even larger crowds to its multiple day of celebrations. For over a week, the festival takes over Manchester in an attempt to bring great food and drink to everyone across the city centre, with many bars and restaurants getting in on the fun as well. For the beer drinkers, there is the traditional Robinsons pop-up bar, as well as a cheeky Bavarian style bar with huge steins to take on. Be sure to check out the festival for some of the loudest, and nosiest, crowds out of all of Manchester's Beer Festivals.
Indy Man Beer Con
When: October
Where: Victoria Baths, Chorlton-on-Medlock
Indy Man Beer Con is held at the historic and beautifully renovated Victoria Baths.
The Independent Manchester Beer (And Stuff) Convention takes place in one of Manchester's most prestigious landmarks, Victoria Baths, and offers a huge range of real ales and craft beers (and stuff) for those looking for something a little more than just beer. The range of food is almost as wide as the beer, going from simple and tasty street food, to past Masterchef winners pairing their food with specially brewed beers. Whilst sticking to the core principles of lots of beer at cheap prices, their great choices in food and the nightly music makes it a great event for everyone, not just the beer enthusiasts.
Didsbury Beer Festival
When: October - November
Where: Saint Catherine's Social Club, Didsbury
Over £60,000 has been raised for local charities through the festival. Well done, guys!
Despite Didsbury emerging as one of the coolest places to be in Manchester, it also knows how to put on a good old-fashioned beer festival. The festival boasts over 100 beers and over 50 ciders and perries, many from only a few miles away, as well as some home cooked, cheap and hearty food on offer from the nearby canteens . With even the entertainment coming from local emerging bands, the Didsbury Festival promotes the very best that the area has to offer, with all of the proceeds very generously going to local charities. You're donating to charity, how can you refuse to go now?
