Manchester Beer & Cider Festival

About

The Manchester Beer and Cider Festival at Manchester Central is a great way to banish the January blues. Organised by the nine Greater Manchester branches of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), there's the promise of rare treats alongside old favourites in the former rail station.

With more than 750 different drinks, there's something to whet all whistles. The selection features specially commissioned beers, collaborations and ales rarely, if ever, seen in Greater Manchester. But as you'd expect of the cask capital of Britain, the very best of the lively Manchester brewery scene will be strongly represented too. The choice for drinkers will be spread across two huge bars serving real ale, alongside a dedicated 100 Club bar featuring historic family brewers with more than a century of brewing experience. An extended Irish bar will have ales from both sides of the border. And new for 2019, the Beers from the Wood bar will have over 40 beers in traditional wooden casks. Luckily for visitors, 13 brewers will be setting up their own bars inside the festival to showcase their products, and modern beer styles will also feature on the Keg bar.

Cider and perry lovers have their own bar, and fans of foreign styles can expect a superb range of beers from Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic supplemented by a curated choice of beers from the rest of the world. And for those who like their ales in bottles – or would just like to take home some – the Real Ale in Bottle bar will have a UK-wide selection.

Alongside the ales, there'll be street food stalls, traditional pub games, snacks and a Gin Bar (in case you really don't want to try the beers).

Image credit: James Darcey