The hugely popular Newcastle Beer and Cider Festival will be back this spring and celebrating a return to normal for the first time since the pandemic.
The four-day event - now in its 45th year - will be serving up some of the best craft brews around during its March 29-April 1 run at Northumbria University's Students Union building. And it seems word about it is spreading fast - and wide - as organisers know of a real ale lover from Texas who has already booked holiday around its dates so that he can pay a visit from the US.
The festival made a comeback in the city last year following two years of lockdown cancellations. But this year will see it back to normal for the first time since the Covid crisis hit and it will be running at full strength with a wide range of around 100 beers and 50 ciders plus a full programme of entertainment.
Read more: 10 top Newcastle pubs for craft beers
Festival-goers can look forward to sampling top brews from across the UK, including some which have been created specially for the event and others being premiered before going on general sale. Local breweries from across Tyneside and Northumberland have been invited to brew either a Chocolate Stout or a Red Ale which has never been seen before, so beer fans are in for a treat.
There will be ales on tap from both tiny, quirky micro-breweries and established names and among those taking part from further afield will be Camper Van Brewery in Edinburgh; Liverpool's Top Rope Brewing and Tiny Rebel Brewery from Newport in Wales. And for the first time this year there also will be a spirits bar serving rum, whisky and gin.
Festival organiser Anthony McMullen said: “Every year we get better and better both in terms of the breweries taking part and visitor numbers. And it’s amazing that someone has decided to travel across the Atlantic to join us for the festival.
"Most people who attend are locals and we do have a growing fan base from across the UK who turn up every year but someone from the USA is fantastic. I’ll be buying him a pint or two to say thank you!"
Anthony, from Seaton Burn, initially started helping out at the Newcastle festival as a volunteer and now he is in charge of the huge logistical task of ensuring hundreds of casks of ale are in situ, conditioned and ready for the festival and for the perfect pour every time. In the run-up to opening day, the festival team - as usual - will be building several bars from scratch in readiness for them.
Once the event gets under way, guests will be able to mill around the festival space, trying out the drinks and enjoying the live music which will be adding to the atmosphere. Among the bands set to play are classic rock band Blistered Molly, covering songs by artists such as AC/DC and Guns and Roses.
As usual, the festival's Thursday session will be 'unusual hat day' when visitors are invited to join the staff in wearing a hat, the more creative the better. Anyone who does not have one can always buy one from the St Oswald’s Hospice stall which will be on-site.
The local charity, which helps care for those with life-limiting conditions, is one of the festival's chosen charities, along with one supporting women's cancer detection and the Great North Air Ambulance. Tickets are available now for the festival and they include an option of fast-track admission packages for £16.50 which include a commemorative glass and five beer tokens.
For more festival information, including sponsorship and volunteering opportunities such as the one that Anthony started out on, see here.
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