I’ve been a bit lax on the auld blog of late. A broken wrist a few weeks back saw to that and doing any social media/blogging with an arm cast on is a right pain in the, well, wrist.
The road to recovery is well and truly being trod and to get me back into the swing of things, here’s a quick note about some beery/pub events happening in the coming days.
The first few days of June have been deemed Belfast Beer Week, that’s over the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee holiday weekend. Ach, it’s what HRH would have wanted.
The good folk in the Northern Ireland branch of CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) have been superb in organising many of these events. Thanks to them for their hard work and more events are being added on a daily basis.
There are some events below being held outside of Belfast, but sure, what’s in a name?
- Wednesday 1st – Saturday 4th June : ARDS BREWING @ The Wildfowler Inn, Greyabbey.
Ards Brewery will be taking over the public bar at The Wildfowler Inn (1 Main St, Greyabbey) and renaming it The Rockin’ Goose. It will be cask ale only for the week with beers from Ards, Bullhouse and Twisted Kettle breweries. It will also be a vinyl music week and you are welcome to bring along your favourite vinyl to share. There will be a theme for each night – details to follow on Ards Facebook page.
- Thursday 2nd – Sunday 5th June : LACADA BREWERY @ The American Bar, Belfast.
Lacada Weekender: Sailing their beers from Portrush to the American Bar (65 Dock St, Belfast BT15 1LF) for a weekend tap takeover. There’s a ‘Meet the Lacada Brewer’ event on Friday 3rd (tickets available here) and on Sunday a visit from Mike’s Fancy Cheese for a beer and cheese pairing. More details on that further down the list.
- Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd June : ROUGH BROTHERS @ The Deer’s Head, Belfast.
Derry/Londonderry brewery Rough Brothers is staging a two-day cask event in The Deer’s Head (1-3 Lower Garfield St, Belfast BT1 1FP)
- Thursday 2nd June : INDIE FÜDE CHEESE AND BEER PAIRING @ The Errigle Inn, Belfast.
Errigle Inn and Indie Füde bring you a special evening of Cheese & Beer pairings.
5 local cheeses paired with 5 beers from some of the best local breweries. A brilliant night in the Marble Lounge not to be missed. Tickets available here. (312-320 Ormeau Rd, Belfast BT7 2GE).
- Thursday 2nd June : MODEST BEER Food Pairing @ No47, Cookstown.
Love food? Love craft beer? Then you don’t want to miss this.
James, the head chef at No47 (Unit B14 Kilcronagh Business Park, Cookstown BT80 9HG) will serve five courses to complement the flavours of five specially selected beers from local brewery, Modest. More info and book your place here
- Thursday 2nd June : NORN IRON BREW CO’s BEERY QUIZ @ Northern Lights, Belfast.
Kicking off at 8pm in the upstairs bar of Northern Lights, (451 Ormeau Rd, Ormeau, Belfast BT7 3GQ) this is a FREE TO ATTEND event. There’ll be 8 rounds of beery trivia, general knowledge & picture questions. Prizes galore and wooden spoon booby prizes. Paul & Aaron will be on the bar pouring 3 of the latest Norn Iron Brew Co’s beers and generally hurling abuse at anyone who comes near.
- Friday 3rd June : BEER HUT – MEET THE BREWER @ The Errigle Inn, Belfast.
The popular ‘Meet the Brewer’ nights return to The Errigle Inn. First up is Beer Hut Brewing.
Sample 5 great beers from Kilkeel outfit Beer Hut and get chatting with the people who brew the beers. Everyone gets an Errigle Inn branded beer glass to take home. Includes entry to live band afterwards. Tickets available here.
- Friday 3rd June : BELL’S BREWERY/THE DEER’S HEAD TAKEOVER @ Northern Lights, Belfast.
Bell’s Brewery, brewing from The Deer’s Head bar in Belfast will (attempt) a 4 tap takeover in Northern Lights Bar. (451 Ormeau Rd, Ormeau, Belfast BT7 3GQ)
The Deers will invade the UPSTAIRS BAR in Northern Lights from 6pm with beer never poured on the Ormeau Road. Expect brand new beers. Expect sabotage by the hosts. And expect to pick a side before the night is out. The Deers vs The Lights. There can be only 1 winner.
- Friday 3rd June : WALLED CITY – BEAT THE BREWER @ @ Northern Lights, Belfast.
Walled City Brewing is finally making the trip from LegenDerry to the Big Smoke with 3 fresh pours never tasted outside the The Walls.
From 7pm in the downstairs bar, Josh from the brewery will be ready for any board game challenge. If you Beat The Brewer, he buys the beer! Game on!
- Friday 3rd June : FARMAGEDDON – MEET THE BREWER @ The Woodworkers, Belfast.
County Down’s Farmageddon Brewing will launch their new beer, “My Name Is Not Quaid!” an American red ale at The Woodworkers bar (20-22 Bradbury Pl, Belfast BT7 1RS). Come down at 6.30pm and meet the team behind the brews.
- Friday 3rd June : BULLHOUSE BEER & MIKE’S FANCY CHEESE PAIRING @ Sunflower, Belfast.
Now that we are back in the rhythm of having Beer and Cheese nights in person, Mike’s Fancy Cheese figured we should make them a more regular thing!
It begins with Belfast’s Bullhouse brewery and there are only 40 spaces available at the Sunflower pub (65 Union St, Belfast BT1 2JG) so get your tickets here.
- Friday 3rd June – Sunday 5th June : BOUNDARY TAP TAKEOVER @ Sunflower, Belfast
Belfast’s Boundary Brewing are pouring some of their freshest beer in the Sunflower pub (65 Union St, Belfast BT1 2JG) including a new collaboration with Heaney brewery. .
- Saturday 4th June : MODEST – MEET THE BREWER @ The Errigle Inn.
Sample 5 great beers from Modest Beer and get chatting with the people who brew the beers.
Modest is an independent brewery crafting small batch beers for discerning drinkers. Born in Holywood, now located in Randalstown. Everyone gets an Errigle Inn branded beer glass to take home. Includes entry to live band afterwards. Tickets available here.
- Saturday 4th June : McCRACKENS – BEAT THE BREWER @ Northern Lights, Belfast.
Ryan McCracken has brewed 3 fantastic new beers and from 2pm will challenge anyone to a board game in the UPSTAIRS BAR. If you beat the brewer, he’s gotta buy the beer. Guess Who? Ryan, that’s who!
- Saturday 4th June : CHAMPION BEER OF BELFAST @ Northern Lights, Belfast.
Brewers from all over NI will have their beers pouring in our downstairs bar. All the brewers will be onsite to enjoy a pint (or 3) and raise glasses to celebrate all the Best Belfast Beer Festival.
The fab folk from CAMRA NI will join the festivities in celebrating 40 years of CAMRA and from 6pm they will select a merry few revellers to help them judge the Best Beer in NI which will go forward to compete in the Great British Beer Festival.
- Sunday 5th June : LACADA BEER & MIKE’S FANCY CHEESE PAIRING @ The American Bar, Belfast.
After Lacada have sailed their beers from Portrush to the American Bar (65 Dock St, Belfast BT15 1LF) for the weekend tap takeover, Mike’s Fancy Cheese will be there on Sunday for some beer and cheese pairings. Tickets available here.
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A busy few days ahead then at the start of June! I’m so glad to see things like Bullhouse’s permanent taproom opening (blog post to follow) and local cask beer popping up at The Wildfowler and The Deer’s Head. Plan your days well folks, I know I will. 😊
