We love a good pint of something cold here in Manchester, and it’s been announced that our city will host the first ever International Brewing & Cider Festival, a two-day ticketed event showcasing the finest beers and ciders from around the world.
The Festival will take place on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 March 2024 at Depot Mayfield Manchester, offering a rare opportunity for the public to taste a vast range of local, national and international drinks, including award-winning beers and ciders from The International Brewing & Cider Awards.
The biennial competition, known as the ‘Oscars’ of the brewing and cider world, will see industry professionals gather to celebrate the extraordinary and well-crafted beer and cider from all corners of the world, and for the first time in its 137-year history, the Awards will be accompanied by a public festival.
Visitors will have a unique opportunity to sample beers and ciders from worldwide brewers and cidermakers entered into the International Brewing & Cider Awards, including the award-winners.
This one-of-a-kind festival aims to bring together beer and cider enthusiasts, industry professionals and the general public for a weekend filled with camaraderie, live music, mouthwatering food trucks, and most importantly, well-crafted beer and exceptional cider.
Ruth Evans MBE, Director of the International Brewing & Cider Awards and organiser of the Festival, said: “We are thrilled that, 137 years into our history, we are hosting our first ever International Brewing & Cider Festival and bringing our world-renowned Awards to Manchester.
“The city has a rich history in brewing and an up-and-coming cider scene making it a fitting location for our expansion. Our ethos has always been to support the brewing and cidermaking industry on a not-for-profit basis and celebrate the best beers and ciders from around the world, providing the recognition they truly deserve.
“The Festival provides a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate the incredible talent of brewers and cidermakers and to share their passion with the public.
“We hope this festival becomes a tradition, opening to the public once our Awards concludes on the Friday – this is a hugely exciting time for us and we are very excited to be descending on Manchester in March.”
Founded in 1886, The International Brewing & Cider Awards takes place every two years and has been the gold standard in rewarding the passion and craftsmanship of breweries and cidermakers across the world. The Awards are judged by a panel of worldwide judges, who are all practicing brewers and cider-makers and are revered within the brewing and cider world.
Tickets for the International Brewing & Cider Festival will be available to buy from November on the official festival website – you can now register your interest on the website and be the first to hear about ticket releases, along with Festival updates.