Runaway Brewery are hosting their first ever beer festival as part of a special weekend to celebrate their tenth anniversary, and a year at their new home in Stockport. Running from May 30 to June 2, the festivities begin with a special preview of new beers brewed for the occasion; followed by a two-day beer festival showcasing Runaway’s greatest hits and a relaxed session in the brewery’s courtyard garden on Sunday.
The celebrations will begin at 3pm on Thursday 30th May in the Runaway Brewery taproom with the launch of new birthday beers brewed especially for the occasion – including a number of collaborations made with friends from Greater Manchester’s food and drink community. The brewers will be on hand to present their new beers, show people around the brewery with impromptu tours, and chat all things Runaway. Plus, Honest Crust are also planning some extra special pizzas to enjoy alongside.
On Friday 31st May and Saturday 1st June, the Runaway Brewery beer festival will expand to more than 30 taps, pouring beers across three bars throughout the venue. A pop-up garden bar will showcase seasonal session beers from keg and cask, all served in the verdant surrounds of the brewery courtyard.
Inside, the taproom bar will present a range of beers from the present, past and future of the brewery, with a few rarely seen Runaway classics, alongside some gravity pours, new beers and birthday specials. Rounding things out, the first floor loft bar will host a specially curated selection of UK, European and world beers from Café Beermoth on draught and in bottle.
A weekend of great beer deserves great food, and Honest Crust will be supported by a few food traders on both Friday evening and Saturday, bringing a range of internationally inspired dishes with both veggie and vegan options available. Visitors to the Runaway Brewery beer festival can expect a rotating line-up of DJs playing folk, soul, funk, hip-hop, electronica and disco (as well as the inevitable dad rock) in the courtyard on both days.
The closing party will see the brewery taproom open for the first time on a Sunday from 1pm to 6pm with a more relaxed, low key feel, to accompany a few final celebratory beers and pizzas. Think board games, papers, dub, reggae, and jazz – oh and birthday cake of course!
Runaway Brewery’s founder, Mark Welsby, said: “We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last ten years – both within the hospitality industry and of course the beer drinking community – we really wouldn’t still be here without them! We hope the festival goes some way to sharing our gratitude with everyone – and make for a memorable weekend with great friends and delicious beer of course!”
The tenth birthday celebrations will run from Thursday 30th May to Sunday 2nd June at Runaway Brewery Taproom on Astley Street in central Stockport, behind The Pineapple. Entry on all days will be free and on a first come first served basis. Birthday gift packs will be available to take home from the brewery Bottle Shop throughout the festival weekend, and to buy online from mid-May.