Local brewers and bars will be coming together this summer for Nottingham’s third annual Craft Beer Festival Week.
The multi-venue event in June aims to showcase the rise of craft beers and the independent breweries that create them.
The genre originally came about in the US but has since made its way over to Europe, with British microbreweries now among world leaders in the trend.
Matt Hinton, owner of the Brew Cavern, Flying Horse Walk, who has been with the festival since its launch, said: “The first event we had was great, we had over 30 venues and a lot brewers from Nottingham and then last year it felt like we progressed and had even more events.
“We had different local breweries produce special beers specifically for the festival.”
Nottingham has a festival celebrating cask ale in the Robin Hood beer festival but organisers of the craft event hope to expand people’s perception of good beer.
Aficionados often disagree on what ‘craft beer’ is and the difference to ‘real ale’ – if there even is one. But the label tends to be applied to the products of smaller breweries or micro breweries which have a greater focus on canned beer and eye-catching design. Craft beer typically also has highly experimental flavours.
“People go because it’s a spectacle, I believe it’s a great festival but it only represents cask ale, we are keen to prove that craft beer is more than that,” added Matt.
“A festival raises the profile of what you are doing, and can bring you an audience you would not normally find.”
Last year’s festival saw events across the city featuring street food, DJs and of course lots of beer.
One of the brewers involved is Black Iris Brewery, which began in the Lincolnshire Poacher Pub on Mansfield Road.
The founders, Alex Wilson and Nick Folkard, both worked behind the bar and decided to try home brewing. After some success they moved to bigger premises in Derby.
A few years later the duo decided to move back to Nottingham and since then business has been thriving.
Alex said: “The thing that draws us to Craft Beer Festival Week in Nottingham is the amount of excellent bars and beer producers who all bring something a little bit different to the table.
“It is a really vibrant and exciting time to be interested in beer not only here in the UK but internationally and that is being brought to the forefront here in Nottingham for this festival.”
Local brewers like Black Iris, in New Basford, not only use Nottingham Craft Beer Festival to promote their products but also to connect with costumers, giving them a chance to learn the stories behind their brew.
Alex added: “We see a massive influx in trades during the week, we run a meet the brewer night where we get to meet the costumers and discuss how we make the beers and what makes our beer special.
“It is really nice to do because it is not often you get one on one time with the people who really matter the most, the costumers.”
For the festival this year, Black Iris has teamed up with Seattle based brewer Reuben’s Brew for their first ever international collaboration brewing a strong, 12 per cent, imperial stout currently being aged in old Jack Daniels wooden barrels set to be ready for this summers festivities.
The festival does not just benefit brewers; local venues around Nottingham are also joining the festival.
Rachael Tunnicliff, general manager at the Crafty Crow bar, on Friar Lane, said: “The festival is a real boost for business, we will have a huge range of beers for people to try as well as food and beer pairing menus.”
Craft beer originated in the United States but according to Matt Hinton, the UK is not far behind and Nottingham is leading that charge.
“It is important to showcase the fact that local brewers are getting recognised across the country and doing things to put Nottingham on the craft beer map,” he said.
“People are getting excited by the big flavours some craft beer brings and British brewers are seeing that and putting their own British twist on it.”
Nottingham Craft Beer Week will be taking place from June 19 to June 25. For more information visit the festival website.
