With dry January over we can finally raise our glasses this weekend to the return of the Craft Beer Rising Festival at Old Trumans Brewery in Brick Lane.
The UK’s biggest craft beer festival will host over 178 food and drink stands which exhibit 155 of the best breweries around. It is the ultimate craft beer, street food and music experience for industry experts, passionate hobbyists and novices alike.
“I think a festival like CBR, and how it’s developed, is definitely about breaking through the craft beer bubble and welcoming in non beer drinkers,” says Tom Harrison, Events & Marketing Manager at Mondo.
Expect beer stands from UK’s favourite brands such as London Fields Brewery, Mondo, Tiny Reber and Fourpure. Alongside these brewers are beers from around the world including Brooklyn Brewery, Sixpoint, Goose Island, Yeastie boys and Australian brewery Stone & Wood.
“For me, and probably most of us at Stone & Wood, it’s simplicity,” says Pat Keeble from Stone and Wood Brewery. “The beer speaks for itself – it’s balanced and unpretentious meaning anyone can try it and hopefully anyone can enjoy it.”
The up and coming stars at this year’s event include Lost and Grounded, Bianca Road and the all-female brewery Mothership, who will be exhibiting their first brews this weekend.
If alcohol isn’t your thing, there are also lots of low alcohol brewers, as well as award-winning, full flavour alcohol-free brews, from Big Drop and Infinite Session.
Or for food lovers, cruise around the reworked Fox’s Den and line your belly with acclaimed, finger-licking street food.
The big headliners this year are Mother Clucker’s famous buttermilk fried chicken or the vegan-friendly Biff’s Jack Shack, which serve up crispily fried jackfruit drenched in hot sauce. Street food favourite Kolkati’s Indian Kati Roll will also be on offer, as well as several celebrated British produce such as Claw or Wild Ones.
With your entry ticket comes a souvenir glass, a programme and numerous tasting sessions and talks.
Topics of the talks will include ethics and equality in brewing, food and beer pairing, as well as emerging trends and markets.
“In terms of trade, you build and maintain relationships, but it’s also a party on both sides of the bar,” says Tom Harrison, Events & Marketing Manager at Mondo.
In the evening, sessions DJ’s will keep the party going until late. This year London Disco Society, Cuban Brothers, Pete Paphides, Zero 7, Don Letts, Tom Findlay and Jay Carder promise a mix of Dubstep, Funk & Soul, Hip Hop and RnB will provide the music to the flavour food.
For more information check out their website here
For live updates at the festival check out their twitter