For three days only, Brighton and Hove is set to become the centre of the craft beer world. The second annual Brighton Tap Takeover festival will see some of the world’s greatest craft brewers descending on the south coast for a 14-pub extravaganza from 31 March to 2 April.
More than 2,000 beer lovers attended last year’s hop-tastic events, and even more are expected for 2017. Hardly surprising, seeing as more than 100 different craft beers will be available on tap over the weekend – many of which will be available in Brighton for the first time. The exclusive ‘Brighton in a Beer Glass’, a concoction brewed with melted sticks of Brighton rock and local seaweed and sea salt, will also be on sale. The creation by Sussex-based brewers Laine Brew Co. and Two Tribes is named ‘Dirty Weekend’ and designed to be “reminiscent of a sunset over the West Pier”. It will be available across the city in the week leading up to the festival.
It’s not all about drinking, though. Event highlights include a talk on beer and punk music at the East Street Tap, delivered by leading journalist Adrian Tiernay-Jones, and a vinyl music night aptly called ‘Top of the Hops’ at Dead Wax Social. A number of the pubs including the North Laine Brewhouse, Black Lion and Fiddlers Elbow will also host live music for the weekend.
The festival is the result of a collaboration between leading Brighton-based operator, The Laine Pub Company, and beer distributor, The Beer Collective.
Jack Hibberd, Director of Laine Brew Co, said: “It’s shaping up to be an incredible weekend. Wherever our guests turn there will be something exciting going on, be it music, live art, food and of course, great beer. This is what our festival is all about: taking craft beer out of the usual festival venue – the conference centre, town hall and church – and putting it in the environment where it can be enjoyed best – the pub.”
Pubs including The Hope and Ruin and The Mesmerist will welcome breweries from as far afield as Barcelona (Edge Brewing), Croatia (Garden Brewery) and Ireland (The Boundary Group). Some fantastic UK brewers will also take part, with Fierce Brewery travelling down from Scotland, Wylam from Newcastle and Moor from Bristol. London is represented by Fourpure, Five Points and Gypsy Hill.The North Laine Brewhouse, widely regarded at Brighton’s best brewhouse, will be the festival’s hub.
Niki Deighton, Director of the Beer Collective, added: “It’s so exciting to have all of these amazing brewers in our city for the whole weekend. As well as great beer, each of the brewers will be bringing their own personalities to the party and provide music, food and frivolities all weekend long.”
For the full event listings, visit the Tap Takeover website. Wristbands for the event – which come pre-loaded with four beers, swag bag and priority entry are available on the website for £15.
Photos by The Laine Pub Company
[…] Beer Lovers, Rejoice! Brighton To Become Craft Beer CapitalBrighton Journal (press release) (blog)For three days only, Brighton and Hove is set to become the centre of the craft beer world. The second annual Brighton Tap Takeover festival will see some of the world’s greatest craft brewers descending on the south coast for a 14-pub extravaganza … […]