Winter feels like it’s lasted forever, but April always brings with it some great opportunities to get some beer garden drinking in (hope we’ve not just cursed it by saying that!). Here are our pick of events coming up that you should check out:
Mikkeller Showcase
Friday 5th – Saturday 6th April | BrewDog Newcastle
If you’re a fan of delicious Danish beer (who isn’t?!), check out the next showcase event at BrewDog Newcastle. There’ll be six Mikkeller beers on sale: Green Gold (American IPA), ThaiPA (IPA with passion fruit, lime, toasted coconut + lactose), SpontanDoubleRaspberry, SpontanCherry Frederiksdal, Bean Geek Chocolate Porter, and Nelson Sauvin Passion Fruit & Mango. Yum!
Visit the BrewDog Newcastle Facebook page for more details.
BrewDog Newcastle, 16 Dean Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1PG
Beet de Garde Launch
Friday 5th April | The Head of Steam Durham
Q: What happens when two County Durham breweries get together and start planning a collab.? A: beetroot-themed everything!
‘Beet de Garde’ from McColl’s Brewery and Tooth & Claw launches at The Head of Steam in Durham, with the first pour accompanied by a four-course taster menu, created by Beer Sommelier, Liam Jones.
Book tickets for the event here.
The Head of Steam, 3 Reform Place, North Road, Durham, DH1 4RZ
Craft Beer Hour 789
Friday 5th – Saturday 6th April | Anarchy Brew Co.
If you’ve never heard of Craft Beer Hour, you need to head over to the Twittersphere on a Tuesday night between 9pm and 10pm to join in (just use #CraftBeerHour). New for 2019 is the addition of partner venues, who will have some beers from the guest hosts on sale, and Anarchy Brew Co. is the first in the North East to be doing just that, starting with Blackened Sun Brewing Company, from Milton Keynes.
The guest beers will be on throughout the weekend on taps 7, 8, and 9 (hence the name), with samples of other Blackened Sun beers being handed out, and some tasty food specials cooked with the beer, courtesy of Rib & Rub BBQ. This is set to be a monthly thing, so keep an eye on who else is coming up in the future!
More info on the Facebook event here.
Anarchy Brew Co., Unit A1, Benfield Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 4NQ
Deya Tap Takeover
Friday 5th – Sunday 7th April | The Hop Knocker, Durham
To help celebrate The Hop Knocker‘s 1st birthday, they’re starting the month with a tap takeover from Cheltenham’s finest, Deya Brewing Company. Famous for producing very drinkable, soft, hoppy beers, if you’ve not tried these before they’re worth searching out…part of the ‘craft beer 101’ checklist for anyone new to the beer scene.
Join the Facebook event here to keep up to date with more info on the beers.
The Hop Knocker, 32 Marshall Terrace, Durham, DH1 2HX
Newcastle Beer & Cider Festival
Wednesday 10th – Saturday 13th April | Northumbria Students’ Union
The 43rd edition of the Tyneside and Northumberland CAMRA Beer & Cider Festival launches this April, with live music, cider, and of course, a lot of cask ale! The festival also sees a ‘Battle of the Beers’, and new for this year is a Beer & Cider School, featuring special ticketed events for introducing people to beer/cider, plus events from local podcast North East Sippin Forecast and Dutch pop-up, Cafe Amsterdam.
We also hear that the new Tiny Rebel Salted Caramel Stay Puft will be making an appearance, as well as Brew York‘s Central Dark (impy milk stout).
More info on the beer & cider festival is over on their Facebook page here.
You can book tickets for the Beer & Cider school here.
Northumbria Students’ Union, 2 Sandyford Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8SB
Block & Bottle’s Birthday
Friday 12th April | Block & Bottle
The award-winning (and all round lovely) Block & Bottle turns 2 in April, so to celebrate they’re throwing a party with the heavenly Scream For Pizza, plus a special bar from their neighbours at Estate Tea Co..
RSVP to the birthday invite here.
Block & Bottle, 14 Wellington Street, Gateshead, NE8 2AJ
Return of the Hwkrmrkt
Thursday 18th – Monday 22nd April
Easter plans needed? Hwkrmrkt is back for a grand reopening weekend!
Know what to expect? Traders include: Cakes Contour, Chucho’s, Dabbawal, Dastardly & Dutty, Dubble Bubble, Grumpy Panda Coffee Bar & Diner, Fowl Play, Lola Jeans Newcastle, Papa Ganoush, Scream For Pizza, Shanty Town, Nyama Choma, and Pan Asia Delicatessen & Gourmet Store.
Drinks-wise, there’s That’s Nice Dear! (Cocktails & Cans), Mildred’s Twisted Ankle (Gin Bar), and the awesome HWKRMRKT Beer Bar.
Join the Facebook event for more info.
Hwkrmrkt at By The River Brew Co., Hillgate Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2BH
North Shields Tap Takeover
Friday 19th – Monday 22nd April | Enigma Tap
It’s great to see the North Shields beer scene flourishing, and the recent addition of the Enigma Tap to the area is fantastic! They’re supporting their most local breweries this Easter with a tap takeover from Flash House Brewing Co. & Three Kings Brewery.
Alongside four casks and four kegs running throughout the Easter weekend, there’ll also be a Meet the Brewer event on the Friday to launch the event, plus a special collab. brew from each brewery.
Head over to their Facebook event for more info
Enigma Tap, 60 Bedford Street, North Shields, NE29 0AL