Sometimes it’s not the main event that has the biggest impact – it’s the other stuff that happens along the way. And along the way this year are a whole host of great beery events in Newcastle! Read on for a list of the best things happening whilst Craft Beer Calling‘s in town (you can check out more info on the main event here).
Alpha Delta Launch
Wednesday 23rd October | The Free Trade Inn
If you’ve not tried the first two releases from Rossi at Box Social’s brand new brewery, Alpha Delta, you really need to be first in line at The Free Trade on Wednesday for this.
The first two releases are Aion (DDH DIPA), and Aether (Imperial Milk Stout). We did a blind beer tasting of IPAs last weekend, and Aion came joint second out of 14 beers, so we (and 8 other people) can highly recommend it, especially with a Scream for Pizza, as they’ll be outside serving their delicious dough-based treats.
Visit the Facebook event page here for more info.
The Free Trade Inn, 12 St. Lawrence Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1AP
Neptune Brewery Tap Takeover
Wednesday 23rd – Sunday 27th October
If you missed the Neptune event at Anarchy Brew Co. earlier this year, make sure you pop into The Free Trade Inn at some point this week. Starting on Wednesday, there’ll be 6 casks pouring at all times throughout the duration of Craft Beer Calling. Look out for Medusa’s Gaze – a 9% Buffalo Trace BBA Stout.
The Free Trade Inn, 12 St. Lawrence Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1AP
Almasty’s Craft Beer Crawling
Thursday 24th – Saturday 26th October | Multiple Locations
Love Almasty beers and gutted you’ll not see them at CBC this year? Fear not, as they’ve teamed up with some of the best pubs in the city to bring you a beer crawl to get your weekend started in style. The crawl is (in this order):
• The Free Trade Inn – BA Imperial Stout
• The Tyne Bar – Double IPA
• The Cluny – Vintage Kriek
• Mean Eyed Cat – Imperial Honey Brown Ale (collab. with Exale Brewing)
• Town Mouse Ale House – BA Blackberry Ale
Maybe best not to do pints of them all if you don’t want to end up hugging a swan in Exhibition Park*. We also hear there’s more to come with Almasty at The Cluny next month, so keep an eye out for updates.
Check out more info on the Craft Beer Crawling event page here.
*please don’t hug the swans.
Brew York Tap Takeover
Thursday 24th October | Newcastle Tap
Eight lines of Brew York beer? Count us in! Featuring at Newcastle Tap will be a mixture of sessionable keg and cask beers, so a great option for starting your CBC weekend. Full details of the beers are over on their event page here.
Newcastle Tap, 4 Neville Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5EN
Saint Mars of the Desert Tap Takeover
Thursday 24th October | The Box Social
If you can’t make it to CBC, or want a few beers on your way in, there’s a mini tap takeover at The Box Social, featuring 4 beers from the Sheffield brewery: Clamp – NEIPA, Crumbling Splendour – Foeder Beer (Indy Man Beer Con collab.), Gouden Stamp – Belgian Pale, and Triple – The classic Belgian golden triple. More details here.
The Box Social, Arch 11, Forth Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3NZ
Whey Ale Man – Local Beer Tasting
Thursday 24th October | Blackfriars Restaurant
Blackfriars Restaurant is hosting a tasting night, with 6 local beers to sample, with some home made sourdough to complement the selection. Book now via their website if you’re interested in taking part.
Blackfriars Restaurant, Friars Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4XN
Cantina Brewers Brunch
Friday 25th October | The Free Trade Inn
Worried you’ll be feeling a little delicate after Thursday night’s CBC session? Fear not – The Free Trade Inn has your hangover cure sorted, courtesy of Mexican pop-up, Cantina. Drinks-wise, there’s a gravity keg of Donzoko‘s Helles, the usual great selection of cask and keg, plus a Bloody Mary bar if you need one of your 5-a-day.
Alongside the Cantina food, there’ll also be some amazing pastries from our favourite bakery, Northern Rye. God bless the cruffin, and all who scoff ’em.
The Free Trade Inn, 12 St. Lawrence Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1AP
HWKRMRKT
Friday 25th – Sunday 27th October | By The River Brew Co.
What’s better than great beer? Great beer with delicious food, and a wonderful view of the Tyne! Support local businesses all in one amazing space down at By The River Brew Co. if you’re looking for something different to do during CBC weekend.
As well as the multi-award winning Träkol restaurant, you’ll also find a whole host of street food traders, and the By The River Brew Co. micro brewery, serving up 20 keg lines of tasty beers.
This is the last weekend of the year to enjoy the full HWKRMRKT before they launch WNTRMRKT at the Swing Bridge end of site, complete with cosy Alpine Lodge and rotating street food trucks. Gateshead, you’re really spoiling us.
By The River Brew Co. Hillgate Quays, Gateshead, NE8 2FD
Hopped By Both Sides Launch
Friday 25th October | The Free Trade Inn
Errant Brewery has teamed up with soon to launch Full Circle Brew Co. to brew a DDH pale, which launches as part of the mega schedule of beery events at The Free Trade Inn for the week.
Full Circle has also teamed up with Stu Brew to make ‘Concentric Objects’ – a passion fruit and mango szechuan sour, and it’ll also be on the bar.
Visit the Facebook event for more info.
The Free Trade Inn, 12 St. Lawrence Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1AP
Errant Taproom Open Day
Saturday 26th October | Errant Brewery
Never made it to Errant’s taproom? Here’s your chance if you’re in the city centre for CBC weekend. You’ll find them behind Central Station, a short walk from the Life Science Centre, with a taproom packed with their latest beer releases and regulars in cask, keg, and can. More info here.
Errant Brewery, Arch 19, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3PG
Open Weekend at The Old Coal Yard
Friday 25th – Saturday 26th October | The Old Coal Yard
Northern Alchemy‘s opening its taproom space during CBC, and has a whole host of live music and DJs set for the weekend. Friday night sees Rob Heron & The Teapad Orchestra, whilst Saturday is filled with DJ sets, and the return of the fire pits to keep you warm. Both events are free entry, and it’s a great chance to try some local beers in the space they’re brewed. Check out the Facebook event for more details.
The Old Coal Yard, Elizabeth Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1JS
Pizza Party at Flash House Brewing Co.
Friday 25th – Saturday 26th October | Flash House Brewing Co.
Heading over to North Shields this weekend? Flash House has the beer covered at their taproom – you just need to bring the pizza.
Flash House Brewing Co., Unit 1a, Northumberland Street, North Shields, NE30 1DS
Cafe Amsterdam Bottle Pour
Saturday 25th October | The Free Trade Inn
Like Dutch beer, or want to try more of it? Don’t miss this one, as Cafe Amsterdam will be setting up at The Free Trade Inn to pour some rare wild and mixed fermentation beers. Beers are from 75cl sharing bottles, but available to buy by the glass. Make sure you’re following Cafe Amsterdam here to see updates on the beer list!
The Free Trade Inn, 12 St. Lawrence Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1AP
Blues, Booze + BBQs
Saturday 26th October | Anarchy Brew Co.
Looking for something different to do on Saturday night? Head over to Anarchy Brew Co.’s taproom in Walkergate for a free night of blues, booze and BBQs. Live music is from Groove-a-matics, with burgers from Rib & Rub, and loads of keg lines of Anarchy beers, including their latest release Imenso (an 11% Amburana Imperial Stout, brewed in collaboration with Blend Bryggeri from Brazil).
More info about the event over on their Facebook page here.
Anarchy Brew Co., Unit A1, Benfield Business Park, Walkergate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 4NQ
Beer Brunch with 71 Brewing
Sunday 27th October | Cook House
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! How about rewarding yourself and celebrating the end of the weekend in style with a special beer brunch at Cook House in the Ouseburn?
The event includes a beer cocktail on arrival, your choice of brunch dishes (all with a nod to Scotland to complement the beers), and a couple of 71 Brewing‘s beers to round things off. Contact Cook House for more info.
Cook House, Foundry Lane Studios, Foundry Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1LH