Do your tastebuds and eardrums a favour and visit CBR Festival this weekend, where premium breweries and high calibre DJs are set to collide…
The beer industry has steadily shed its ageing, pub carpet-mottled skin in recent years and emerged anew, accessorised with shiny new pop-ups, immersive experiences and innovative brews.
Case in point? Craft Beer Rising, the UK’s biggest craft beer festival, which has rebranded and is back at its spiritual home, EC1’s The Old Truman Brewery, from 26-27th February.
BOOZE
Bigger and more diverse than ever, visitors can expect to find over 380 craft beers to choose from at the festival, encompassing some of the finest domestic and foreign brewers and producers, with expertly curated selections of gluten free and honey beers to boot.
For those who prefer a drop of Old Rosie, ‘Lost In Cyder Space’ is a new, dedicated area for the UK’s most skilled cider producers. There’s even a wine bar for anyone seeking grape over grain, and a host of the very best street foot vendors will be on hand to soak up the booze, catering to both meat lovers and veggies.
MUSIC
Soundtracking the event are the likes of James Lavelle (Mo Wax record label and UNKLE project) and Rob da Bank (Bestival and Sunday Best Records), who will headline on Friday and Saturday night respectively.
Elsewhere, Coldcut’s Jon Moore, Portishead sample digger Andy Smith and Boca 45 will bring their 45 Live show to London for the first time.
Other names to look out for include DJ Ross Allen, BBC6 Music’s Don Letts, music journo Pete Paphides, acoustic guitar talent Showhawk Duo, and The Vintage Mobile Disco AKA Donna Somerset.
To find out more about Craft Beer Rising, or to buy tickets, click here.
Words: Mary-Jane Wiltsher