CityLife

Digest: Ale and whisky festivals

February 26, 2010

With my head only just clearing after last month’s fantastic CityLife-backed National Winter Ales Festival in Manchester, there are two very different beer festivals to enjoy this weekend.

In town, The Horse And Jockey – that wonderfully revitalised boozer on Chorlton Green – is holding its first Goodbye Winter Hello Spring beer festival. With snow still falling, the title is a little optimistic but there is a selection of 50 cask ales and 50 Belgian and German ales, as well as ciders, malts and bourbons.

There is a good spread of local brewers represented including Bank Top, Allgates, Beartown, Coach House, Howard Town, and the brilliant Outstanding, of Bury. The festival is on today, tomorrow and Sunday and there is more information by visiting horseandjockeychorlton.com.

Out in the country, the Winter Festival At The Old Hall Inn runs from today to Sunday in the historic pub in Whitehough, Chinley, in High Peak. Live music will accompany the 30-odd cask ales on tap. For more info go to old-hall-inn.co.uk

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For those keen to sample something a little stronger, there is an opportunity to learn more about whisky and taste a dram or two – for free.

The whisky tastings include a talk showing you how to differentiate between single malts from around Scotland. An expert will visit local groups until the end of June.

To book a session, ring 0161 484 2469 or email: maltwhisky tastings@tro-group.co.uk. For more information and to see a malt whisky flavour map, go to malts.com.