Here Be Beer
Birmingham Beer Week is inbound. The emphasis, this year, is on beer
Among the many things for which we are roundly and rightly criticised, featuring booze too heavily is among the most common. To be honest, now's not the time for change thanks to our whistle-stop tour of the best events at Birmingham Beer Week, which runs from July 21 to 30.
Next week: Hangovers.
BEER AND... BRAISING
Michelin-starred head chef Adam Bennett is coming to town, and by town, we mean Purecraft. The Cross's head-honcho is putting on four paired plates, including beer braised ox cheek, with buttermilk mash and pickled walnut (£17) — paired with Purity UBU — and black forest, cherry sorbet (£7), to be consumed with Saddle Black. Book a table between 5pm and 9pm on July 25 for the chance to order from this one-night-only carte.
BEER AND... BLACKJACK
Queen of Custard Tarts is a beer. You can drink it at The Dark Horse as part of theirthree-day long festival, together with five other drops from Blackjack Beer. There'll be more than 30 craft beers, street food, a marquee behind The Horse plus musical thangs. From July 28 to 30, day tickets are from £7, with the whole shebang costing £20. It's a vanilla and nutmeg saison by the way — the queen. More
BEER AND... BIKES
In the salubrious surrounds of Hazelwell Trading Estate lives a brewery with a tap room you can visit. Birmingham Brewing Company is bookending Brum's week of beer with double openings. On July 22, the Stirchley new kidz are also the final stop on the (don't ask us how it's legal) bike and beer ride, which additionally takes in 1,000 Trades and The Gunmakers' Arms, over 14 miles of pedal.
BEER AND... BARBECUE
Residents including Cherry Reds, Brewdog and The Victoria are doing the force joining thing for a beer-based par-tayacross the greater John Bright Street area. There'll be an outdoor bar, live music and BBQ as well as plenty of indoor specials, like a Sadler's curated masterclass at The Vic. Starting at six of the PM on July 29, it's first come, first served. And completely free.
BEER AND... BARRELS
Cloudwater was recently voted among the top five breweries on this here globe. The beers to be opened at Clink's afternoon tasting have only ever been available in very limited quantities around the UK. Think Barrel Aged Old Fashioned — a red IPA with orange zest that's been aged in bourbon barrels and the Seguin Bierre Brut, which develops in white wine barrels. From 1pm on July 22, it's also first come first served. More
BEER AND... BOUNTY
Ten thousand, one hundred and fifty four miles is the distance between Adelaide and Birmingham. Or you can go to the ever so lovely The Wolf down in the JQ, and try six draft beers from Aus-basedPirate Life Brewing Co. There'll also be cans so you can continue living the dream for precisely as long as you desire. The team's pies, cheese and charcuterie will be your happy accompaniment. July 22, between 12pm and 12am.
BEER AND... BALTI
Your excuse to try Akram's — a rather good Kashmiri kind of deal — who have teamed up with Stirchley Wines for a five-course, paired menu on July 25. Featured brewers include Lost and Grounded, whose Saison d'Avon is to be enjoyed with Kashmiri cod — as well as the not-at-all-German-sounding Gasthauss & Gosebrauerei Bayerischer Bahnhof, who are getting it together with your popadom and pickle round. Veggie options available. Menu; tickets (£35); joy.
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