Manchester brewery Joseph Holt is to hold its first ever cask ale festival, at the Woodthorpe pub, in Prestwich, from 24th-26th November.
Joining forces with other cask brewers, Joseph Holt will be offering more than 20 different ales over the course of the weekend.
“Joseph Holt was built on cask ale, and when it comes to cask ale the UK is a world leader in its production,” said Andrew Kershaw, an area manager with Joseph Holt and the sixth generation of the family to work for the brewery.
“At Joseph Holt we are passionate about cask ale and have continued to brew it, even when other pubs and brewers took it off the bar because of the attention to detail involved in crafting the product. That’s why we thought it was so important to stage a joyful event to celebrate our rich history of real ale.”
Brewers will be giving talks about traditional beer and, in-keeping with festival food on offer, pies and bratwurst sausages will be available. There will also be an international keg bar. Music will be provided by local bands, and there will be traditional pub games, including tossing the barrel.
The Woodthorpe was chosen deliberately for the festival. It is the former family home of Sir Edward Holt, who lived there in the late 1800s and who was the son of Joseph Holt’s eponymous founder.
Money raised from the event will go towards a charity appeal launched by the brewery to mark the 175th anniversary of Joseph Holt in 2024. The aim is to raise £500,000 for The Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute, which has had a long association with Joseph Holt.
Andrew Kershaw added: “At Joseph Holt, our history is so integral to what we do. As brewers, we balance introducing new varieties of product with our traditional and well-loved ales.
“Cask beer holds such a place of affection in the hearts of so many beer drinkers. But its also becoming increasingly popular with new and younger drinkers.
“We hope, whether you`re a newcomer to cask ale or have always enjoyed it, you’ll come to the festival to celebrate this unique part of our history.”
