Reviews

A freezing cold railway arch at the end of January might not seem like the ideal time and place to hold a beer festival. I thought the same myself before attending all three days of Grub’s ‘Winter Beer Festival’. But it turned out to be a fantastic event with great beer and even better food. Read about it here: http://foodgeekblog.co.uk/2015/02/grub-winter-beer-fest-2015-green-quarter-manchester/

After running a successful food and beer pairing event at the newly opened Wigan Central, I brought my ‘Christmas Food, Beer & Festive Cheer’ to one of my favourite places two days later; Great Ale in Bolton Market’s Lifestyle Hall. Despite tickets being cheaper, the Bolton event proved to be even better than the original in Wigan. Mostly thanks to the ...

If you think beer festivals are just old men in flat caps drinking bitter in local church halls, you’re as wrong as I was before The Independent Manchester Beer Convention last year. After attending three sessions my mind was well and truly blown and all future beer festivals are ruined forever. The first amazing thing about Indy Man Beer Con (as it’s more commonly known) is its ...

  Taps was the scene of my worst ever experience as a food blogger back in 2012. I genuinely thought I’d never return but last year I went back after being tempted by their new ‘Beer & Food Pairing Menu’. It couldn’t possibly be as bad as last time. Could it? Find out here: http://foodgeekblog.co.uk/2014/11/taps-manchester-beer-food-pairing/

Hawaiian brewery Kona seem to be everywhere in Manchester these days with American Red Hook not far behind with their popular Long Hammer IPA. I attended a ‘Meet The Brewer’ event at Cane & Grain in Manchester’s Northern Quarter where I got to learn about the breweries and sample many of their beers, paired with Cane & Grain food. Read about it here: ...

After the success of my first event with Great Ale in Bolton Market’s Lifestyle Hall (Beer & Cheese Pairing) we couldn’t wait to put on another. We’d had many requests to repeat the cheese event – something I’d love to do in the future – but I was keen to do something completely different first. This time I wanted to not only ...

As a lover of craft beer I was delighted when micro-bar Great Ale opened in Bolton Market’s new ‘Lifestyle Hall’ in January. Spending more time (and money) there than I probably should I got to know the owners quite well. When they found out about this blog and my passion for good food as well as beer they were keen for me ...