Craft Beer Rising, the UK’s biggest craft beer festival, will return to East London for it’s sixth edition in 2018. CBR 18 will run from February 22 to 24 at the historic Old Truman Brewery site on Brick Lane.
The festival offers exhibits from an extensive selection of the world’s best breweries –175 in total – a new street food programme, a broad cider selection and sets from international DJs Krafty Kuts, Daddy G of Massive Attack, Radio 6’s Don Letts and A Guy Called Gerald. CBR’s unique blend of craft beer, street food and music makes for an unpretentious, exuberant beer festival unrivalled in the UK.
Since its inception, CBR has built a solid reputation as the launchpad for exciting new brews and innovations in the brewing industry. Beer fans travel from afar to taste the beers, check out product launches and for the rare chance to meet the faces behind the brands. This year 175 breweries will exhibit at CBR with well-established beer brands such as Meantime, Sierra Nevada and Oakham Ales sitting alongside local rising stars like Gipsy Hill, Brixton Breweryand Mondo. Exciting new additions for 2018 include Lost + Found A.BL, Unity Brewing Co and Fierce Beer amongst others, while brews like Orchard Pig, Thistly Cross Cider and Sheppys represent the Cider world. This balance between independents and established breweries is what sets CBR apart in an otherwise crowded beer festival market.
This edition sees the festival expand from 8,000 to 12,000 attendees across its three days and as part of its growth welcomes a broader range of international brews. Representing New Zealand are the award winning Yeastie Boys while neighbouring Ozzie outfit Little Creatures bring their hoppy beers too. Also from the Southern Hemisphere is the Bira 91 brand from India who’ll join Stone Brewing Berlin – a brew originating in San diego but now based in Germany. ORA Brewing from Italy will also be at CBR 18; a brand promising to blend “finest Italian ingredients with British beer styles.”
In order to keep guests well fuelled and energised, mouthwatering food is on offer from a selection of London based street food traders. Kolkati will be bring India to London with their knock-out hot kati rolls while Prairie Fire BBQ, London’s only traditional Kansas City BBQ, will serve up grilled meats. Le Bao offer taiwanese steamed buns such as their award winning pork belly and crispy chicken while Sheffield’s ‘dipped pork BBQ & gravy shack’ Salty Loins also join the fun amongst others. A selection of beer snack outfits will also be in the food hall with The Curators selling a range of mouth-watering jerky and ** Serious Pig** offering classics like snacking salami and oven-roast pork crackling. Established in 1797, cheese experts Paxton & Whitfield will have a selection of cheese boards on offer to cater for the growing trend of people pairing cheese with beers. It’s not all meat and cheese as CBR will have a selection of vegan street food as well as a large selection of vegan friendly brews.
And so to the music. On Thursday evening Massive Attack’s Daddy G will take to the decks laying down his signature selection of dub, reggae, funk, disco and hip hop alongside Bristol’s Boca 45 on warm up duties. Friday evening sees renowned beatsmith and world champion DJ Krafty Kuts provide the soundtrack with a special guest performance form renowned 6Music selector Don Letts. Acid house innovator and Hacienda legend A Guy Called Gerald will take control of the turntables on Saturday night ably backed up by local cahoots London Disco Society. All this plus more acts which will be announced soon complete a musical programme fit for Glastonbury.
The presence of small, large and international breweries produces a sense of community between vendors and drinkers. Whether you are ‘craft-curious’, a fully-fledged beer geek or just looking for a fantastic day out with fellow foodies this festival is not to be missed. The appetite for craft beer is still voracious in London and we can look forward to an even larger scale CBR in 2018.
Tickets and full festival information is available at https://www.craftbeerrising.co.uk/
Tickets start at £15 and include a free CBR pint glass
