It’s amazing what a difference a bit of sunshine makes! With summer finally here, I’ve been making the most of the better weather, dusting off my hiking boots, and enjoying taprooms and beer gardens along the way.
I recently became an accredited chartered marketer, so I picked the perfect way to celebrate – with a few local beers, of course – down at Flash House Brewing. Happy 10th birthday to Jack and the Flash House team too! Reaching a decade in this industry is a fantastic achievement, and Flash House is a wonderful part of the North Shields beer community.
Speaking of community, Craft Beer Newcastle has had a makeover with the launch of a brand-new website and a fresh logo. You can expect more content in the coming months to help you navigate our region’s finest beer spaces.
My calendar has been packed with judging and collabs over the last few months. I had the privilege of heading up to First & Last Brewery in Northumberland to help brew Embrace for International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day alongside a room full of inspiring women.
I’ve also been putting my palate to work, tasting the Battle of the Beers at the Newcastle Beer & Cider Festival, and judging both food and beer for the Great Taste Awards in London. There have also been bottle shares, an online session sniffing experimental hop varieties with the team at Charles Faram, and a trip down to the capital for Brew//LDN.
Closer to home, I’ve been on a mission to revisit some of our region’s best taprooms.
It is wonderful to see Almasty’s taproom back open for weekends during the summer, and I’ve loved catching up with friends at Brewis Beer Co., Twice Brewed, and Rigg & Furrow – including another restorative weekend at the From the Land Festival. I also made sure to catch all of Stu Brew’s Brewery Bashes and these aren’t just for students, all are welcome!
This time of year is festival season and our region doesn’t disappoint with a wide range of options. Gateshead Beer Festival was a family-friendly, community-focused joy, and I spent a perfect afternoon trying beers outside in the sunshine in the bustling Cloister Garden at the Blackfriars Beer Festival. I even managed a couple of days in Dublin for a mini-break and explored the beer scene.
Looking ahead, this summer brings the excitement of the World Cup. While you’re watching the matches, or catching up with friends beforehand, I have a challenge for you – skip the mass-produced macro-lagers and use the tournament as the perfect excuse to try all of the incredible indie lager options being brewed in the North East. Let me know which one is your favourite on Instagram.
Our pubs, taprooms and breweries are an important part of the North East’s culture and they need us to show up for them. Please join me in making a conscious effort to support local, independent businesses as much as you can this summer.
Daisy Turnell is a beer judge, director at Tipple Marketing, and owner of Craft Beer Newcastle.
www.craftbeernewcastle.co.uk
