Oldham’s 32nd Beer & Cider Festival comes to Queen Elizabeth Hall today after a two-year absence.

It is the first one to be held since Covid first hit.

More than 60 real ales, ciders, perries, fruit wines, and beer are set to make an appearance at the event, which also includes hot food.

The Oldham Times: Plenty of beer will be on offer. Credit: Oldham Beer Festival.Plenty of beer will be on offer. Credit: Oldham Beer Festival.

More than 40 beers have been confirmed for the over-18s event, with breweries from around the country showcasing their best, including some from Rochdale, Bury, Bolton, and Middleton.

John Woolam, 68, from Rochdale, is the deputy organiser of the Oldham Beer Festival.

He said: “We’re very happy to be back in a great town.”

All profits from the festival will be going to the Mayor of Oldham’s Charity Appeal Fund, with the festival being staffed entirely by volunteers.

The Oldham Times: John Woolam, 68, is the festival’s deputy organiser.John Woolam, 68, is the festival’s deputy organiser.

John said: “They all take a great delight and pride in helping out, and they know that, at the end of the day, they’re making money for worthy causes in a really good town – and it is good to be back.”

The Flying Horse Hotel in Rochdale will provide food for the event – with a tasty selection of dishes including curries and pies set to be served up.

Saddleworth’s own Donkeystone Brewery will be showing off three of its beers: Easy Pale (3.8 per cent), Neddy Stout (4.9 per cent), and Javanilla Stout (five per cent).

The Oldham Times: James Uttley from Donkeystone Brewing Company shows of their beer selection at the Oldham Expo earlier this month.James Uttley from Donkeystone Brewing Company shows of their beer selection at the Oldham Expo earlier this month.

The festival runs on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2 from noon until 10.30pm.

Tickets can be bought at the door, costing £2 on both days between noon and 5.30pm, and £3 between 5.30pm and 10.30pm on Friday.

Tickets are free from 5.30pm to 10.30pm on Saturday and are free at all times for CAMRA members.

Breweries from London, Essex, Norwich, Kent, and cideries from Devon, Gloucestershire, and Sussex are all in attendance – as well as some foreign beers.

The wheelchair-accessible venue is well-connected to local public transport, situated just opposite Oldham Central Bus Station, or a 7-minute walk from Oldham King Street Metrolink stop.

A list of all the drinks on offer can be found below:

Beer

Big Hug Brewing London

  • Juicy 4.0% Pale Ale
  • Red Rye 5.0% Red Ale

Billericay Brewery Essex

  • Zeppelin 3.8% Pale Amber
  • Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll 5.0% IPA

Blackedge Brewery Horwich

  • Black Stout 4.0%
  • Oatmeal Chocolate Stout 6.5%

Brentwood Brewery Essex

  • Chockwork Orange 6.5% Dark Old Ale
  • Falcon Punch 5.1% IPA

Brewsmith Ramsbottom

  • Bitter 3.9%
  • Oatmeal Stout 5.2%

Brightside Bury

  • Primavera Gold 3.8%
  • Chuck American Bitter 4.0%
  • Topaz IPA 5.0%

Caveman Brewery Dartford Kent

  • Neanderthal 4.4% Best Bitter
  • Neolithic 4.1% Pale Ale

Colchester Brewery Essex

  • Jack Spitty 4.0% Pale Ale
  • Brazilian 4.6% Porter

Deeply Vale Bury

  • White Wolf Pale 3.8%
  • DV8 Stout 4.8%

Donkeystone Greenfield

  • Easy Pale 3.8%
  • Neddy Stout 4.9%
  • Javanilla Stout 5.0%

Elephant School Brentwood Essex

  • Beer With No Name 2 5.0% Pale Ale
  • Mallowphant 4.8% Stout

Harwich Brewery Essex

  • Leading Light 3.8% Copper Session Ale
  • Bathside 4.2% Golden Bitter

Irwell Works Bury

  • Tin Plate Dark Mild 3.6%
  • Marshmallow Unicorn Milk Stout 4.4%

J W Lees Middleton

  • TBC
  • TBC
  • TBC

Leigh On Sea Brewery Essex

  • Legra Pale 3.8% Pale Ale
  • Beach Hut Brew NEIPA  4.5% IPA

Millstone Brewery Mossley

  • Trinnacle 4.2% Amber
  • Stout 4.5%

Nelson Brewery Chatham Kent

  • Sirius Session Ale 3.7% Pale Ale
  • Trafalgar Bitter 4.1% Bitter

Pictish Rochdale

  • Brewers Gold 3.8%
  • Talisman IPA 4.2%
  • El Diablo Stout 4.5%

Portobello Brewery West London

  • Market Porter 4.6% Porter
  • Tropical Crush 4.4% Pale

Serious Rochdale

  • Prime Squared 4.2% Pale
  • Moonlight Stout 4.5%

Wantsum Brewery Kent

  • Hurricane 4.5% IPA
  • Black Prince 3.9% Mild

Woodfordes Brewery Norwich

  • Wherry 3.8% Amber Ale
  • Nelsons Revenge 4.5% Amber Bitter

Cider

  • Barkers, Dry Cider 7.0% abv – Worcestershire
  • Countryman, Medium Cider 6.5% abv – Devon
  • Duddas Tun, Sweet Apple Cider 5.3% abv – Kent
  • Dunkertons, Black Fox Organic Cider 6.0% abv – Gloucestershire
  • Hunts, Hazy Dazy Medium Sweet Cider 4.5% abv – Devon
  • Perrys, Barn Owl Cider 5.5% abv – Somerset
  • Red Bank, Autumn Orchard Cider 5.0% abv – Greater Manchester
  • Ventons, Apple Vice Cider 6.5% abv – Devon

Cider with real added fruit

  • Barkers, Cider flavoured with Elderflower 4.0% abv – Worcestershire
  • Barkers, Cider flavoured with Raspberry 4.0% abv – Worcestershire
  • Seacider, Cherry Bakewell Flavoured Cider 4.0% abv – Sussex
  • Seacider, Marmalade Flavoured Cider 4.0% abv – Sussex

Perry

  • Barkers, Victorian Orchard Perry 6.2% abv – Worcestershire
  • Hecks, Perry 6.0% abv – Somerset.
  • Purbeck, Katy Perry 5.5% abv – Dorset

Fruit wine

  • Birch (dry),
  • Blackberry (medium),
  • Blackcurrant (medium sweet),
  • Cherry (sweet),
  • Cranberry (medium),
  • Damson (medium dry),
  • Elderflower (dry),
  • Ginger (sweet),
  • Gooseberry (medium dry),
  • Peach (medium sweet),
  • Quince (medium dry),
  • Raspberry (medium),
  • Sloe (medium),
  • Strawberry (medium).

Apple juice (non-alcoholic)

  • Cloudy Apple Juice - Cawston Press.