Belfast Craft Beer Festival will showcase artisan brewers

Belfast will host a unique craft beer and artisan cider festival over three days at the end of April (21-23). Custom House Square, one of the city's historic squares will feature craft brewers from most parts of Ireland including many of Northern Ireland's most successful export focused breweries. There are now 30 craft breweries in Northern Ireland. The three-day event will be held in Custom House Square and will feature the widest range of Irish craft beer, cider and whiskey as well as the city's favourite artisan food stalls and live music. Among those taking part will be Northern Ireland award winners and key beer exporters Whitewater from Kilkeel in county Down and Hildenof Lisburn in county Antrim. Also taking part will be Bushmills, the oldest Irish whiskey distillery. With more 25 producers and over 150 different craft beverages on offer - from brand new craft brewers to the god fathers of the industry - the festival will showcase the best the island has to offer in the world of local produce and give attendees the opportunity to meet the masters of their crafts! Each brewery, cider maker and distiller will have their own bar within the temporary structure in Custom House Square in Belfast city centre offering all of their favourite products as well as some exciting festival specials! Seamus O'Hara, co-founder of the festival and owner of Ireland's Carlow Brewing Company says: "We have hosted a sister festival to this in Dublin for the past five years. Each year, we have watched the industry grow from strength to strength. With such a large contingency or breweries in Northern Ireland, it made sense this year to create a festival in Belfast!" The festival is now sold out from an exhibitor perspective. The fullhouse includes both breweries and cider makers: Armagh Cider, Bushmills, Clearsky Brewing Co, Falling Apple Cider, Farmageddon Brewing Co-Op, Galway Bay Brewery, Hercules Brewery, Hilden Brewery,Jack Cody, Kinnegar Brewing, Knockout Brewing, Lacada, Longmeadow Cider, Mac Armagh's Cider, Mac Ivors Cider, Mourne Mountain, Nightcap Beer, North Bound Brewery, O'Hara's, Reel Deel Brewery, Stationworks, Tempted Cider, Toby's Handcrafted Cider, Trouble Brewing, Whitewater Brewery and Wicklow Wolf. The festival will also be offering an array of local artisan food and live music. Some of the city's favourite food producers will be cooking including Broughgammon Goat Products, Jolly Pies, Mike's Fancy Cheese and streef food business Wolf and Devour.