REAL ale drinkers are toasting the return of the first major beer festival in the region of 2022, after Covid-enforced cancellations of the last two years.

The 44th Newcastle Beer and Cider Festival got underway at Northumbria University Students’ Union building, off Day Street, near the Haymarket in Newcastle, yesterday (Wednesday April 6), at 6pm, although members of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) had a ‘head start’, from 5pm.

Featuring a selection of 100-plus real ales and 40-plus real ciders and perries, and a gin bar, it runs until Saturday, with 12-noon opening for the next three days, and ‘time’ called at 11pm on Thursday and Friday, and 5pm on Saturday.

The Battle of the Beers contest on the opening night saw the Almasty Brew Company, of Benfield, Newcastle, taking first place with its Golden Ale, followed by Keep the Faith English bitter by the Great North Eastern Brewing Company, of Dunston, Gateshead , and Flash House Brewing Company's Traditional Porter.

Acoustic music sets will be performed in the main hall this evening and on the next two days.

Admission is £3, or free for Camra members, with standard beer tokens, for a half-pint, costing £1.90. Souvenir glasses can be bought for £2.

Read more: 40th Durham Beer Festival cancelled once more

Coinciding with the festival’s return will be the first airing of the year for Camra’s popular national podcast, Pubs. Pints. People.

It is shining a spotlight on real ale scene on Tyneside in Episode 1, which also features an interview with acclaimed beer writer Adrian Tierney-Jones.

He will discuss his new title, United Kingdom of Beer, which identifies 250 of the best beers available in bottles and cans across the British Isles, including local brews Jakehead from Wylam Brewery and Yellow from Almasty Brewing. 

The hosts also chat with local Camra volunteer Martin Ellis, a beer, brewery and pubs writer and a regular contributor to BEER Magazine.

He leads regular walking tours visiting the breweries of Ouseburn, in Newcastle, and outlines how Tyneside has become one of the premier beer destinations across the UK. 

Mr Ellis tells the podcast: “I have seen Tyneside transformed from a real ale desert to a real ale mecca.

“The Ouseburn, just outside Newcastle city centre, has possibly the greatest concentration of micro-breweries in the country.”

Festival organiser Anthony McMullen is another guest on the podcast.

He will talk through what it’s like to kick start the city’s festival after a two-year hiatus. 

“It's an exciting time to be running a beer festival, showcasing the talent of our local breweries and those further afield.

“It’s great to be able to once again get together, make new friends, watch amazing live entertainment and drink great ale, cider and perry.” 

The podcast, which covers a range of topics and issues relating to beer, cider, pubs, clubs and more, has essentially gone “on tour” this season, travelling around the country to highlight the efforts of local Camra branches and their activities.

Listeners can expect a new episode to air on the first Wednesday of each month from April to September.

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  • The Durham branch of Camra stages its first “live” annual meeting for two years at the Dun Cow, in Old Evet, on Thursday April 21, at 7.30am, with elections to the committee, plus other business.