Another ‘new beer’ festival for Edinburgh

As an Edinburgh beer drinker, I’ve been going to the Guildford Arms pretty much since I gained the ability to lift a pint glass and negotiate a revolving door – certainly many times since this blog started out. Tucked away from the rumbling east end of Princes Street (now vibrating to the sounds of a new Apple Store going in), the Guildford always looks a bit sheepish, poking a nose out from a side-street, as if hiding demurely from the crowds. Of course, having said that, on a Friday or Saturday night it can seem like half the city has squeezed in, getting the beers in, shoulder to shoulder.

One of the reasons the Guildford gets to this level of busyness are their regular and lengthy beer festivals. Often, a chunk of the country is selected, seemingly at random, and casks flood in. This weekend, though – and beyond – the Guildford is revolving its door to beers from new breweries, and the three other DM Stewart pubs are also joining in. The Abbotsford, Canon’s Gait and newly DM’d Cumberland will all be pouring cask ales from at least 55 confirmed new breweries (each of which began operations in 2006 or later….so…relatively new, then). The festival runs at each location until Sunday the 28th of April, and will involve over two hundred beers.

The full list is enclosed at the bottom of this post, but highlights include rare treats from local brewers such as Silhill of Solihull, Joules of North Staffordshire, and Cumbria’s BlackBeck. Ilkley are sending their mighty Lotus IPA to the Cumberland, Harbour’s 6% Citra will be on offer at the Guildford, and locals at the Canon’s Gait will be able to catch Summer Wine’s Resistance Mild. Scottish producers will be well represented throughout the festival, with Tempest, Mor, Alechemy, Cromarty, Scottish Borders, Eden, Barney’s, Loch Lomond and Knops Beer Co all sending casks along.
DM Stewart Beer Festival – Full beer List
Thursday 11th – Sunday 28th April
Abbotsford, Canon’s Gait, Cumberland Bar, Guildford Arms