Edinburgh Beer Weekly 11/05 – 17/05

Welcome to the latest Edinburgh Beer Weekly! Every Sunday I’ll be posting a preview of all the beery happenings in the city for the next seven days – so you won’t miss a thing. You can sign up to the subscription service, ensuring you’ll get a notification every Sunday when the Edinburgh Beer Weekly is published. Just enter your email address in the panel on our front page. Also, follow me on Twitter (@thebeercast) to keep right up to date throughout the week. There are so many great beery things going on at the moment – stay tuned to the BeerCast, and enjoy each and every one of them!

So, what’s happening in the Edinburgh beer scene over the next seven days?

Monday 11th
A Night for Nepal
The Hanging Bat, 133 Lothian Rd
Further Information

Starting tomorrow, the beery week in Edinburgh begins with a very special event at the Hanging Bat. Inspired by last week’s Nepal-donation tap at Cloisters, the team at the Bat are hosting an entire day dedicated to raising money for the Nepal Earthquake appeal. Every single penny taken over the bar (beer, spirits, food) will be donated to the fund, not just a percentage of the profits. Head to the link above to see the range of brewers and other producers who have donated their wares to the appeal, and then head along to the Bat on Monday and have a beer or two, or some food or gin – or whatever – and make your good experience there count towards an extremely worthy appeal. Good on the Bat, and Cloisters, for doing this.

Thursday 14th 8:00pm
The IPA challenge (USA V GB)
Appellation Wines, Comely Bank Road
Appellation Wines website tickets £10

On Thursday, Appellation Wines Comely Bank branch are hosting a fascinating contest (and one which I hope to be writing about this week). IPA has been the beer style to emerge from the US over the last five, ten, twenty years – and for many beer fans here, were a gateway to new and interesting beers. But UK brewers now produce a range of hop-forward IPA’s every bit as good. Or do they? This is your chance to taste three from the US and three from the UK, and find out…

Thursday 14th [to Sunday 17th]
Jaw Brew Showcase
The Guildford Arms, 1 West Register St
Kelburn Brewery Twitter feed

Also on Thursday (but continuing into the weekend) – the Guildford Arms are hosting a tap takeover from one of Scotland’s newest producers – Renfrewshire’s Jaw Brew. Their distinctive branding and single-name beers have gained a lot of fans already. On the bar – May, Drop, Fathom, Drift and their new weissbier – Wave – all at £2.50 a pint.

Friday 15th [to Saturday 16th]
Summerhall Summer Beer FestivALE
1 Summerhall
Further information / Summerhall on Twitter Tickets £8 (online)

This coming weekend, the start of the festival season is upon us, with the traditional start taking place within the fantastic courtyard of Summerhall; the arts venue that encompasses Barney’s Brewery and Pickering’s Gin. Let’s hope the sun shines, as plenty of beers will be on offer. From the home stable (literally), Barney will have his wares on offer, alongside drinks from such a range of notables as Williams Bros, Top Out, Thistly Cross and the Rum Boys. Food and live music will also be available. The festival opens twice on both days; 2:00pm-7:00pm and 8:00pm-1:00am. The ticket price includes access to the stalls, music, brewery and distillery tours (day sessions) DJs (evening sessions) and four beer tokens that can be exchanged at the event bars for £4 worth of drinks. The festival sold out last year, so book online to be ensured entry!

The Edinburgh Beer Weekly will be published every Sunday here on the BeerCast. If you have an event in or around the city that you’d like to feature – please get in touch at the usual email address. Cheers!