Top 4: Manchester Beer Week 2016 ft. Port Street & OGS closing party

Manchester Beer Week 2016 is a celebration of the craft ales, fine lagers and extraordinary beers that are drawing people from far and wide to our fair city streets. With so many brewers and bars, large and small, packed into one small city, we’ve picked out four highlights of the festivities to get you started on your beery way.

1. The official launch party at The Marble Arch
This free event offers the chance to sample the festival’s official beer, MCR Fold for the first time, a new joint production by JW Lees and Cloudwater. Event organiser Connor Murphy give a short talk at 7pm about the festival plus live music and lots of special beers on tap.
Fri 10 Jun, The Marble Beer House, 73 Rochdale Road, M4 4HY. Tel: 0161 881 9206, 5pm, FREE, www.facebook.com

2. Bangers and Bacon’s BEASTro beer-paired meal at The Kitchens
Local favourites Bangers and Bacon are running a meaty event called BEASTro, as part of Manchester Beer Week. Celebrating Manchester’s craft brewers, they have created a special five-course menu, each course being paired with a tipple from the likes of Shindigger, Stubborn Mule and Torrside Brewery. The brewer in question will also talk you through the beer being tasted with the chance to buy your favourites to take home afterwards. The ticket price includes matched beers with the food, with a bar available to top up or mix things up.
Wed 15 Jun, The Kitchens, Irwell Square, Manchester, M3 3AG. 7pm, £35, www.eventbrite.co.uk

3. Manchester Beer Week collaboration festival at Port Street Beer House
Pop into Port Street and be the first to try one of four exclusive brews from Blackjack x Thornbridge, Cloudwater x Magic Rock, Quantum x Buxton and Runaway x Hawkshead among others.
Thu 16 Jun, Port Street Beer House, 39-41 Port Street, Manchester M1 2EQ. Tel: 0161 237 9949, 7pm, FREE, www.facebook.com

4. Manchester Beer Week grand finale at Old Granada Studios
Catch up on what you’ve missed this week, with an all day beer festival at Old Granada Studios. Enjoy selected beers from CAMRA, alongside stalls from JW Lees, Cloudwater and xx plus street food by Almost Famous, Hip Hop Chip Shop, Chaat Cart, No Tacos and Epicerie Ludo. DJs, art installations, pub games and ‘live brewing’ and advice by the Grainfather.
Sat 18 Jun, Workshop at Old Granada Studios, Quay St, Manchester M3 3HN, 11am-7pm, FREE, www.facebook.com