Events

The Chiltern Brewery in Buckinghamshire has launched its 2012 Spring programme of tours to give members of the public the chance to explore behind the scenes of their brewery, the oldest in the area.

Each one-hour tour will cover how 100% British ingredients are used to create the characteristics of fine ales, an introduction to the art of craft brewing, a brief history of the Chiltern Brewery, a tour of the BrewHouse and, finally, a tutored beer and food tasting session with a selection of locally made chandlery that uses beer from The Chiltern Brewery as an ingredient.

Not one but two hugely knowledgeable experts to guide you through the ultimate evening for beer and cheese fans.

The ever gregarious School of Booze's Jane Peyton joins forces with La Fromagerie founder Patricia Michaelson to share with you the best matches offered by these two most versatile of ingredients.

Expect some serious flavours and some pairings that will both tempt and tantalise.

After a huge turnout last year, this is the second year that FemALE will be taking place. Just as the name suggest, this is a girls-only beer-swilling event. Although, of course, it’s rather more sophisticated than that.

Firstly there’s the educational side: award-winning beer writer Marverine Cole, aka Beer Beauty, will be leading a tasting of brews and banishing female beer ignorance forevermore. Secondly there’s the high quality of beer being assessed thanks to Purity Brewing Co, and thirdly the event is being hosted at smart hotel Malmaison in Birmingham, who will be providing six tapas-style courses to complement each beer.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival this May (3rd-7th) is a momentous occasion in the whisky calendar that attracts some 50,000 whisky drinkers from all over the world during its five days of dedicated workshops, tutorials, tours, instruction, nosings and tastings, which take place in and around the 50-plus distinguished distilleries that the area can lay claim to.