A crafty beer helps brighten up festival
ANEW beer has been launched to celebrate this year’s smaller version of Barnaby Festival.
Organisers of the event, which is taking place in Macclesfield this month, have teamed up with RedWillow Brewery, on Byrons Lane, to produce Estival.
It is described as an ‘artbeer’ and is an IPA at 4.2 per cent ABV.
The beer and its associated artwork were released on Tuesday, June 15, and the official launch will take place at RedWillow on Sunday.
There will be an exhibition of the series of Estival paintings, which will also be for sale, and music by DJ Scott Thornton of Basement Traxx.
Bollington-based artist Sue Asbury, who created Barnaby Festival’s familiar mill logo, was commissioned to create artwork to go alongside the beer.
One of her paintings, inspired by the summer solstice, is being used for the label.
Sue’s partner Nick came up with the name for the beer.
Doctor Abi Gilmore, who is the co-chair of Barnaby Festival, said: “This latest collaboration with RedWillow is the perfect partnership for Barnaby.
“Not only are we celebrating Macclesfield’s heritage but we are bringing together the creativity and craft brewing expertise of the town in perfect harmony.
“Estival is both a fine sessionable beer and a beautiful piece of artwork, and is also ‘not quite a festival’ just like Barnaby Bright.
“I can’t think of a better thing to do on the Sunday of the Barnaby weekend than listen to great sounds, enjoying quality beer with friends and family and relishing Sue’s amazing paintings”.
This year’s festival, called Barnaby Bright, is smaller than previous years because of Covid regulations.
But it will still have a series of event in and around Macclesfield around the time of the summer solstice.
Tables at the launch event can be booked via the RedWillow website, for more information about Barnaby Bright, visit https://barnabyfestival.org.uk.
RedWillow is a Macclesfield brewery set up in 2010 by Toby and Caroline McKenzie.
The beer is available on pump from its bars in Macclesfield and Buxton and in cans at other distributors.