Harrogate Beer Week is back and here is a flavour of what is happening

The town-wide celebration of Harrogate’s craft beer scene, brewing heritage, and beer in the community will offer a programme packed full of of special events hosted at bars, brewery taps, and other venues across the town.

Running from September 19 - 25, highlights include beer and food pairings, blind beer tasting quizzes, bottle shares, homebrew competitions, talks and brewery tours exploring the making of beer.

Harrogate Beer Week was created by Harrogate-based Rachel Auty - founder of beer equality project, Women On Tap CIC and currently Head of Marketing at Brew York.

Last year’s inaugural Harrogate Beer Week comprised 37 events in seven days across 13 venues but this year’s looks set to be even better.

Rachel Auty said: “This event is a spotlight on the very best of what’s on offer in Harrogate and is created and delivered by people who actually live and work here.

"I’m incredibly proud of the beer scene we have in Harrogate. The town boasts some of the UK's leading innovators in brewing and a truly unique portfolio of indie bars and taprooms.”

The festival’s founder sees Harrogate Beer Week not a beer festival in the traditional sense.

Instead, it’s intended to bring something new to the town, enhancing the perceived ‘brand Harrogate’ and embracing a new perspective on what Harrogate has to offer for those who may not see themselves in the town’s tea rooms or flower shows.

The event is for everyone, not just those who are already into craft beer.

"My vision stands that Harrogate Beer Week will become an annual flagship event that is proven to deliver direct benefit to the whole town, not just Harrogate’s fantastic independent beer and food businesses,” said Rachel Auty.

“Last year we attracted more than 1,000 participants across the week and generated around £20,000 direct spend in the town.”

Other events to look forward to in the latest Harrogate Beer Week include an ‘Indie Beer Trail’, a live local music and the launch of a new beer created by Harrogate’s local brewery collective following a Brew Day at Roosters earlier this month.

The full programme will be live on August 24 at www.harrogatebeerweek.co.uk