Craft and Crust Festival: March 2024

Event: Craft & Crust Festival | Date: March, 2024| Location: Leeds

We love a beer festival, especially when it involves tasty food as well. So when the Craft and Crust festival popped up on my Facebook feed just before Christmas, I bought two tickets. This made a nice Christmas present for Alex (that would also benefit me). Plus, the venue was within walking distance of Leeds train station and we didn’t have much else planned for March.

About

Craft and Crust is a nationally touring event that pops up in cities around the UK. Various craft beers, ciders and gins make up the “craft” element, while the “crust” part relates to the delicious pies and pizzas on offer from a range of street food vendors. In addition to all the tasty treats, there’s live music throughout the event.

2024 was the first time this event was held in Leeds and it took place at The Royal Armouries. There were around 15 vendors offering various beers and many of them were from the south of England which meant we got to try some new breweries. We wanted to try as many as possible so we stuck to half pints, and managed eight beers from seven different breweries (as well as filling up on some delicious pie and mash).

What we drank

Today (4.8% Helles Lager) from Wiper and True (Bristol)

We’d only recently discovered Wiper and True and tried a few of their beers back in Feb.

We’d enjoyed all their beers so we decided to start our session with their lager. Lager is a good starting point as it’s not too heavy and there are no overpowering flavours.

This particular lager was refreshing, with a lemony flavour and a nice dry finish. Nothing special but a good lager.

Brewer’s note: A traditional Munich Helles lager, created by our Bavarian Master Brewer, Marvin. Crisp and dry, with a gently herbal edge. Smooth, mellow malt flavours lead to clean bitterness, thanks to a lengthy maturation period in tank. Deliciously satisfying and easy drinking – just like a good lager should be.

Brewer’s website: Wiper and True. Beautiful Beer from Bristol

Rhu-Bar-Beer (3.7% fruit beer) from Yorkshire Heart (North Yorkshire)

Next, we opted for a low-ABV fruit beer from a local brewery that we weren’t familiar with. We decided to give this beer a go because it was a cask beer (and we’re on a mission to support cask whenever we can).

The toffee and biscuit flavours from the malt came through nicely, but the rhubarb flavour stood out (without being too sour). Some fruity beers can be a bit too sweet, but this one was nicely balanced.

Brewer’s note: Dark in colour with deliciously fruity Rhubarb flavours complete with a crisp aroma and refreshing tartness aftertaste.

Brewer’s website: Yorkshire Heart Vineyard & Brewery

Electric Eye (5% Pale Ale) from Big Smoke Brew (Surrey)

We’d seen the lineup of breweries before the event, and we knew Big Smoke would be there with this award-winning pale ale, so it was already on the shortlist. It was juicy, hazy, and tropical – a very good beer.

Brewer’s note: Tropical fruit aroma, citrus and grapefruit on the palate, light biscuit notes, clean, dry and crisp with a lingering bitter finish.

Brewer’s website: Big Smoke Brew Co.

Harvest (4.2% Pale Ale) from Rural Brewing (Staffordshire)

As we were already on the pale ales, we decided to see how this one from Rural Brewing compared. It was another good beer – juicy, but not too juicy, and slightly more bitter than the Electric Eye.

Unfortunately, I can’t find any brewer’s notes on this beer but I suspect it could be the same or similar to their core pale ale.

Brewer’s website: Rural Brewing Co.

Pinewoods Pale Ale (4.4%) from Harrogate Brewing Co. (Harrogate)

Another pale ale, but this one was on cask, and from a (relatively) local brewery. This one wasn’t as juicy, but the malt flavours came through nicely.

Brewer’s note: Citrusy American hops, balanced with traditional British malts. Pinewood is an 18th-century woodland south-west of Harrogate.

Brewer’s website: Harrogate Brewing Co.

Medicine Man (6% IPA) from Big Smoke Brew Co (Surrey)

We wanted to try as many different breweries as possible, but we ended up going in for a second one from Big Smoke as we wanted to try their award-winning pale ale, but they also had the only West Coast IPA at the event.

As it turns out, they were promoting it as a westie at the event, but according to their website, it’s midway between an East Coast and West Coast. It was definitely more juicy and hazy than a traditional westie, but still a good beer.

Brewer’s note: Perfectly balanced between the west and east coast IPA styles, Medicine Man is an easy-drinking big hitter. Resinous on the nose with a refreshingly dry, hoppy and piney finish.

Brewer’s website: Big Smoke Brew Co.

*BEER OF THE DAY*

Passionfruit Martini Sour (5.5% Kettle Sour) from Double Barrelled Brewery (Reading)

I had my eye on this Passionfruit Martini Sour from the start, but we wanted to save the bigger flavours for last.

It was worth the wait. Very tart – the kind of sour that makes your mouth water – but lovely flavours of passionfruit came through too. This was our favourite beer of the day.

Brewer’s note: Filled to the brim with juicy passionfruit, with hints of lime and vanilla, and complemented by a “shot” of white grapes, this is a tangy, juicy and delicious kettle sour. Designed to replicate the classic cocktail and brewed by some of the awesome ladies in our team to celebrate International Women’s Day!

Brewer’s website: Double-Barrelled Brewery

As The Sun Sets Slowly In The West (8% Chai Stout) from Makemake (Portsmouth)

I was looking forward to this one, but it was a little disappointing. I thought it had flavours of liquorice and I can’t say I’m a fan of liquorice. Not a terrible beer, but not a standout beer either.

Brewer’s note: With all the chai flavours present in abundance, this wonder is the comforting hug we all seek during the colder months.

Brewer’s website: Makemake Brewery & Fermentary