Back by popular demand, the Hagstravaganza International Brewery Festival at the White Hag Ballymote will take place this year on the 26th and 27th of July. The White Hag brewing company create a variety of unique and tasty craft beers using mostly local ingredients.
Managing Director of The White Hag Paul Mullin said: “HAGSTRAVAGANZA has now become the biggest and most innovative brewery event in Ireland, which has created a very valuable position for Irish brewing in the International brewing scene.”
The festival brings to Sligo a mixture of breweries both industry leaders and new on the scene, all showcasing their craft beers and allowing you to taste their wonderful, unique flavours. Each brewery will run a tasting station at some point over the 2 days where you can meet the maker and discuss their product with them. Just some of the breweries you can look forward to are: – Bagby brewing from California, Collective Arts from Toronto, Lambrate brewery from Milan and Cloudwater Brew Co from Manchester. Check out their Facebook page for a full list of attendees.
Friday is: Barrel Programme is open to the public for the first time. Its runs from 6.45p.m. to 9.30p.m. with barrel ages tasting and talks. Includes your beer tasting for the evening. Tickets €25
Saturday is the main event: with a host of brewing options for craft beer enthusiasts. The beer is sold on a token basis, the day include live entertainment and your ticket includes your white hag branded glass and your train ticket to Sligo that evening. Tickets from €24.
Members of the Sligo Food Trail will be providing the food for the weekend to ensure nobody gets hungry and to compliment the beer, as both go hand in hand of course! The Sligo pub crawl is back this year also with a train leaving from Ballymote at 9.40pm on the Saturday evening.
The festival wouldn’t be the same without a bit of live music, both local and national acts will take to the stage. The Strawboys will also be making an appearance, a traditional Irish band who make their only summer appearance at this festival.
