Raise a glass - Rochdale brewer unveils new festival beer

The official beer for this year’s Rochdale Feel Good Festival has been unveiled.

‘Festivale’ is a limited edition 4% light pale ale brewed by Rochdale based Serious Brewing Company. Described as crisp, refreshing, quite floral with a hint of berry, it’s looking like another summer hit!

The festival beer will be available on draught from Thursday (8 August) at The Flying Horse Hotel, The Baum, Our Gracie’s and The Pint Pot in Rochdale, as well as the company’s own micro pub in Waterfoot - The Whitewell which opened last year.

Husband and wife duo Ken and Jenny Lynch launched their artisan micro-brewery in 2015 and it’s the fifth time they’ve brewed an official Feel Good Festival tipple. The business supplies over 60 pubs in the north of England direct and via distributors nationwide including London and Cardiff as well as other festivals. 

It’s the first time in five years they’ve brewed a beer for Rochdale Feel Good Festival and Jenny Lynch said she’s excited about its return: "We really look forward to the Feel Good Festival and as the main stage is back at Rochdale Town Hall Square and our own pub has just celebrated its first birthday we thought we should do something to mark the occasion. The event is a favourite with many of our customers so we are excited to be brewing the official beer again." 

On Saturday 10 August Rochdale Feel Good Festival will feature a showcase of top class entertainment. Headliners Ocean Colour Scene, Lottery Winners and Heather Small - the voice of M People, will be joined by soul, pop and funk artist Toucan, ska band Madame Claude, indie R’n’B pop star iamkyami, local rock band Atlas and DJ Dave Sweetmore on the main stage, a programme of entertainment across indoor venues plus quality food and drink. 

On Sunday 11 August the main stage features a free afternoon of folk music produced by Sound Roots and funded by Arts Council England, headlined by Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet alongside party band Marvara, new Rochdale musical Peter's Field featuring Sean Cooney, Eliza Carthy MBE, Sam Carter and The Seamus Og Trio.

Kicking off the weekend on Friday 9 August is the ‘Feel Good Fringe,’ a series of free indoor gigs featuring 17 acts at ten venues across the town.