9 beer festivals coming up in or near York

This year is no different. Already, beer enthusiasts can begin plotting the next few weekends - although there are some tough decisions to be made.

The biggest event in our region will be up in Ryedale, in a week's time.

Last year's Beertown event in Malton was fantastic and this year's promises to be even better.

The town's two young breweries, Bad Seed and Brass Castle, have brought a renewed energy to this historic beer town and the festival is a fitting celebration.

This year's event is from March 19 to 21 at the Milton Rooms. Breweries represented will include:

• Buxton
• Kernel
• Marble
• Siren
• Magic Rock
• Moor
• Northern Monk
• Thornbridge
• Tiny Rebel
• Wharfebank

The list is developing as we speak though, so keep an eye on beertownmalton.co.uk. Entry is free on the Thursday, or £5 on the Friday or Saturday, which includes a £2 glass deposit.

That same weekend, Bishopthorpe Sports and Social Club is hosting its fourth annual St Patrick's Beer Festival from the 20th to 22nd. There will be ten beers and three ciders, as well as music, and sport on the big screen. The event runs from 7pm to midnight on the Friday, 2pm to midnight on the Saturday and noon to 11pm on the Sunday.

On that same Saturday, March 21, the Sutton on Derwent beer festival takes place in the village hall, from 12.05pm to 11pm. As well as the beers, there will be televised Six Nations rugby and live music from The Korrupted.

The Harrogate Charity Beer Festival, organised by Round Table, began in Thursday but continuers from 4pm to 11.30pm today (March 14), at The Crown Hotel in Crown Place. There will be more than 25 beers, various ciders and live music each night.

Admission for the festival is £15, which includes eight half pints, a souvenir glass and the tasting notes.

Into April, Malton is again the focus. From April 2 to 5, Suddaby's at The Crown Hotel is holding its spring festival with 25 beers and three or four ciders. There will be live music on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

On May 2, Yorkshire Heart Brewery at Nun Monkton is holding a beer and music festival, with beers, cider and wines. And the same weekend, The Woolpack in Fawcett Street, The Phoenix in George Street, The Masons Arms in Fishergate and the Waggon and Horses in Lawrence Street are holding a weekend-long "Four de Yorkshire" festival, to coincide with the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race.

Then on May 15 and 16, York Round Table has its fourth charity beer festival at York Brewery, from 5pm to 11pm on the Friday and noon to 11pm on the Saturday.

If you don't want to wait though, then fear not.

All JD Wetherspoon's pubs began their latest festival yesterday, and it runs until March 29.

The company hits the nail on the head these days when it comes to festivals, and this one looks to be no exception.

Over the 17 days they will be showcasing 50 beers, with 40 by British producers and ten by international brewers guest-brewing at British plants.

The company's marathon-approach to festivals means you needn't miss out on the best beers. Rather than racing to snare an ale you were after, or cursing your luck as another "sold out" sticker goes up, you can bide your time, float between two or three pubs, and clock up new discoveries at a more leisurely pace. That's what I'd recommend anyway.

The focus of this latest festival is the British-grown hop, in 22 of its varieties.

All 50 of the beers will be brewed using only home-grown hops, including the beers made by the overseas guests from Brazil, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, the USA, Spain, Ireland and Australia.

Alongside those will be a wide range of British beers, from the south west right up to Orkney.

Local Wetherspoon's pubs include The Postern Gate in Piccadilly and The Punch Bowl at Micklegate Bar in York, The Giant Bellflower in Gowthorpe in Selby, The Three Tuns in Thirsk Market Place, The Unicorn in Ripon Market Place, The Crown Inn in Knaresborough High Street, and The Winter Gardens in Parliament Street in Harrogate.