North Hop 2014 - The Buzz Lives On…
Thursday 30th October 2014
So it's been a few months since the very first North Hop festival took place at Eden Court, Inverness but folk are still talking about it and there is a new buzz in the air as plans develop for North Hop 2015!
North Hop 2014 was the first large-scale craft beer festival to take place in the Highlands but also offered so much more…
The beer hall featured 10 breweries from across Scotland (Windswept Brewing Co, Loch Ness Brewery, Thistly Cross Cider, BrewDog, William Bros Brewing Co, Inveralmond Brewery, Deeside Brewery, Six º North, Eden Brewery, Cromarty Brewing Co) with over 50 beers and ciders on offer, a main stage featuring live local bands throughout the two days and had an outdoors brought indoors feel with the straw bale seating and barrel tables. People could also enjoy the view of the beer hall but escape the crowds up in the beer hall balcony.
Then for the non-beer drinkers or those who fancied something a bit different, the cocktail lounge, located upstairs featured the guys from 10 Dollar Shake shaking up creative craft beer cocktails and artisan gins. The girls from Berry Good with their PYO berry infused gin/vodka and prosecco combinations. Team Super!Natural keeping everyone energised with their natural energy drinks. Stew n' Drew's with their innovative range of ice creams and sorbets for those wanting something sweet. And a whole host of local DJ's, together with the outside terrace and tall bar tables the cocktail lounge brought a wine bar style vibe to the festival.
For those in need of sustenance during the festival Loch Ness Inn were on hand to serve up their very original but delicious dish, Haggis Bobotie and a vegetarian baked brie option, along with Aye Love Real Food and their tasty range of free range, rare breed Scotch Eggs, with their black pudding and pork option being a real hit with festival go'ers! Eden Court were also serving up a special selection of festival food including big bowls of stovies.
And introducing the fun factor we had Betty Booth for lots of entertaining photo booth action, Play Pieces for cultural tasters of their lunchtime theatre season shorts and Lee from UglyPeople creating some awesome North Hop artwork during the Saturday session. And keeping the whole festival in order and adding an extra fun factor we had our lovely MC, Nicola McAlley from STV. Nicola was there throughout both days to introduce all the bands, quiz the exhibitors and encourage folk to try new things.
So, what's next you might ask? Well keep your eyes peeled on our social media channels for news of our special 'A Taste of North Hop' taster events and news of North Hop 2015 will follow very soon but one thing we will say is it will be bigger, better and have a few special surprises…
