Midsummer Beer Happening - 15-17 June
By Charlie Sands on 23/05/2023
The North-East’s largest outdoor food and drink event is getting ready to welcome thousands of visitors. Stonehaven’s Midsummer Beer Happening (MSBH) returns from Thursday 15 June to Saturday 17 June - three days of beer, food, music and cycling!
Returning for its 14th year Midsummer Beer Happening in Stonehaven is largely run by volunteers, and raises tens of thousands of pounds for good causes. The 2002 Happening raised £62,273 which went to the Stonehaven Fireballs Association, Stonehaven Sea Cadets, Stonehaven Air Training Corps, Carronhill School, Stonehaven Folk Festival, Stonehaven Men’s Shed, Stonehaven Yacht Club, Rhythm Nation Dance and Fitness, Stonehaven Cricket Club, Stonehaven Lions, Mackie RFC Youth, Pillar Kincardine and Stonehaven Cycling Club, Stonehaven Horizon, Alzheimer Scotland - South Aberdeenshire, Guide Dogs Scotland, Scotland Air Ambulance.
For 2023 the aim is to have the biggest range of beers you will find at any event in Scotland this summer. The Midsummer Beer Happening is a phenomenal success drawing some 6,000 people to the festival marquee, to be greeted by almost 120 different beers on draught, hand picked from across the UK and around the world. Admission is £27 for a day ticket, or £43 for entry to all sessions, and includes a commemorative glass and a taste of the festival ale.
Main sponsors this year are Macphies of Glenbervie, Whittaker Engineering, Simpsons Malt, Six degrees North, Bike Remedy, Stonehaven Cycling Club, The Bay on the Road, Contenli, Enerquip, Wm Donald and Colin Lawson Transport.
The Lobster Shop. Haydens Woodfired Pizza, The Bay Fish & Chips, Wark Farm Pies, Smoke and Soul Wood-fired soul food and E Giulianottis ice cream combine to provide local fare and a culinary delight.
On the Saturday morning it gets all “sportive”, which according to my dictionary means “frolicsome”, or “playful” or possibly “ardent” or “wanton”. If you are an occasional downhill cyclist like me, you will want to stay well away. But at 8am on the Saturday, hundreds and hundreds of brave souls will set out to conquer four routes – from 40 miles (ascending 4,000ft) to 100 miles (ascending 8,000ft). The longest route is called the DINAEDOO, and you don’t need to tell me that twice. Cyclists pay £35 for their pain, and they have to wave and smile for the whole route. But there are pit stops for cakes, I hear. And they do get free entry to the MSBH and a taste of the ale, along with their complimentary t-shirt and goodie bag. All for a great event and many good causes.
Wait ‘til you hear this. Music is on tap too. For the delight of your ears, there will be:
THURSDAY 15TH JUNE: Ray Moore, Scottish Quo, The Kymatiks
FRIDAY 16TH JUNE: Los Acousticos Bandidos, Hamlet, Reloaded, Oxbow Lake Band
SATURDAY 17TH JUNE: Florence Jack, Richard Hannay & the 39 Steps, Broken Creels, The Sapiens, Further On, Voodoo Vibe, and Funk Connection.
You can find more details at the website www.midsummerbeerhappening.co.uk
So what are you waiting for? Get online and buy your tickets! Now, where did I put my bicycle clips?