But it also means friends & family, shopping, office parties, hustle & bustle, packed pubs, queues; so we will make a point of meeting up mid week (weekends in the city centre are far too crowded!).
Wednesday, 13th December
The Bridge House, Belfast
About 12:30 for a spot of lunch and some convivial chat. Not forgetting a spot of food and the sampling of Christmas ales. The location is central so we are hoping that our members can call in, even for a quick half pint in passing, to say hello for the festive season.
We will then wish you a Happy New Year and be in touch when 2024 rolls round.
NOVEMBER:
Supporting Movember
Every year in November BFTWNI supports and highlights men's health on our website and X (Twitter)
For more details, check out their website. They have sites in several countries - this is the UK website: MOVEMBER
The Bridge House
Lunch, some fine cask ales and a chat with the locals.
Ale By Rail
Saturday, 25th November
A pleasant train journey from the Europa Station to Carrickfergus, then lunch with a few cask ales and good company. Home in the afternoon for some cask ales in the Crown Bar before heading home.
POTY 2023
Thursday, 30th November
A cold journey to Carrickfergus but at least the train was warm. Then to present the 2023 POTY Award to Morgan, the Manager of The Central Bar. This was followed by a filling lunch and a few cask ales.
OCTOBER:
THE HUNT FOR CASK OCTOBER
This is a Northern Ireland initiative set up by BFTWNI to highlight cask ales available during the month of October - information may change at the last minute. We have a look to see what local premises are serving cask ale on a regular basis and highlight supporting local breweries and premises on out our Twitter account.
A big THANK YOU to all those premises supporting good quality cask ales!
The Crown Bar
Calling in to see what is available during The Hunt For cask October
The Bridge House, Belfast
A good lunch and a selection of fine cask ales.
SEPTEMBER:
ALE BY RAIL
6th September
This wass a mid week event, Wednesday, to suit those who are free then but busy at the weekend.
Easy enough, meet at the Europa, train to Carrick, five minutes walk to the local JDW for a good meal and some cask ales. Our usual cask ale homeward-bound pint in the Crown.
YEAST FROM THE EAST IV:
15th September
A Friday for a change so that we missed the usual Saturday crowd, and to support a couple of NI's local breweries.
A bus trip to Boundary, then a short walk to Bullhouse (neither do cash!). Then the bus back and a final pre-home pint in the Crown.
CASK ALE WEEK:
21st September- 1st October:
As always, BFTWNI supports CAW, a national and high profile event. Sadly, we do not have enough cask outlets nor guaranteed quality, so we stuck to what we know for this year.
CAW - 27th September
The Bridge House
A mid week CAW event for those busy at the weekend.
Central Belfast (easy reach of train/bus/cycle - even walk for some), food, great cask ales (8 handpumps), JDW prices! We will be there 12-ish for a good lunch, a good cask ale assortment, convivial company - all for Cask Ale Week. Later there will be the usual pre homeward bus pint in the Crown.
CAW - 30th September
The Crown Bar
A weekend event for those who would be working or unavailable during the week.
Once again - central Belfast (easy reach of train/bus/cycle - even walk for some), food, great cask ales (4 handpumps & one cider), excellent Victorian architecture, great bar staff! Bow ties optional.
We will be there 12-ish for a good lunch, a good cask ale assortment, convivial company - all for Cask Ale Week
AUGUST:
HEADS-UP!
Friday, 4th August, is International Beer Day
As always, BFTWNI was out there supporting and celebrating.
A great lunch and a selection of cracking cask ales.
YEAST FROM THE EAST III:
Saturday 19th August.
Another visit to Boundary Brewing and Bullhouse East to the east of Belfast. Then back into town for a cask ale or two at The Crown before heading home.
JULY:
A BFTWNI BBQ
Saturday, 1st JULY
Starting about 2:30 with some foreign draught (sorry - mini kegs) and Phillipine side dishes.
BFTWNI VISIT TO DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY
12-16th July
A trip by car on the local ferry to stay for a few days in Castle Douglas. Meeting up with our friends at Sulwath Brewery. Take in the local scenery and a day in Dumfries for a shopping/pub crawl.
REAL ALE BY RAIL
Carrickfergus
22nd. July
A morning trip to Carrickfergus for lunch and some pints of cask ale.
Afternoon return and a cask ale or two in the Crown before heading home.
IMPROMTU FOOD & ALE MEET
Bridge House & Crown
29nd. July
It is the end of the month, the weather is not that rough, what better excuse to meet the members and have a relaxed lunch and a few good cask ales?
JUNE:
YEAST FROM THE EAST II:
Saturday 3rd JUNE.
Another visit to Boundary Brewing and Bullhouse East to the east of Belfast. Then back into town for a cask ale or two at The Crown before heading home.
BEER DAY BRITAIN:
Thursday 15th June.
Lunch and cask ales as we celebrated this most important day.
MAY:
For the month of May we highlighted Mental Health on our Twitter feed.
Also, "May is Mild" has been a long running slogan to support the (almost dying) style of Mild Ale in the UK. We always do our very best to support it in the premises around Northern Ireland!
TREVOR DICKSON MEMORIAL DRINK:
Tuesday, 2nd May:
A few pints of his beloved cider to celebrate the life of a great friend and BFTWNI member.
STAR WARS:
Thursday, 4th May
Celebrating the official Star Wars Day - "May The Fourth Be With You!"
Lunch and cask, the Bridge House, Belfast.
YEAST FROM THE EAST II:
Saturday, 20th May
Our next door neighbour, of some decades, passed away suddenly in hospital. The service was on Saturday 20th May.
As a mark of respect we attended the service and rescheduled the "YEAST FROM THE EAST II" trip to Saturday 3rd JUNE.
ALE BY RAIL
Saturday, 27th May
As requested; a Train trip to Carrickfergus for lunch, a few cask ales and back to Belfast for the traditional pint of ale in the Crown before heading home.
APRIL:
During the month of April we highlighted IBS & Stress on our Twitter feed.
National Bass Day
Saturday, 8th April
A spot of lunch at the Bridge House then a final couple of cask ales at the Crown Bar (which sadly did not have cask Bass Ale available).
MARCH:
March is National Essential Tremor month and we are highlighting this on our Twitter feed.
The long awaited "Yeast From The East" tour, visiting Boundary and Bullhouse East on the Newtownards Road. Then it was back to the city centre for a final couple of ales before heading home.
Once again we did the popular Ale By Rail event from Belfast to Carrickfergus for lunch & some cask ales. Then returned to Belfast for a couple more at the Crown before heading home or onwards.
18th March
Belfast, Europa Train Station - Train leaving 11:42 am
FEBRUARY:
FE-BREW-ARY:
BFTWNI once again supported the local brewers (who find it hard to get their products on to the bar counter and into the licensed trade in general) with its own FEBREWARY campaign.
KA DEAN MEMORIAL PUB CRAWL
To remember the humour & times of "The man with two names". A bt of illness stopped the full pub crawl, but a couple of cask ales sufficed in remembrance.
BUYANUARY:
BFTWNI once again supported the business community (which is usually financially depressed this month, on top of which has been the years of Lockdown) with its own BUYANUARY campaign!
