BEER drinkers are being invited to attend a special festival launching for the first time in Glasgow.

 

The Great Scottish Beer Celebration will see pale ale connoisseurs and first-time beer tasters descend on the Barras Art and Design Centre (BAaD ).

It is being organised by Derek Hoy and Alec Knox, the owners of West End store Hippo Beers.

The festival has three sessions: Friday March 13 from 6-11pm, Saturday March 14 from 12noon-5pm and 6-11pm.

Mr Hoy, 34, originally from Easterhouse and now living in Battlefield, said: "We've been to quite a few beer festivals ourselves in our time.

"We wanted to take the best parts of each festival that we've been to and put them together.

"It's also about highlighting the Scottish breweries and showing what they can do.

"There's a lot of new guys and it can be hard for them to get out there.

"We just want to bring all these breweries together and get a bunch of people there to try different beers."

A total of 17 breweries and a cider producer will be at the event.

They include Fyne Ales, Brewdog, Six Degrees North, Alechemy Brewing Co and Cromarty Brewing Co.

Cider drinkers are catered for by Thistly Cross Cider and music will be provided by Shout Bamalama DJs.

Street food vendors will also be on hand to keep everyone well fed.

Organisers are in talks with Burger Meats Bun and hope the restaurant will make its outside catering debut.

Mr Hoy said Scots' imaginations had been captured by the independent beer scene. He said: "It's definitely caught the public's imagination and attention.

He said: "We want people to come along and maybe try something they've never tried before.

"We're aiming it at people who are completely new to beer and those who are hardened beer geeks.

"So we're asking the breweries to bring along any new beers or any one-offs that they've got.

"It means the people who've been about the scene for a while will get something new. "

Since Mr Hoy and his businesses partner have opened in Queen Margaret Drive in 2012, they have grown a massive customer base.

Hippo Beers stocks products from Scotland, as well as England, America, Belgium, and Scandinavia.

Mr Hoy said: "We've got a loyal customers but we get new people coming in all the time so that's good to see.

"It just reflects the growing interest in beer in general."

This year, the beer experts say India Pale Ales (IPAs) are still popular.

Mr Hoy said: "Pale ales are still the favourite but there's new things coming on board all the time.

"Sour beers making an impact."

Tickets for the event cost £7.50 and that includes a free souvenir festival glass.

Visit the shop or www.greatscottishbeercelebration.co.uk for tickets.