Black Country brewers come together for festival's big beer send off

Throughout July, the borough will once again be draped with the red, white and black of the Black Country flag, where hundreds of events will take place as part of the popular regional festival.

But new for 2016 is the return of The Dudley Beer Festival – a three-day event being held at Brierley Hill Civic Hall between July 29 and 31 – which will close the month of Black Country celebrations.

The event hopes to put local brewers centre stage as it brings together all of the Black Country institutions for a historic weekend of fun.

James Stevens, chairman of the Black Country Festival organising committee, said: “The Black Country Brewery trade is unique in the world.

“Not only because of the diversity of the products and players, but also because our combined brewing experience is in excess of 1,000 years, in which time we have turned out one billion beers.

“Nowhere else on the planet can boast of such longevity and productivity from within a ten-mile radius.

“We will be shouting this from the rooftops as we celebrate with brews that have been enjoyed in our area for well over a century. We will also be entertaining the masses throughout the weekend with the area’s best loved entertainers appearing at the civic.

“It will be the closing party of the festival and will raise the bar on our celebrations yet again.”

Following two successful years of celebrations, organisers hope this year’s Black Country Festival will be bigger and better than the last, with other events including charity fundraisers, sporting events, local carnivals and private celebrations.

Councillor Pete Lowe, leader of Dudley Council, said: “What better way to toast the success of the Black Country than with a beer festival.

“This is just one of a range of events which will be taking place throughout July and I hope to see as many people sampling the finest beers this country produces, all home brewed in the Black Country.”