Derby bar's US Canada beer festival: Locals react to artisan beer ‘rarely seen’ in UK
The event spotlights top US and Canadian breweries
Things may seem a little tense across the pond however it is all smiles and camaraderie at Suds & Soda, a popular craft beer and tasting room in Derby.
The Derby bar and tasting room on Friar Gate is hosting a very special event showcasing the best breweries from the US and Canada - and thirsty locals are in for a treat.
Lee from Suds & Soda has organised the Beers Over Borders event that started on Thursday, March 28, 2025.
It will finish when the beer dries up, leaving beer fans to no doubt anticipate the next event.
On the menu is a range of craft beers sourced from specialty breweries such as Brewskey from Montréal, Tired Hands from Pennsylvania and Hudson Valley from New York.
We spoke to Lee about the beers on offer and he revealed his favourite tipples to us.
Lee, owner of Suds & Soda Derby shares his favourite beers
Speaking about the range, Lee said: “My suppliers only get one or two pallets a year, so it’s really cool to share these beers with our customers.
“The Avena by Brewskey is definitely one of my favourite beers.
“I also really like the Sunshine On Closed Eyes by Trial & Ale brewery, Glycerin from Hudson Valley too, they’re all great but they are probably my top three favourites.”
Cultivating trust and an expert palate appears to be one of Lee’s specialities.
Carla enjoys Avena by Brewskey
Carla from Spondon is a regular visitor at Suds & Soda who sampled some beer ahead of diving into a hot favourite of the evening, the highly lauded Avena beer.
Carla said: “I saw there was a beer event happening here at Suds & Soda.
“We are regulars here anyway, so it was just a good excuse to come down and try some new beers.
“It’s great to see beers here that you wouldn’t normally find on the menu.
“I’ve tried the Avena by Brewskey brewery, this one’s recommended by Lee, he gave me a little taster first and it’s very nice.
“I’m not into sour beers, and I know that Lee’s been trying to get me into sour beers!
“I’m into the paler, hoppy ones. I’ll probably speak to Lee and see what he recommends next.”
Beer expert Ian is a fan of Mosaic Dream by Other Half
Beer connoisseur Ian from Spondon was also appreciative of the diverse range of beers on offer at Suds & Soda.
He said: “I’ve just had the Mosaic Dream by Other Half, a brewery from New York, it’s good.
“It’s not one I’ve had before, it’s been one I’ve always wanted to try. It’s the first opportunity in Derby I have had to try it.
“There’s a couple of other breweries here that I’ve also got on my list to tick off.
“I’m probably going to go for a Hudson Valley next, which is a sour one.”
Reflecting on his experience with beers from the US and Canada, Ian said: “When we went to Canada for a holiday in 2011, we visited a few breweries to taste some Canadian beers.
“When we went on honeymoon to New York in 2009 - this was before the craft beer boom in the UK - we went around quite a few craft bars in New York as well.
“It pretty much got us into beer in the UK.
“When we went over to America, we were more into the real ale scene, CAMRA beers, hand-pulled.”
Reflecting on the beer culture between the US, Canada and the UK, Ian said: “Going to America and tasting these really hoppy beers, keg beers, I think it took the UK a few years to catch up really, to what America was already doing.
“Suds & Soda is our favourite craft beer place in town, we really like Furnace Inn, where Shiny Brewery started off.”
Speaking about the beer scene in Derby, Ian had some top recommendations.
He said: “Shiny Tap outside of Derby, The Alex near the train station, there’s some really nice beers in there too, places that serve a mixture of cask and keg .
“There’s lots of good places in Derby.”
Suds & Soda has been open since 2016 and has built a loyal base of beer fans over the years.
Simon is a fan of oat cream IPA
One of the tasting room’s fans is Simon from Derby who visits the Friar Gate pub for its ‘top notch service’.
Sipping a pint while standing at the bar, Simon was keen to share his favourite beers of the night.
He said: “So far I’ve gone for the two DIPAs (Double India Pale Ale); Juice Pile by Other Half, Topazos by Brewskey and [Avena] the oat cream IPA.
“The oat cream IPA is fantastic, as was recommended by Lee and his excellent palate.”
Simon thinks the Beers Over Borders event brings something different to the city’s beer offering.
He said: “It brings a different dynamic, we don’t really see Americanised beers other than your Budweisers, it opens up a new vocabulary of flavours.”
Tom enjoy sipping Juice Pile by Other Half
Tom from Derby is also another beer fan.
He said: “I came to Suds for the Beers Over Borders, I have been enjoying it.
“I tried Mosaic Dream by Other Half, Avena by Brewskey, I’m on the Juice Pile by Other Half which is going down nicely.
“The Avena is my current favourite.
“With Suds, I feel there’s nowhere else in Derby that offers this type of beer and community.
“Suds is my favourite place in Derby.
“The beer community is growing, I think you’ve just got to give it time to flourish.”
Gareth is partial to stout
Gareth Crowe popped in after visiting another local beer event in neighbouring Burton.
He said: “I’ve just come from the Burton Beer Festival, here I had the stout and a few of the others that were rather nice.”
My personal favourite is oat cream IPA
While at the Beers Over Borders event I had to taste some beer (it would be rude not to).
I loved the Avena oat cream IPA which was one of Lee’s recommendations.
I enjoy craft beer but I have never tasted an oat cream IPA before.
It was delicious with an intriguing flavour profile that was fragrant and subtly sweet on the swallow.
With a silken mouthfeel, I couldn’t get enough of the surprisingly moriesh tipple.
It was so beautiful, that after I finished it, I ordered some to pack up as takeaway to enjoy it later that evening with my husband.
That is the beauty of unique events such as Beer Over Borders, it gives people, I feel, golden opportunities to try beer not usually found here in the UK.
Beers Over Borders is at Suds & Soda Derby until stocks last.
Location: Suds & Soda, Friary Works, 119 Friar Gate, Derby DE1 1EX
For more information visit Suds & Soda’s Facebook page by clicking here.