Beer festival round up: July-September

by Doreen Joy Barber 07 July 2015

Summer is a special time to enjoy great beer, and there are plenty of events in the UK (and a little bit beyond) where one can enjoy the diverse range of craft beer and real ale on offer. Although it can be difficult to top spending time in the beer garden of your local pub, check out these upcoming events and festivals where you can enjoy some amazing beer from all over.

Doreen Joy Barber

Doreen works as the Communications and Marketing Manager for The Five Points Brewing Company in Hackney, East London, and has worked with beer in some capacity on both sides of the Atlantic for half a decade.

Doreen Joy Barber

London Brewers’ Market - 11 July

The London Brewers’ Market is seeing its fifth visit to Old Spitalfields Market in London’s East End on Saturday the 11th of July. Twenty-five London breweries plus a meadery will be setting up shop in the market’s historic stalls. Breweries at this market include The Five Points Brewing Company (who also organise the market), Camden Town Brewery and Partizan Brewing. The London Brewers’ Market will be running alongside the Independent Label Market from 11am until 7pm, and both markets are free entry.

Birmingham Beer Bash - 23–25 July

Held in a former canal warehouse, Birmingham Beer Bash is back again this year with great beer from craft breweries all over the country. You’ll find beer from the likes of Offbeat Brewing Company, Redwillow Brewery, Cloudwater Brew Co. and several more. The session on Thursday the 23rd is for trade, but there are Friday and Saturday day and evening sessions available with tickets starting at £10 each—be sure to book yours quick, as tickets are already starting to sell out.

Epping Ongar Railway Real Ale Festival - 31 July–2 August

Epping Ongar Railway will be hosting their wonderful Real Ale Festival from Friday the 31st of July to Sunday the 2nd of August. This is an ideal event for cask ale fans as well as railroad enthusiasts, as vintage steam and diesel trains ferry you between two stations. Over 50 real ales selected from the Great Eastern Railway region will be available during the weekend, along with 15 ciders. Tickets start at £12 for adults, with family prices and CAMRA discounts also available.

London Beer City - 7–16 August

Not a beer festival so much as a citywide celebration of beer, London Beer City will see pubs, bars and breweries host a large variety of events all over London from food and beer pairings, meet the brewer nights, tap takeovers, art exhibitions, live brews and more. Ticket prices vary with each event, and some events are free to attend, so have a look at the schedule and plan a wonderfully beery week!

Clara and James of Five Points Brewing Company at London Brewers' Market

Vintage transport and great beer aplenty at Epping Ongar Railway Real Ale Festival

Great British Beer Festival - 11–15 August

Organised by the Campaign for Real Ale, the Great British Beer Festival will be held at Kensington Olympia from Tuesday the 11th to Saturday the 15th of August. With beer from over 350 breweries from throughout the United Kingdom as well as international beers and ciders, this is Britain’s biggest beer festival and there’ll be something for everyone. Tickets start at £10 per session, with a £2 discount for CAMRA members.

London Craft Beer Festival - 13–16 August

Bringing a solid range of craft brewers to the capital, London Craft Beer Festival is an event for the beer connoisseur as well as those looking for new discoveries in beer styles and tastes. The 25 breweries featured at Oval Space are practically a who’s who of movers and shakers in the craft beer world, including local favourites The Kernel Brewery and Beavertown Brewery, as well as Omnipollo from Sweden and Edge Brewing from Barcelona. Tickets are £38.50 per session, which includes unlimited 90ml tasters.

Irish Craft Beer and Cider Festival - 27–29 August

Only a short hop across the Irish Sea, The Irish Craft Beer and Cider Festival will be held from Thursday the 27th to Saturday the 29th of August, in RDS, Dublin. Visitors will expect to see over 50 stands featuring craft breweries and cider makers from all over Ireland, with some stands having festival-exclusive brews. Breweries include Eight Degrees Brewing, Kinnegar Brewing and N17. Tickets start at just €10 per session.

Leeds International Beer Festival - 3–6 September

Leeds International Beer Festival is a fantastically fun four-day festival running from Thursday the 3rd to Sunday the 6th of September. You’ll find Kirkstall Brewery in good company with Magic Rock Brewing, Siren Craft Brew and many more. In addition to great beer, expect some excellent food options from the local Leeds scene. Tickets are £7 for each session except for the Sunday session, which is £5.