Best Beer Festivals

21 July, 2008
by: Sherbet

There's a 'warm' war raging in London. In run-down boozers and traditional Victorian pubs, 'soldiers' for real ale sit grumbling about the commercialization of the local. Angered by the replacement of real ale on the pumps by cheaper international brands, they have created a host of festivals to honour the bitter gods.

With an emphasis on entertainment, go to a festival with two aims in mind: to sample everything on offer and to head home slightly tipsy.

Bier Festival
What's not to like about Germany? Snow capped hillsides, fresh air and gourmet schnitzels by the truckloads. We're tempted by Oktoberfest, but why wait five months when you can slip down to Lambeth and get your German hit right now?

The Zeitgeist was London's first German gastropub. Festival beer is £3.50 a pint, tapped from Microbrewery barrels before your eyes. Many of the beers will never have been seen in Britain before.
Zeitgeist @The Jolly Gardeners
15-18 May
Free
Website

Cambridge Beer Festival
We couldn't produce a beer festivals feature without including the oldest beer festival in the United Kingdom. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, they are expecting over 32,000 beer enthusiasts this summer. Sample 170 real ales, 150 ciders as well as 60 imports, English wines and mead.

Spoonfed Recommends the Trappist ales made by monks of the strictest Benedictine order in Belgium. There are six 'Trappist' abbeys out there and this festival has them all on offer.
Victorian Ave
19-24 May
Tue - Fri free before 5pm / £3.50 after 5pm. Sat £2 from 11am
Website

Ealing Beer Festival XIX
Within the beautiful surrounding of this historic park, the Ealing Beer Festival is a prelude to the Ealing Summer Festival of jazz and live music. Run by volunteers, there's a committee at the moment deciding on the guest beers.
Walpole Park
2-5 July
Free
Website

The Great American Beer Festival
Travelling across the pond is too much trouble just to sample the 1600 or so American beers being made right now. Besides Budweiser.

In honour of America's fine brewing tradition, The White Horse hosts three days of revelry featuring rare cask ales from the States as well as novelty transatlantic draughts.
The White Horse SW6
4-6 July
Free

1st Greenwich Beer & London Jazz Festival
Within the scenic grounds of the Old Royal Navy College, the 1st Greenwich Beer & Jazz festival promises to be a great outing for anyone interested in either. There are over 70 beers, cider, imported brews and country wines on offer, accompanied by lunchtime and evening jazz performances from local and international artists.
Old Royal Navy College
16-20 July
Free
Website

31st Great British Beer Festival
The daddy of London beer festivals, organised by the Campaign for Real Ale and held at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre.

Founded in 1977, over 66,000 bitter lovers walked through the 400 stalls in 2006, necking 350,000 pints of ale from a selection of over 450 different ales including golden ales, fruit beers, stouts, bitters and some 'proper' international lagers.

If you're not that much of a beer nut, there's still plenty to enjoy – live music, pub quizzes, food samples, shopping and alcohol, don't forget the free booze.
Earls Court Exhibition Centre
5-9 August
Day ticket £8 Beer Tasting at 6pm £12
Website

The 26th Famous Old Ale Festival
As a festival t-shirt I once saw said 'Beer is proof that God loves us'. In its 26th year, the White Horse (again – they love ale) hosts a festival of historical classic ales including over 40 cask ales ranging from porter, stout, old ale, vintage and barley wine. Plenty to keep you entertained for the weekend.
The White Horse SW6
28-30 November
Free

Best of the Rest:

9th Kingston Beer Festival
27-28th June
Fri £3, Sat £1.50
Website

Belgian Beer Festival
22-25 August
Free
Website

13th Croydon & Sutton Beer & Cider Festival
Wallington Hall
13 Oct
£2
Website

Twickenham Beer & Cider Festival
23 Oct
£1.50
Website

Keen for more? See more about:

London Fairs
London Parks
London Events