Beer Festival Roundup 2023 - Part 2
As promised, here is the second part of my 2023 beer festival round up. For 2024 I’m going to try to do a blog post right after each festival, so you get a good idea of what’s going on and breweries to look out for from my experiences. Hopefully though, this round up wiill give you some ideas about which festivals to start planning for this year.
Here’s part one if you missed it.
Manchester Craft Beer Festival
Venue
MCBF is hosted at Mayfield Depot. This is a very open space with an industrial warehouse feel. Of course, lots of room for great breweries! The only thing that I felt was an issue is that the building is a bit leaky - they have some interesting ways of solving this, but as it can be quite damp in Manchester, the venue does get a bit wet inside!
Mayfield Depot is right next to Piccadilly station so is very accessible. There are also several breweries in walking distance if you want to pre or post game.
Vibe
As I said in my previous post, there is a pattern to the We Are Beer festivals:
Friday is usually the most chilled session, with real beer geeks who want to get the first pours of what is available. Saturday day session is always very full and a little bit manic for both brewers and festival goers. Saturday evening session has a bit more of a party vibe but seems less chaotic than the day session. On Saturday evening you may well see beers run out - but that’s what happens when beers are popular over a few days of a beer festival.
This is also true of the Manchester iteration, but the Manchester craft beer drinkers are great people and always bring a cheery vibe.
Manchester has an amazing beer scene so alongside the festival. You will find a range of fringe events happening in bars and taprooms around the city - check out your favourite Manchester brewery’s socials or the WAB socials to find the latest info when you go.
Beer Selection
The We Are Beer festivals tend to have the same breweries in attendance across the three festivals, then add in a few locals to mix things up.
The local breweries added to Manchester included Marble, Seven Brothers, Manchester Union, Courier Brewing, Big Trip, Tartarus, Hideaway and Jimbrew. This selection means if you have been too any of the other festivals you can revisit anyone you really liked, or catch anyone you missed. You’re also able to try some local offerings while you’re at it. My particular faves at Manchester this year were Big Trip, Tartarus and Courier.
Experience
You are always going to have a good time in Manchester, the only problem is there is almost too much to do! Make sure you pace yourself and maybe prioritise the breweries you really want to taste or visit. You always need to make time to do some taproom visits while in Manchester - it’s a must!
Craft Theory
Venue
Craft Theory is a smaller beer and music festival in Reading, held at the South Side Arts Centre. I really liked this venue - it’s very accessible via public transport as it is in Reading town and the layout means that people can move around the building to find different sections easily. There is a selection of street food available and this is set up outside the venue. This was more difficult to access later in the evening.
Vibe
The Berkshire beer scene is very friendly and open and Craft Theory reflected this vibe. There was a good mix of people at the festival and the staff manning it were excellent. Any issues were dealt with quickly and they were supportive of people that needed it.
Beer Selection
There were 12 breweries at the festival - a small but mighty lineup from the local area and beyond:
Crossover Blendery
Delphic Brewing Co
Dolphin brewery
Double-Barrelled Brewery
Elusive Brewing
Good Chemistry Brewing
Holy Goat Brewing
Phantom Brewing Co.
Rivington Brewing Co
Siren Craft Brew
State of Kind Brew Co
Two Flints Brewery
Dolphin Brewery do not get enough love for their epic sours and having them in a lineup next to Holy Goat and Crossover Blendery was great to see. I was also pleased to see our friends from Good Chemistry at the festival, getting their beers to a wider audience outside of Bristol.
Experience
Craft Theory happened to coincide with a friend’s birthday so a bunch of us attended the festival together. I managed to see some people that I didn’t know were going to be there, so it was a very friendly and shared experience with other great, beery people. I think this festival really lends itself to attending with a group of friends.
London CBF
Venue
London Craft Beer Festival is hosted at Tobacco Docks in East London and it is huge! There are two floors filled with breweries, bars and food. It is easy to miss sections or even get turned around while you are browsing for your next beer taster. Give yourself time to have a good look around if you visit this festival and get your bearings. It can also be extremely hot depending on the weather so make sure you are keeping hydrated! There are water stations and glass rinse stations available.
Vibe
At London, We Are Beer add an extra trade session early on the Friday, so iif you qualify as ‘beer trade’ that is a great session to visit and meet other beery people. London, of the three WAB festivals, feels the biggest and the busiest. If you want a quieter experience, I would go on the Friday evening session. Saturday day is by far the craziest and this year was the busiest I had ever seen a beer festival. Large groups tend to come to that session and it can be difficult to move around the festival freely. Beers will run out, so be prepared for that if you come during the Saturday sessions. Tobacco Dock is quite a way away from anything else in London, but if you don’t mind a tube or taxi ride you can also take in some of the London beer scene while you visit. I would plan this in advance though so you know where you are going and how to get there.
Beer Selection
As with Bristol and Manchester, there are similar brewery lineups. London has the addition of the American Brewers Association and the London Brewers Alliance bars which adds a US and local range for you to try. I saw more cocktail options in London as well - Pimentae spicy lageritas were definitely worth a try!
Experience
I feel like London is the festival where I meet most people - friends old and new. I really enjoy the Brewer’s Association bar, but you do need to get in quick to be able to try what you want, rather than what’s left. Give yourself plenty of time to wander and find everything at this festival, but don’t sleep on any special beers you want to try - they will run out! If you’ve never been then you should go at least once, but be prepared for it to be busy.
Peakender
Photo courtesy of Craft Beer Mom
Venue
Peakender is probably one of my favourite festivals - I’m sad that it won’t be going ahead for 2024, but fingers crossed it will return at a later date.
Hosted at the Bakewell showground in the idyllic Peak District, this is a camping festival. You can of course stay locally in the village, or camp under canvas or in a campervan. Whatever floats your boat! The festival itself is out in the open, with marquees housing the bars. It’s a good idea to bring a camping chair or something to sit on as it is literally in a field. There are plenty of food options available on-site, however, even breakfast is available if you are camping.
This is Thornbridge’s festival and within easy walking distance of the site is their brewery taproom. When attending the festival you should definitely make time to take the picturesque walk there and eat some delicious pizza. On the way back you can grab a bakewell tart from the heart of where they are created.
Vibe
As Peakender is a camping festival, the vibe is quite different from those that are more city based. There is a relaxed atmosphere, people are enjoying the views and the company as much as the beer and entertainment. You will find families and dogs mixed in with the regular beer geeks. The bars are manned by volunteers and Thornbridge staff, but guest breweries are also in attendance. This gives the brewers the opportunity to enjoy the festival themselves and you might get the chance to have a chat with them about their beers.
Beer Selection
As noted above, there is a selection of Thornbridge beers available, alongside guest breweries. You will find keg and cask beers available, and in top condition. Thornbride take the opportunity to launch beers at the festival and this year they had the first ever collaboration brewed with Timothy Taylors. I was also a big fan of Chula Vista, a lemon and sea salt sour. The bar staff get a little creative and at one point we were drinking Lucha Vistas - a shandy made with Chula Vista and Lukas lager!
Experience
I was honoured to be asked to talk on a panel of women in beer at this year’s Peakender. It was wonderful to share my experience in beer with everyone, and to be sat on the stage with the likes of Julie from Neptune, who inspired me when I was first getting into beer. The festival hosts a range of talks throughout the weekend along with a very popular pub quiz and a dog show. These, combined with live music, Star Wars characters and family entertainment means there is something for everyone. I really enjoy a day sat in the sun at Peakender, enjoying a delicious beer with friends! Fingers crossed we see the festival back in a few years time.
Leeds International
Venue
I’ve been to Leeds International Beer Festival once before, when it was at it’s original home of the Town Hall in Leeds. As this venue is being refurbished, the festival has been moved to Kirkstall Abbey - which is a beautiful venue! It’s very photogenic and the additions of teepees allow the festival to create distinct, welcoming areas that have a unique feel about them. This is another festival that I would encourage you to visit at least once if you can. The Abbey allows plenty of room for a wide selection of breweries and street food vendors and even when there are a lot of people in attendance there is still plenty of room to move around freely. That is a valuable aspect at a festival, in my opinion!
Vibe
Leeds International has the chilled vibe of a smaller festival, but the bustle of an innercity one. I think it’s something to do with northern hospitality! The venue also adds to the ambience - sitting around old ruins while sipping a delicious beer really adds to your overall experience. I visited both a day and an evening session - the evening was obviously busier and more of a party vibe, while the day was more chilled with lots of good chat with the brewery and bar staff. Take your pick based on your personal preferences!
Beer Selection
As this is an international festival you will find beers from local breweries, European & US beers and those from a little further away from across the UK. During my first visit I had my first sip of Duchesse on draft - so you can find some interesting offerings here. This year there was even a beer hall full of German beer! Of course, we are in the north, so it wouldn’t be a great beer festival without some cask. I managed to try some Jarl from Scottish brewery Fyne Ales on cask and it was delightful!
Another joy to see was the Coven tent. Breweries in this area were selected for their inclusivity, and of course for their delicious brews. It was great to see our friends Merakai, Elusive and Big Trip represented alongside a few other great breweries.
Listen to my chat with Pip, the founder of the Coven, from Leeds International in 2021 on A Woman’s Brew The Podcast here.
Experience
A great selection of beers, a beautiful setting and northern hospitality - what more could you want from a beer festival? There is something about Leeds International that is unique compared to any other festival. I’m not sure what it is - the brewery selection, the people you meet there, the inclusive atmosphere - I can’t put my finger on it, but it is definitely a festival I recommend to everyone!
IndyMan Beer Con
Venue
Indyman is held at the iconic Victoria Baths. Part of the appeal is the Instagram-worthy photo ops - beautiful green tiling and interesting spaces from this former swimming baths. Some of the bars are housed in the old pools and then smaller nooks allow for fun activations - like Thornbridge’s plant room and Queer Brewing’s gay bar inspired room!
Vibe
I feel like Indyman is the beer geeks festival. Being in Manchester, there is, as mentioned before, a great beer scene, so beer-savvy people are drawn to this festival. It is big in scale, but I feel like you get less of the large groups of rowdy people at this festival than others. It is, however a very long festival, running Thursday to Sunday, so people can get a bit tired by the end.
Beer Selection
This festival always brings local breweries alongside the big names you expect to see - Thornbridge, Cloudwater, Verdant along side the likes of SureShot, Alkin, Runaway and Epochal. There is also a changing selection between the sessions, so you need to pick the right one for you (or come for the whole weekend!)
Experience
I really enjoy the educational elements of Indyman. The talks and tastings always bring something interesting. I managed to get to a tasting with Mills, whose beers are notoriously difficult to find. Last year’s room decorated by Queer Brewing brought a fun, inclusive dance club feel to the event, which was an added bonus. You are always sure to find something surprising at Indyman!
Generation Craft
Venue
This small craft beer festival in Kent is housed in the foyer of a local cinema - a truly unique experience! The cinema even allows you to take beers from the festival into a film if you like. There is plenty of seating and if you want to venture away from the festival, Ashford town centre is up the road, along with Low Key Taproom.
Vibe
This festival feels small but mighty! Kent can be a bit of a craft beer desert, so having a variety of craft brewers at the festival brings a bit of excitement for local beer lovers. You get a wide range of people coming to the festival, due to it’s unique venue and it is family friendly due to being able to take in a film as well as a beer festival.
Beer Selection
Each Generation Craft sees a new selection of breweries. The Autumn 2023 edition hosted
Rivington, Vault City, Stannary, Pomona Island, Dolphin, Make Make, Bang The Elephant, Iron Pier and Joule brought amazing Mead. You will always find something interesting at this festival and each time I’ve attended I’ve managed to try a brewery I hadn’t got hold of before.
Experience
GenCraft is such a laid-back, inclusive festival! Being small, there are no huge crowds to navigate, but you can still meet people and have the chance to chat to the brewers who make the beer you are enjoying. The breweries tend to bring something a bit special as well, which just adds to the experience. I also highly recommend getting in on the mead selection if you go.
Glasladies Beer Society Festival
Venue
Located in Glasgow, The Glasladies Beer Society chose the Glasgow University Studen Union for their festival. I was a little confused when I first arrived as there were other events going on in other rooms and one was quite formal, so I thought I was in the wrong place going passed people in tuxedos and ball gowns! But once I found the right room, iit was a lovely space. It reminded me of a classic village hall - all wood and a stage at one end, but there was a balcony full of seating that was very useful. The space allowed for the small selection of Scottish breweries to spread themselves out, so despite the festival being well attended, you could get around to all the breweries and have a little chat if you wanted.
Vibe
This festival took place in December, so there was a real festive feel, even though the festival wasn’t Christmas themed. I loved seeing so many women at the festival as there was a great turnout from the Glasladies society themselves and support from other Scottish breweries and beer people, even if they weren’t there serving beer. I got the chance to hang out with some wonderful people at this festival, which made it even more special. Being from quite far away from Glasgow, I found everyone to be very welcoming and had some lovely chats with other beer loving women who I had not met before.
Beer Selection
Another smaller festival, I was able to get a beer from almost every brewery at the festival which included Overtone, Simple Things Fermentation, Two Towns Down, Dookit, Up Front, Spectra, Deadend Brew Machine and Jump/Ship. I also loved seeing a collab beer on from Dookit and Closet Brewing.
Stand out for me, however, were the barrel aged offerings from Dead End Brew Machine - the Sauvignon Blanc pale was absolutely beautiful!
Experience
Alongside the festival, the Society were also raising money for the Beaton Cancer Charity through a raffle. They had some great prizes up for grabs and I was honoured to help them pull the tickets for these. Overall it is a cozy, fun and festive festival. If you can get to Glasgow for their next festival I can highly recommend it, and don’t worry about going alone - you will make new like-minded friends while you are there!
What festivals are you looking forward to in 2024 already? I’m off to Indie Beer Feast soon - will I see you there?
