This is all your beer-loving dreams come true. The Great British Beer Festival (not to be confused with a certain baking show) will unfold under the domed roof of Olympia London from August 1-5, with hundreds of lagers, ales and ciders from around the world to indulge in. Not only that but there’ll be delicious street food at hand to soak up the pints and live entertainment to keep the good times flowing late into the evening. Beer fans will truly be in their element here.
The Great British Beer Festival is an iconic piece of hop history, dating back to 1977. Organised by the Campaign for Real Ale, also known as CAMRA, the annual festival serves up over 900 craft beers that visitors can sip or sample to their heart’s content. You can expect everything from traditional ales to modern IPAs tumbling from the taps into your spiffy souvenir glass – that comes as part of the ticket I might add.
What can you expect at The Great British Beer Festival?
As you tantalise your tastebuds with beautifully hoppy concoctions you’ll be able to stroll around the sprawling venue – learning about the fascinating brewing process and soaking up enlightening insights about the history of beer in the UK. There’s even a variety of expert-led tasting sessions to partake in for an extra cost, a unique chance to find out the story and subtleties behind different aromas and flavours. You’ll have the refined palate of a beer connoisseur in no time.
You’ll soon be overflowing with beer knowledge to bestow on your friends next time you head out for a pint at the local. Speaking of, if you fancy yourself a champion of classic pub games such as Shuffleboard, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to unleash your competitive side against worthy opponents. After, you can celebrate your win (or mourn your loss) by topping up your tipple and catching some live music from the cover bands and emerging artists that will be taking to the stage throughout the week.
All your favourite breweries have bagged a spot on the Brewery Bars, including Adnams, Theakstons, Renegade, Fyne Ales, Harvey’s and more, so you’ll have no shortage of options to choose from, in fact, you might want to allow extra time for deliberation. Don’t be afraid to bring along the non-beer-lovers or designated drivers either, as there will also be gin, wine and soft drinks at hand to keep them happy. Discover the brew-tiful delights of the biggest beer festival in the UK, grab your tickets today before they disappear faster than you can say ‘cheers to that’.