The best of Bristol Beer Week

Bristol Beer Week returns from August 27 to September 2 celebrating the local independent beer scene. With new breweries, new venues and even more collective enthusiasm for beer in the West Country, the festival should be another step towards cementing Bristol as the preeminent UK beer destination outside of London. Founder Stephen Powell rounds up 10 of the best events.

1. East Bristol Brewery Trail

August 27 & 28

With just a short walk between each brewery, it’s a chance to meet the brewers from Arbor, Good Chemistry, Moor, Dawkins and Left Handed Giant, explore the area and sample some great beers. The trail is free and family friendly.

2. Little Victories

August 28

Small Street Espresso’s second opening will focus on artisanal coffee, beer and charcuterie. Their first beer week event will involve a refined selection of two local beers, two organic/natural wines and one espresso, to see which best pairs with five different cheeses.

3. Kongs, Wiper and True takeover

August 29

Wiper and True will be taking over 20 taps with their eclectic range of beers – including the launch of a new bread and butter beer – alongside a beer paired menu from Kongs’ residents Burger Theory.

4. Royal Navy Volunteer, Wild Beer Co takeover

August 31

The Somerset brewery  – who will be opening their new beer in Wapping Wharf in time for the festival – are famous for creating beers from wild yeasts, fruits and grains. Often challenging, always delicious, never dull; expect sourness, hop bombs, smoke, salt and a few tonnes of fruit.

5. Small Bar, Thornbridge and the Bristol Cheesemonger

September 1

British brewing royalty, Thornbridge, will offer five of their beers with five favourite British cheeses, paired expertly with the help of The Bristol Cheesemonger. There will also be a large range of Thornbridge beers on the Small Bar taps. 

6. Beer Emporium, Lervig takeover

September 1

Founded by the townsfolk of Stavanger in Norway, after Carlsberg bought and closed their local brewery, Lervig Aktiebryggeri are making a name for themselves as one of the most creative breweries in the world, and this is a unique chance to try some of their best beers.

7. Bishopston Supper Club

September 1

Acclaimed chef Danielle Coombs’s usual communal supper club format will take on a beer theme curated by beer aficionados Karen and Matt Wickham.

8. Wild Beer Co at Wapping Wharf

One of the highlights of Bristol Beer Week 2016 will surely be the opening of the Wild Beer Co bar in the new Wapping Wharf development. The new bar will focus on the Wild Beer range and the best of the rest of the UK beer scene. The food offering is in collaboration with Hook, a very non-traditional fish and chip restaurant from Camden Town.

9. Homebrew competition

Brilliant beer shop Brew on St Nicholas Street will be running the Bristol Beer Week 2016 homebrew competition. Entry and submission deadline is August 24, with an award ceremony and party on August 31 at the Moor Tap. For more information, visit www.brewbristol.com.

10. Bristol Craft Beer Festival, Motion

September 2 & 3

The new Bristol Craft Beer Festival will be closing out Bristol Beer Week 2016. A festival ticket gives you unlimited opportunity to explore and discover more than 30 world-leading breweries bringing more than 200 different beers.

For the full event list, visit www.bristolbeerweek.co.uk and keep an eye on @bristolbeerweek on Twitter.

Read more: Are craft beer pubs ruining Bristol?