Scottish craft beer events not to miss

Published 6th Mar 2015
Updated 24 th Mar 2015

The Scottish craft beer revolution continues to gather pace with new bars celebrating great beer opening up all across the country. With Scotland also producing some of the best real ale anywhere in the UK, there's never been a better time to be a beer drinker.

For those of you interested in trying some of the best beers Scotland has to offer we've created a list of the best upcoming Scottish beer festivals:

The Great Scottish Beer Celebration

A beer festival celebrating Scottish brewing with 18 small breweries pouring a wide range of beer styles plus music from  folk band Shout Bamala and a selection of street food vendors.

Where: Barras Art & Design Centre, Glasgow

When: Friday 13th and Saturday 14th March

Tickets: Approx. £7.50 per person

Contact: 0141 946 3020

Bandstand Beer and Music Festival

The largest indie music and beer festival in the Highlands which boasts more than 160 real ales, ciders and craft beers from all over the world with strong Scottish contigent also present. Expect live music, specialty food, whisky, charity stalls and a barbecue.

Martin Compston on hopes for UK launch of Restless Natives beer ahead of BBC Scotland Norwegian Fling travel show

Where: Bandstand Bar and Restaurant, Nairn

When: Thurs 2nd April to Saturday 4th April

Contact: 01667 452341

Tickets: TBC

Paisley Beer Festival

Scots brewery launch 'beefy Bovril-inspired' beer

Now in it's 27th year, the biggest beer festival in Scotland once brings the widest range of ales and cider available in one location.

The event features over 160 different real ales from all around Scotland and offerings from England, with Lincolnshire this year's focus, and Europe.

Where: Paisley Town Hall

When: Wed 22nd April to Saturday 25th April

Contact: 0300 300 1210

Harvieston Brewery celebrates 40 years with limited edition 40-year-old whisky aged Ola Dubh stout

Tickets: £6 per person

Great Grog Bottled Beer Festival

You are spoilt for choice at this beer festival with over 100 craft bottled beers from across the globe. Tickets available from the Great Grog shop in Edinburgh.

Where: Café Camino, Edinburgh

When: Saturday 25th April

Contact: 0131 667 2855

Tickets: £8 - £10 per

Brew at the Bog

A day of great music and great beer with BrewDog and Bogbain Farm at an event which was voted Scotland's Best Unusual Venue at the Scottish Event Awards. 2015's line-up includes Fatherson, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Hector Bizerk, Honeyblood, Neon Waltz, The Elephant Sessions and the Randolphs.

Where: Bogbain Adventure & Heritage Farm, Inverness

When: Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May

Contact: 01463 772800

Tickets: £45 - £55 per person

Summerhall and Barney's Beer Festival

The 3rd Summerhall & Barney’s Beer Festival returns for 2014. All things beery, yeasty and delicious are packed into Summerhall for one ale-filled weekend. The Dissection room is transformed into a beer hall with breweries including Barney's, Williams Brothers and Fyne Ales hosting a stand alongside Pickering’s Gin.

Where: Summerhall, Edinburgh

When: Friday 15th May and Saturday 16th May

Contact: 0131 560 1581

Tickets: TBC

Helensburgh & Lomond Real Ale Festival

A charity event run by the local Round Table, this year there's over 50 of Scotland's finest real ales on offer as well as a range of ciders and food, all in a lochside setting. Music accompaniment includes blues, rock and ceilidh.

Where: Helensburgh Sailing Club

When: Firday 15th May and Saturday 16th May

Contact: See website

Tickets: TBC

The Glasgow Real Ale Festival

Glasgow Real Ale festival is organised by CAMRA  and features over a hundred real ales, ciders,and Franconian beers.

Where: The Briggait, Glasgow

When: Thursday 25th June to Saturday 27th June

Contact: 0141 553 5890

Tickets: £6 per person

Great Grampian Beer Festival

The Campaign for Real Ales' most northerly festival offers discerning drinkers the opportunity to sample the finest ale that the UK has to offer. Dark stouts, porters and easy drinking milds will be on offer as well as barley wines, wheat beers and light pilsner style ales.

Where: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen

When: Thursday 4th June to Saturday 6th June

Tickets: £6 per person

Craft Beer Rising

Craft Beer Rising and Drygate Brewing Co. partner up for the festival's first ever appearance in Scotland. Sample 200 beers from over 45 breweries with  live music and DJs also featuring.

Where: Drygate Brewery, Glasgow

When: Friday 7th August - Sunday 9th August

Contact: 0141 212 8810

Tickets: TBC

Kingdom of Fife Real Ale and Cider Festival

Sample over 30 real ales from around the country as well as wines, ciders and continental beers. There is live music on offer each night and all guests receive a commemorative beer glass and programme with detailed tasting notes.

Where: Rothes Halls, Glenrothes

When: Thurs 30th April to Saturday the 2nd May

Contact: 01592 611101

Tickets: £5 per person

North Hop

The Highlands' craft beer festival, with live music and street food to supplement the hops.

Where: Eden Court Theatre and Cinema, Inverness

When: Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd August

Tickets: £15- £40 per person

Contact: 01463 234234

Berwick Food and Beer Festival

Dozens of stalls offering some of the best food and drink from the North East of England and the Scottish Borders set in Berwick's 18th century Barracks square.

Where: Barracks and Main Guard, Berwick-Upon-Tweed

When: Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of September

Contact: 08703 331181

Tickets: £2 per person

 

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Driven by a passion for all things drinks-related, Sean writes for The Scotsman extensively on the subject. He can also sometimes be found behind the bar at the world famous Potstill bar in Glasgow where he continues to enhance his whisky knowledge built up over 10 years advising customers from all over the world on the wonders of our national drink. Recently, his first book was published. Dubbed Gin Galore, it explores Scotland's best gins and the stories behind those that make them.
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