Temperatures are getting warmer and the sun is making an appearance, which means summer is finally approaching!
That also brings with it lazy afternoons in beer gardens and picnics with pints in the sunshine - and beer festivals are back for 2022.
This summer, they've upped the ante with a host of brilliant locations including a historic warship, bike show, ancient churches and even the Ascot Racecourse.
Live music, craft gin bars and even camping are on the cards if you're looking for something fun to do this summer with your mates.
To give you a helping hand we've picked out some of the best beer festivals not to miss...
WarriorFest
A beer festival on a historic warship might not necessarily seem like the smartest idea, but WarriorFest, run by Portsmouth brewery Staggeringly Good, works on every level.
And it is on every level of the 40-gun warship built between 1859 and 1861 and now a museum ship and venue.
WarriorFest gets you exploring every corner of the historic vessel with bars set up serving Staggeringly Good’s own dinosaur-themed beers and a host of special guests across several decks and various points around the ship.
It’s a unique experience with groups sat around the ship and appropriate live music in the background. The event is expected to return in 2022.
Bombed Out Church Beer Festival - Liverpool
We’ve just missed this one in 2021, but Bombed Out Beer Festival takes place in the aforementioned church (St Luke’s) - one of Liverpool’s most famous landmarks - which suffered catastrophic damage in the 1941 blitz.
The church is now a cultural venue and hosted a beer festival in November that had over a 100 beers, ciders as well as a craft gin bar.
It’s been running a few years so we’re expecting to see another event in 2022.
No Bull Just Beer and Bikes - Builth Wells, Powys
Bikes - check, beer - check, camping - check, twice a year - check!
A bike show and a beer festival, plus you can stop over on site for the five day event that takes place in May and August 2022.
If we’re talking niche then as well as being a large indoor venue with a bar, catering and toilets - all pretty standard - the events website boasts a 100ft water slide.
The 2022 event takes place between 26th and 30th May and 25th and 29th August.
Also see: The Real Ale Wobble which takes place in the home of bog snorkelling - Llanwrtyd Wells
Ascot Beer Festival - Ascot Racecourse
By Royal appointment this one. Well almost. We’re not quite sure Her Royal Highness has ever been at her favourite racecourse for the annual South East Berks CAMRA beer festival but it’s absolutely one of a kind.
Set in the sprawling main stand of Ascot Racecourse during a racing weekend, the 2021 event featured 160 real ales, ciders and perry from some of Berkshire’s finest breweries in early October.
It’s a huge event that is backed up by a proper day at the races. It’ll be back in 2022.
Gloucester Beer Festival - Gloucester Blackfriars
In the heart of Gloucester city centre, a beer festival emerges in an ancient priory originally founded in 1239.
Blackfriars Priory is now a restored events space but was originally one of six that were arranged like a small monastery. Blackfriars is one of the oldest buildings in the city and hosts the Gloucester Beer Festival, but drinker beware the uneven floors that come with a building of its age!
Please drink responsibly, 18+ only.
