This year's St Albans Beer & Cider Festival has something for all tastes. With an array of showcase bars, you'll get to sample the extended ranges of our featured brewers as well as chat to the people behind the products. In addition to these, our traditional festival bars - arranged in a brand new layout for this year - will feature specially-curated selections of beers and ciders from across the UK and the world. Plus, for the first time ever, we're hosting a premium wine and spirits bar as part of the festival too.
We'll be publishing a full beer and cider list ahead of the Festival, including a function to create your own personalised list - so watch out for that, coming soon.
Festival bars
UK Stage Bar– Offering the Festival's largest and most diverse selection of cask ales, our Stage Bar features a range of beer styles, from breweries all over the UK. Not sure what you're looking for? Head straight here and our enthusiastic volunteer bar staff will help you find something to suit your palate! Sponsored by Kent's Wantsum Brewery and Norfolk's Woodforde's Brewery, the bar will also be showcasing an extended range of both breweries' fine, award-winning products on handpump.
Hertfordshire Bar – Moving back onto the stage this year is our unique Hertfordshire Bar. Here you'll find a fantastic selection of locally-produced beers, not least because we aim to feature every cask ale brewer based in our home county! Sponsored by Hoddesdon's New River Brewery, the bar will also be showcasing an extended range of their celebrated and award-winning "beer from the riverbank" on handpump.
* NEW FOR 2024 * Regional Spotlight Bar: Merseyside - In a new innovation for St Albans Beer & Cider Festival we're introducing a new, outside bar on the patio which will shine a spotlight on the beer scene of a different region of the UK each year. This time it's Merseyside. Expect to find a range of classic and modern ales that are seldom seen in the south of England and will show you the absolute best of what breweries from this part of the country have to offer.
International floor
Downstairs on the lower floor of the Arena is our dedicated mecca for international beer fans. We'll be offering up to 70 bottled beers from around the globe, plus no- and low-alcohol options. Additional seating is also available on this level, so settle in, browse the menu, chat to our expert staff, and enjoy some delights from overseas!
Brewery bars
Mad Squirrel Brewery – Located upstairs in their own dedicated area, here the focus is on delicious, cold and refreshing key-keg beer, but there'll be traditional cask ale offerings too, and possibly something very special in bottles. Mad Squirrel really do offer something for every beer lover, so if you're not acquainted with the crazy rodent from the Chilterns, now's the time. This area also features additional seating and an outdoor terrace / smoking area.
* NEW FOR 2024 * Oakham Ales - After a five year absence, we're delighted to welcome Oakham back to the festival with their very own bar! Famed for their intensely hoppy beers, the Peterborough-based "craft brew legends" are bringing their distinctive range and some rare surprises to our main hall. Oakham were amongst the very first UK brewers to pioneer the use of hops from the USA and the New World in this country back in the early '90s. Fast forward to today and they are well known and loved by beer connoisseurs nationwide.
Ossett Brewery – Ey up! Yorkshire-favourites Ossett Brewery are back by popular demand for the third year running, but with a fresh line-up of ales. A progressive and passionate independent brewery located near Leeds, they'll be showcasing the best of their highly regarded beers - as well as some very special collaboration brews - in the main hall. Not to be missed!
* NEW FOR 2024 * Siren Craft Brew - A modern brewery based in Berkshire, creating flavour-forward beers designed to excite and intrigue, Siren are joining us for the first time. They brew beers for everyone, producing a whole host of aromas, flavours, colours and textures. Their mission is to get everyone on that journey of discovery into what beer can be - so why not begin yours at their dedicated bar in the main hall.
* NEW FOR 2024 * Timothy Taylor's - Timothy Taylor’s is one of the UK’s oldest family-owned breweries with over 160 years’ heritage of brewing award-winning ales, with their Landlord winning more awards than any other beer, winning both CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain and the Brewing Industry Awards Gold Medal four times. Established in 1858 when Timothy Taylor began brewing in Keighley, the company remains in the family and is the last independent brewery of its type left in West Yorkshire. The very finest ingredients, combined with their uncompromising brewing process, ensure they deliver "that taste of Taylor’s" every time. Joining us at the Festival for the first time since 2019, you can find their bar in the main hall.
Tring Brewery - Longstanding festival stalwarts Tring Brewery are hosting their own bar exclusively featuring Tring products. Alongside their famous favourites like Side Pocket For a Toad and Ridgeway, expect to find many exciting brews here that you won't have seen in local pubs, but all featuring that wonderful flavour profile you've come to expect from Tring beers. Crafted with the finest UK barley, hops meticulously sourced from all around the world, and beautiful water filtered through the chalk of the surrounding Chiltern Hills, these are beers that deliver an array of sensory pleasures. Their bar is in the main hall.
Vale Brewery - An independent, family owned brewery nestled in the heart of the picturesque Aylesbury Vale, the brewery's team spans across generations, blending a wealth of experience and a shared passion for the craft. Vale aim to brew exceptional beer that not only tantalizes the taste buds but also brings people together. Tracing their roots back to 1995, Vale had an exciting rebrand this year and have refreshed their cask ale line-up. Making a welcome return to the festival, you'll find Vale's bar in the main hall.
Brewery sponsors' selection
We'll also be offering extended ranges of beers from our other brewery sponsors on our Festival bars:
McMullen's - Hertford’s Brewery has been run by the McMullen family since Peter McMullen established it in 1827. Today, the "Whole Hop Brewery" remains in the town centre and has been designed to ensure consistent ales meeting stringent high standards that delight their pub regulars and reassure cask ale connoisseurs. Mac's are sponsoring our token stand this year and you can find beers from their "authentic heritage" range on the Hertfordshire Bar.
New River Brewery – Established in 2015 on the banks of the New River in Hoddesdon, New River are sponsoring our Hertfordshire Bar, where you'll find a wide selection of their delicious beers. Famed for their brewing skills, meticulous processes and fabulous recipes, New River have gained a strong reputation for brewing the kind of beers people love to drink, and as a go to brewery for reliable, honest, great tasting cask ales.
Rivertown - Part of the McMullen's business, Rivertown was launched in 2017 to produce more experimental craft beers of a very different style to the classic, traditional flavours of its parent brewery. With a more hop-forward profile and brewed to be vegan friendly, Rivertown's modern beers can be found on the Hertfordshire Bar.
* NEW FOR 2024 * Wantsum - Wantsum Brewery joins us for the first time this year as a sponsor of our UK Stage Bar. The brewery takes its name from the Wantsum Channel, the watercourse separating the Isle of Thanet and what was the mainland of the English county of Kent. Having grown since 2009 from brewing 24 firkins a week to now 200 a week, they produce beers in a wide range of styles, using only the finest British barley and a variety of hops sourced locally in Kent and from around the world. You can sample a selection of their ales, served on handpumps, on the UK Stage Bar.
Woodforde's - Woodforde's story began in the 1960’s during the new-wave revolution of home brewers creating authentic flavours and crafting their own beers. From those humble beginnings the commercial brewery was established in Norfolk in 1981, and has always stayed true to its values by using the best locally grown malt, carefully selected fresh whole hop flowers and water from its ancient aquifer. You'll be able to find their beers on the UK Stage Bar.
Cider and perry bar
Our epic cider and perry bar is back once again in the main hall. As always, dozens of products will be on offer, sourced from all over the UK but featuring a strong presence from local producers. Staffed by our volunteer cider experts, they'll be on-hand to guide you through the wide selection and find something to suit your palate.
Wine and spirits
An exciting new addition at the festival for 2024 - for the first time ever we're hosting a wine and spirits bar. Powered by St Albans-based The Vine Cellar, this will be located in the main hall and offering a selection of delicious, premium drinks. So yes, you can bring along your non-beer drinking partner or friend to the festival and both have a great time!
The Vine Cellar is run by Bill, Alex and Mike, who started out their journey sourcing quality wine directly from the producers, visiting vineyards, and understanding the history behind each individual wine. Because they predominately buy directly from family-run producers, they are able to seek out those hidden gems that deliver the 'wow' factor and take the drinker on a journey of discovery.
Gluten free and vegan options
Gluten-free and vegan beers will be clearly labelled at the bars and more detailed allergen information available on request. All cider and perry is gluten free and vegan-friendly.
