Preparations are under way ahead of the 2027 Exeter Festival of Beer, which will take place in the city’s Corn Exchange from 14th to 16th January.
The event is being organised by the Exeter and East Devon branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). It will run from 4-10pm on the Thursday and 11am-10pm on the Friday and Saturday.
The event was such a success last year that entry will be by advance ticket only from 11am until 4pm on the Friday. This will help to manage visitor numbers during one of the busiest sessions and ensure a comfortable experience for all attendees, says CAMRA. Advance tickets will be available for all sessions, although tickets may also be purchased on the door for every other session apart from thefive hours on Friday.
The festival, which has been held in Exeter for 37 years, moved to its current venue in 2023 and is a celebration of real ales and real ciders. There will be an opportunity to sample some 66 real ales from British breweries and 10 ciders and perries. There will be four extra casks of the particularly popular beers to try to ensure they remain available throughout the festival.
For the first time, as a trial, there will also be a selection of zero- and low-alcohol beer and cider.
There will be three tutored tasting sessions, two for beer and one for cider. Proper Lagers and Historic and Excellent Brown Ales will both be presented by Devon-based beer writer Tim Webb. Meet the Cider Maker will be hosted by Ben Gray, of Gray’s Devon Cider. The festival charity will be Hospiscare.
“We are really excited to be able to return for a fifth year at the Exeter Corn Exchange,” said a CAMRA spokesperson. “The venue has been well received by those who attended in previous years, and we look forward to welcoming familiar faces and those who are attending for the first time, for what we hope will continue to be a festival with a very friendly atmosphere.
“We would also like to thank all our sponsors and supporters who help make this event possible.”
More details will be available closer to the event at exeter.camra.org.uk/
