With interest in local, small-batch and independent beer growing year on year, your pub can become a hub for discovery—without the logistical pressure of hosting a large-scale event.
Here’s how to plan and run a successful mini beer festival that your customers (and local breweries) will love.
Celebrate Local Brewing Talent
Small independent breweries are often the beating heart of a region’s food and drink scene. A mini beer festival gives them a platform to share seasonal ales, limited-edition brews, or experimental batches that might not otherwise reach a wider audience.
By inviting two to six breweries from your area, you keep the focus on quality over quantity, ensuring visitors enjoy a curated, meaningful tasting experience.
Plan the Perfect Format
A mini beer festival doesn’t need to take over your whole pub or garden. You can:
Dedicate one bar area or a single function room
Set up pop-up bars in your beer garden
Run brewery “takeover hours” throughout the day
Offer a flight board featuring all guest beers
Small breweries will often bring their own staff, pump clips, and equipment, which makes setting up much easier for you.
Offer Tasting Flights and Festival Cards
Customers love the chance to sample several beers without committing to a full pint. Create:
£5–£10 tasting flights with 1/3-pint measures
Festival passports or punch cards, encouraging visitors to try beers from each brewery
Feedback cards, allowing customers to vote for their favourite local brew
This encourages longer dwell time and increases sales across the board.
Boost Your Food Offer
Pairing food with beer elevates the whole experience. Consider:
Local cheese boards
Gourmet burgers
Slow-cooked pub classics
Seasonal sharing platters
You can even collaborate with brewers on special dishes made with their beer—think stout-glazed sausages or ale-infused pies.
Promote Your Event Across All Channels
To maximise turnout, promote the festival at least four weeks in advance via:
Posters in the pub and around your town
Social media teasers highlighting each brewery
Listing the event on local tourism and community websites
Featuring the brewers in short video interviews
Linking to your online menu or booking page
Small breweries will usually promote their involvement too, giving you valuable shared exposure.
Add Entertainment and Extras
A mini beer festival is more than just beer. To create atmosphere, you could include:
Live acoustic music
Pub quizzes
Meet-the-brewer chats
Mini masterclasses about hops, malts, or brewing styles
Local craft stalls or food producers
These touches turn your festival into a full-day experience, not just a tasting session.
Make It an Annual Tradition
Once you run your first mini beer festival, you may find customers asking for it to become part of your seasonal calendar. Whether you choose a summer garden event or an autumn harvest-themed festival, making it a recurring fixture gives your pub a unique identity and something special to shout about.
A well-run mini beer festival can bring your community together, boost revenue, support independent brewers, and give your pub a memorable signature event. With a little organisation and a few enthusiastic local breweries, you can host a fantastic day that celebrates everything brilliant about your area’s beer scene.
If you want That's Food and Drink to give your beer festival some publicity, please tell us in the comments below.
