One of the UK’s best-loved beer festivals is returning to Liverpool this month, bringing top breweries, street food, and music to the heart of the Baltic Triangle.
Craft Beer Expo runs from Thursday 29th to Saturday 31st May at Black Lodge Brewery, taking over its sprawling indoor and outdoor site on Kings Dock Street.
Now in its 12th year, the Expo is the UK’s longest-running craft beer event and a mainstay of the national beer calendar, known for championing independent breweries.
With more than 30 breweries involved and hundreds of beers pouring, it’s a chance to explore everything from crisp lagers and juicy IPAs to sours, stouts, and experimental brews.
This year’s line-up features returning favourites and new names, such as Neptune, Glen Affric, Colbier, Thornbridge, and Wylam.
There’s plenty for non-beer drinkers, too, with cider, gin cocktails, natural wine, and alcoholic ice cream all on offer.
“We started the Expo back in 2013, to bring great beer to people in a way that felt down to earth and fun,” said Paul Seiffert, co-founder of Black Lodge Brewery and the man behind the event.
“It’s grown a lot, but it’s still got that same energy. We’ve always mixed well-known breweries with newer names and made it a genuinely enjoyable way to spend time with your mates, whether you’re into beer or just curious.”
There are four sessions across the weekend, with tickets on sale now at craftbeerexpo.co.uk. Thursday evening (5pm to 11pm) is £13.50, while Friday evening and both Saturday sessions, afternoon (noon to 5pm) and evening (6pm to 11pm), are £15. Saturday has proved hugely popular, with weekend tickets (which include access to all sessions) still available for £34.20. All tickets include the first beer.
Paul added: “We don’t just want to put on a good beer event. We want to create a weekend people look forward to, where every detail matters, from the brewers to the soundtrack. The Baltic is where we started, and it still feels like home. We can’t wait for this year’s event.”
