Cheers to 40 years of fantastic beer!

Beer lovers flocking to London this summer to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Great British Beer Festival will not be left disappointed as festival organisers are busy brewing up an experience unlike ever before.

Britain’s biggest beer festival is a paradise for beer connoisseurs with more than 900 real ales, international and other craft beers, ciders and perries. Organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and run by thousands of volunteers, the Festival has played a huge role in raising the profile and popularity of UK brewers over the years.

Since first opening its doors in September 1975, festival-goers have witnessed nearly a tenfold increase in the number of independent breweries operating in the UK, from 171 to 1,540 today*. To celebrate the fantastic growth of the industry as well as 40 years of the Festival’s popularity, organisers are taking it upon themselves to make this year’s Great British Beer Festival an unforgettable experience.

As well as the wide range of real ales and other craft beer, this year’s visitors will also have the chance to sample fine English wines and fruit ciders for the very first time. The layout and ambiance of the Festival will be reinvigorated, with new entertainment and locally sourced street food to make the Festival stand out.

Ian Hill, Festival organiser says: "The Great British Beer Festival is not only a haven for beer lovers - it has also helped the beer industry grow dramatically since it was founded.

"The Festival provides an unmissable opportunity to try beers which you can’t get in your local or surrounding areas. Over the years it has helped many brewers achieve national recognition - from showcasing their beers at the festival to taking part in the prestigious Champion Beer of Britain award.

“We are incredibly excited to expand our offering this year and look forward to celebrating 40 years of beer this summer.”

Tiny Rebel Brewery, a small brewery from Newport Wales which won the Champion Beer of Britain award in 2015 says: "The Great British Beer Festival put Tiny Rebel in the same room as tens of thousands of beer drinkers eager to try something new. It enabled us to present our beers to some who had never seen it, and engage face-to-face with those who have known and loved our beers already.

“We’re hugely excited to be attending again, as there is a massive demand for beer from independent breweries such as us and we can’t wait to show off what we can do.

“The introduction of key cask at the festival shows CAMRA’s revitalisation in action, and as a company dedicated to good beer no matter the package, it’s great to see CAMRA expanding the scope of their campaign to be more inclusive."

The Great British Beer Festival will run from the 8th-12th August at London Olympia. Tickets can be purchased at http://gbbf.org.uk/tickets

The Great British Beer Festival 2016 - Photo credit to Harmit Kambo