Abeerteifi Beerfest returns to Cardigan over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Friday, August 28 to Sunday, August 30, with loads of beers, beats and food to enjoy.
Running across fforest venues - Albion Aberteifi hotel, The Castle Inn pub and the riverside wharf - it is a three-day celebration of indie Welsh brewing, food and live music.
Breweries and Beers on Offer
The headline offering this year includes 19 independent Welsh breweries, 29 beers and one specially made cider. It will take place across four zones, each with its own unique feel and vibe: Granary Warehouse – the main tap room, situated on the riverside wharf; The Castle Inn – traditional beer and real cider alongside acoustic music; Albion Aberteifi – a broader drinks offering of cocktails, spritzes, wine and spirits; and Festival Tipi – live bands, DJs and street food.
Food-wise, there are currently three West Wales food vendors confirmed, including Yr Hen Printworks: Yaki Da, known for their tapas-style dishes, and Maggie & Mo's, serving seasonal, locally sourced food designed to complement the beers.
Brewer Line-Up and Entertainment
The current brewer line-up includes Crafty Devil, Flowerhorn, Wrexham, Wilderness, Coach Polly's, Bluestone, Mantle, Grey Trees, Dark Element, Tenby Brewing, Misfits, Cold Shelter, Trefforest, Beer Riff, Geipel, Weird Dad, Craigans, Drop Bear Beer and Cleddau. There is a mixture of established Welsh names and smaller independent producers, with the emphasis firmly on showcasing brewing from across Wales.
There’s also plenty of entertainment with live bands, DJs and acoustic music across the weekend, with the Festival Tipi at the fforest farm acting as one of the main entertainment hubs and The Castle Inn pub offering an acoustic setting.
Exploring Cardigan Beyond the Festival
Beyond the festival, the town of Cardigan is a brilliant base for a weekend away in Wales. It’s the gateway to the Teifi Valley and both the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire coastal paths, which makes it a great base for exploring this glorious coastal sweep. Cardigan is the second-largest town in Ceredigion. It packs a punch culture-wise, having evolved from a significant 18th-century Atlantic seaport into a swish, artsy enclave with theatres and galleries.
At the heart of the town sits the beautifully restored Cardigan Castle, the first stone castle built by a Welshman and the birthplace of the first Eisteddfod in 1176. This ancient Norman fortress, originally rebuilt in 1244, underwent a £12m transformation in 2015, reviving its role as the town’s crowning centrepiece.
Cardigan cafe and bakery Crwst is worth a visit; it has garnered a cult following for its banging brunch and bakery items, and has also caught the eye of food writers. A great spot for pizza is the unique riverside venue Grain, where you can expect made-to-order stone-baked pizzas with bold, fresh flavours, a rotating list of craft beers from Bluestone Brewing Company, and a buzzing outdoor space and huge fire.
The town is also home to one of the main locations for the Abeerteifi Beerfest: The Albion Aberteifi, an adults-only hotel perched on the riverside in Cardigan, blending seafaring charm with maritime design. Each of the 12 en suite rooms feels like a captain’s cabin with reclaimed wood-panelled walls, 150-year-old oak floors, Welsh wool blankets, custom furniture, and river views from every window.
Tickets for Abeerteifi Beerfest are now live; purchase them here.
