London Craft Beer Festival 2024

London Craft Beer Festival ’24, Tobacco Dock, Tobacco Quay, Wapping Lane, London, E1W 2SF

The London Craft Beer Festival (LCBF) at Tobacco Dock in Wapping, London, is an event that has become a staple in the craft beer community. For the sixth consecutive year, the TWICB Team found themselves eagerly awaiting the opening of this iconic festival. The excitement was palpable as we stood in the warm sunshine, anticipating the delights that awaited us inside the historic venue.

Tobacco Dock, with its Grade 1 listed tobacco warehouse built in 1812, is the perfect setting for this celebration of craft beer. The venue’s unique architecture, with its subdivided rooms, interconnected walkways, and lower-level brick vaults, provided an atmospheric backdrop that enhanced the festival experience. The layout allowed for easy exploration, with each corner offering something new, be it a hidden bar or an unexpected culinary treat.

With over 800 different craft beers on offer from more than 100 breweries, our group was keen to dive into the afternoon session, the first of the day. The festival’s organisers, WE Are Beer, had thoughtfully provided an app that listed all the beers, allowing us to plan our tasting journey with military precision. However, as the hours passed and the beers flowed, we found ourselves abandoning the plan and instead embraced the spontaneity of the moment—chatting with brewers, mingling with fellow beer enthusiasts, and soaking in the vibrant atmosphere.

One of the festival’s highlights was its impressive food offerings. Ten street food vendors provided a diverse range of options, ensuring there was something to satisfy every palate. From mouthwatering pizzas and juicy burgers to fresh seafood, succulent chicken, flavourful pastas, and authentic Greek dishes, the food was as much a part of the experience as the beer.

The LCBF stood out in a year filled with craft beer festivals, thanks to its unique blend of historical ambiance, expertly curated beverages, and a welcoming atmosphere that encouraged camaraderie among attendees. The inclusion of live music and DJ sets only added to the festive mood, making it a sensory experience that went beyond just beer drinking.

Despite a few minor hiccups, the London Craft Beer Festival at Tobacco Dock was an outstanding celebration of craft beer culture. While there were some initial delays with the setup, and a few breweries took longer than expected to serve their brews, the festival quickly found its rhythm. The enthusiasm of the crowd and the quality of the beer more than made up for the early challenges.

Although some of the most popular breweries ran out of beer before the session ended, it only highlighted the overwhelming demand and excitement for the event. For those who missed out on certain brews, it was a reminder to start sampling early at future festivals.

All in all, the London Craft Beer Festival was an absolute blast, embodying the spirit of community, craftsmanship, and enjoyment. It has firmly secured its place as a must- attend event on the craft beer calendar, and we eagerly look forward to many more years of raising our glasses at this extraordinary venue!