Edinburgh is known for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant festivals, but this year it will also be the destination for drinks enthusiasts. A new festival of beer, wine and spirits will take place at a former biscuit factory in Leith, featuring some of the best local and international producers.
The Biscuit Factory: a creative hub for events
The Biscuit Factory is a historic building that was once home to Crawford’s Biscuits, a famous Scottish brand that produced biscuits for over a century. The factory closed in 1970 and was left abandoned for decades, until it was transformed into a creative arts and event hub in 2016.
The Biscuit Factory now hosts a variety of events, such as exhibitions, workshops, weddings, film screenings and live music. It also has a studio space for artists and makers to work and collaborate. The Biscuit Factory is a unique venue that combines industrial charm with modern facilities, making it an ideal location for the new festival of drinks.
The festival: a celebration of craft and quality
The festival of beer, wine and spirits will be held on the May bank holiday weekend, from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th of May. It will feature over 200 drinks from more than 50 local and international producers, including breweries, wineries, distilleries and cider makers. Some of the names that will be showcasing their products are:
- Lervig, a Norwegian brewery that makes experimental and innovative beers, such as a sour IPA with mango and passion fruit, or a stout with coffee and vanilla.
- Firestone Walker, a Californian brewery that is known for its barrel-aged beers, such as a blonde ale with brettanomyces, or a barley wine with coconut and vanilla.
- Dugges, a Swedish brewery that specializes in fruity and sour beers, such as a raspberry and lime sour, or a peach and apricot sour.
- Beerlbiotek, another Swedish brewery that experiments with different styles and ingredients, such as a black IPA with orange peel, or a pale ale with elderflower and lemon.
- Pohjala, an Estonian brewery that makes bold and complex beers, such as a Baltic porter with vanilla and coffee, or a double IPA with spruce tips and juniper berries.
- Yeastie Boys, a New Zealand brewery that is famous for its quirky and creative beers, such as a smoked chili and chocolate porter, or a tea-infused pale ale.
The festival will also feature some of the best Scottish and English craft breweries, such as Beavertown, Kernel, Thornbridge, Magic Rock, Northern Monk, BrewDog, Tempest, Pilot and Fallen.
The festival is not only about beer, but also about wine and spirits. Some of the producers that will be offering their drinks are:
- Renegade London Wine, a London-based urban winery that makes natural wines from grapes sourced from all over Europe, such as a sparkling rosé from Italy, or a white blend from Spain.
- Blackford Craft Distillery, a family-run distillery in Aberdeenshire that makes small-batch gin and vodka, using local botanicals and water from their own spring.
- Thistly Cross Cider, a Scottish cider maker that uses apples from local farmers and orchards, and makes ciders with different flavours, such as whisky, ginger, elderflower and strawberry.
The festival will also have a Scottish street food offering, curated by the popular Edinburgh night market, The Pitt. Some of the vendors that will be serving their delicious dishes are:
- Barnacles & Bones, a seafood and meat specialist that makes dishes such as crab mac and cheese, or beef cheek tacos.
- Ròst, a modern Scottish kitchen that makes dishes such as haggis bon bons, or venison and black pudding burgers.
- The Crema Caravan, a dessert truck that makes crème brûlée with different toppings, such as salted caramel, or rhubarb and ginger.
The festival will also have live music and entertainment, featuring local bands and DJs. The festival is a celebration of craft and quality, and a chance to discover new and exciting drinks and food.
The tickets: how to get them and what they include
The tickets for the festival are priced at £38.50 (plus booking fee), and can be booked online. The tickets include:
- Entry to the event for the session of your choice
- Access to all the drinks on offer, as many 100ml tasters as you fancy
- A glass to keep
- A festival zine with information and stories about the producers
- Access to street food and music acts
There are four sessions available, each lasting for four and a half hours:
- Friday 26th – 18:00 – 22:30
- Saturday 27th – 11:30 – 16:00
- Saturday 27th – 18:00 – 22:30
- Sunday 28th – 12:00 – 16:30
The day-time and evening sessions are over 18s only, and ID may be required. The festival is a cashless event, so all payments for food and merchandise will be made by card.
The festival of beer, wine and spirits is a unique opportunity to enjoy some of the best drinks and food in a historic and creative venue. It is a must-visit event for anyone who loves drinks, food and culture.
