FyneFest 2025 — Our Meet the Brewer Talks and Tastings Schedule in Full
We’re over the moon to be heading back to FyneFest for what will be Pellicle’s fifth visit this year. Once again, Matt and the team will be hosting our unique brand of tasting panels and meet the brewer discussions so you can meet the people behind your favourite pints and learn more about the beer you’ll get to enjoy at this year's festival. Each session will include a Q&A segment so you can ask brewers questions yourselves. Oh, and make sure you come thirsty as we’ll be pouring free samples of beer at each of session!
Meet the Brewer sessions will take place in the Origins Bar on the main festival site and last between 45 minutes to an hour. Tickets for each session are free, but spaces are limited, so make sure you sign up in advance if you don’t want to miss out! Here’s this year’s schedule in full:
The Friday 5pm Debate: Should We Scrap the Pint Measure?
A recently published study from The University of Cambridge looked at how scrapping the pint measure in favour of half, third, and two-third measures would help beer drinkers to cut down on their alcohol intake. Does something about bears defecating in the woods come to mind? Join this panel of industry experts as we discuss the pros and cons of this idea, and the place of the imperial pint within British drinking culture. This will be an open, interactive discussion and asking a question of our panellists will be encouraged! A welcome drink will be included for all ticket holders.
Feat.Ol Fozard (Roosters), Vik Kastenbauer Stronge (Lost Cause) and Chris Shepherd (Pastore).
Saturday, 11am: Fyne Ales Origins Wild Beer Tasting with Dan Wye
Fyne Ales might be better known for classics such as Avalanche, Vital Spark and, of course, the wonderful Jarl. Through its Origins project, however, the brewery is pushing the boundaries of what beer can be through experimentation with wild yeast, bacteria, fruit additions and barrel ageing. In this session we’ll meet Dan Wye, the head of the Origins project, to learn about his intentions for these beers and his approach to wild fermentation brewing. We’ll also get a chance to taste through a delicious range of Origins Beers. This is one session not to be missed.
Feat. Dan Wye (Fyne Ales Origins) and Matthew Curtis (Pellicle).
Saturday, 1pm: Into the Black — A Dark Beer Tasting
Dark beer is having a bit of a moment thanks to the remarkable surge in popularity of a certain creamy Irish stout. There’s far more to the wonderful world of dark beers than simply one ubiquitous stout though, and in this tasting session a panel of expert brewers will discuss why there’s never been a better time to broaden your horizons when it comes to darker beers. If you’re fond of (or perhaps curious about) porter, stout, brown ale, black IPA and the like, then this is the session for you!
Feat. Andrew ‘Barney’ Barnett (Barney’s Beers), Colin Stronge (Lost Cause) and Harriet Edgar (Rigg & Furrow).
Saturday, 3pm: Get Hands on with New Hop Varieties! (Feat. Yakima Chief Hops)
Did you know that it takes on average five to seven years for a new hop variety to come to market? Researchers across the globe are constantly working to develop new strains in order to give brewers wider access to a range of flavours, and to create varieties that are resistant to the challenges posed by a changing climate. During this session we’ll taste a range of beers that use some of these new hop varieties, and give you a chance to learn more about the vital role this crop plays in beer production.
Feat. James Dyer (Pomona Island) Mark Cotterall (Beak) and Mark McGarry, (Almasty), plus Ruben and Robbie from Yakima Chief Hops.
Saturday, 5pm Modern Scottish Beer
The beer market across the UK is almost unrecognisable to how it looked even a decade ago, and those changes haven’t been limited to British breweries south of the borders. Scotland has seen an explosion in new breweries creating everything from classics like heavy and 80 shilling, to lager, stout, IPA and everything in between. In this panel we’ll meet some of the most exciting breweries in Scotland today, taste their delicious beers, and discuss why the country is home to such a vibrant, creative beer culture.
Feat. Lucy Stevens (Closet Brewing), Harry Weskin (Dookit Brewing) and Sam Shrimpton (Fyne Ales).
