Heriot-Watt University: Glasses raised for return of annual beer festival
A much-loved Beer Festival is set to return to Heriot-Watt University next week after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
Over two-days, The Heriot-Watt Brewing Society’s 35th Charity Beer Festival is expected to welcome around 1000 visitors from across the University community, the brewing industry and the public.
More than 60 beers from 30 breweries will be available to sample including some unique crafts created by students from the Brewing and Distilling course at Heriot-Watt’s International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD).
Tickets priced at £10 will be available to buy on the door, which includes entry as well as a commemorative glass plus four beer tokens. To avoid disappoint, organisers advise arriving early to get the best chance of sampling some unique and popular beers before they sell out.
All proceeds will go to the charity WaterAid, which is helping bring clean water to deprived areas.
Natalie Beentjes President of the Heriot-Watt Brewing Society, said: “We can’t wait to welcome people back to our Beer Festival. As in previous years, we will be celebrating beer in the best way we can, by raising a glass as well as money for a very good cause.
“All funds raised will be donated to WaterAid, a fantastic charity that is working to provide access to clean water and toilets for those without. The brewing process is an extremely water intensive activity and so we think it is important to support water positive initiatives in any small way we can.”
The Festival and the brewing society were both launched in 1985 to raise money for various charities and to give students an opportunity to work closely with industry professionals. Since then, it has gone from strength-to-strength, being held annually until the Covid-19 pandemic.
Shana Faraghat Vice President Community of the Student Union said: “The Student Union is honoured to be able to host the Annual Beer Festival once again and provide students a space to come together for a good cause. We always look forward to welcoming the Brewing Society and we know that this is an event that students and staff anticipate every year.
“Congratulations to the Brewing Society for consistently putting on such an amazing event and raising money for charity.”
The Beer Festival will be held on Thursday 24 March and Friday 25 March from noon until 12am at Zeros bar within the Students’ Union at the Edinburgh Campus.