From Friday 31 July to Friday 7 August, Sidmouth Folk Festival takes over the Devon coast for its 72nd year, and for the fifth year running Exeter Brewery is proud to be its Official Brewery Sponsor.
Eight days of music, dance and song, thousands of visitors, and Devon's original organic real ale poured on every festival bar. It is our favourite week of the summer.
Why Sidmouth matters to us
Sidmouth Folk Festival has run since 1955 and is now one of the longest-standing folk festivals in the world. It is also a charity, run in large part by an army of volunteers who staff the bars, marshal the venues and keep the whole thing on its feet.
We started brewing in 2003 with one small brew on the Exminster Marshes and a stubborn belief that Devon deserved great organic beer. Two decades on, standing behind a bar in the Bulverton at midnight while a ceilidh goes off in front of you feels like exactly the right place for that beer to end up. Local brewery, local festival, local people. It works.
Where to find us across the festival
Our ales are on at every festival bar this year, plus plenty of pubs and bars around the town.
The Ham Bars - serving concert-goers inside the marquee, with a new container bar outside in the Ham Hub. Grab a pint before the evening show and take in the sea view.
The Blackmore Bar - tucked into the corner of the Blackmore Gardens Marquee, serving inside and out into the gardens, right next to the Food Village and the Craft & Music Village.
The Bulverton - views over the Sid Valley, sunset sessions, and dancing under the stars. This is where the late nights happen.
Betsy's Bar - the Bulverton's chilled-out corner, run by a volunteer crew of dancers and musicians. Come for the sessions, stay for the atmosphere.
Around town - you'll also find our beers in many of Sidmouth's pubs and bars throughout the week.
What's on tap
Avocet - our flagship organic pale ale, a Champion Beer of Britain finalist and Taste of the West award winner. If you try one thing this week, try this.
Ferryman - a proper Devon best bitter. Balanced, sessionable, exactly what a festival week asks for.
Darkness - our chocolate stout, for when the evening turns cooler and the fiddles come out.
Darkness Low 0.5% - our low alcohol chocolate stout, brand new this year. All the roast and richness, at just 0.5% abv, so the designated drivers and the pacers can join in too.
'FraidNot - a golden ale with a bit of citrus lift. Sunshine beer.
EX4 - our IPA, hoppier and bolder for those who want more punch.
IPL (It's Proper Lager) - organic, vegan, and served cold. When you've been dancing for three hours straight, this is the one.
Bring your cup
Every festival bar this year is running on reusable cups. Bring your own or buy one with your first drink, then keep using it all week. Fewer than 200 grams of plastic waste sounds like a small thing until you multiply it by a festival full of people. There is also free drinking water in town, at Market Square and under the arches at the western end of the Esplanade, so you can keep topped up between pints.
Our Devon ales sit alongside cider from fellow sponsors Sandford Orchards, and the bars carry gluten-free, vegan, low- and no-alcohol options too, so there's something for everyone in your group.
From all of us at the brewery
"We are extremely proud to be Official Brewery Sponsor of the brilliant Sidmouth Folk Festival for the fifth year running. From tomorrow, the passion is back: music, dance and song by the sea. Have a great week, and cheers to folk and to good Devon beer."
Come and say hello at the bar. We'll be the ones grinning.
Find out more:
- Festival food and drink: sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk/festival-food-drink
- Tickets: sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk/tickets
- Our beers: theexeterbrewery.co.uk
- Can't make it to Sidmouth? Visit our Tap Room, 200 yards from Exeter St David's.