Barcelona Beer Festival to celebrate 15th anniversary with gastronomy-focused edition

Barcelona will once again become a hub for craft beer lovers as the Barcelona Beer Festival returns from April 10 to 12, celebrating its 15th anniversary with what organizers describe as the most gastronomic edition in its history.

The three-day event will take place at Fira de Montjuïc, bringing together more than 100 breweries and nearly 500 beers from around the world. 

The festival has grown into one of the largest gatherings for craft beer professionals and enthusiasts in southern Europe.

This year's edition will put a special focus on the link between beer and cuisine. 

One of the main novelties is the pop-up restaurant 'Maridatge 5x5', led by Catalan chefs Jordi Àvila and Pep Nogué. The restaurant will offer a menu built around products carrying the 'Girona Excel·lent' seal, paired with craft beers from Catalan breweries. 

International participation will again be a key part of the event, with brewers arriving from across Europe and beyond. 

Among the breweries attending are Peru's Cervecería 7 Vidas and the UK's Queer Brewing. 

Belgian brewer Pierre Gobron will also take part in the program, while the Cantabrian brewery Dougall's will mark its 20th anniversary during the festival.

The festival will also showcase the Italian craft beer scene with breweries such as Renton, Wild Raccoon, LA Brewery, Birra Gaia, and 50&50 Brewing, alongside collaborative projects linking brewers from Catalonia and France's Pyrénées-Orientales through the European cross-border program POCTEFA.

Alongside tastings and gastronomy, the festival will host professional events such as BBPRO and the InnBrew trade show, with talks, workshops, and networking activities for the brewing sector.

Last year's edition drew around 15,000 visitors, and organizers expect the anniversary event to place Barcelona firmly on the international craft beer map.