Ed Barnes, founder of Hopsters and the organiser of Ipswich Craft Beer Week said it was “great to see beer lovers coming together” as the event wrapped up with an afterparty on Sunday, November 23.
Ipswich Craft Beer Week started on Monday, November 17 with events held across the town including tastings, introductions to beer styles, meet the brewer sessions and Caskmaster, an evening of beer themed games inspired by popular game show Taskmaster.
On Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22, the Ipswich Craft Beer festival was held at the Baths in Ipswich town centre , drawing large crows over the two nights before an afterparty at the Fat Cat in Spring Road on Sunday.
Throughout the week, the Arcade Street Tavern known for its craft beer, offered charcuterie pairings alongside their specialist beers.
The week was organised by the founder of Hopsters, Ed Barnes, which has craft beer locations in Ipswich, Felixstowe and Bury St Edmunds.
He said: “It was a huge success. It was fantastic to see beer lovers coming together at events all across the town. We’re already looking forward to Ipswich Craft Beer Week 2026.”
This was the first edition of Ipswich Craft Beer Week, whilst the two-day craft beer festival has been held in the town for the last three years.
Planning for the 2026 edition of the week-long event is already underway, with plans to continue to expand and “establish Ipswich as a vibrant hub for craft beer culture”.
Ipswich has a number of highly rated breweries in the town including Briarbank Brewery in Fore Street, Burnt Mill and the alcohol-free Big Drop Brewing Co.
Breweries from the wider region also supported the festival with Grain Brewery in Harleston hosting Caskmaster and brewers from Ampersand in Diss meeting with beer lovers.
