A beer lover’s guide to International Beer Day – and some pubs to celebrate it in

Grab your pint glass – and get it filled! It’s time for us to pay homage to the sweetest nectar of all. International Beer Day 2025 is nearly upon us; a day where we doff our collective caps to the most beautiful of beverages. 

The clink of glass as you cheers your mates. That first sip of a crisp lager on a warm day. The warmth of a big, bold stout on a winter’s night. A refreshing swig of a craft ale at a country pub after a relaxing walk. International Beer Day is your chance to raise a glass and drink to all this and more. 

Join us as we take a look at the origins and purpose of International Beer Day, uncover some of the rich history behind our beloved beer, and share some weird and wonderful facts you might not know. We’ll also recommend some of our best beers to mark the occasion with and some of our favourite pubs where you can celebrate in style. 

When is International Beer Day 2025 – and who celebrates it?

International Beer Day is held on the first Friday of August each year, making it a great way to kick off the summer weekend. It was initially held on the 5th of August each year, but the date was moved in 2013 to the first Friday of the month, meaning the celebrations are always focused over the weekend. 

Upcoming dates include: 

• International Beer Day 2025: Friday 1st August
• International Beer Day 2026: Friday 7th August
• International Beer Day 2027: Friday 6th August
  
   

A brief history of beer

Beer has been part of human culture for thousands of years, with a fascinating history that spans continents and civilisations. It’s come a long way to evolve into the drink we know and love today. 

Early origins

• The earliest evidence of beer production dates back to around 5000 BC in ancient Iran, where early societies began fermenting grains into primitive brews. 
• In ancient Sumeria, beer was not only widely consumed but also celebrated, with a goddess of brewing called Ninkasi and hymns written in her honour. 
• By 3000 BC, beer had become a daily staple in Egypt and Mesopotamia, where it was drunk by workers and royalty alike for both nourishment and refreshment. 
  
   

Medieval brewing

• During the Middle Ages, monasteries across Europe played a major role in perfecting brewing techniques, improving both flavour and hygiene in the process. 
• Monks introduced controlled fermentation and new recipes, helping to establish beer as a reliable and safe drink at a time when clean water was scarce.
• Beer became a core part of community life during medieval times, served in taverns and inns and enjoyed by people across all social classes. 

The hop revolution

• The introduction of hops in the 9th century significantly improved beer’s taste and shelf life, marking a turning point in brewing history. 
• In 1516, the Reinheitsgebot (German Beer Purity Law) was established, limiting beer ingredients to just water, barley, and hops – a tradition many brewers still follow today. 

Industrial advancements

• The Industrial Revolution brought major innovations such as refrigeration, mechanical brewing equipment and improved transportation. 
• These advancements allowed brewers to scale up production and ensure consistency, making beer more accessible to the masses than ever before. 
  
   

Different types of beer

Beer is nothing if not diverse, with a huge variety of styles to suit every kind of taste and occasion. From light and crisp lagers to rich and velvety stouts, there are lots of different types of beer popular for their own unique reasons. 

Lager

Lagers are one of the most widely consumed beer styles across the world. They are typically light in colour and body, with a clean, crisp taste. 

• Fermentation: Brewed using bottom-fermenting yeast at cooler temperatures. 
• Flavour profile: Mild and refreshing, with subtle hop bitterness and a smooth finish. 
• Examples: Estrella Galicia, Pilsner, Helles and American light lagers. 

Lagers are a great introduction to the world of beer and perfect if you’re after a refreshing option on a warm day. 

Ale

Ales are brewed with top-fermenting yeast at warmer temperatures, which creates a broad range of flavours and aromas. 

• Fermentation: Faster and warmer than lagers, leading to more complex profiles. 
• Flavour profile: Fruity and malty, and often more robust than lagers.
• Examples: Pale ales, bitters, amber ales and brown ales. 

Old Speckled Hen and Abbot Ale are both great examples of classic British ales. 

Stout

Stouts are dark, full-bodied beers known for their roasted malt flavours. 

• Fermentation: Top-fermented, like ales. 
• Flavour profile: Notes of coffee and chocolate, and sometimes a subtle sweetness. 
• Examples: Belhaven Black, Dry stouts, milk stouts and imperial stouts. 

Stouts pair brilliantly with rich foods or can be enjoyed on their own when only a big, bold pint hits the spot – not least over the winter months. 

Porter

Similar to stouts, porters are dark beers but often slightly lighter in body and flavour. 

• Fermentation: Also top-fermented. 
• Flavour profile: Roasted and nutty, with hints of caramel or toffee.
• Examples: English porter and Baltic porter. 

Historically, porters were favoured by street and river porters in London – hence the name. 

Pale ale

Pale ales are known for their hoppy bitterness and balanced malt backbone. 

• Fermentation: Top-fermented. 
• Flavour profile: Citrus and pine, or floral notes depending on hop variety.
• Examples: English pale ales (EPA), American pale ales (APA) and India pale ales (IPA). 

Beers like Greene King IPA are excellent representations of the traditional British pale ale style. 

Wheat Beer

Wheat beers use a high proportion of wheat in the brewing process, resulting in a light and often cloudy appearance. 

• Fermentation: Top-fermented. 
• Flavour profile: Soft and slightly sweet, often with notes of banana or clove.
• Examples: Hefeweizen, Witbier and American wheat ales. 

Refreshing and smooth, wheat beers are popular during the warmer months and on the continent in countries like Belgium and Germany. 

Weird and wonderful beer facts

We promised you some weird and wonderful beer facts, and we think we’re about to deliver. The next time you want to impress your mates at the pub, whip out a couple of these to get the conversation flowing. 

• Beer is one of the world’s oldest drinks, with roots tracing back to 5000 BC in ancient Iran. 
• The builders of the Egyptian pyramids were paid in daily beer rations. 
• Niels Bohr, the Nobel-winning physicist, once had a beer tap installed in his home. 
• The term IPA (India Pale Ale) originated from beer brewed with extra hops to survive long voyages to British troops in India. 
• Cenosillicaphobia is the fear of an empty beer glass (we’ve all been there). 
• At the Wife Carrying World Championships (yes, that’s a real thing), the winner receives their partner’s weight in beer. 
• The world’s strongest beer is a Scottish brew called Beithir Fire, which has a staggering 75% ABV. 
  
   

Five of our best pubs to celebrate International Beer Day

Looking to celebrate International Beer Day in the UK? We have hundreds of pubs across Britain where you can join us for a few pints of your favourite beer. We can’t tell you about all of them, so we’ll have to settle for just five of our favourite pubs for International Beer Day 2025. 

We’ll see you on International Beer Day

Whether you’re a long-time ale aficionado or just someone who enjoys a cold pint with good company, International Beer Day is a celebration for everyone. From its humble beginnings in California to the love it now gets around the world, Friday 1st August is a day you’ll want to mark in your calendar. 

Book a table at one of our pubs near you for International Beer Day 2025 and join us in raising a glass to all things beer. Bottoms up!