In 2024, Saint John’s Uptown saw the successful return of the Saint John Beer Fest as Maritime beer enthusiasts made their way to the Harbour City for an afternoon of East Coast Hospitality and sampling. So, what is on tap for 2025? Well, we are about to tell you! Spoiler alert: you might want to pack a bag and book a hotel.
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Saint John’s Trade and Convention Centre will again host this year’s upcoming Saint John Beer Fest, which is an annual celebration of community, entertainment, and industry. The Saint John Beer Fest offered a carnival-like experience with games, live performances, and a variety of bottomless beers, ciders, seltzers, and other ready-to-drink creations to sample.
This year’s event sees the addition of a Saint John Beer Fest weekend warm-up event on Friday, with the addition of the Craft Crawl—a self-guided tour of 4 local bars and breweries, each serving up a 12 oz craft beer, kicking off two days of East Coast Hospitality and sampling in Uptown Saint John.
Tickets for the Craft Crawl only are $20 or $15 when bundled as an add-on with your Saint John Beer Fest ticket.
- Pick up your Craft Crawl passport at Picaroons General Store anytime after 12 PM on Friday
- Start your crawl at Picaroons General Store with your first 12-oz beer and sticker. Remember to collect a sticker at every stop.
- Then you can visit the remaining participating locations at your own pace and enjoy an amazing night in Uptown Saint John with fellow craft beer and spirit enthusiasts.
- Once your passport is full, make sure to snap a photo and send it to hello.ingoodco@gmail.com so you can enter for a chance to win a $100 Uptown Saint John Gift Card.
On Saturday, it is time to get ready for Saint John’s Biggest Beer Night of the year, offering:
- 40+ vendors of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and more from New Brunswick and beyond
- Incredible performers with unique talents
- Proceeds go to support affordable housing
THERE ARE FOUR TICKET OPTIONS FOR THIS YEAR’S SAINT JOHN BEER FEST:
GENERAL ADMISSION – CAD $86.04 (CAD $5.82 Fee Incl. | CAD$11.22 HST incl.)
- Access to the festival and unlimited beverage samples from 4-7PM.
VIP ADMISSION – CAD $110.54 (CA$7.12 Fee incl. | CAD $14.42 HST incl.)
- Access to the festival and unlimited beverage samples from 3-7PM.
VIP TABLE – CA$982.57 (CAD $53.41 Fee incl. | CAD $128.16 HST incl.)
- 10 VIP tickets for the price of 9—and your group gets a reserved table in a prime location.
DESIGNATED DRIVER – CAD$26.02 (incl. CA$2.63 Fee incl. | CA$3.39 HST incl.)
- Not drinking but want to get in on the fun? Not a problem! Enjoy full access to the festival (minus the alcohol) at a reduced rate.
We recommend going with the VIP experience. It allows you to enjoy an extra hour of access before general admission to skip the crowds and enjoy the extra time to chat with vendors, sample, and experience the fun activities, but unfortunately, they do sell out quickly. The VIP Tables options give you an extra hour and an exclusive 10-person table for your group’s home base, perfect for gathering, relaxing, and making the most of the event!
On Saturday, November 15th, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, festivalgoers immersed themselves in a lively atmosphere filled with the rich aromas of hops and malt. The event offered an extensive selection of adult beverages, featuring local vendors and spotlighting many ciders, seltzers, and other ready-to-drink concoctions alongside their traditional and craft beers. So, whether you are a true beer enthusiast, craft spirit aficionado, or just craft-curious, there’s a flavour for every palate with over 40 vendors so you can enjoy bottomless samples from the best in the business, from New Brunswick and beyond, like one of my personal favorites and Saint John Beer Fest presenting sponsor Picaroons Brewing.
Picaroons Brewing’s main brewing facility is located along the Saint John River in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Their Roundhouse Patio offers one of the best places in Fredericton to have a pint by the Saint John River. Their other location in the heart of Uptown Saint John is called the General Store, serving Picaroons’ traditional British-style ales along with amazing East Coast hospitality and what we believe is one of the best watering holes on the East Coast. I am sure once you have the opportunity to check them out on Friday’s Craft Crawl, you will know what we are talking about and why it is our go-to place when we are in Saint John for Boxcar or AREA 506. If you don’t partake in the Craft Crawl, make sure you visit with Amy and her team at the beer fest.
Our first experience with Cask and Kettle was at their amazing Irish Gastropub in uptown Saint John, where the food is next level, and has us going back every time we are in town. Now with their fantastic Cask and Kettle Brewing craft beers like Mickey Finn Pale Ale, Lady Aberdeen Irish Red, and Raspberry Beret, will all leave you wanting another, as you enjoy the perfect mix of Maritime & Irish Hospitality.
Trailway Brewing Company was founded in 2014. For more than a decade, Jake Saunders, Dan Mason, and their team have had a passion for hops and producing high-quality, bold, and robust American-style Ales. Although their interests and offerings have broadened in recent years to include styles from wild ales to lagers, their motivation is the endless combinations of flavor and aroma that can be achieved in brewing beer. Trailway’s lineup will be well represented, and since their inspiration comes from seeing people enjoying their beer, who knows what creations will come out of this year’s Saint John Beer Fest? We don’t know, but we are confident we will enjoy it!
Another editorial team favorite making the trip over on the Confederation Bridge to Saint John is PEI Brewing. Known for its top-quality traditional beers, like its Gahan Lineup and Beach Chair Lager, and its amazing lineup of ready-to-drink Colliding Tides Premium Craft Cocktails. PEI Brewing Company takes quality seriously. Quality does not just happen; it is created over time from passion and love for their beer, RTD’s, and customers. No matter what PEI Brewing products you sample at this year’s Saint John Beer Fest, we promise you that the passion, care, and quality that they put into each can will be noticed as you get a better understanding why their products are a crowd favorite at festival everywhere and one of the main reasons we love our road trips to the Island every summer.
The Saint John Beer Fest is an all-encompassing experience that goes beyond just sampling beer and RTD’s tasting. It offered two afternoons of understanding what is happening in the craft brewing and distilling industry while engaging in social interactions in a vibrant setting. Making it the perfect occasion to connect with friends old and new, enjoy good times, and participate in fun competitions. Festivalgoers also have the opportunity to vote for their favourite brew or beverage in the “Best of the Fest” people’s choice award, which is supplied by locally owned and operated Glass Roots Canada Inc., which was featured in last month’s issue of Spotlight on Business Magazine.
Each ticket purchased for Saint John Beer Fest 2025 not only supports an industry and those in it but also contributes to a noble cause, as Saint John Beer Fest is proud to partner with Housing Alternatives Inc., whose mandate is to add to the housing supply and provide housing-related services, to improve the quality of life for people of low to moderate income in New Brunswick.
This integration of festivity and philanthropy embodies the community spirit prevalent in New Brunswick, making it a significant event for both fun-seekers and those looking to make a difference.
The Saint John Beer Fest was a positive representation of New Brunswick’s and Saint John’s vibrant culture and hospitality. Spotlighting the region’s commitment to community, craftsmanship, and celebration of local businesses and industry, and why it should be on your travel plans for 2026, so you can explore all of what Saint John has to offer, experience, and discovery in this amazing region of New Brunswick.
These are our top 10 reasons why the Saint John Beer Fest should be on your festival bucket list for 2025:
#10. A MEMORABLE NIGHT OUT
Whether you’re with friends, coworkers, or meeting new people, Saint John Beer Fest offers an unforgettable social experience to cap off the season.
#9. ALL-INCLUSIVE FUN
Your ticket covers it all—unlimited beer tastings, games, photo booth, snacks, and live entertainment. No extra fees, just nonstop fun from start to finish!
#8. INTERACTIVE PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
Snap unforgettable photo ops so you can take home memories that last longer than any beer. Remember to snap a photo and send it to hello.ingoodco@gmail.com so you can enter for a chance to win a $100 Uptown Saint John Gift Card.
#7. CARNIVAL FUN WITH A TWIST
Enjoy carnival-themed entertainment with games like ring toss, dart games, and more, all set to free play! Perfect for showing off your hidden talents while you enjoy your beer.
#6. CLASSIC CARNIVAL SNACKS
Grab some tasty, nostalgic treats are the perfect match for a night of beer sampling and good times.
#5. EXCLUSIVE VIP EXPERIENCE
VIP ticket holders enjoy an exclusive first hour (3-4 pm) of the event. Arrive an hour early and enjoy exclusive access to all the brews, games, photo booth, and snacks before the general admission crowd rolls in.
#4. EXCITING LIVE PERFORMANCE
An entertainment lineup of aerial acts like jugglers and bubblers, a Live DJ that promises to keep the party going and you on the edge of your seat, and your camera ready!
#3. Meet and Greet with Brewers
Chat with your favourite brewers and explore their craft in an interactive, laid-back environment where you can get the inside scoop on brewing.
#2. UNLIMITED BEER & READY-TO-DRINK SAMPLING
With bottomless beer included in your ticket price, you’ll have the chance to explore a wide variety of craft brews, ciders, seltzers, and other ready-to-drink cocktails & concoctions, discovering new favourites.
The #1 reason to attend this year’s Saint John Beer Fest… Support for a Great Cause!
All proceeds go towards Housing Alternatives Inc., whose mandate is to add to the housing supply and provide housing-related services, to improve the quality of life for people of low to moderate income in New Brunswick.
We look forward to seeing you all at the Craft Crawl and Saint John Beer Fest on November 14th & 15th in Uptown Saint John.
by Ryan Myson