28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Good times will be pouring in Kilmarnock next weekend
The event will take place on the grounds beside Rugby Park.
Organisers of next weekend's inaugural Kilmarnock Beer Festival have unveiled a special beer for the occasion.
And after months of hard graft and promotion, they say they 'can't wait' to welcome punters through the gates of Rugby Park.
The team behind the event were 'delighted' to have worked with Black Isle Brew to come up with Killie's own beer for the day, Squirrel Helles.
Organiser Fraser Wilson told Ayrshire Live: 'It's brilliant to be able to tell the people of Killie they have their own beer for the day and we really hope festival-goers give it a try.
'Black Isle are one of Scotland's best brewers and the Helles lager is a really refreshing session drink - one we expect to be a hit with craft beer lovers and non-craft beer lovers alike.'
This limited-edition lager will be available at The Taproom bar where you can also get your hands on the popular St Mungo's lager by WEST and a seasonal German Radler.
Fraser added: 'Every summer Schofferhoffer do a limited run of their Radler and it's one of the highlights of the year for beer enthusiasts.
'The 2025 summer flavour is Tropical and it tastes amazing – think passionfruit and mangoes. It's a low percentage wheat beer cut with fresh fruit juice and is the ideal beer to have with your mates in the sun.'
Over 1500 thirsty beer lovers are set to descend on the grounds of Rugby Park stadium, with organisers hopeful the event will be a welcome boost to the local economy.
Counting down the hours, Fraser added: 'Like a shaken can of IPA, we're about ready to burst - I just wish it was here already.
'There's been a lot of work gone into this and a lot of effort in trying to make it something Kilmarnock can be proud of. There's definitely nerves and anxiety surrounding the event, but we're confident that's something we've achieved.
A different event to what you'd expect to see at Rugby Park on a Saturday, the June 7 'swally' runs from 12pm-7pm and will showcase the best of independent Scottish beer, gin, cocktails, wine and fantastic street food.
The tasty suds and spuds will be supported with a fantastic line-up of live music.
That will see newly signed Ayrshire singer, Kayleigh, perform with covers band, Underdog, also taking to the stage.
Edinburgh trad singers, The Greasy Whiskers, will play throughout the day, with the day's entertainment headlined by DJ Kevin Spalding, better known as Let's Get Eclectic.
Pouring pints at the festival will be Dookit, Outlandish, Simple Things Fermentation, Two Towns Down, and Tempest breweries.
They'll be joined by fellow brewers from Sulwath, Five Kingdoms, Winton Brewery, and Williams Bros.
For non-beer lovers, Angels Dare Cocktails, The Dispensary Bar, EspressoKart, The Little Margarita Truck and Panther Milk will be in attendance.
Champer Camper will be taking care of the weekend's fizz and Ayrshire very own Ayrshire Riviera will be serving crisp, refreshing cider.
There will also be a dedicated gin and tonic bar from the team at The Orry Botanical Gin and another from the Agronomist.
Food vendors will be serving up the Killie gyros , tacos, BBQ, smash burgers, fish & chips, pizza and cheesecake.
