Few breweries can claim to be quite so intertwined with the fabric of Nottingham sport as Magpie Brewery.
Founded in 2006 as a retirement project for three home-brewers, Magpie has spent the last two decades building a reputation as one of Nottingham's most respected independent breweries.
Nestled just across the River Trent, within sight of both Meadow Lane and Trent Bridge, the brewery has become a familiar part of the local beer scene and is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026.
Next month, visitors to the 2026 Nottingham Beer & Cider Festival will have the opportunity to sample a range of Magpie beers directly from the brewery team themselves. Secure your Beer Festival tickets at trentbridge.co.uk/beerfestival
What began as a small six-barrel operation has grown significantly over the years, with the brewery expanding its production capacity in 2017 and establishing both the popular Barrel Drop pub and Crafty Warehouse taproom.
Today, Magpie combines a passion for traditional vegan ales with an increasingly adventurous approach to brewing, all produced on green-powered equipment.
Among the highlights at the festival will be Without Prejudice (11%), a decadent Chocolate Imperial Stout brewed to mark the brewery's 20th anniversary.
Conditioned on roasted cocoa nibs and packed with chocolate, crystal and speciality malts, the beer recently earned the prestigious Spyke Golding Award as Nottinghamshire's Champion Beer for 2026.
Festival-goers looking for something a little more traditional can enjoy Magpie Best (4.2%), one of the brewery's original beers from 2006 and still its best-selling ale two decades later. Its longevity is testament to the enduring appeal of a well-crafted Best Bitter.
For those seeking something more unconventional, Feathers in a Twist (5.4%) represents a significant departure from Magpie's traditional roots. Brewed in collaboration with Coventry's Twisted Barrel Brewery, the vegan-friendly Key Lime Pie Sour combines lime puree, vanilla pods and Philly Sour yeast to create a vibrant beer that's as distinctive in colour as it is in flavour.
Also returning is Magpie's annual Green Hopped Pale, brewed using freshly picked hops gathered by volunteers from the local community on brew day morning. The beer has become a celebration not only of Nottingham brewing, but also the people who help make it possible.
Whether you're a long-time fan of Magpie's traditional ales or keen to discover something entirely new, their brewery bar promises to be one of the highlights of this year's festival.
The Nottingham Beer & Cider Festival takes place at Trent Bridge from 7-10 October, bringing together hundreds of beers, ciders and perries, brewery bars, live entertainment and food vendors from across the region.