One man’s passion project has turned into a full time job.
It’s common knowledge that campervans are perfect for holidaying, but one Edinburgh brewer has made it big after putting a campervan to a very different use. In 2015, Paul Gibson took the redundancy money from his IT job and created Campervan Brewery. With the tagline ‘Wandering, But Not Lost’, Paul based himself out a 1973 Type 2 Volkswagen and made the festival circuit his own. Pioneering an eclectic variety of craft beers that ranged in flavour from coconut to champagne, he soon found that demand outstripped supply.
Now, a couple years down the line, Paul is opening a brick and mortar base of operations for Campervan Brewery in Edinburgh thanks to the overwhelmingly positive response he’s received. The new facility will allow Campervan Brewery to increase its production 20-fold, and while Paul now has his eye on expanding into foreign markets, he hasn’t forgotten his roots. He’ll still be out and about in ‘The Hoppy Camper’ brewing up a storm with local ingredients.
While rigging up a campervan brewery might be a little bit much for most people, doing a campervan festival tour is well within reach. It’s hard to think of a better way to combine beer and vacations. With the ability to drive to different spots around the world and have accommodation all sorted when you arrive (so long as your fest allows motorhome camping) picking up a campervan rental for your next festival trip simply the smart choice. Take a look below for a quick guide to just a few beer festivals coming up around the world that might suit avid campervan travellers.
Meatstock - Melbourne, Australia - 22-23 April
Okay, so Meatstock isn’t technically a beer festival (no prizes for guessing the theme) but it does heavily feature beer. In addition to a banquetlike selection of grilled, roasted, smoked and dried meats, and some top notch tunes, the Six String Brewing Company will be there in force. These are true blue Aussie craft brewers, producing bold, full flavoured ales. Melbourne Big4 Holiday Park is an excellent accommodation option for those who’ve booked a Melbourne campervan hire, with plenty of public transport choices into the city.
Reading Real Ale and Jazz Festival - Reading, United Kingdom - 21-23 July
Handily located little more than an hour west of London’s city centre, this festival will serenade you with jazz, swing, blues and soul while you’re imbibing your favourite beverage and tucking into the hearty festival foods which tend to range from succulent burgers to mouthwatering curries. An attractive option for parking up your motorhome in the area is the secluded woodland Wellington Country Park.
Oktoberfest - Munich, Germany - 16 September to 03 October
We could hardly leave the world’s most famous beer fest off the list! All beer lovers should make an effort to attend this iconic event at least once in a lifetime, and a motorhome road trip around Munich to lead up to the festival makes for the perfect intro. It’s worth noting that you can’t camp on the Theresienwiese fairgrounds themselves during Oktoberfest but there are about 1000 motorhome spaces available at the Munich exhibition centre and even more options at the nearby Thalkirchen campsite.
Written By: Kristof Haines
It’s funny how motorhome memories stick with you. I can still recall a motorhome vacation my family took when I was five years old and how awesome I thought I was, tucked away in a loft bed above the cab. From revealing unique destinations to providing tips and tricks, it’s my mission to help others build great motorhome memories too.
It’s funny how motorhome memories stick with you. I can still recall a motorhome vacation my family took when I was five years old and how awesome I thought I was, tucked away in a loft bed above the cab. From revealing unique destinations to providing tips and tricks, it’s my mission to help others build great motorhome memories too.
