Over 10,000 pubs and hundreds of breweries across the country will be putting the spotlight on cask ale, and the category appears to be in good hands because new research shows 16% of cask ale drinkers are now aged between 18 and 34 (source: CGA by NIQ, OPUS June 2026).
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Of course, cask ale is only served in pubs and clubs, so enjoying a pint is a great way to support local sites and visiting tourists so it is definitely worth highlighting.
Ideas for pubs
Cask Ale Week 2026 is a great time for all drinkers to discover cask beers and is a popular time for brewers to launch new beers, run special promotions, ale trails and beer festivals. The event organiser has plenty of ideas and useful information on its website, which includes:
• CaskFinder Ale Trail: customers can download the Caskfinder app, buy a pint of cask ale in 12 pubs and claim their limited-edition Cask Ale Week T-shirt
• Free tasters of cask ale: between them, the 10,000 pubs taking part in Cask Ale Week are set to offer 1m free ‘try before you buy’ tasters of cask
• Pub quizzes: hundreds of pubs across the country will be running the Cask Ale Week Pub Quiz with a mix of beer facts and general knowledge being tested
• Rate your ale to win a bar tab: customers can submit 12 cask ale ratings on the Caskfinder app during Cask Ale Week and will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a bar tab.
The cask ale market in 2026
- The average price of a pint of cask beer is £4.54, compared to an overall average of £4.97 a pint
- Cask ale is often the best value for money on the bar – cask ale accounts for 8.1% of draught beer sales by volume but just 7.4% by value
- Food pubs tend to sell more cask ale, with cask accounting for 12.5%, or £1 in every £8, of spending on beer in food pubs. This compares to £1 in every £13 spent on beer in all pubs.
(Source: CGA by NIQ OPMS P05 (16/05/26))
The website will also promote a ‘Beer of the Day’ and ‘Brewery of the Day’ throughout the event. While the exact line-up is secret, expect to see familiar beers such as Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, which has recently had a makeover, and Wadworth 6X, alongside new beers from local and independent brewers.
Meanwhile, new data has also revealed the UK’s top destinations for cask beer quality. Based on Cask Marque reports and the Caskfinder app, Nottingham heads the list, followed by Swindon and Oxford. Manchester, Birmingham, Lancaster and Dorchester are also contenders.
Excellent springboard
The figures showing higher take-up of cask ale among younger drinkers come from pub trade analyst CGA. Along with the stat 16% of cask drinkers are aged below 35 years old, growth has been seen in cask ale occasions, frequency and spend among Gen Z and Millennial drinkers.
Timothy Taylor’s head brewer Andy Leman said: “Cask Ale Week is an excellent springboard to get drinkers talking about what makes cask beer so special and why it remains vital to British pub culture.
“We know there’s plenty of interest among younger drinkers in trying cask beer brands that are familiar fixtures on the bar but which they may want to know more about flavour-wise.
“Giving these so-called cask-curious, and price-conscious, consumers a chance to try-before-they-buy could help increase the reach to a new generation of cask converts.”
Wadworth commercial director Adam Russell added: “There’s definitely a trend among younger drinkers to look for cask ales with provenance and heritage.
“They know Wadworth 6X as a brand their dad – or maybe even their granddad – drank, and they want to revive and continue that family tradition.”
- Is your pub doing anything for Cask Ale Week 2026? If so, email gary.lloyd@wrbm.com with the details and include a picture or two.
