Pittsburgh’s Barrel & Flow Fest

Celebrate Black artists, craft brews and the arts at the award-winning Barrel & Flow Fest Aug. 8, 2026

Named the best beer festival in the entire country in 2024 and 2023, Pittsburgh’s Barrel & Flow Fest returns to celebrate, embrace and uplift Black artists, musicians, chefs and brewers around the country. Taking place Aug. 8, 2026 with an eclectic, creative and empowering schedule of events, the festival is a must-see experience in our city of multitudes.

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Barrel & Flow

As the first brew fest dedicated to Black brewers, drinkers and artists, Barrel & Flow Fest has put Pittsburgh on the Black brew map, and has helped position the city as one of the leaders in brewery diversity and inclusion.

Barrel & Flow Fest

What's with the name? Well, the Barrel refers to the brews and Flow references the performing artists and speakers. Together, Barrel & Flow represents what attendees can expect at the event: one-of-a-kind brews fresh from the barrel accompanied by live art, food vendors and entertainment all day.

This year, festivities will take place at The Stacks at 3 Crossings in the Strip District, where festival goers can enjoy exclusive craft brew collaborations, a uniquely curated collection of vendors, live music and entertainment, networking opportunities and plenty of fun. The festival is open from noon-9 p.m. Saturday for general admission and will feature more than 150 vendors.

Looking to enjoy Barrel & Flow Fest before the general public? Explore the VIP and Early Admission tickets (on sale Feb. 1, 2024) for early access and exclusive swag. Only 250 VIP tickets are available, and provide admission to all events Friday through Sunday and includes the conferencing events, bottle share, fest + catered luncheon by Roux Orleans and Sunday brunch.

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Barrel & Flow

Must-Try Collaborations

Your tasting glass is your passport to trying all of the best beverages on tap at Barrel & Flow Fest. 35+ Black-owned breweries and distilleries will take center stage, serving their own brews alongside more than 50 craft brew collaborations.

These unique creations are made by pairing local and national breweries together or with local artists, charities and restaurants to create a craft beer lover's paradise of beers you can only find here all in one place.

Here's just a few collabs to keep tabs on:

Pittsburgh powerhouse Velum Fermentation has two collabs, one with Meek's Sweetz Baked Treats and another with both Crafted for Action and Draught Season
Pittsburgh-based Two Frays is collabing with Barbados Black
DOPE Cider House and Winery, the first Black and female-owned cidery in Ohio, is partnering with local favorite Trace Brewing

Other local collabs to look out for include brews from Windy Bridges Brew, Chef Bruce of Community Kitchen Pittsburgh, New France Brewing Co., Grist House Craft Brewery, TLC Libations, Acrospire, and many more.

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Barrel & Flow

Tons of Entertainment

Barrel & Flow Fest will feature multiple stages with full lineups of local, national and international Black artists.

For the full lineup including times and stage locations, visit the Barrel & Flow website.

More than Music and Brews

Be sure to check out the The Small Business Market where vendors will be selling their art and wares from The Suite Spot Barbershop to Pawsitively PGH and everything in between.

Hungry? Grab some Street Fries, some Jamaican creations from Jaiden’s Place Caribbean/Soul and dessert from S&S Chocolatz among the dozens of food vendors in attendance.

Network with Black focused non-profits and companies and support the August Wilson African American Cultural Center and Africana women co-op Ujamaa Collective.