Rural Beekeeping & Beer Tasting in Sussex

About this experience

Rural Beekeeping & Beer Tasting in Sussex

Hiver's Rural Beekeeping & Beer Tasting takes place in the Sussex countryside, at Albourne Estate, 8 miles from Brighton. It's two hours of hands-on beekeeping with Hiver's expert beekeeper, followed by a guided tasting of the honey beers the bees help make.

What you'll do

• Get to know the hive. Your beekeeper gives you an in-depth look at a working hive, including how the colony is structured and how the bee life cycle works.
• Get hands-on. You'll suit up, handle frames and inspect the colony up close.
• Taste the beers. You'll head back to the tasting room for a guided tasting of three of Hiver's award-winning honey beers, with food matching.

On very wet days, when the hives can't be opened safely, the session switches to building a hive and exploring hive by-products. So the experience still goes ahead, whatever the weather.

Make a day of it

Albourne Estate is a vineyard, and Hiver offers optional add-ons including a vineyard tour, a picnic or access to the winery bar. That makes it easy to turn the experience into a full day out in the countryside. Add-ons are chosen when you book.

When it runs

Sessions run in the beekeeping season from April to September, with occasional winter dates. Check Hiver's booking page for availability.

What to wear

Beekeeping suits are provided. Wear closed shoes and socks that cover your ankles. Shorts and skirts are fine under the suit.

About Hiver

Hiver is a London honey beer brand, born out of an admiration for the city's urban beekeepers and a passion for craft beer. Its beers use only British ingredients and are fermented with raw honey, and the range includes a Honey Blonde Beer and a Honey Brown Ale. Hiver is one of the longest-standing venues on the Bermondsey Beer Mile, and its taproom on Stanworth Street has a live colony of bees in an exhibition hive on the wall.

Good to know

• Hiver's beer contains wheat (gluten), and some food matches contain wheat and lactose and may contain traces of nuts. Let Hiver know about dietary needs in advance at experiences@hiverbeers.com.
• Booking changes can be made up to 2 weeks before your date.
• Closer to London? The London Beekeeping & Beer Tasting is a similar experience in Kennington Park.

Highlights

• In-depth hive inspection with an expert beekeeper
• Handle frames and learn about the colony
• Guided tasting of three award-winning Hiver honey beers with food matching
• Set on Albourne Estate in the Sussex countryside, 8 miles from Brighton
• Optional vineyard tour, picnic or winery bar add-ons

Where

Albourne Estate, West Sussex (near Brighton)