Ales for Tails 2025 raises record-breaking R312,200.99 for KZN animal shelters
What began in 2016 as a small but passionate community gathering has now grown into one of KwaZulu-Natal’s most anticipated annual events. Back then, organiser Warren Eades — with the help of a handful of devoted homebrewers and local musicians — put on a mini beer fest to raise funds for the Kloof & Highway SPCA. That first event brought in a very respectable R68,130.
Fast forward to 2025, and Ales for Tails has evolved into a full-scale festival, attracting top artists from across the province, homebrew clubs from around the country, and a diverse audience of families, beer lovers, and animal enthusiasts. This year saw the bold move to a new venue and an expanded mission — supporting 11 incredible animal shelters across KZN. The result? An astonishing R312,200.99 raised for these worthy causes.
The heart of Ales for Tails lies in its community spirit — from local businesses stepping up as “Guardians,” adopting shelters and helping them create fun and engaging activities that generate funds on the day, to students from St Mary’s School who give their time to look after the children’s play area, ensuring families can enjoy the event. The festival also offers something for everyone — from mechanical bull rides, spa treatments, and face painting to thrilling live medieval sword fights. Guests can even watch artworks being painted live by artist Dawn Melanie, which are then auctioned to boost the fundraising total.
“This event has come so far from its humble beginnings,” says organiser Warren Eades. “It’s now a full-on festival that’s taking our province by storm, and I’m blown away by what our community can achieve when we come together. I’m incredibly excited for the future of Ales for Tails and the difference we can continue to make for animals in need.”
Ales for Tails is more than just a beer festival — it’s a celebration of local talent, generosity, and the love of animals. Warren encourages local businesses to get involved: “If you’d like to chat about opportunities for our 2026 event, drop me a line at warren@alesfortails.co.za — we’d love to have you on board.”
Since our first event in 2016, we’ve proudly raised R1,206,451.56 for this important cause.
In support of these amazing charities
Our 2025 Title Sponsor
A heartfelt thank you to our title sponsor, Ideal, for their incredible support! As a proud local business with a strong commitment to animal charities, partnering with them felt like a natural fit. With their backing, we’re excited to make amazing improvements this year—together, the sky’s the limit!
Home Brews for Rescues
A massive salute to the Durban Home Brewers, whose passion and dedication have been the backbone of Ales for Tails since its inception in 2016. In 2025 Worthog Brewers (Gauteng) returned to support for their second appearance and Henley Hoppers (also Gauteng) joined us for the first time. These talented men and women craft incredible beers with one goal in mind—supporting animal shelters in need.
Their exclusive brews are a true highlight of the festival, and VIP Top Dogs ticket holders get the unique opportunity to enjoy free tastings of these one-of-a-kind creations. These beers are only available at the event, so don’t miss out—secure your VIP ticket to experience the magic!
Congratulations to our winning top 3 beers that were voted by using the Beer Champ app for the first time at the event.
1st – Danel White with her Tiramisu Porter
2nd – Dave Harrison with his Spicy Honey Blonde
3rd – Danie Jansen with his Grumpy Bean Porter
Durban Home Brewers
Wort Hog Brewers (Gauteng)
Henley Hoppers (Gauteng)
Fermentis – Sponsor
Beyond Brewing – Sponsor
Westville Warehouse – Sponsor
Beer Guevara – Sponsor
Beerchamp – App Sponsor
The Good Vibe Crew
A huge thank you to the incredible artists and bands who bring the festival to life with their talent and energy – all while supporting our furry friends. These generous musicians perform for free, showcasing some of the best talent KwaZulu-Natal has to offer.
The Kickstands
Veranda Panda
Broken Advocate
Tiaan Rivers Band
Phillip Taylor Band
Angst Party
Wah Wah Baby
Matt Gardiner
Gloucester Blues Project
Media Buddies
AdReach Media – Street pole posters
Good Cause Guardians
We invited local businesses to join the cause by adopting a charity and helping raise funds on the day of the event. This was a fantastic opportunity to make a tangible difference for a great charity while gaining exposure and goodwill. Thank you to the below businesses and people for trusting us with this first-of-it’s-kind initiative!
Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital – KZN Valley Dogs
EventsbyAsh – Pet Rescue Isipingo
Lions River Brewery – CROW
World Sports Betting – Stray Paws
Nguni Brewing Co – KZN Valley Dogs
Epol – Pet Coastal Horse Care Unit
Midmar Vet Clinic – Giants Cup Animal Welfare
Mikaela Buxton and Byron Cowan – Mazarat
The Backbone Crew
A big thank you to the caring local businesses whose services make this event possible. Your support is the foundation of our success, and we couldn’t do it without you!
Bizlink Hillcrest – Print
Jellybottle Media – Videographer
Inkunzi Fencing – Barrier Fence
Sanitech – Toilets
Bothners – Back Line
Rocket Rentals – Inflatables & kids games
Excellerate – Security
Porta Services – Toilets
Concious Connections – Charity Verifier
Bubble House Upper Highway – Bubble House
Raffle Partners
Shout out to the businesses that sponsored prizes! This included generous hampers, gift vouchers and even 2 helicopter trips that went out on the afternoon of the event.
New Images Hair Salon – R2,000 Salon voucher
World Sports Betting – 3x hampers R1,500 each
Excellerate – 2x helicopter trips for 3 people
Shaves – R2,000 voucher
Phuket Thai Kloof – Meal for 4 voucher