Last updated 09:31, Saturday, 11 October 2008

ORGANISERS of this year’s Carlisle Beer Festival have ordered in extra beer – before the event even opens!

Carlisle Beer Festival, Lakes Court Hotel, October 23-25

The Solway branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) decided to increase the range because of the huge demand for tickets.

The event is being held in the Cumbria Ballroom, Lakes Court Hotel, Carlisle, for the first time.

Pubs Liaison Officer Philip Tuer said: “We felt we had to increase the number and range of beers available. We are going to sell mostly Cumbrian beers and have managed to secure beers from a couple of breweries that do not normally supply outside their immediate area.”

Included in the list is a beer from Abraham Thompson in Barrow-in-Furness, perhaps the smallest commercial brewery in Cumbria. A beer from the Watermill at Ings will also be available for the first time in the Solway branch area.

The festival will see another first – the branch has decided to present an award for the area’s “Beer of the Year.”

A shortlist of three beers: Geltsdale’s Black Dub and Hesket Newmarket’s’ Doris 90th and Scafell Blonde was drawn up and the winner will be announced at 1pm on Friday, October 24. The festival is open from October 23-25: Thursday-Saturday 5-11pm; Friday and Saturday 12-4pm.