Wakefield Beer Festival- isle have a pint from the Celtic fringe of Britain

Ales from Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man are on the menu for next month’s event.

And the drinks do at The Space on Waldorf Way will also feature cider from Brittany.

But fans of local breweries need not fret because there will be plenty from the district’s ale producers on the festival’s 120-strong beer list.

Five Towns, of Outwood, will have Raven King and Strange Brew served from wooden casks. Fernandes, of Kirkgate, will have Black Voodoo Mild served from the wood. It has been specially brewed by Wakefield Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) stalwart June Bradbury and head brewer Steve Hutchinson.

June’s husband Albert has also brewed a beer named Remembrance at HB Clark’s, of Westgate. It ties in with the brewery’s World War One series of beers.

Wakefield Camra publicity officer Bob Wallis said: “When our beer festival first took place in the 1991 it was the only one for miles around, and has continued as a flagship festival on the beer festival calendar.

“Although now real ale and cider fans find that most weekends of the year they have up to a half dozen festivals to pick from, held by pubs, clubs, Lions, Rotaries, Round Tables, scout groups, hospices and brewers such as Dan Jones, of Hamelsworde.

“Dan’s energetic and innovative festivals in Hemsworth and The Old Vic in Ossett’s annual O-to-K Festival have kept our local breweries in the public eye.”

Now it’s time to bring all of that experience together for the district’s ale showcase.

Wakefield Beer Festival 2014 opens at noon on Thursday, November 6 and runs until Saturday, November 8.

It’s pay on the door, except the Friday night session which is by £5 advance ticket only. They can be bought from Wakefield Visitor Centre on the Bull Ring and from various real ale pubs.

This year’s festival will benefit Wakefield and the Prince of Wales Hospices. Please visit www.wakefieldcamra.org.uk/festival for more.