A DORSET beer festival is looking forward to next year’s event as it hands out the accolades for the top of the hops.

Hundreds of people turned out to the popular Octoberfest event, held at Weymouth Pavilion, which celebrates the best of Dorset and the South West’s real ale producers.

The festival celebrated its fifth anniversary this year.

Up for supping at the festival were more than 70 different barrels of real ale, containing around 5,040 pints of beer, as well as 15 ciders and perries.

Organisers from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said they were “delighted” with the turn-out to this year’s event and are now looking to the future and next year’s event.

CAMRA is an independent, voluntary organisation campaigning for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights.

Dorset brewer Sixpenny Brewery picked up an award from the West Dorset branch of CAMRA for their India Pale Ale beer.

The beer was voted runner up for Beer of the Festival by drinkers at the popular Weymouth event.

Kevin Patrick from the brewery in Sixpenny Handley said: “Sixpenny Brewery was delighted to be the recipient of a Highly Commended award for their IPA at the festival.

“The superb range of West Country beers on offer reflected the quality and variety of beers available nowadays, and makes the winning of an award like this all the more rewarding.”

The winning beer at the festival was the strong dark ale Old Freddy Walker, created by Bristol brewers Moor Beer Company. Cider of the festival was awarded to Gwynt y Ddraig by Two Trees Perry.

The festival was once again a big success this year, with nearly 5,000 pints of real ale and real cider being sold over the course of the four sessions. Next year’s festival will take place on October 7 and 8, 2016.

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