REAL ALE lovers are getting ready to raise a glass and enjoy the 27th annual Dorchester Beerex festival.

The popular fundraising event is being held on Friday, February 6 and Saturday, February 7 and tickets for some of the sessions have already sold out.

There will be around 80 real ales and 12 varieties of cider on offer at the Corn Exchange during the event, which is organised by a committee of members of West Dorset CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) and the Dorchester Round Table.

The only tickets still available with two weeks still to go until the festival were for the Friday lunchtime session and a very small number for the Saturday evening. The Friday evening and Saturday lunchtime tickets have already sold out.

CAMRA bar manager Rich Gabe said: “Lovers of real ale have a real treat with a beer selection that covers the mainland of the UK plus hopefully a brew from the Isle of Man.

“I always like to have a cross-section of local Dorset breweries alongside new exciting upcoming breweries and old favourites.”

This year beers will include offerings from two of Dorset’s newest micro-breweries, the Cerne Abbas Brewey with its Cerne Ale that tasted success at the Weymouth Octoberfest and the Wriggle Valley brewery from Ryme Intriseca with Copper Hoppa.

They will be available alongside tipples from family brewery Palmers of Bridport, which is sponsoring the event for the first time, as well as beers from the Dorset Brewing Co and many more.

Punters may also be tempted by the extremely potent 10 per cent barley wine, Thomas Sykes from Staffordshire’s Burton Bridge brewery, Loch Ness brewery’s Wilderness, Pixie Spring, Golden Pixie and Yorkshire Heart’s Hearty Mild.

Twisted Cider and Dorset Nectar represent Dorset with Mr Whiteheads, Hecks and New Forest Traditional among the other cider and perry makers featuring.

The team from Dorchester’s Ellipse will again be providing a range of snacks and hot food.

Beerex chairman Rick Dowell said “We are counting down the days before we throw open the doors to welcome our supporters old and new.

“I am looking forward to the months of planning coming to fruition for another successful Beerex.”

Any available tickets for the Friday lunchtime sessions can be picked up from Goldie’s Pub in High East Street, the Dorchester Tourist Information Centre or The Boot pub in Weymouth.

The last few Saturday evening tickets are available from Goldie’s but people are urged to act fast before they all go.

For more information visit cam rawdorset.org.uk or beerex.co.uk