EXCITEMENT is hotting up for the return of a popular beer festival.

Weymouth Octoberfest takes place in the Pavilion’s Ocean Rooms on Friday, October 5 and Saturday, 6 and organisers are tantalising tastebuds by announcing what will be on the menu.

This year the main majority of the beer will come from the Cumbrian region of the United Kingdom with the support of local Dorset brewers and featured guest beer range from the South Wiltshire Downton Brewery.

CAMRA bar manager and co organiser Rich Gabe said: “This year we wanted to do something a bit different so we are having a separate cider bar which will feature around 20 different varieties and all the beers will be across the front of the stage. If you have never been to a beer festival before I can highly recommend the experience as there is bound to be a beer or cider to suit your palate and our knowledgeable bar staff will be keen to assist you. We have listened to customer feedback and will not be having music at any session, the moving of the bar will generate more seating and hopefully make the customer experience better.”

Cumbrian beers to look out for include the former champion beer of Britain “Bluebird” from Coniston brewery, “Brim Fell IPA “from the world famous Hesket Newmarket one of the first Lake District micro breweries and for lovers of dark beer Durwent “Marshall Port Stout” and the popular Jennings “Snecklifter”.

From Dorset Small Pauls “Blackberry Mild” brewed especially for the festival, a welcome return from Six Penny with Tony’s Tipple only available at their brewery tap and the multi award winning Palmers TallyHo!

Amongst the large selection of ciders selected by Alex Bardswell sees treats from Dorset, Devon, and Somerset and further afield Sussex and Herefordshire. The range is the best selection ever at a local CAMRA festival and includes West Milton who have added hops to a cider, the award winning Dorset Star, a popular favourite from Seacider with their Marmalade and a new one with Blueberries. The range scopes from traditional dry to sweet ciders and takes in a range of non-concentrate ciders with real fruit additions. There are also three Perry’s from Bridge Farm, Farmer Jim’s and Hecks

The Pavilion features some of the best views a beer festival could have and tickets are now on sale from the following outlets.

Tickets are available by visiting camrawdorset.org.uk or by calling 01305 788939. Alternatively go in to The Pavilion, The Boot or Globe pubs and Chalbury Food and Wine. On Portland tickets are being sold at the Royal Portland Arms and The George pubs alongside Wyke Smugglers pub and in Dorchester at The Blue Raddle.