BEER festivals are a novel way to try unusual beers and ciders.

The 21st Poole Beer Festival gets underway this weekend featuring more than 85 real ales alongside a wide range of real ciders, perries, international brews and bottled beers.

A large number of locally brewed quirky sounding ales are included such as Charlie Doesn’t Play Piano by Eight Arch in Wimborne and Wayward Sun sponsored by the Branksome Park and Canford Cliffs Resident Association

When is it? Friday, November 1, 11am to 3.30pm and 6.30pm to 11pm and Saturday, November 2, 11am to 3.30pm and 6.30pm to 11pm.

Where will it be held? It will be held at St Aldhelm's Centre, Poole Road, Branksome, Poole.

What sort of ales will be on offer? Barefaced Brewery – Lemon Meringue Pie Lactose Pale, Drop The Anchor – Blueberry and Pecan Breakfast Stout to name a few.

A festival spokesman said: “This truly is a festival of beer (and cider). No boring, or common beers here!”

How much are tickets and where do I get them?

Tickets cost £10 per session and include a souvenir glass, two half pint tokens for beer or cider, a festival guide and an extra free pint for card carrying CAMRA members.

There will also be meet the brewer sessions, hot food and live music on Saturday night. Join CAMRA at the festival and get two extra pints.

Tickets are available from eastdorset.camra.org.uk or at any of the following local pubs; Brewhouse (Poole), The Barking Cat (Poole), All Hail Ale (Bournemouth), Firkin Shed (Bournemouth), Micro Moose (Winton) and The Vine Inn (Pamphill).

Anything else I need to know?

This year the festival’s chosen charity is The Dorset Children’s Foundation and if you haven’t got any cash, contactless payments for beer tokens and food will be accepted.