Preparations are underway for the 2020 Dorchester Beerex.
The annual event, in its 32nd year, will take place at Dorchester Corn Exchange on Friday, February 7 and Saturday, February 8.
It is being organised by West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Casterbridge Rotary Club.
The main sponsor will once again be Palmers Brewery of Bridport, and the main beneficiary will be mental health charity Dorset Mind.
Last year the beer festival raised a record £17,000 which was split between local good causes.
Beerex chairman Les Fry said: “Dorchester Beerex is a great way to help raise money for worthy causes and with the fantastic success of the 2019 festival for 2020 we are hoping to raise the roof and break through the £200K mark of money raised to date; this is all down to local support from barrel sponsoring companies, raffle donators and our loyal customers who have helped make the festival so popular over the years.”
The festival will feature around 80 different real ales from all over the UK and there will also be large selection of perry and cider.
Cleeves Palmer of Palmers Brewery said: “We are delighted to sponsor again the Dorchester Beerex in 2020. Palmers have now completed 225 years of continuous
brewing at The Old Brewery in Bridport. During 2019, it was a thrill that our head brewer Darren Batten and his Brewhouse team won the prestigious South West Regional Championship for ale with our Tally Ho!
“The Dorchester Beerex is a coming together of ale lovers and everyone who attends helps raise much needed funds for Dorset Mind, an incredibly important charity that helps hundreds of people across the county who have sadly suffered from mental health issues.”
The festival is split into lunchtime and evening sessions and entry is priced at £10.
Customers receive a commemorative festival glass, colour programme with beer listing notes and two half pints of beer. Meanwhile, CAMRA members receive an extra two halves.
Tickets are now for sale from:
Dorchester - The Convivial Rabbit, The Bakers Arms and the Brace of Butchers; Poundbury.
Weymouth - The Dog House micro pub (Great George St)
On line via www.camrawdorset.org.uk which includes postal sales
Customers are advised to get their tickets early to avoid disappointment.
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