REAL ale fans raised their glasses as another Octoberfest beer festival was celebrated at Brewers Quay in Weymouth.

The popular festival, organised by the West Dorset branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) in association with Brewers Quay, welcomed 1,000 people in four packed sessions over the weekend.

More than 50 South West breweries were represented, including several from Dorset, while cider lovers had the choice of 11 different varieties.

Top drink of the festival as voted by punters was Warminster-based Plain Ales’ pale golden beer Innocence.

Camra representatives will present a certificate to the brewer at a later date.

Wiltshire ales were popular this year as second place was awarded to Salisbury’s Keystone Brewery for its Gold Spice Ginger Beer.

Third place went to Old Slug Porter, from Somerset brewer RCH.

Dorset brewers were well represented with Palmer’s of Bridport, Dorset Piddle Brewery of Piddlehinton, Art Nouveau of North Chideock and Dorset Brewing Company of Brewers Quay.

Drinkers were entertained on Friday night by rock band Restless while feet were stomping on Saturday with Flaky Jake.

This was the seventh Octoberfest at Brewers Quay and West Dorset chairman of Camra Dave Harris said it was the best yet.

He said: “We sold most of the tickets by September 20 except for the Friday lunchtime session.

“But that session was far busier than last year. We estimate that over the weekend about two thirds of the beer was drunk, that’s two thirds of a little over 3,000 pints.”

The festival makes use of the courtyard in Brewers Quay during the lunchtime sessions but come the evening when the attraction is closed the whole ‘street’ area is opened up.

Profits from the festival are donated to Camra.

But the Camra festivals in Dorchester and at Value House support local charities.