GLASSES will be raised to the real ale revival at the Great Yarmouth Beer and Cider Festival.The eagerly anticipated event from May 23 to 26 is providing a showcase for the best of Norfolk and Suffolk's independent breweries.

GLASSES will be raised to the real ale revival at the Great Yarmouth Beer and Cider Festival.

The eagerly anticipated event from May 23 to 26 is providing a showcase for the best of Norfolk and Suffolk's independent breweries.

Organised by Yarmouth's award-winning Blackfriars Brewery the festival will feature around 80 different ales and for the first time a range of locally produced ciders and perries.

East coast rivalry will be set aside for the duration of the festival with drinkers sure to be enjoying some pints of the best from Lowestoft-based Green Jack.

Based at the town's Triangle Tavern, the most easterly brewery in Britain has received plenty of plaudits since it was founded by real ale enthusiast Tim Dunford in 1993.

Green Jack Ales are a testament to Tim's taste, skills, commitment to individuality and quality. Well known for their hoppy character, Green Jack beers are brewed with locally malted wheat and barley and a blend of traditional hops from England with those from the New World giving the ales a distinctive floral and citrus aroma.

Green Jack tipples on tap at the festival include Orange Wheat, a soft citrus marmalade flavoured pale ale, that was champion beer at the Norwich Beer Festival, and Canary, a popular light hoppy pale ale.

A new brewery is being built in a former Lowestoft smoke house, to keep up with the demand for Green Jack's range of beers.

Tim said: “It is always good to get our beers out there and we have a lot of fans in Yarmouth. The beer festival is a very good showcase, for us and we are looking forward to taking part again this year.”

A dedicated team of volunteers is needed to pour the pints at the festival throughout the Whitsun bank holiday weekend.

In return for pouring some pints, there is a free T-shirt, free meal during each shift, a chance to taste some of the beers and free admission to another session.

Anyone interested helping out at the festival should call Jonathan Newman on 01493 745828 or e-mail johnathan@gytcp.co.uk.

The Mercury is again proudly sponsoring the festival, with advance tickets available to readers at a discount through the paper.

Tickets are £3 on the door for lunchtime and £4 for evening sessions and £3 from the Mercury for all sessions. To get the session you want, it is advisable to book early through the Mercury.

To get a copy of the Mercury, call our reception on 01493 847940.