EXCITEMENT is brewing ahead of this year's Great Yarmouth Beer and Cider Festival.The much anticipated event on May 23 to 26 provides a popular combination of award winning ales with a dash of local pride.

EXCITEMENT is brewing ahead of this year's Great Yarmouth Beer and Cider Festival.

The much anticipated event on May 23 to 26 provides a popular combination of award winning ales with a dash of local pride.

And for the first time locally produced ciders and perries will be available at the festival, which has become a major event in the town's calendar.

More ales from the best of Norfolk and north Suffolk independent brewers are also lined up for the occasion held at the historic Priory Centre.

The festival attracted more than 1,000 real ale enthusiasts when it was held for the first time last year and organizers are hoping it will prove an even bigger draw this time round.

Blackfriars Brewery will once again be flying the flag for Yarmouth with their range of top tipples, including specially produced orange and coriander flavoured Charter Ale.

Barrels of super strength Audit Ale are also set to be rolled out for the festival again after going down well with festival goers previously.

Based on a recipe from old Yarmouth brewer Lacons, the 8pc strength ale was originally produced for Cambridge University to celebrate the completion of the colleges annual accounts.

Blackfriars owner Bill Russell said: “Last year's festival was a great success and it has really sparked people's imagination and become a special event for Great Yarmouth.

“There will be more variety and choice this time, with a full range of beers as well as ciders and apple juice.

“It was a popular request to have cider at the festival and there will be a selection of up to 20 different ciders from a variety of producers.

“Feedback is important and one of the comments was the music was too loud, so now we are only going to have it in some evening slots. It will be more acoustic this time to be in keeping with the convivial atmosphere at the festival.”

The call is on for a dedicated team of volunteers to pour the pints at the festival throughout the Whistsun bank holiday weekend.

In return for pouring some pints there is 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 email 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, using the special Ticket Order Form, for all sessions. To get the session you want, it is advisable to book early through the Mercury.

Call 01493 847940 to order a copy of the Mercury.