Raise a glass to Caister Lifeboat

Miles Jermy

DRINKERS can raise a toast to the Caister Lifeboat at this year Yarmouth Beer Festival.

Volunteer Ale has been specially brewed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the launch of the independent lifeboat service.

The latest tipple from Yarmouth's Blackfriars Brewery will be amongst the more than 100 local brews on tap at the festival from May 21 to 24.

For the first time the event, held over the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend will start on Thursday evening.

Held at the town's historic Priory Centre, it is a showcase for the best of the region's small, independent beer and cider producers.

In a nod to history, Volunteer has been flavoured with orange to mark the occasion back in 1949 when a cargo of the fruit washed up on Caister beach.

Lifeboat chairman Paul Garrod said: “There was a large spillage of oranges from a coaster, which ran aground on Scroby Sands.

“The beach at Caister turned orange and the whole village went down there as it was just after the war and many people had not seen oranges for seven or eight years.

“I am looking forward to tasting the beer, most of our crew are real ale fanatics and to have a beer named after us is fantastic. I hope to see it in pubs all around town.”

Volunteer will be one of 13 Blackfriars ales at the festival including older favourites like Yarmouth Bitter and White Angel.

It has been another memorable year for Blackfriars with the opening of a new brewery, shop and visitor centre close to the seafront on Main Cross Road.

Owner Bill Russell said: “The new brewery gives us a more efficient output and a consistent quality which we are proud of.

“We will be approaching as many Norfolk breweries as possible to take part in the festival and would like to widen the range of ciders too.”

Advance tickets will be available for the beer festival at a discount from the Great Yarmouth Mercury.