FLAGONS will be overflowing with the finest beers and ales this week as a popular beer festival returns.

The next three days the Coronation Hall in Ulverston will take on a distinctly amber hue as the Ulverston Beer Festival takes place.

Run each year by the Furness branch of the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) the event sees dozens of kegs of beer, ale and cider rolled into the Coro ready for an eager and thirsty public.

With more than 100 kegs brought in, the chairman of Furness CAMRA, Dave Stubbins, is eager to get this year’s festivities up and running.

He said: “We have something new this year called a key keg beer. They are beers which are served in a keg but the beer is contained in a bad inside the keg. That keeps the beer out of contact with the gas and it means it can be served cooler and fizzier than traditional keg beer.”

New ideas like bringing in key kegs is part of a wider push in CAMRA to adapt to the latest developments in brewing and not to only look to tradition and what worked best in the past.

Mr Stubbins said: “I’m fine with things like key keg beers. I think it is important to remember that CAMRA did not get going back in the 1970s by telling people keg beers were rubbish. It would be stupid for CAMRA to say that these new beers are not good.

“A lot of people like their beers to be at a cooler temperature. I’m happy with that.”

There will be a huge amount of chose for punters when the festival gets under way on Thursday August 30 at 2pm. There are 83 beers and 25 ciders on sale ensuring there is something for everyone.

A firm favourite on the town’s calendar there will always be a hard core of festival goers, but, there is always room for people in need of find company and fine ale.

He said: “I would say come and be amazed. We have an exciting range of beers, we are very friendly and welcoming so please come and enjoy.”

The festival will take place on Thursday 30 August from 2pm to 11pm, Friday 31 from 12pm to 11pm and Saturday September 1 from 12pm to 7pm. Entry free to CAMRA members; £2 admission and £2 for a glass.