NEARLY 5,000 pints of beer are expected to be downed at this weekend's four-day festival of beer and brewing in Stowmarket.The seventh annual event, held at the Museum of East Anglian Life, started yesterday and continues until Sunday.
NEARLY 5,000 pints of beer are expected to be downed at this weekend's four-day festival of beer and brewing in Stowmarket.
The seventh annual event, held at the Museum of East Anglian Life, started yesterday and continues until Sunday.
Around 60 varieties of beer from 30 different breweries will be on offer and the organisers are hoping supplies will meet the massive demand.
Lisa Harris, assistant curator at the museum, said: "We're running the event for four days this year for the first time and we're just hoping we don't run out of beer. Last year we came very close but this year we've got plenty of reserves.
"It's a wonderful event and everyone at the museum really pulls together to get it on. It brings a lot of people into Stowmarket and it really helps the town."
Some of the money raised will go towards meeting the £500 cost of restoring a historic wagon to its former glory.
Previously owned by Woods of Stowmarket, the wagon was donated to the museum last December by the late Cecil Carter, who died in May.
Miss Harris said: "We're really pleased to have it at the museum and it would be great to restore it.
"We'd love to have a wagon that's specific to Stowmarket and that's pulled by our Suffolk Punch horses."
In the past, the wagon, built in 1894, was used to carry up to four tonnes of corn.
The remaining funds generated from the Campaign for Real Ale backed festival will go towards paying the running costs of the museum.
Stuart Bowell, a Camra member, said: "We think this is a great event and it's a good opportunity for people to enjoy a wide selection of real ales.
"Camra is delighted to work with the museum in raising awareness of beer."
The festival is open until 11pm today, from 11am to 11pm tomorrow and from noon to 3pm on Sunday.
Admission costs £2 when the museum is closed or £6.50 when it is open.
WEBLINK
www.eastanglianlife.org.uk
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