A HUGE range of beers will be tempting the tastebuds of discerning ale connoisseurs in Newton Abbot later next month when MaltingFest gets underway.

The three day celebration of the art of blending water , hops, grain and yeast opens its doors to the public at Osborne Park on April 20, and once again will showcase a huge range of beers, including cask, craft keg beers and lagers, local ciders and local spirits including gins, whiskies and rums.

Organised by the Society of Independent Brewers in the South West, the festival is now in its 29th year and is the most comprehensive festival of drinks produced by local brewers in the south-west.

Until 2018 it was housed mainly on one of the Tucker’s Maltings malt floors

However, following the company’s closure later that year it moved fully outside to be a tented festival on Osborne Park. SIBA and the MaltingsFest organisers are hugely grateful for the support of headline sponsor Warminster Maltings and Newton Abbot Town Council without which MaltingsFest would not be possible.

‘Beer-wise we should have something for everyone’s palate’, said SIBA SW chairman Paul Arrowsmith.

‘Last year there were nearly 300 brews available ranging from traditional bitters to stouts, lagers, amber beers, strong beers and New World IPAs with every style of beer in-between.’

A similar number of beers will be available this year and these will be judged on the Thursday morning (April 20) from 11am before the event opens to the public at 5pm.

‘The number of classes has increased over the years and to win an award is a great help to a brewer’s marketing,’ added Paul.

MaltingFest is open to the public from 5pm to 11pm on Thursday, April 20, between 11am and 11pm on April 21 and 11am to 10pm on April 22

Full details can be found at the website www.maltingsfest.co.uk.