ALTON’S Summer Beer Festival takes place next weekend at Alton College – and organisers have been out and about finding top tipples.

Nigel Hoppitt and Frank Norris, two of the beer festival trustees, ably assisted by Dave Patey, have been working tirelessly to find new breweries to feature at the two-day summer festival, which runs from June 3-4.

They have been travelling near and far sampling different beers and have had the hard job of choosing which ones to introduce to the festival’s regulars and new visitors during one of the three sessions.

All this is to ensure that even more money is raised for charity. More than £11,000 was raised at the Winter Beer Festival and the trustees are hoping that even more can be raised at the beginning of June.

This time, punters will be able to try ales from a number of new local breweries – Hopart, Urban Island, Indigenous and Dancing Man, as well as some from further afield, such as Bespoke Mitchelden, Chiltern Aylesbury, Five Points Hackney, and Brick Peckham.

After their success at the Winter Beer Festival, more vegan and vegetarian beers will be on offer. People will also get the opportunity to try some sour beers, and there will be some chilled craft beer available which is perfect for the summer.

There will be more than 100 beers and ciders to sample, along with food and entertainment.

There are three sessions: from 7pm-11pm on Friday evening and Saturday evening, with a lunchtime session from 11am-3pm on Saturday.

Tickets, priced £5, are available online at altonbeerfestival.co.uk as well as from The Railway Arms and The King’s Head pubs in Alton, The Queen’s Head in Holybourne, and Triple fff Brewery in Four Marks.