This could be the last Octoberfest at Brewers Quay, as there are plans to redevelop the visitor attraction. The popular location in Hope Square is playing host to the Weymouth Beer Festival for the eighth year running. CAMRA members will be coming from all over the UK and the West Country to visit the two day event, on Friday, October 1st and  and Saturday 2nd.

Divided into two sessions each day, from 11am to 3pm and from 6pm to 11pm, admission costs only £2 for either lunchtime session and £3 in the evenings, which both feature live music. Last year all four sessions were sold out, so it will be essential to buy tickets in advance from West Dorset CAMRA online at www.camrawdorset.org.uk, from The Boot pub at Weymouth or the Blue Raddle at Dorchester. In addition, Octoberfest tickets can be purchased directly from Brewers Quay, at the Timewalk office. The Brewers Quay restaurant and teashop, adjoining the beer festival, will be open at all times, with a special Octoberfest menu, guaranteed to tempt the taste buds and to complement the good ales.

Over 50 real ales and ciders will be tapped direct from casks, around 20 from Dorset and the West Country, plus 30 from Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire. All nine breweries in Dorset will be providing their real ales- new breweries Town Mill at Lyme Regis and the Royal Standard in Upwey will be represented. Town Mill are sending Lyme Gold ale and Black Ven porter, while the Royal Standard will show off their DT3 and DT4 ales for the first time. From Gillingham comes Gillingham Pale and Elder Sarum- a pale bitter with a floral aroma of elderflowers- brewed by CAMRA member Paul Smith at his Small Paul microbrewery- situated in his North Dorset garage. Art Brew at North Chideock have made a big impression in their first year and will produce the distinctive Green Hopped Bitter and the noted Art MMX barley wine for the festival.

In stark contrast to these relative newcomers are the Hall & Woodhouse brewery at Blandford St. Mary, founded in 1777 and Palmer’s thatched brewery at Bridport, which dates from 1794. Palmers Best Bitter will be on the Octoberfest bar, together with the famously strong Tally Ho! which makes a welcome reappearance for winter. Spicy Badger Tanglefoot is one of the best selling of Dorset real ales made by regional leader Hall & Woodhouse, whose brand-new brewhouse will open next year.