April 26, 2007

BURGH beer lovers made sure the town’s first Real Ale Festival was a spectacular success – by drinking every last drop on offer.

Visitors from as far away as Ireland and America arrived in Helensburgh on Saturday to sample some of Scotland’s finest ales.

Organisers had to borrow extra glasses from neighbouring pubs after more than 650 people descended on the Victoria Halls for the inaugural Helensburgh Round Table Real Ale Festival.

Despite the drizzle, people of all ages turned up to sample some of the 24 different ales and soak up the sounds of live music from a selection of bands.

Thirsty revellers drank their way through 28 barrels – or 2,016 pints – of ale and about 400 bottles of beer and lined their stomachs with a fabulous selection of food laid on by the Buffet Shop.

Delighted organiser Justin Beattie said: “We were expecting 400 people but there were closer to 700.

“What I really liked were that all the different age groups were there.

“It was a really friendly atmosphere and a really good crowd.

“This was a real community effort. Each of the 24 different beers on offer was sponsored by a local business and when we ran out of glasses we had to phone round the bars to get extras.”