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Wild West Beer Festival                18/10/11

The first ever Hebridean Real Ale and Cider Festival is running this week at Tong Community Hall from Thursday to Saturday.

Open 3-11pm daily and with over 70 beers, plus a selection of ciders, scrumpies and Perris, throwing the Wild West Beer Fest party is Andrew Ribbens, owner of the Western Isles only local brewery the Hebridean Brewing Company.

He says: “This is something I’ve wanted to put on for a number of years. It’s a celebration of Scotland’s Highland and Island award-winning breweries; a relaxed social event where people can enjoy themselves whilst sampling some of the best beers in Britain.”

As well as fine ales from the Hebridean Brewing Company, also on the bill of fayre are tipples from Arran Brewery; Fyne Ales and Atlas Brewery, both in Argyll; The Orkney Brewery and The Highland Brewing Company, also based in Orkney; The Black Isle Brewing Company, and Cairngorm Brewery.

And to ensure that Wild West Beer Festival goers can taste the quality real ales with peace of mind, a free shuttle bus will run throughout each day from Stornoway to the Tong Community Hall and back.

The social event is about more than just beer however as folk and fiddle music will be performed during the evenings, and it is hoped to stage a series of Gaelic drama sketches on festival afternoons.

“I’d just like everyone to come out and enjoy themselves and the ales in good company and good music,” adds Mr Ribbens. “Anyone who wants to turn up with an instrument is more than welcome – let’s make it a real ceilidh!”

With the Royal National Mod 2011 competitions running the week of the Wild West Beer Fest, there is also something special of offer for those singers in need of a thirst quencher with a pint of An Gael Ur (The New Gael).

First brewed for the 2005 Mod, the Hebridean Brewing Company is celebrating the national event’s return to Stornoway by brewing the select ale again.

Hints Mr Ribbens: “It’s a lovely beer brewed to 5% and we will have a limited bottled edition for sale, as well as having it on draft at the festival so lucky people will get to try An Gael Ur in its cask ale version.”

Entry to the first Hebridean Real Ale and Cider Festival is free although festival-goers must pay a £3 deposit on a Wild West Beer Fest souvenir pint glass; a great keep-sake from what looks set to be a great festival!

Pint prices will range from £3 to £3.50, although the ‘strong stuff’ will be limited to half pint purchases at £2 each.

The festival will operate on a token system – token books in 50p multiples can be bought for £5 - and unused tokens can be redeemed or donated to the Wild West Beer Fest’s chosen charity, Stornoway RNLI.