Britain's biggest selection of winter warmers

January 1, 2006: CAMRA's National Winter Ales Festival returns from January 17-20, held once again at Manchester's New Century Hall, in Corporation Street.

The event will feature a selection of some 200 beers, ciders and perries. Winter ales are typically darker, stronger beers that are at their best during the colder months. Styles include stout, porter, barley wine and old ale.

Now in its 11th year, the festival began as a showcase for winter ales because brewers of old ales, stouts and porters could not enter the Champion Beer of Britain competition — held in August when most winter ales are not available. Since then the festival has become a staple in the beer drinker's calendar, attracting thousands of visitors.

The beer judged to be the best at the festival will be awarded the title of Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2007. The competition is sponsored for the first time by Food from Britain and the announcement of the category winners and the champion will be made on Thursday, January 18.

Along with the standard pint and half-pint glasses, this year CAMRA is introducing a limited number of third-pint glasses. This is a perfectly legal size of glass, and was once common in British pubs, being known as, among other things, a gill or a nip. With a glass of this capacity you can drink more modest amounts as some of the beer on offer can be as much as 8.5% alcohol by volume.