ALTON’S Winter ‘DarksidE’ Beer Festival takes place next month, with resident beer curator Nigel Hoppitt taking on the challenge of finding a range of dark beers for the occasion.

Viewed as “the epitome of winter”, as they are warming and flavoursome, fulfilling beers,” Nigel has been on the hunt across the length and breadth of the UK to source 14 specially selected dark beers to reflect the theme of this winter’s ‘DarksidE’ Festival, which takes place at Alton College on February 24-25.

He said: “These aged beers are all waiting to be drunk, having been laid down before Christmas, and include a limited opportunity to try something unique – an oak-aged dark beer.”

Nigel has worked with the brewer to create this special edition which can only be sampled at the winter festival.

“Avid beer drinkers who received a copy of the infamous ‘1001 beers to try before you die’ by Adrian Tierney-Jones, and are now working their way through it, two of them appear at the winter festival which you can tick off the list,” said organising committee spokesman Louse Parker.

The DarksidE stillage will feature dark beers Porters, Old Slug – 1001BTTBYD, Bottle Wreck Reserve, Tangerine Dream, Chiltern Black, and London. Stouts will include Imperial, Extra, Milk, Coffee, and Black Adder - 1001BTTBYD, while others will include Mild, Rum Truffle, Dark Old Ale, and Double Brown Ale.

In addition to this special range of dark beers, there will be some great vegan and vegetarian beers and lots of gorgeous hoppy beers, including some regional hop specialities.

More than 100 beers and ciders will be available over the course of the three sessions, many of them from local breweries. And there will be people on hand to offer advice and guidance so that everyone can find a few different options to suit their taste.

The ABF Charitable Trust has been formed to ensure that all the money raised goes to local causes, ranging from cancer charities, Scout groups and schools requiring books or equipment for students to disabled individuals raising funds for essential mobility equipment.

Since 2002, the Alton Beer Festival has raised more than £187,000 and this year, the aim is to break the £200,000 mark.

The ABF Charitable Trust has already received requests for donations from the winter festival and is happy to receive more requests.

More than 100 volunteers give their time and energy for free over the weekend, with food throughout and live music, featuring Key Lime PI on Friday evening, Electric Eden playing during the Saturday lunchtime session, and StrauBenZee on Saturday evening.

Entry is by ticket only priced £7.50 for Saturday lunchtime and £5 for the evening sessions, which includes your first half pint. Bring your own glass. Tickets are available online or from The Railway Arms, The King’s Head and The George, Alton; The Queen’s Head, Holybourne; Triple fff Brewery, Four Marks; and The Jolly Sailor, Farnham. Seats are bookable on beer festival buses from Winchester and Basingstoke.

For tickets, visit altonbeerfestival.org.uk.