ALTON'S second winter beer festival will take place on Saturday, February 11 - and it is expected to be even bigger and better than last time This year's event will be held at the newly- refurbished Alton Maltings Centre, behind Sainsbury's at Maltings Close. According to organising committee spokesman Ysanne Legg, the decision to move to this new venue reflects the growing size and success of Alton's summer and winter beer festivals. "The Alton Maltings Centre seems like a natural home for our beer festival, being a superbly renovated ex-maltings building, wood beams and all. "We are very excited about the new venue which will give us room to expand in years to come, and we know that festival-goers will not be disappointed." Ysanne added: "Alton's beer festivals celebrate the cultural heritage of the town as a traditional area for brewing, based on the clear waters rising from the source of the river Wey, and locally grown hops." The festival will offer a midday and an evening session, and the aim is to offer 40 casks of different beers for people to try. The first four-hour session will run from 11 am to 3 pm and the second from 7 to 11 pm. Tickets are £5 in advance (from the Cavern Bar at Alton Community Centre, the Railway Arms, the Alton Maltings Centre or by ringing 01420 89419) or £7 on the door, to include a glass, programme and live music. All beer is £2 a pint. "Our beer festivals are for those who appreciate real ale, real music and the company of real people. They are also staged in support of local charities," said Ysanne. Since the first Alton beer festival in 2002, the events have raised £12,995 for local charities with last summer's festival netting a record £4,956 which benefited 10 local charities, an individual and social services. Further information about Alton's beer festivals can be found on the website at http://www.altonbeerfestival.co.uk">www.altonbeerfestival.co.uk
