ALE lovers raised their glasses to toast the start of this year’s beer festival.

The five-day celebration, now in its 24th year, welcomed its first barrel-load of visitors to Colchester Arts Centre on Tuesday.

It is expected to attract thousands of beer lovers and brewers until Saturday.

This year, organisers from the Colchester branch of Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) have lined up 112 real ales from across the UK, as well as 15 ciders and perries, local wine and the ever popular Belgium beer bar.

The festival has hosted a blind judging session to select the Champion Golden Ale of East Anglia from eight finalists.

Ales shortlisted include two from Maldon breweries – Maldon Gold, by Mighty Oak brewery, and Puck’s Folly, by Farmer’s Ales.

On Saturday, organisers will be presenting Nethergate Brewery, based near Pentlow, with the Champion Beer of Essex award for its Old Growler.

All the proceeds from this year’s festival will be shared between Help For Heroes and Colchester-based Chariot Community Buses.

Graham Evans, chairman of Colchester’s Camra branch, who has entered his own beer Good Heavans for the first time this year, said: “It was hard to get the selection of beers we wanted this year as real ale is getting more and more popular.

“I would hope the festival is as successful as last year when we had three pints left by the Saturday night.”

David English, landlord of Brightlingsea’s Railway Tavern, who has two beers at the festival, said: “The festival is a good showcase of beer in general, not just locally but across the industry.

“It’s also good for us to come and try out the competition. It helps us to compare if we are getting it right.”