A RECORD-BREAKING ten competitors from across the county took part in the seventh Cumbrian Challenge micro-beer festival sponsored by The Westmorland Gazette, reports Gillian Cowburn.

The three-day event held at Burgundy's in Kendal also attracted the highest recorded customer vote just short of a thousand real ale enthusiasts, who travelled from across the UK, to have their say on this year's beers.

"Cumbrian micro-brewing appears to be forging ahead," said Gazette wine columnist and beer festival organiser Derek Kingwell.

"With a lift from the chancellor last year and the ever demanding thirst for real' individual flavours this once borderline business can now become profitable."

Talking to the brewers, Derek discovered that the "healthy competition" between them was breeding higher standards.

"This will not only attract increased attention from visitors to the area but should encourage locals away from national brews."

Although the final vote is down to members of the public, the festival always starts with an official tasting. This year's panel included Roger Morris, winner of the 2002 public voting competition; John Lannaghan, former Gazette editor; Alan Risdon, Westmorland CAMRA branch secretary; and Tony Jackson, Westmorland CAMRA chairman.

The ten beers on offer were from Tirril Brewery at Brougham Hall, Hesket Newmarket, Coniston, Derwent at Silloth, Yates Brewery from Westnewton, Dent, Barngates Brewery near Ambleside, and Foxfield Brewery from Broughton-in-Furness. The two new competitors were Great Gable Brewing Co. from the Wasdale Head Inn at Wasdale, and Hawkshead Brewery from Town End, Hawkshead.

Unlike previous years, the tasting panel's favourite ale (Spring Fever from Yates at Westnewton) wasn't reflected in the public vote, which was for Doctor's Dilemma courtesy of Derwent brewery at Silloth, suppliers of Cumbrian ale to the House of Commons.

The unlucky but very popular second ale, which was literally a sell-out, was newcomer Hawkshead Bitter brewed by Alex Brodie at Hawkshead Brewery, Town End. Since creating his first brew in July last year, Alex has already won the Bradford Beer festival with Hawkshead Best.

Third place in the public voting went to Graeme and Caroline Baxter of Yates Brewery at Westnewton with past winner Spring Fever. The Baxters brew a thousand barrels a year, about 36,000 gallons.

Meanwhile, in fourth place was Coniston Brewery - in the top four since the first festival in 1997 - with Bluebird XB brewed by Ian Bradley.

The lucky voter who receives a gallon of his chosen winning ale, two Cumbrian Challenge' T-shirts and an invitation to join the Tasting Panel' next year, was Bill Heslop from Kendal.

April 17, 2003 12:00