ORGANISERS of the Tynedale Beer Festival are celebrating a record-breaking year after 6,500 visitors got through 20,000 pints during the three-day event in Corbridge.

From Thursday through to Saturday, visitors flocked to Tynedale Park to sample some of the 122 ales on offer.

But revellers were spoilt for choice with 27 ciders, a well-stocked wine bar and Pimms and prosecco also available.

The event, which is a joint venture between Tynedale Lions Club and Tynedale Rugby Club, has grown steadily since it was first launched in 2002 and has raised over £450,000 for good causes along the way.

Steve Hull, one of the organisers from Tynedale RFC, said: “There’s no doubt that this year has been another fantastic success.

“It was the biggest attendance we’ve ever had and we almost ran out of beer completely.

“There was very little left to empty out of the casks.”

Tynedale breweries including Wylam, Allendale, Hexhamshire and High House Farm at Matfen, were well represented with ales consumed as fast as they were pulled by the army of volunteers enlisted to serve them.

A special bar with seven ales from the Hexhamshire Brewery was dedicated to well-known landlord and brewer, Geoff Brooker, who died suddenly in January aged 67.

But it was Newcastle-based Tynebank Brewery’s Single Blonde and a lager-type beer Schiehallion, from the Harviestoun Brewery in Scotland which sold out first.

“With the ciders, it’s always the sweet, fruit-based ones which sell out first,” explained Lions Club member Colin McGregor.

“We had 27 this year, which is the most ever, and they range from between about five and seven per cent in alcohol content.

“The popularity of cider just keeps on growing with men and women.

“So for the last few years we’ve increased the numbers we offer each festival by about 20 per cent.”

In response to demand for a wider variety of drinks, the festival also introduced a wine bar three years ago, which this year was run by Patrick Eyres, who runs Hexham-based wine merchant Bin 21.

Steve explained: “With help from Paddy, we’ve really been able to broaden the appeal of the festival, and it’s helped make sure we achieve our aim of keeping it new and fresh every year.”

The proof is in the tasting with 228 bottles of prosecco and 75 bottles of Pimms among the drinks sold from the wine bar.

“We’ve also improved the catering this year and tried to offer more variety for people,” added Steve.

Alongside food from Kielder Organic Meats and snacks from Belsay-based Lucy Blaylock Catering, festival-goers could sample food from a Polish barbecue, Middle Eastern street food, sweet and savoury crepes and authentic Mexican food from Hexham-based Little Mexico.

“We’ve worked hard to freshen up the branding and image of the festival this year, with help from a marketing company called Tent,” said Steve.

“They’ve really helped us with our website and social media to make sure we reach as many people as possible.”

It was a special year for well-known real ale lover and one of the festival’s long term sponsors, Hexham accountant Patricia Arnold, who was presented with a crystal ale tankard to mark her 30th year in business.

Meanwhile, with the gates open from 6pm until 11pm on both Thursday and Friday, visitors were treated to a busy programme of live music.

Among those who took took to the stage were the six-piece Haydon Bridge band, The Barflies and Newcastle-based band Diablo.

For the festival’s family day on Saturday, which saw the gates open between 1pm and 11pm, The Tyne Valley Big Band and Allendale teenager Anna Harrison, were among the line up.

Anna penned the song Moments after hearing the story of North Tyne farmer Stuart Ridley (25) and his courageous fight against an inoperable brain tumour.

The song rocketed into the iTunes top 40 after it was released last month to raise money for the #staystrongstu campaign.

The campaign, which has raised over £108,000 to date, had a notable presence at the festival on Saturday when a four per cent golden ale named Stu’s Brew, and created by Allendale Brewery, went on sale and a total of 34 gallons were drunk!

A fund-raising rugby 7s event, organised by #staystrongstu committee member Matt Fieldhouse, also drew in the crowds.

Eight teams of players – five from Tynedale Rugby Club, along with others from Percy Park, Morpeth and Blaydon clubs – battled it out on the field to be crowned victorious.

It was Tynedale’s Don’t Try For Me Argentina who won the final clash 19-7 against another Tynedale side, Coco Monkey Minions.

Matt explained: “Each team contributed an entry fee of £150 and once we add that to other donations, we hope to have raised at least another £1,500 for the Stay Strong Stu campaign on the day.”

And with charities including the Great North Air Ambulance, Action for Children, Help for Heroes and the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation already chosen as beneficiaries for this year‘s festival proceeds, organisers are optimistic they can exceed the £67,000 raised from last year’s event.