Win a crate of ale

IT'S the 30th Liverpool Beer Festival this weekend, one of the biggest and best beer festivals in the country. Over 200 real ales, ciders and perries, good food and music - all in the fabulous surroundings of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral's crypt.

But don't get too excited. It's sold out. In fact unless you are an absolute diehard real ale fan, the very organised sort who plans their beer swilling three months in advance and who is willing to stand outside in a queue early on a cold December Saturday morning – the day the tickets went on sale - you won't get a look in.

That's because the CAMRA event is so popular among its fans that the tickets were snapped up in under two hours.

If, like us, you are very good at bunking into these things, then no worries, otherwise, we have the next best thing.

Our friends at the Liverpool Organic Brewery who make and sell the delicious Shipwreck, 24 Cart Gold and Liverpool Pale Ale, among others, in fine establishments like The Little Grapes, The Panoramic, the London Carriage Works and Mello Mello, have made a special limited edition, 5.1% Festival Ale.