I FEEL well and truly obliged this week to swerve the normal weekly pub review.

Giving me an opportunity to highlight a beery two-day celebration, tomorrow and Saturday, at Padiham Town Hall.

Yes, it’s the second Padiham Beer Festival – and if the debut event was anything to go by, it will be beer utopia for all attendees.

Padiham Town Hall is an ideal venue, being on a main bus route.

The bus stop is only yards from the main entrance.

The festival is being organised by both Padiham Town Council and Irwell Works head brewer, Peter Booth. Peter has many years experience in the brewing industry, formerly owning the Red Rose Brewery in Great Harwood.

He will have 35 ales to titillate the taste buds, from 12 breweries – and some locally produced ciders.

All cask ales will be on hand pumps, always a preferable method of drink dispensation at beer festivals.

There is a superb range on offer, from light, refreshing pale ales to the dark, robust and flavoursome stouts and porters.

I feel duty bound now, to recommend a quality quartet.

Let’s kick off with a light, refreshing ale at 3.6%. Irwell Works, Breadcrumbs, is one for the hopheads. A single hop slurp (Amarillo) that is clean tasting, with an intense, grapefruit flavoured backbone throughout. An easy-drinking, well-hopped delight.

The second slurp, is from the award-winning, Brewsmith Brewery, in Ramsbottom. Their ‘Bitter’ is a North West of England, champion beer. Tangy bitterness, with a pleasant lemony flavour. Moderate citrusy hopped finish – it’s a belter at 3.9%.

Stouts always go down well at beer festivals.

And two of the ones on offer at Padiham, will no doubt fly out. Firstly, a stout from Irwell Works at 4.4%. Marshmallow Unicorn is a milk stout, rarely seen now. It’s brewed with lactose, a sugar derived from glucose and found in milk. Its sweetness adds body to the stout, and balances well with this brew’s chocolate and roast flavours.

In my opinion I have saved the best recommendation until last. Bank Top, Leprechaun Stout at a whopping 6%, simply ticks all the boxes. Coffee and chocolate aroma. It’s robust and rich. Chocolate, liquorice and blackcurrant flavoured excellence. With a pleasant bitter, caramel-like finish – a brewing masterpiece.

I am really looking forward to tomorrow and Saturday (noon to midnight). Entry is £2.50 (£2 for CAMRA members). Proceeds in aid of the Padiham Mayor’s Charity Fund. Food will be available in the annexed area, adjacent to the bar. Entertainment is on both evenings.

Local Padiham group, The Flat Cap Pack, will perform on Saturday night. A cracking trio – who put Lancashire into Las Vegas.

This is a beery celebration not to missed. Hope to see you there.