BEER-lovers will have the chance to sink a few Titanics next week at the 16th annual Fylde Beer Festival.

Two of the star brews on offer come from the Titanic Brewery in Stoke on Trent, birthplace of Edward Smith, captain of the ill-fated vessel, which has produced Captain Smith's and Lifeboat Ale.

These will be among 81 different beers to be sampled at the festival, organised by Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The pumps start flowing on February 19, at Fleetwood's Marine Hall, with sessions on February 20 and 21 at lunchtimes and in the evenings.

The Fylde's own award-winning Hart Brewery, based at the Cartford Arms, Little Eccleston, is producing a special Festival Mild.

Organiser Ray Jackson, CAMRA West Pennines regional director, of Sandgate, Blackpool, said: "We're proud of our home brewery and we're looking forward to the first samples of Festival Mild.

"This is the 16th annual festival and over the years we've progressed to one of the best in the North West.

"The Marine Hall is a superb venue and we get people coming from all over the country."

Among other notable brews are Hopback's Summer Lightning and a new black lager from the Harviestoun brewery in Scotland.

Festival-goers will be able to vote for the best beer of the festival, buy a souvenir beer-glass with drunken seagull logo, T-shirts, beer-mats, engraved glassware and even beer-lore from the Breweries History Society.

Entrance is free to CAMRA-members, £1 for non-members, with entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights and a children's room at lunchtime.

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