A real ale trail taking place on the UK’s longest heritage railway will feature beers from 23 South West breweries, spread across ‘pop-up’ beer bars on a 20-mile route.
Brewing members of the South West region of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) are running the event from June 9-11, hoping to attract more than 4,000 beer lovers.
Event organiser and South West SIBA secretary, Carl Beeson, said: “This is the first time any heritage railway has featured an event such as this anywhere in the UK. Attendees purchase a ticket which includes two free halves and they can sample the beers on offer at whichever end they board the train.
“We’ll have brewers from Devon ready to pour their beers from custom ‘pop-up’ beer bars at the Minehead stop, Wiltshire & Dorset brewers at the Stogumber stop, and Somerset brewers at the Bishops Lydiard stop. Whichever way you decide to do it there is an amazing selection of fantastic independent craft brewed beer along the way!”
The ale trail is being run in conjunction with West Somerset Railway and will have a real festival atmosphere, with live entertainment and street food stalls placed next to platforms.
Carl added: “We’ve got loads of amazing food lined up, as well as amazing craft beer from the South West. At Bishops Lydeard, on both Friday and Saturday evening, there will be live entertainment, plus street food from Cullens Hook ‘n’ Cook BBQ and bread bar on Friday evening, then Buckland Burgers and bread bar on Saturday evening.
“On top of that, throughout the day at Bishops Lydeard, The Fruit & Flower Basket will be serving up bacon baps, home-made pasties, sausage rolls and pies.
“At Minehead station, the Oggy Oggy Pasties will be in attendance throughout the weekend, plus food and light refreshments at Stogumber Station.”
The event coincides with the West Somerset Railway Diesel Gala, which attracts diesel engine fans from across the whole of the UK, so tickets are set to fly out.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.west-somerset-
