BY THE time the barrels ran dry at 8pm last Saturday a mammoth 25,000 pints had been downed at the Kent Beer Festival.

That works out an average of just over four pints each for the 6,000 visitors to the event at Merton Farm in Canterbury.

Organiser Gill Keay, of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), has seen thousands of gallons of the finest brews consumed over the 31 year history of the event. But the 2005 festival passed even her expectations.

She said: “I think it has become one of the cultural events of Canterbury because it draws real ale enthusiasts from far and wide.

“I just love to see people having a good time and trying some of the many fine ales that are on sale. It is also a great advert for British brewing and particularly the 10 brewers from Kent who were represented.”

Visitors over the three days were able to sample from 150 real ales and ciders on sale, including such exotically-named beers as Fluffy Bottom, Bewitched, Boadicea and Blonde Bombshell.

The busiest night is traditionally Friday which saw the marquee packed to maximum capacity.

Some of the busiest barmaids were staffing the Pink Girlie Bar which served beers aimed at both female and first-time real ale drinkers.

Gill said: “It was even far better than I expected and very good spirited. It gives people a chance to sample real quality beers with a great variety of flavours.

“But CAMRA does have concerns about the dwindling Kentish hop crop. Most beers are being made from imported hops but nothing quite has the aroma and bittering of beers made with Kentish hops.”