The town is set to get its first beer festival for more than a decade.

The Green Hop Real Ale Festival will celebrate a particularly seasonal beverage when it comes to Dartford’s Central Park next month.

The distinctive tasting bitter is made within 12 hours of the hops being picked before they have the chance to lose many of the oils which disappear during drying.

The event will run over four sessions from Friday, October 5, to Sunday, October 7, and will display more than 40 autumnal brews from in excess of 20 local producers.

Brewers Gravesend’s Iron Pier, Swanscombe’s Caveman Brewery, Greenhithe’s No Frills Joe and Swanley’s Brew Buddies are among those producing green hop beers.

Organiser Jeremy Bratten is keen to explain there’s something very special about beers brewed at this time of the year.

He said: “This is the only time brewers can use fresh hops before they are dried in order to preserve them for use throughout the year.

“Fresh hops deteriorate quite rapidly so it is important that they are added to the brew as soon as possible.

“The Green Hop ales we are bringing to Dartford will be brewed from hops within 12 hours which gives them an amazing taste. The festival offers Dartford real ale fans a wonderful opportunity to experience some of Kent’s finest beers.”

Punters will be given a chance to sup their pints while listening to folk music and talks on Dartford’s brewing history, eating locally-made street food and playing traditional pub games. Dartford council is backing the event and leader Cllr Jeremy Kite (Con) says he is delighted to be bringing a real ale festival back to the town in 2018 — it’s thought the last one was held in 2004. He said: “Our town has a long and proud brewing history and we have been hoping to bring a real ale festival to Central Park for some time.”

Go to www.kentgreenhopbeer.com for more.