Brewery visitors joined Brentwood Town Twinning Association supporters to enjoy a little taste of German Oktoberfest in July.

Held to celebrate the town’s links with Landkreis Roth in Germany, July Fest, complete with Oom-Pah music, took place at Brentwood Brewery on Saturday July 28.

Alex Burghart, MP for Brentwood and Ongar joined in for the celebrations.

He said: “We built up some really close friendships with our sister town in Germany over the years and this is a wonderful way of celebrating that relationship and everyone having the chance for a beer and a sausage.”

The Mayor of Brentwood, Sheila Murphy was also in attendance for the celebratory event.

She said: “It’s something traditionally we’ve always done very, very well and as people get older we need to bring the younger people in to join us and continue it.

“It’s still very important regardless of where we are in Europe, we are still European, we need keep these ties up and running they bring benefits. They’re valuable and shouldn’t be lost.”

A dozen cask and draught Brentwood and Elephant School beers were on offer at the festival.

There were five different bottled beers on the bar from the Pyraser Landbrauerei in Thalmässing, Bavaria which is in the Landkreis Roth area.

To organise July Fest, Brentwood Brewery worked in partnership with Brentwood and Landkreis Roth Town Twinning Association.

Jon Cloke of Brentwood Town Twinning Association, said: “I had to drive out to Germany in June.

"We were invited as VIPs to the 950th anniversary of the foundation of the place where we stay in Germany.

"While we there we popped into the Pyraser Brewery and picked up six cases of German Bier for July Fest.”

“I’ve been involved with the town twinning association for about ten years.

"As well as the business and education partnerships made through the association, on a personal level it’s a very sociable thing to do.

"You strike up friendships which is always good whether you’re an EU supporter or not.”

Roland Kannor, managing director of the Brentwood Brewing Company thanked the town's German twin and was thankful for their partnership.

He said: "Last year they came along to Oktoberfest at Brentwood Brewery, bringing with them some authentic German bier. When they returned they took with them some Brentwood Beer to share with their colleagues in Germany.

“We plan to visit the Pyraser Brewery sometime soon and would like to organise a coach trip, which will be open to readers of our newsletter the Beery News.”