THE popularity of craft ales has been building for some time.

And Colchester and north Essex fans of the newest trend will be able to sample a host of examples when a popular pub teams up with a fellow expert for a beer festival first.

The Victoria Inn, based in North Station Road, Colchester, will host the town's first Craft Beer Festival over the coming bank holiday weekend, in partnership with Paul Stephens who owns Two Brews in Colchester.

Two Brews in Crouch Street launched around 18 months ago and, as its title suggests focuses on beer and coffee.

Gazette: Paul Stephens at two Brews in Crouch Street, Colchester which has teamed up with the Victoria for the new beer festival

Richard Taylor, assistant manager at the Victoria Inn came up with the idea for the festival with the full support of its owners Sheena Valentine and and Andy Pilgrim.

Richard explains: "I am a fan of craft beer and a customer of Paul's and it was just something I was just thinking would be a great idea.

"His opening the shop has really highlighted how craft beer is becoming more and more popular, I guess it is the latest trend really and while real ale is very well represented now, the craft beer is less so.

"But if you go to somewhere like London there are bar just dedicated to the stuff.

"It is particularly popular with younger people whereas it tends to be older people who like the real ale, although that is not to say that older people do not like craft beers.

Gazette: Paul Stephens has opened Two Brews in Crouch Street, Colchester, selling coffee and beer...NB. Sorry, just one pic with Paul in, refused at first so pleased to have got this. Also no outside shot as lorry on pavement blocking any kind of view!!.

"Anyway, we thought it would be a great idea to work with an expert to show people what you can get," says Richard.

As a result the festival will showcase nine craft ales in kegs, six outside and three in the bar, alongside cans and bottles from Two Brews.

"The kegs come from two different suppliers from UK breweries.

"In the pub we tend to only really use local suppliers.

"Our wine comes from Street Wines, which is Colchester based and the beers are locally brewed.

"It is really important to us," he says.

Plans for the weekend festival are now in full swing.

"As well as the kegs we will also have a fridge fully stocked with bottles and cans from Two Brews which will be there for people to have there and then and also buy to take home as well."

The festival will kick off tomorrow and finish on Monday.

"That is if it has not all been drunk by Sunday night," jokes Richard.

They will also keeping with festival tradition with a menu of food which will include a hog roast, barbecue and vegan options.

Beers on tap

Inside bar

Buxton Brewery - In The Zawn - 3.2% Table Beer

Fourpure Brewing Co - Raspberry and Chocolate Imperial Porter 7.4% Imperial Porter

Siren Craft Brew - Pompelmocello - 6% Grapefruit IPA

Outside bar

Loka Polly - Simcoe Waimea - 4.3% Extra Pale Ale

Wild Weather - Squeaky Blinders - 4.5% - Azacca Pale

Deya - Hokum Stomp - 5.5% - Oatmeal Porter

Weird Beard Something Something BA - 9.2% Double India Stout

Mad Hatter - Cranberry Sauce - 3.8 Sour

Wylam - Us and Them - 8.2% DIPA

The Two Brews selection 

Friday night kicks of with four beers from acclaimed Cornwall brewery, Verdant.

Saturday has two collaborationss from Stowmarket-based Burnt Mill and two from the official second-best brewery in the world Cloudwater, while Sunday has a release of some loco sounding cans from Welsh newcomers Loka Polly!

As well as that, there will also be beers from Northern Monk, Gipsy Hill, Magic Rock, Wylam and Amundsen.