Ember Inns enjoy best of British ales

Ember Inns has embraced the diversity of England's micro breweries by offering a selection of locally-brewed guest ales in the final week of its annual Cask Fresh Festival.

Pubs were given a chance to choose local brews in week six of the festival, and allowed guests to "try before you buy" to find a perfect ale to suit their tastes.

The stories about where the beers had come from ranged from a chicken shed to a new use for an old coffin workshop.

The Earl Soham Brewery in Suffolk started life in 1985 in an old chicken shed in Woodbridge, whereas the Church End Brewery in Nuneaton has made the transition from coffin shop workshop to local pub favourite with its brew Grave Digger.

Both beers were on sale in nearby pubs and Matthew Deane, senior marketing manager for Ember Inns, said they went down well with the public.

"The festival has been really well-received by our guests who are always keen to experiment with new ales available behind the bar," he said.

"In particular, they have been very excited about having the chance to show their support for some of the smaller breweries closer to home".

Ember's dedication to cask ale has also attracted praise from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Tony Jerome, CAMRA's senior marketing manager, said: "It's fantastic to see Ember Inns promoting the diversity of real ale from around Britain and we are delighted that the Cyclops tasting notes, which have been developed to help the inexperienced real ale drinker find out which beers will match their preferred taste profile, have been so well used over the last six weeks."