EASTLEIGH was awash with hundreds of beer buffs who queued up to help down a selection of some of the nation's finest ales.

Seasoned drinkers were spoilt for choice as they supped their way through more than 30 different cask-conditioned ales at the town's annual weekend beer festival.

But for many real ale fans it was more of a chance to sample brews whose names offered a heady taste of what was about to follow.

Nessie's Monster Mash promised "a mahogany-coloured, full, malty brew with a creamy mouthfeel leading to a satisfying, fruity finish".

Other strange names included After Glow and Wheat-a-Bix. But Seventh Heaven, brewed at the award-winning Hampshire Brewery, needed little if no explanation.

The event was organised at the Nightingale Centre by the Campaign for Real Ale.

Festival spokesman Rob Whatley said: "The names do attract people but others come to try beers they haven't tried before.

"This is a small festival and we like to keep it this way. Many visitors come back year after year.

"The average consumption of real ale has been decreasing due to big breweries making other products, but the smaller breweries are the ones that are doing well."

But as well the best of British, continental beers were in popular demand.

Chris Brown, who runs a specialist Southampton beer shop, was hoping for a rerun of last year when beer fans snapped up his entire supply of banana beer.

"Some people think it is too bitter but it was very popular," he said.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.