BREWERS and beer connoisseurs will meet at Worcester's top "real ale" pub tomorrow, to determine the best bitter in the region.

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) Western Region Beer Competition will be held at 2pm at The Dragon Inn, in The Tything - itself an award-winning pub.

Entries from all over the West Midlands, Wales and Ireland will be judged, with the top six going on to the national finals in April.

The Dragon has been voted "Pub of the Year" three times in the last four years by Worcester's branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

"The whole point is to raise the profile of cask ales and craft breweries," said event organiser Chris Gooch, of Teme Valley Brewery.

"SIBA represents brewers on such a small scale that we can't rely on advertising so these competitions are important.

"And the quality of beers on offer here is fantastic. Many of them have won gold and silver awards at a national level before."

The competition, which is being held in Worcester for the first time, will include five categories for cask-conditioned beers and one for bottled beers.

All 35 competition beers will be available to the public during the festival, from 5pm tomorrow and all day on Friday and Saturday.

And for anyone who appreciates a good beer, and thinks they could still stand after trying all 35, there are still some places available as judges in the competition.

For details on becoming a judge, contact Mr Gooch, of Teme Valley Brewery, on 01886 821235.

The Dragon Inn will be open from 11am until 3pm tomorrow. It will then re-open at 4.30pm, half-an-hour before the beer festival is due to start.