>>> 9 beers you should try at the festival

EVERY year, the numbers get bigger and the choice more mind-boggling. This year is no exception.

When the York Beer and Cider Festival opens on Knavesmire on Wednesday, visitors will be able to choose from 450 ales from around 140 breweries.

From Malton to Manchester, from Walthamstow to Wales, the range of breweries and beers is incredible.

As ever, Yorkshire breweries dominate the lists, and for many drinkers this will be a first chance to try some of the region's newest creations.

B.A.D in Dishforth is among the newbies worth sampling. The brewery was set up by Paul Holden-Ridgway, whose Milk Stout won beer of the festival here two years ago when he was running the Knaresborough Brewery from Blind Jacks pub in the town, and whose beers were among the stand-outs last year as well.

There are three B.A.D beers to choose from - Comfortably Numb, Love Over Gold and Wild Gravity.

Another debutant is Ainsty Ales, which is currently brewing on the Brass Castle equipment in Malton, but which hopes to ultimately open in or near Copmanthorpe. Wankled Waggoner will be on the bar from them, while Little Brew, which has just opened at Clifton Moor, has Porter and IPA on the bar.

From further afield, the young Nottingham brewery Totally Brewed, whose beers impressed at last month's festival at The Slip and The Swan, are also represented here, with Space Brewster, Crazy Like a Fox and Captain Hopbeard. Other newly-launched breweries appearing include Baildon from West Yorkshire, Almasty from Newcastle, Ramsbottom from Greater Manchester and Martland Hill in Wigan.

Allan Conner of York Camra, who has sourced the beers, says there will also be "green hop" beers from Bad Seed, Brass Castle and Treboom, the first two using Yorkshire hops picked just last week, and he is also pleased to have secured beers from some of London's new breweries, including Wild Card, London Beer Factory, Gipsy Hill and Hammerton.

Camra have broken with the norm this year and brewed not one but four festival beers themselves, visiting Bad Seed, Brass Castle, Four Thorns and Tapped Leeds.

The York Beer and Cider Festival runs from 5.30pm to 11pm on Wednesday and noon to 11pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Admission for the public is £3 on Wednesday, £4 on Thursday and £5 on Friday or Saturday, with a £2 discount each day for Camra members.

>>> 9 beers you should try at the festival

All the information you will need can be found on the festival website.

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