TASTY beers and the best of Suffolk’s produce will be on show as visitors flock to the St Edmunds Real Beer and Food Festival.

Delicious foods from chillies to cheese, smoked meat and fish will tempt guests at the gourmet celebration at Greene King’s Brewery Gardens in Bury St Edmunds this weekend.

As well as the cream of the crop of Suffolk’s produce, guests can enjoy sampling the brewer’s best ales along with the county’s finest fruit juice and ciders.

Having attracted more than 4,000 visitors last year, the festival which runs from tomorrow until Sunday, is expected to draw food and drink fans from far and wide.

Claire Norris, events manager at Greene King Brewing and Brands, said: “Last year was a fantastic event, with thousands of people coming to our beautiful brewery gardens to taste and buy the finest quality food and drink our region has to offer.

“Suffolk is the best place in the country for producing great quality food and drink and we are proud to welcome fantastic local producers to join us at the brewery in a celebration of all things gastronomically great about our region.”

Visitors can browse stalls, enjoy the live music and sample the culinary treats on offer as well as taking part in special tutored tastings at the two-day event.

Families and friends can put their tastebuds to the test in a series of beer tasting challenges over the weekend.

“There’s a whole host of great food and drink from barbecued food, treats to take away and even something for those with a sweet tooth,” Mrs Norris said

“This year we’ve got even more going on including in-depth ‘Beer Tasting Masterclasses’ and fun beer tasting sessions, live music and activities for the children.

“A special ‘Test Your Tastebuds’ challenge is free to take part and it gives people a fun chance to see who has the best sense of taste.

“It’ll be interesting to see if the old adage that women have better taste than men is actually true or not!”

Adults can take in master classes including Thirsty Minute Introductions to Ale and a Beer and Whiskey tasting.

Visitors will also be able to buy cuts of meat and sausages from Jimmy Doherty’s farm in Suffolk as well as smoked beef, salmon and duck delicacies from The Artisan Smokehouse.

The event runs from 10am to 6pm tomorrow and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.

Tickets to the festival are priced �3. Tickets to the master classes in beer tastings are �12 while the fun, tutored tastings are �2.50.

For more information, call the Greene King Visitor Centre on 01284 714297 or visit www.faceboook.com/StEdmunds