Wetherspoon's ale fest aims to shift 2.6 million pints

High street pub operator JD Wetherspoon is aiming to sell 2.6 million pints of cask beer in just 19 days during its International Real Ale Festival, which starts today.

Fifty beers will be featured at 670 Wetherspoon houses across the country. They include Yo-Ho Tokyo Black from Japan, specially brewed for the festival at Marston's; Stone Double IPA from California, the strongest beer on offer at seven per cent ABV, and Ecaussines Cookie Beer, made with Belgian biscuits.

British brews on the list include Ringwood 78, celebrating 30 years of Hampshire's Ringwood Brewery; Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, making its debut on draugh,; and Greene King Abbot Reserve, brewed again especially for the festival.

"At last year's festival we sold 2.2 million pints in 18 days, which we think was a world record, and we are aiming to top that this time," said Wetherspoon marketing manager Jonathan Yates.

"It's a difficult time for pubs, but our ale sales are up and these festivals stimulate great interest with a wide range of customers."