Twitter used to launch UK's longest ever ale trail

Real ale consumer group CAMRA is experimenting with social media site Twitter today to send beer 'tickers' and real ale novices on an ale trail which will see them taste beers from around the UK.

The trail hopes to take advantage of the popularity of Twitter among beer bloggers and pub enthusiasts, with participants encouraged to feed back to CAMRA what they like and dislike about each beer.

Starting at 2pm, CAMRA will be tasting 10 beers, all in third pint measures, with the tasting schedule as follows:

• Beer 1- 2pm - Cornwall - Skinner's, Betty Stogs​ (4% ABV) - Copper ale with balance of citrus hops, malt and bitterness, plus a hint of sulphur with a long bitter finish.
• Beer 2- 2.25pm - Berkshire - West Berkshire, Magg's Magnificent Mild ​(3.8%) - Silky, full-bodied, dark mild with creamy head. Roast malt aroma is joined in the taste by caramel sweetness and mild, fruity hoppiness. Aftertaste of roast malt with balancing bitterness.
• Beer 3- 2.50pm - Greater London - Sambrooks, Wandle Ale​ (3.8% ABV) - Amber-coloured beer with a smooth mouthfeel. Citrus and a little hop on the nose with fruit becoming stronger in the taste and some bitterness that lingers in the finish.
• Beer 4- 3.15pm - Bedfordshire - Wells and Young's, Waggledance​ (4% ABV) - Brewed with honey this golden ale has hops to balance the sweetness.
• Beer 5- 3.40pm - West Midlands - Purity, Pure Gold​ (3.8% ABV) - A refreshing golden ale made two malts and four hops to create an easy drinking beer with a lovely dry and bitter finish.
• Beer 6- 4.05pm - Derbyshire - Amber, Chocolate Orange Stout​ (4% ABV) - A rich dark stout with roasted orange and vanilla chocolate flavours. Dark bitterness with a smooth finish.
• Beer 7- 4.30pm - Yorkshire - Rudgate, Ruby Mild​ (4.4% ABV) - Nutty, rich ruby ale, stronger than usual for a mild. Champion Beer of Britain for 2009.
• Beer 8- 4.55pm - Cumbria - Keswick, Thirst Quencher​ (4.3% ABV) - A refreshing Pale Ale with an exotic fruit and citrus aroma.
• Beer 9- 5.20pm - Alloa - Williams Bros, Fraoch Heather Ale​ (4.1% ABV) - The unique taste of heather flowers is very noticeable in this beer. A fine floral aroma and spicy taste give character.
• Beer 10- 5.45pm- Highlands- Cairngorm, Highland IPA​ (5% ABV) - Traditional amber coloured strong IPA with initial tart bitterness and subtle malt flavours followed by a big hopped dry finish with citrus notes.

The event will be hosted by CAMRA's official London ale taster, Steve Williams, who said: "Hosting Britain's fastest and longest beer trail is an honour and a challenge, and the best way for new drinkers to get to grips with the sheer amount of variety and tradition in our growing brewing industry.

"We have carefully selected the range to ensure that drinkers get a good flavour of what is out there. Travelling the length of the country sampling thirst-quenching bitters, dark and malty milds, high hopped IPAs, and brews made with anything from chocolate and vanilla to heather and honey, will be great fun, and will be a real display of the healthy position British real ale finds itself in at the moment."

Follow @realalelive​, or search under the hashtag '#gbbf' on Twitter to keep up-to-date with proceedings at Earl's Court.

The Publican team was on site at the event yesterday, have a look at our photos below: