THE beers were flowing at one of York’s most historic and impressive churches.

Queues gathered outside St Lawrence Church at lunchtime for the start of the 50th Annual York CAMRA beer festival.

And the welcome was as warm as the sun, which is blazing down.

Festival organiser Karl Smith said: “It’s got off to a great start. There’s a lot of people here already and we have only been open half an hours. The weather is also set fair.”

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The beer festival features around 200 ales from across the UK and also mainland Europe as organisers this year aim to offer different beers to what you might in York’s pubs.

Karl says he is particularly proud of the 50th anniversary beer glass.

Karl Smith with a beer glassKarl Smith with a beer glass (Image: Darren Greenwood)

He said: "Like every CAMRA member, I have many beer glasses, but this is the best of the lot. It is very colourful and even features white markings so you can have a measure of dark beers. It’s the small details that make all the difference.”

To also mark the anniversary, York CAMRA has for the first time, commissioned a special anniversary ale. This has been made in association with  the Yorkshire Heart Brewery at Nun Monkton, west of York.

Yorkshire Heart head brewer Nick Webster said: “CAMRA wanted a 5 per cent golden ale for the 50th. They chose the hops, five different ones, Mosaic, Simo, Citra, Cryopop and Challenger.

Ready to serveReady to serve (Image: Supplied)

“It is the first time we have had made a festival beer and the first time it has been tasted.”

Taking a sip, Nick added: “Yes, yes, it’s lovely.”

Among the publicans present for the trade session, which opened the festival at 1pm,  John Pybus from the Blue Bell Inn was enjoying a great afternoon.

He said: There’s a really impressive range of beers. All that I have had so far have been on great form. Flat caps off to the organisers for putting together such a great festival.

“This is the second year it has been held in St Lawrence Church, after leaving the Race Couse. I am more than convinced this is the right venue.”

Rev Geoff Mumford of St Lawrence Church has also been busy helping with the festival.   

Rev Mumford is also licensee of St Giles Church, which will be holding its own festival in October.

He said: “We have some great beers. I was involved with the Yorkshire Heart beer. I added the hops, the malt and the barley.

“The festival is getting off to a great start.”

This afternoon will also see judges choose the best beers at the festival.

In addition to today, the festival runs from 12-noon to 11pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

To book tickets, go to: https://yorkbeerfestival.camra.org.uk/