TODAY we publish the two faces of real ale. But which is the more authentic? For years, the Campaign For Real Ale has railed against the stereotype of the big-bellied, bearded, beer bore. So, in an attempt to give ancient ale a modern makeover, it has launched a rather risqu advertising campaign.

"We have used these very attractive pictures of models to emphasise the natural qualities of ale to women and young drinkers," said a spokeswoman for Camra.

The posters, going up in pubs around the country, show a young man and woman lying naked on a bed of barley with hops draped over them.

This, it is hoped, will attract more young people to the delights of hand-crafted ales. The campaign follows Camra research which found just ten per cent of 18 to 25-year-olds and five per cent of women were regular ale drinkers.

Attempts to sign up more women received a boost earlier this year when Laura Craft became Camra's 60,000th member at York Beer Festival. The 20-year-old student teacher was about as far away from being a heavyweight he-man as it is possible to imagine.

But she is still the exception. We can only hope that people converted to real ale by Camra's posters will not be too shocked when they attend their first beer festival.

These places are still full of gentlemen like the one on the left, pictured at the Great British Beer Festival at London's Olympia this week. Such fellas spend their time quaffing and wiping froth from their facial fungus but you have to admit, they've got guts.

If anyone expects the festival to be packed with naked young people reclining on cereal crops, they are in for a severe disappointment.

u NOW here's a novelty: real ale from France. And it's now on sale at York's beer temple, The Maltings.

Landlord Shaun Collinge, still recovering from his collapsing deckchair ordeal as pictured in the Press earlier this week, has two novelties from Nantes.

Both are products of the Brasserie de la Soif (Bar Talk translation: "bra of the south") and weigh in at five per cent ABV. Barbe Torte goes on sale this weekend, followed by the disconcertingly-named Willy Wolf. Shaun has yet to taste them to see how they compare to the exquisite product of Belgium.

France is not known for its real ale, and The Maltings, on Tanners Moat, is very probably the first pub to put on draught supplies of the stuff in York.

"I've done a bit of research, and I think they have a lot of brew-pubs over there: they're more like caf-bars," says Shaun.

Meanwhile, his suppliers, the Shipping Beer Company, have also delivered some stout from the Emerald Isle.

Black Pearl (4.3 per cent) and Dubhain (4.3 per cent) are hand crafted by the Tipperary Brewery Company. They have also supplied a lager, Cool Amber Lager (4.3 per cent).

u MAKE tracks to The Locomotive this Thursday night. Landlord of the Watson Street boozer Dave Hay is hosting a Jumbo Quiz night, with all proceeds to children's charities.

The fun kicks off at 9pm, and entry costs only a quid. For that, a free supper is thrown in. Can't be bad.

Quiz rounds include general knowledge, sport, TV and music. There's also a big raffle planned. So start sharpening your wits now.