First of all many apologies for the lack of a beer blog of late. Personal circumstances meant I had no time to put a blog together.

Since my last blog there has been the excellent Southampton Beer Festival, featuring no less than three new breweries in the Hampshire area.

As reported in my last blog, Upham Brewery, which opened late last year, had their first offering Upham Ale (4% ABV).

Botley Brewery produced their first ale Botta’s Bitter (4.2% ABV) and the Flack Manor Brewery in Romsey had Double Drop (3.7% ABV).

I tried all three and enjoyed them all. Look forward to sampling them again at upcoming festivals.

September is a quite month for festivals in Hampshire and Dorset. However at the beginning of October we have two festivals to look forward to.

Weymouth Octoberfest promises 50+ real ales and Ciders from Yorkshire, Derbyshire and the South West.

The Festival runs on the 1st and 2nd October. More details can be found at http://www.camrawdorset.org.uk/Octoberfest.htm.

On the 2nd/3rd October the Hampshire Octoberfest. Held at Basingstoke, at Milestones museum Leisure Park (shuttle bus from train station).

It more of a Village Fate with food stall and fairground rides but does promise 60+ beers direct from Hampshire breweries. More details at http://www3.hants.gov.uk/octoberfest

Also in Basingstoke on the 22/23 October is the Basingstoke Beer Festival. Held at the Moose Centre (5mins walk fromTrain Station). 15-20 beers on offer. No details on the Camra (Hants North) as yet.

Both Weymouth and Basingstoke are accessible by direct train from Bournemouth. However a change of train at Southampton on 8/9 October and you could be at the Woolston Beer Festival at Pear Tree Church Hall (5 mins walk from the Station). More details at www.woolstonbeerfestival.org.uk

Of course I hardly need reminding you all of another festival held in a church hall towards the end of October.

And for once I’m not talking about the week long Norwich Festival, which I will be attending as I have done over the past 15 years, but of course the Poole Beer Festival (29/30 October) at St Aldheims Centre, nearly opposite Branksome railway station. Last I heard tickets were selling very well and Friday evening is a sell out already. So get in quick.