Top beer award

Produced by a Jurassic coast brewery, Portland Porter has won a coveted award from Swanage Railway.

Visitors to the railway’s Beer Festival and Diesel Gala praised it as the best beer at the annual event.

Brewed by the Dorset Brewing Company at Brewers Quay in Weymouth, the Portland Porter was up against 55 real ales. 

More than 2,200 passengers rode the trains hauled by ex-British Rail main line diesel locomotives at the three-day event in May, which saw 3,500 pints of beer sold at a large marquee next to Harman’s Cross station.

For the first time, visitors to the fund-raising event – with proceeds going to the extension and development of the volunteer-run Swanage Railway – were asked to vote for their favourite beer with a trophy awarded to the most popular beer.

Dorset Brewing Company managing director Giles Smeath said: “This is a new beer not yet in full production but this resounding vote of confidence from Swanage Railway Beer Festival visitors is very encouraging and a huge boost to the brewery.”

Featuring a large number of superb real ales, the next Swanage Railway Beer Festival and Diesel Gala takes place between Friday 7 and Sunday 9 May, 2010.