Charity beer for 2017 City of Ale revealed as Hope in the Hop

Each year organisers of the Norwich City of Ale reach out to the public to name the pint brewed and sold exclusively for the event - with a portion of the proceeds going to charity.

For the sixth year Woodforde's has created a unique brew for the event, which runs from May 25 to June 4.

Each year City of Ale supports a local charity through sales of the special brew and for 2017 money will be raised for Norfolk's cancer charity, the Big C.

The beer is described as a 4.2pc mid-golden ale, zesty with crisp floral flavours, made with Amarillo and Cascade hops from the West Coast of the USA.

Dawn Leeder, co-chair of the City of Ale, sat on the judging panel alongside Dan Bell from The Big C and Belinda Jennings, head brewer at Woodforde's.

She told this morning's meeting of brewers and publicans there are currently 42 pubs and 36 brewers signed up to take part in the festival.

The beer list is still growing but currently boasts more than 200 brews, including the specially created Hope in the Hop.

Beer glasses for the event have been created and sponsored by the Alan Boswell Group.

'The winning name was Hope in the Hop, and the winning entrant was Richard King, of Norwich,' said MS Leeder. 'He has now won two tickets to the VIP party at the launch event and will be presented with a demipin of ale on the night.

'Woodforde's will be donating 20p of the proceeds from each pint to The Big C.'

Dr Chris Bushby, Big C chief executive, said: 'By choosing Big C as the charity for this year's festival, we're delighted that City of Ale is giving local people the opportunity to improve the lives of those affected by cancer in Norfolk and Waveney.

The City of Ale launch party is set to be held at the Narthex on Thursday, May 25,

Tickets cost £7 which includes two free pints and are available through Eventbrite or at The Vine. Each pint costs £3 thereafter.