The 34th Norwich Beer Festival kicks off today and the usual queues are expected outside St Andrew's Hall and Blackfriars Hall from 5.30pm.

More than 200 cask-conditioned real ales from Britain's independent brewers will be on sale throughout the festival, which runs until Saturday.

There are also more than 30 ciders and perries and the ever popular continental style beers in the marquee.

The festival is organised by Norwich and Norfolk Campaign for Real Ale and this year is supporting Priscilla Bacon Lodge in Unthank Road, Norwich, which provides specialist palliative care, advice and support for people with life-limiting illnesses.

Camra branch chairman Graham Freeman said the event was a celebration of the resurgence in the number of breweries in the county and across the country.

He said: 'I don't think a week goes by without me being told of another brewery starting up in Norfolk, and we have 32 breweries at the last count.

'We are expecting another 20,000 people to visit the festival this year, which is the most we can accommodate in the two halls. This remains one of the best attended Camra beer festivals in the country.'

Chris Higgins, Sheriff of Norwich and landlord at the Trafford Arms in Grove Road, said the event built on the success of this year's City of Ale event in Norwich, and highlighted Norwich as a mecca for real ale.

People who attend the festival will be asked to buy tokens which can be redeemed against the beers available at the show.

The Evening News' Love Your Local campaign supports pubs and breweries in the city.

To see campaign stories visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk/loveyourlocal.

For further information about the festival, visit www.norwichcamra.org.uk/festival/fest2011.