A beer festival putting a spotlight on women in the brewing industry is returning to Norwich for a fourth year next month.

Eastern Daily Press: FEM.ALE will be returning to the Plasterers Arms, in Cowgate, from May 26 to 29, and will be serving an array of ales, lagers, stouts, porters and saisons from female-led breweries across the UK and beyond. Photo: FEM.ALE.FEM.ALE will be returning to the Plasterers Arms, in Cowgate, from May 26 to 29, and will be serving an array of ales, lagers, stouts, porters and saisons from female-led breweries across the UK and beyond. Photo: FEM.ALE. (Image: FEM.ALE)

FEM.ALE will be returning to the Plasterers Arms, in Cowgate, from May 26 to 29, and will be serving an array of ales, lagers, stouts, porters and saisons from female-led breweries across the UK and beyond.

Among them will be the Unite Local Ale, which was brewed on International Women's Day and is the result of 70 breweries around the world – including the FEM.ALE team – working together.

FEM.ALE is described as 'the first dedicated brewster festival in the UK providing a platform to celebrate women in the beer industry,' and Erica Horton, director of FEM.ALE, said it was important to champion the vibrant network of women working in what traditionally may be seen as a male-dominated industry.

'That's why FEM.ALE must exist, to bring women to the forefront of that conversation. When they're not too busy making outstanding beer, of course,' she said.

Eastern Daily Press: A taste for beer, ladies at the Fem.Ale event in the Plasterers Arms, Cowgate, Norwich. Photo : Steve AdamsA taste for beer, ladies at the Fem.Ale event in the Plasterers Arms, Cowgate, Norwich. Photo : Steve Adams (Image: Copyright Archant Norfolk 2016)

Last year the FEM.ALE festival, which started in Norwich, branched out to holding a new event at Marlborough Pub and Theatre, in Brighton, and it will return there once again this year for three days from May 5 to 7.

Ms Horton said: 'People have been travelling from far and wide to be part of the movement.

'Taking the show on the road to Brighton last year was a gamble, but one that paid off.

'It was an incredible buzz to see FEM.ALE in full force in another city.'

Eastern Daily Press: A taste for beer, ladies at the Fem.Ale event in the Plasterers Arms, Cowgate, Norwich. Photo : Steve AdamsA taste for beer, ladies at the Fem.Ale event in the Plasterers Arms, Cowgate, Norwich. Photo : Steve Adams (Image: Copyright Archant Norfolk 2016)

As well as serving a range of different beers, the FEM.ALE festival in Norwich will also be hosting free debate panels, and beer experts, brewsters, authors and historians will share research about the brewing industry.

'Meet the Brewster' beer tastings and food matchings will also be returning be part of the festival programme, and there will also be a range of live music and DJs.

FEM.ALE will be at The Plasterers Arms, in Cowgate, Norwich, for four days from May 26 to 29.

Entry to the festival is free.

For more information about the FEM.ALE festival, visit www.theplasterersarms.co.uk/fem.ale

You can also follow @FemAleFestival on Twitter and find FEM.ALE on Facebook and Instagram.