TRAQUAIR’S new beer and food festival is has released its programme and unveiled details of a new beer to be launched at the Festival – Referendum Ale.

Beyond Beer on the weekend of August 2 and 3 will host all the breweries in the Borders – Traquair, Borders, Tempest, Broughton and new addition, Freewheelin’ as well as neighbouring brewers Stewart Brewing, Knopps and Top Off and from a little further afield, Arran Brewery. Around 25 cask ales will be available over the weekend as well as Traquair’s new brew Referendum Ale.

Visitors to the festival will be invited to choose between two pumps “A Strong Ale for A Strong Union” or “For the Independent Drinker” and a straw poll will be taken at the end of the weekend as to which pump was the most popular.

A programme of talks and events will take place throughout the event at Traquair House, Innerleithen with some of the UK’s best known beer writers and bloggers.

They will include a session with Jane Peyton and Sophie de Ronde on Women in Beer which will entice women who thought they never liked beer to give it a try.

There will a workshop and tasting looking at new beer and food matchings, and an innovative beer and music matching session with Pete Brown, the UK’s best know beer blogger.

You can meet the brewers for all the breweries taking part and hear their stories as well as tasting their beer and listen to one of the world’s best known beer writers and tasters, Roger Protz give his views on the future of beer. For those that want a behind the scenes tour of the Traquair Brewery these will also be taking place throughout the event.

A home brew competition has also been launched by Traquair and is still open for entries with the judging taking place on Sunday, August 3.

As well as beer there will plenty of delicious foods to try and local producers including The Juicy Meat Company, Peelham Farm, Breadshare, Overlangshaw Ice Cream, The Sunflower, The Secret Herb Garden as well as a Pizza Oven, Vegetarian and vegan foods and a Borders’ food producers’ shop.

For children attending the event is free and there will be plenty to keep them amused with a make-your-own pizza workshop and a food-related arts and stories workshop.

Music will run all day and into the evening with jazz and blues from the Dias Quartet, the Nova Scotia Band, Hot Tin Roof, the Duck Pond Beer Band and the Border Boogie Band.

For those that want to have a very special experience the Beer Banquet in the 18th century Dining Room at Traquair House will be taking place on Saturday night with a six-course tasting menu accompanied by different beers for each course.

The events runs from 11am to 8pm on Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3.

Admission costs £10 for adults with children (accompanied by an adult) up to the age of 17 free.

All adults booking in advance will be given a half pint of Referendum ale for free.