Two winter beers made by brewers in the Bristol area feature at a national festival in Manchester from Wednesday.

The Bristol Beer Factory, Southville and Wickwar, from Gloucestershire, were invited to the Campaign for Real Ales (CAMRA) National Winter Ales Festival 2009.

The festival, which runs until Friday, features the UK's best 200 seasonal brewers.

The two brewers join five from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to showcase their finest beers.

The main event at the festival is the awarding of the annual Winter Beer of Britain title on Thursday.

Last year the Wickwar brewery impressed the judges with its Station Porter beer, which went on to win the overall bronze at the Champion Beer of Britain competition in London in August last year.

Graham Donning, festival organiser, said: "There is fantastic variety at this year's festival and we hope to meet everyone's tastes.

"In the past this event has been a sell-out and we expect 2009 to be no different, thanks in part to the increasing popularity of cask ale in pubs.

"Like any great festival we have live music, fancy dress and a great atmosphere all under one roof."

The Bristol Beer Factory is based in the old Ashton Gate brewery and opened in 2003.