The Oxford Beer Festival returns tomorrow — and this year you can drink more ales than ever before.

Stout, cider and mild enthusiasts from the city’s Campaign For Real Ale (Camra) have stocked Oxford Town Hall with glasses ahead of the festival.

And, for the first time ever, thirsty townsfolk can try just a third of a pint instead of the traditional half or full measure.

Matt Bullock, chairman of Oxford Camra, explained that the scheme was designed to allow people to try as many different beers as possible.

He added: "The atmosphere of the festival is friendly, but lively. We do not get any live music, but there is a general hubbub of people. There is always a good mixture of people at the beer festival. We get a lot of students in — hence we hold it in October when they have come back with some money.

"The Town Hall is a beautiful building. It gets very crowded, but it is always a very friendly and amenable place."

Mr Bullock estimated 3,000 people would sup at the venue over the course of the three-day event — the 11th beer festival to be held at the Town Hall.

Volunteers have lined up 160 firkins — 11,520 pints — of 130 different types of beer to satisfy even the most fussy of hardened real ale drinkers.

Several types of ale including real lager (which is not as fizzy as pub lager), porter (a type of stout), and fruit beers will be on offer.

Unusual names of the brews include Vicar’s Daughter, Satan’s Sister, Old Knobbly and Micky the Idiot.

Mr Bullock expected a 12 per cent stout called Tokyo to be the first beer to sell out, and added a range of snacks would be available for hungry punters.

He said: "People like real ale, as opposed to other beers, because it is a natural product with no additives or chemicals in it, which in theory means you do not get such a bad hangover.

"It is more interesting to drink real ale. Everywhere you go lager will be the same, Guinness will taste the same.

"It takes a lot of effort to look after real ale. If you drink in a pub where the beer is good, you know someone has taken time and effort to look after it, and they care for it."