Cheers! A popular Dudley beer from a local brewery has been voted one of Britain's best at the UK's biggest beer festival

Snowflake, from Sarah Hughes brewery in Sedgley, took the silver medal at the Great British Beer Festival as thousands of ale-lovers flocked to the first day of the event in Birmingham.

It is the first time the five-day event, organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) has been held in the West Midlands, with upwards of 60,000 people expected to attend.

The award is particularly poignant, coming just two months after the death of John Hughes, who restored and reopened the brewery at the Beacon Hotel pub in memory of his grandmother Sarah.

First prize went to Penzance Mild, described as a smooth, auburn beer, with a taste dominated by grainy malt, coffee and chocolate flavours, with dried fruit notes.

It is the second national Camra award this year for Snowflake, an eight per cent barley wine, coming six months after it took silver at the Great British Winter Beer Festival, as well as being voted the best barley wine.

It was praised for its 'fruity, spicy nose and rich, smooth, sweet palate with orange and spicy notes, and balanced bitterness'. 

The festival runs at the NEC until Saturday (August 9).