But few events have the style and panache of the Hilden Beer and Music Festival, which, from tonight, will have top tunes and quality ales to delight the most discerning of palates.

Hilden’s main brewer Michael Scullion has a vital role in the event – “It’s my job to get the beers in,” he said.

Michael stressed that the festival is more about mood and atmosphere than beer snobbery: “It’s not a concert, and it’s not a traditional beer festival, it’s a hybrid of the two.

“There’s a very relaxed feeling where people can come along, sample a range of beers and enjoy great bands.”

The event has taken place in the family-run brewery outside Lisburn since the 1980s.

There will be 33 different beers from a range of producers for sale at the festival, but the emphasis is on quality rather than quantity.

“Having that kind of choice alters people’s perception to drinking,” Michael said, “it’s not about the end result, it’s about trying new things and the journey along the way.”

And he is encouraging thirsty punters to try a pint of the unusual.

“I honestly couldn’t recommend one single beer above all the others, I’m a beer snob but these are all good,” he said.

Flat Cap, Bejing Gold and a local ale called Headless Dog are just some of the brews available to tempt the drinkers.

“The point of the festival is to allow people to try different beers and find the one that they like for themselves,” Michael said.

“People don’t usually have a great amount of choice when they drink in Northern Ireland, this is a chance to taste beers they’ve never seen or heard of before.”

More than a dozen bands will be performing to ensure that the beer goes down with a tune, with The Ronnie Greer Blues Band, The Red Hot Roosters and The Delawares among a host of musical delights.

For Michael, the music is just as important as the ales, and he believes there is a right kind of sonic accompaniment for a considered drinking session.

“You don’t want anything too jarring, or too loud, and it has to be social,” he said.

In addition, this year, the festival barbecue will be served up by Lisburn’s very own Masterchef star, Jonny Stevenson, alongside head chef Vincent Granier.

Disability Action is the nominated charity for this year’s festival, and will be on site throughout the weekend, running table games and other competitions to keep the children, and the adults, entertained.

One thing organisers are hoping for is dry weather, as, with so many high-quality ales to be tasted, no-one wants their beer to be watered down.

n The Hilden Beer and Music Festival runs at the Hilden Brewery, Lisburn, until Sunday night.

Tickets cost £5-10 and are available online at www.taproomhilden.com or from the brewery on 9266 3863.