More than £10,000 raised at the Alton Spring Beer Festival in April was donated to 19 local charities and good causes during a presentation evening held at the Wessex Arts Centre in Alton College on July 29.

The donations from April’s festival – the 36th since the event started in 2002 – will support a diverse range of people in Alton and the surrounding villages.

They were for a variety of purposes at local schools, plus a range of sporting and youth activities; Alton has a vibrant community of volunteers supporting every aspect of its community in many ways.

The organisers said: “In the past 21 years, the total given away from the Alton beer festivals has now exceeded £265,000. A huge thank you to our sponsors, Triple fff Brewery and Bourne Estate Agents, as well as the breweries whose continued generosity helps us to raise money for such a diverse range of organisations.”

Awards for the spring festival champion beers were also presented. These were voted for by festival visitors and nearly every beer or cider got at least one vote.

The Slaphead Shield – awarded to the champion beer and dedicated to John Bodiam, an Alton man who played a significant part in the revival of real ale in Alton – was given to Indigenous Brewery for its Silly Moo.

The Silver Award was shared by the Triple fff Brewery, for its specially brewed Coronation ale, and SeaCider for its Black Cherry cider. The Bronze Award went to Steam Town Brewing Company for its Steam Stout.

The charities and causes that benefited were the 3rd Alton Scout Group, the 8th Alton Scout Group, Alton Climate Action Network, Alton Local Food Initiative, Alton Community Association, Alton Rugby Club and Manor Colts Football Club (nominated by sponsor Bourne Estate Agents), Amery Hill School’s design and technology and food technology departments, Amery Hill School Academy Trust, Andrews’ Endowed CE Primary School (nominated by sponsor Triple fff Brewery), Anstey Junior School PTA, Cardiac Rehab, Binsted CE Primary School, Broadlands Equine Therapy and RDA, Bushy Leaze, Eggar’s School, Alton College, The Kings Arms and a private individual.