THE beer lovers' bible was officially unveiled yesterday, as one of the region's most popular festivals got under way.

Rhythm 'n' Brews, the 26th annual Darlington beer and musical festival, runs until Sunday.

A range of real ales will be available at the Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace, and 13 new breweries are being represented.

Two beers are also being brewed specially - Rhythm and Moos, from the Brown Cow Brewery, in Selby, North Yorkshire, and Wiri Not, from Darwins of Sunderland.

Yesterday, members of the Campaign for Real Ale gathered for the regional launch of the 2006 edition of the Good Beer Guide. The guide lists 4,500 of Britain's best real ale pubs, as well as all the country's breweries.

Editor Roger Protz said that the choice for British beer drinkers was booming, as a record number of new breweries had been recorded by the guide.

"In spite of the best efforts of the global brewers who dominate British brewing, there is greater choice today than at any time since the Good Beer Guide was first published in the early 1970s," he said.

The festival culminates in a full day of live music in Darlington Market Square on Sunday.