Black Country Beard of the Year competition a whisker away

And even the ladies are included – with a category for them to show off fake beards they have fashioned for themselves.

The Dudley-based Fownes Brewing Co is holding the final of its hairy quest at the Wheatsheaf pub in Birmingham Road, Walsall, on March 1.

Brothers James and Thomas Fownes, who run the brewery, based in Clarence Street, Upper Gornal, both sport beards themselves.

They brand themselves as a Dwarfen brewery, with all their beers having stories drawing inspiration from Scandinavian mythology and classic fantasy literature.

And, after visiting Scarborough for the Yorkshire beard day and the Wessex Beardsmen's first annual competition in Somerset, they decided to organise a competition to seek out beards that a dwarf could be proud of.

"Real ale used to suffer from an image problem of being the sole preserve of bearded old men," said James, aged 33, who lives in Sedgley and whose wife, Linda, aged 29, has won through to the ladies' final with her pink knitted beard.

"Research in recent years has shown this image is shifting so that real ale is perceived as a young, fashionable, luxury item sold in city centre bars as well as community pubs."

Among the finalists in the full beard category is former prison officer Ben Bennett, of Ryland Close, Tipton, who now makes his living re-enacting executions ranging from beheadings to hangings around the country.

Tony Colpitts, aged 49, licensee of the Wheatsheaf, is looking forward to hosting the brewery competition, which attracted entries from all over the country. He normally wears his grey beard like Uncle Albert, from Only Fools and Horses, but in November had it shaved off for the Movember men's health campaign.

Among the finalists will be Mick Bate, nine times British champion for sideburns and muttonchops.

Members of Wolverhampton Campaign for Real Ale branch are already judging the photographs submitted by the entrants, ready to announce the winners at the Wheatsheaf.