OXFORDSHIRE’S finest golden ales, crisp draughts and craft brews have all been celebrated in this year’s Good Beer Guide.

The national guide to the best pubs and breweries was released on Thursday, and recognised 69 Oxfordshire pubs and 23 breweries in the county.

The book is put together by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), and chairman of the Oxford branch Tony Goulding said: “Only about 10 per cent of pubs in the county get into the guide, and throughout the year we’re checking the quality of casks, how clean the pubs are and what the staff are like.

“But the most important thing is the beer really, pubs need to get that right.”

The Kidlington resident has been a member of Camra for more than 40 years and said that the brewing industry is “bigger than ever”.

The 67-year-old added: “There are more breweries open across England now than there were in 1900. Whether it’s big industrial jobs or home brewing, there’s fantastic variation and the industry is as vibrant as ever.”

This year Oxford Camra said goodbye to a three-time city pub of the year Far From the Madding Crowd, which shut down.

The title has now been taken by vegetarian food pub The Gardeners Arms in Plantation Road, North Oxford.

Mr Goulding, a former bus service controller, said: “We’re pleased to add the Gardeners Arms to the guide.

“The guide really is the gold standard for all ale drinkers and they should be very proud.”

As well as celebrating new pubs in the guide, two new breweries have also been recognised.

Abingdon-based Lovebeer has been entered only two years after it opened.

The microbrewery, which is run by property consultant Jim Southey, is a labour of love for the Milton resident.

The 46-year-old said: “ A year before I started brewing, my friend had begun and I started to do it as a hobby.”

The pastime has grown from brewing in his kitchen to producing a barrel of real ale a week.

The father-of-two has involved his young children in the brewing process, with his 11-year-old daughter Jenny producing the logo for the brand.

LAM Brews in Sandford-on-Thames has also been inducted into the Good Beer Guide.

The brewery, which was started in November 2014 by Kurt Moxley, currently produces 300 litres of beer a week, but it will soon increase to 1,600.

Lovebeer will run demonstrations at the Plum Pudding in Milton Village on October 3, as part of the pub’s beer festival.