IT is probably up there with premiership footballer on the list of many people's dream jobs - professional beer taster.

So I raised a glass when I heard the search was on for an apprentice and it didn't involve the sort of humiliation dished out by Alan Sugar on his reality TV show.

I had been invited to join the 'ale inspectors' from Cask Marque, the men and women responsible for policing the quality of real ale in local pubs. They agreed to give me a crash course in what makes the perfect pint.

I was assured that my only 'interview' would be in a local pub and my only task to taste-test a pint of ale. And, they promised nobody, under any circumstances, would get fired.

TONY Millington visits up to 40 pubs every week as an independent accreditor for Cask Marque tasting beers with great names like Ewe Turn and Hop Twister. And he gets paid for it.

Cask Marque was set up nine years ago to make sure drinkers of independent real ales aren't shortchanged with a bad pint.

Tony explains: "Before that there had been a rapid fall in cask ale sales.

"If the truth be told some of that was probably down to a decline in the standards of beers being served.

"Cask Marque was formed by brewers and a couple of pub companies to improve standards in the industry.

"It's like an Egon Ronay or Michelin award for traditional, hand-pulled cask ales.

"Without a doubt standards have risen as a result."

During an inspection the former quality manager for Carlsberg and Tetley turns up unannounced, so there's no chance of landlords rolling out the red carpet, to test up to six of that day's cask ales.

Each is given marks out of 20 on four criteria: temperature, appearance, aroma and taste. And the judges are no walkover.

Tony cautions: "Each ale has to score at least 16 out of 20 in each category.

"If you have five superb ales and one which scores only 11 out of 20 that means the whole lot fail. The standards are high."

What happens if a pub's cask ale doesn't make the grade?

"We speak to the licensee and explain why they've failed and give them advice on how to put things right. We'll then go back and make a repeat visit to see if things have improved."

Pubs which pass with flying colours earn themselves a coveted Cask Marque plaque.