Brewery brings back the beer

A real ale buff from Wolverhampton who set up a successful brewery in a derelict building is producing the first bottled beer in Bridgnorth for more than 60 years.

Father-of-four Andrew Brough, aged 30, quit his job as head brewer at Sarah Hughes in Sedgley last year to launch Bridgnorth Brewing Company back in May with cash backing from a local butcher and delicatessen owner.

“Our ales have been doing well,” he said today. “We’ve also now begun bottling our best-selling beer on site, the Bridgnorth Best Bitter. It will be the first beer bottled in Bridgnorth since a lot of the breweries were closed down after the war.”

Mr Brough, from Newbridge, won an award from real ale buffs Camra earlier this year for his efforts. His new Westgate Winter Warmer will debut at Dudley Winter Ale Festival on November 22.

The winter tipple will join the Bridgnorth Best, Apley Ale, Northgate Gold, Bishop Percy and Old Mo, which are available on tap at various pubs.